to a representation.  From the great increase of expense, the revenues were necessarily farmed out at a high rate; and deficiencies followed yearly.  The country and cultivation is abandoned; and this year in particular, from the excessive drought, deductions of many lacs” (stated by the Resident, in his letter to the board of the 13th of the month following, to amount to twenty-five lac, or 250,000_l._ sterling) “have been allowed the farmers, who were still left unsatisfied.  I have received but just sufficient to support my absolute necessities, the revenues being deficient to the amount of fifteen lac [150,000_l._ sterling], and for this reason many of the old chieftains with their troops, and the useful attendants of the court, were forced to leave it, and there is now only a few foot and horse for the collection of my revenues; and should the zemindars be refractory, there is not left a sufficient number to reduce them to obedience.”  And the said Nabob did therefore pray that the assignments for the new brigade, the corps of horse, and the other detached bodies of the Company’s troops might not be required from him:  alleging, “that the former was not only quite useless to his government, but, moreover, the cause of much loss, both in the revenues and customs; and that the detached bodies of troops under their European officers brought nothing but confusion into the affairs of his government, and were entirely their own masters.”

VI.  That it appears that the said Nabob was not bound by any treaty to the maintenance, without his consent, even of the old brigade,—­the Court of Directors having, in their letter of the 15th December, 1775, approved of keeping the same in his service, “provided it was done with the free consent of the Subah, and by no means without it.”  And the new brigade and temporary corps were raised on the express condition, that the expense thereof should be charged on the Nabob only “for so long a time as he should require the corps for his service.”  And the Court of Directors express to the Governor-General and Council their sense of the said agreement in the following terms:  “But if you intend to exert your influence first to induce the Vizier to acquiesce in your proposal, and afterwards to compel him to keep the troops in his pay during your pleasure, your intents are unjust; and a correspondent conduct would reflect great dishonor on the Company.”

VII.  That, in answer to the decent and humble representation aforesaid of the Nabob of Oude, the allegations of which, so far as they relate to the distressed state of the Nabob’s finances, and his total inability to discharge the demands made on him, were confirmed by the testimony of the English Resident at Oude, and which the said Hastings did not deny in the whole or in any part thereof, he, the said Warren Hastings, did, on pretence of certain political dangers, declare the relief desired to be