V. That on the last of the three dates above mentioned, that is to say, on the 27th of May, the Nabob Fyzoola Khan did also send to the commander-in-chief a vakeel, or ambassador, who was authorized on the part of him, the Nabob Fyzoola Khan, his master, to make a specific offer of three propositions; and that by one of the said propositions “an annual increase of near 400,000_l._ would have accrued to the revenues of our ally, and the immediate acquisition of above 300,000_l._ to the Company, for their influence in effecting an accommodation perfectly consistent with their engagements to the Vizier,” and strictly consonant to the demands of justice.

VI.  That, so great was the confidence of the Nabob Fyzoola Khan in the just, humane, and liberal feelings of Englishmen, as to “lull him into an inactivity” of the most essential detriment to his interests:  since, “in the hopes which he entertained from the interposition of our government,” he declined the invitation of the Mogul to join the arms of his Majesty and the Mahrattas, “refused any connection with the Seiks,” and did even neglect to take the obvious precaution of crossing the Ganges, as he had originally intended, while the river was yet fordable,—­a movement that would have enabled him certainly to baffle all pursuit, and probably “to keep the Vizier in a state of disquietude for the remainder of his life.”

VII.  That the commander-in-chief, Colonel Alexander Champion aforesaid, “thought nothing could be more honorable to this nation than the support of so exalted a character; and whilst it could be done on terms so advantageous, supposed it very unlikely that the vakeel’s proposition should be received with indifference”; that he did accordingly refer it to the administration through Warren Hastings, Esquire, then Governor of Fort William and President of Bengal; and he did at the same time inclose to the said Warren Hastings a letter from the Nabob Fyzoola Khan to the said Hastings,—­which letter does not appear, but must be supposed to have been of the same tenor with those before cited to the commander-in-chief,—­of which also copies were sent to the said Hastings by the commander-in-chief; and he, the commander-in-chief aforesaid, after urging to the said Hastings sundry good and cogent arguments of policy and prudence in favor of the Nabob Fyzoola Khan, did conclude by “wishing for nothing so much as for the adoption of some measure that might strike all the powers of the East with admiration of our justice, in contrast to the conduct of the Vizier.”

VIII.  That, in answer to such laudable wish of the said commander-in-chief, the President, Warren Hastings, preferring his own prohibited plans of extended dominion to the mild, equitable, and wise policy inculcated in the standing orders of his superiors, and now enforced by the recommendation of the commander-in-chief, did instruct and “desire” him, the said commander-in-chief, “instead of soliciting the Vizier to relinquish