ed to cover
it; and see how he plunges deeper and deeper upon every occasion. This
explanation arose out of another memorable bribe, which I must now beg
leave to state to your Lordships.

About the time of the receipt of the former bribes, good fortune, as
good things seldom come singly, is kind to him; and when he went up and
had nearly ruined the Company's affairs in Oude and Benares, he received
a present of 100,000_l._ sterling, or thereabouts. He received bills for
it in September, 1781, and he gives the Company an account of it in
January, 1782. Remark in what manner the account of this money was
given, and the purposes for which he intends to apply it. He says, in
this letter, "I received the offer of a considerable sum of money, both
on the Nabob's part and that of his ministers, as a present to myself,
not to the Company: I accepted it without hesitation, and gladly, being
entirely destitute both of means and credit, whether for your service or
the relief of my own necessities." My Lords, upon this you shall hear a
comment, made by some abler persons than me. This donation was not made
in species, but in bills upon the house of Gopaul Doss, who was then a
prisoner in the hands of Cheyt Sing. After mentioning that he took this
present for the Company, and for their exigencies, and partly for his
own necessities, and in consequence of the distress of both, he desires
the Company, in the moment of this their greatest distress, to award it
to him, and therefore he ends, "If you should adjudge the deposit to me,
I shall consider it as the most honorable approbation and reward of my
labors: and I wish to owe my fortune to your bounty. I am now in the
fiftieth year of my life: I have passed thirty-one years in the service
of the Company, and the greatest part of that time in employments of the
highest trust. My conscience allows me boldly to claim the merit of zeal
and integrity; nor has fortune been unpropitious to their exertions. To
these qualities I bound my pretensions. I shall not repine, if you shall
deem otherwise of my services; nor ought your decision, however it may
disappoint my hope of a retreat adequate to the consequence and
elevation of the office which I now possess, to lessen my gratitude for
having been so long permitted to hold it, since it has at least enabled
me to lay up a provision with which I can be contented in a more humble
station."

And here your Lordships will be pleased incidentally t