“It would appear from the English memoirs that we corrupted the whole Durbar at Murshidabad to our side by presents and lies.  I might with justice retort this reproach.  As a matter of fact, except Siraj-ud-daula himself, one may say the English had the whole Durbar always in their favour.  Without insisting on this point, let us honestly agree, since the English themselves confess it, that we were, like them, much engaged in opposing corruption to corruption in order to gain the friendship of scoundrels so as to place ourselves on equal terms with our enemies.  This has always happened, and ought not to cause surprise in a Court where right counts for nothing and, every other motive apart, one can never be successful except by the weight of what one puts in the balance of iniquity.  For the rest, right or wrong, it is certain that the English were always in a position to put in more than we could.

“Fear and greed are the two chief motives of Indian minds.  Everything depends on one or the other.  Often they are combined towards the same object, but, when they are opposed, fear always conquers.  A proof of this is easily to be seen in all the events connected with, the revolution in Bengal.  When, in 1756, Siraj-ud-daula determined to expel the English, fear and greed combined to make him act.  As soon as he had himself proved the superiority of the English troops, fear took the upper hand in his mind, grew stronger day by day, and soon put him in a condition in which he was unable to follow, and often even to see, his true interests.

“I mention the Nawab first.  His hatred for the English certainly indicated friendship for us.  I think so myself, but we have seen what was his character and his state of mind in general.  I ask, in all good faith, whether we could expect any advantage from his friendship?  This person, cowed by fear, irresolute and imprudent, could he alone be of any use to us?  It was necessary for him to be supported by some one who had his confidence and was capable by his own firmness of fixing the irresolution of the Prince.

“Mohan Lal, chief Diwan of Siraj-ud-daula, was this man, the greatest scoundrel the earth has ever borne, worthy minister of such a master, and yet, in truth, the only person who was really attached to him.  He had firmness and also sufficient judgment to understand that the ruin of Siraj-ud-daula must necessarily bring on his own.  He was as much, detested as his master.  The sworn enemy of the Seths, and capable of holding his own against them, I think those bankers would not have succeeded so easily in their project if he had been free to act, but, unfortunately for us, he had been for some time, and was at this most critical moment dangerously ill.  He could not leave his house.  I went to see him twice with Siraj-ud-daula, but it was not possible to get a word from him.  There is strong reason to believe