herefore read to your Lordships, from his own letters, what the
Nabob's opinion was upon this subject.

_Extract of a Letter from the Vizier, received 23d of August,
1782._

"I never found resource equal to the necessary expenses. Every
year, by taking from the ministers, and selling the articles of my
harkhanna, I with great distress transacted the business. But I
could not take care of my dependants: so that some of my brothers,
from their difficulties, arose and departed; and the people of the
Khord Mohul of the late Nabob, who are all my mothers, from their
distresses are reduced to poverty and involved in difficulties. No
man of rank is deficient in the care of his dependants, in
proportion to his ability."

_Another Letter from the Vizier, received the 31st July, 1784._

"My brother, dear as life, Saadut Ali Khan, has requested that I
would permit his mother to go and reside with him. My friend, all
the mothers of my brothers, and the women of the late Nabob, whom I
respect as my own mothers, are here, and it is incumbent upon me to
support them: accordingly I do it; and it is improper that they
should be separated, nor do I approve it. By God's blessing and
your kindness, I hope that all the women of the late Nabob may
remain here; it is the wish also of my grandmother and my mother
that they should."

Your Lordships now see in what degree of estimation the Nabob held these
women. He regarded the wives of his father as his honorary mothers; he
considers their children as his brethren; he thinks it would be highly
dishonorable to his government, if one of them was taken out of the
sanctuary in which they are placed, and in which, he says, the great of
the country are obliged to maintain their dependants. This is the
account given by the person best acquainted with the usages of the
country, best acquainted with his own duties, best acquainted with his
own wishes.

Now, my Lords, you will see in what light another person, the agent of a
trading company, who designates himself under the name of Majesty, and
assumes other great distinctions, presumes also to consider these
persons,--and in what contempt he is pleased to hold what is respected
and what is held sacred in that country. What I am now going to quote is
from the prisoner's second defence. For I must remind your Lordships
that Mr. Hastings has