Chief-Justice, he allowed the same sum that he did to the dancing-girl, (which was very liberal in him, and I am rather astonished to find it,) namely, 7,200_l._ a year.  And who do you think was the next public officer he appointed?  It was the Rajah Gourdas, the son of Nundcomar, and whose testimony he has attempted both before and since this occasion to weaken.  To him, however, he gave an employment of 6,000_l._ a year, as if to make through the son some compensation to the manes of the father.  And in this manner he distributes, with a wild and liberal profusion, between magistrates and dancing-girls, the whole spoil of Mahomed Reza Khan, notwithstanding the Company’s direct and positive assurance given to him.  Everything was done, at the same time, to put, as it was before, into the hands of this dancing-girl the miserable Nabob’s whole family; and that the fund for corruption might be large enough, he did not take the money for this dancing-girl out of the Nabob’s separate revenue, of which he and the dancing-girl had the private disposal between them.

Now upon what pretence did he do all this?  The Nabob had represented to Mr. Hastings that he was now of age,—­that he was an independent, sovereign prince,—­that, being independent and sovereign in his situation, and being of full age, he had a right to manage his own concerns himself; and therefore he desired to be admitted to that management.  And, indeed, my Lords, ostensibly, and supposing him to have been this independent prince, and that the Company had no authority or had never exercised any authority over him through Mr. Hastings, there might be a good deal said in favor of this request.  But what was the real state of the case?  The Nabob was a puppet in the hands of Mr. Hastings and Munny Begum; and you will find, upon producing the correspondence, that he confesses that she was the ultimate object and end of this request.

I think this correspondence, wherein a son is made to petition, in his own name, for the elevation of a dancing-girl, his step-mother, above himself and everybody else, will appear to your Lordships such a curiosity as, I believe, is not to be found in the state correspondence of the whole world.  The Nabob begins thus:—­“The excellency of that policy by which her Highness the Begum” (meaning Munny Begum) “(may her shadow be far extended!) formerly, during the time of her administration, transacted the affairs of the nizamut in the very best and most advantageous manner, was, by means of the delusions of enemies disguised under the appearance of friends, hidden from me.  Having lately seriously reflected on my own affairs, I am convinced that it was the effect of maternal affection, was highly proper, and for my interest,—­and that, except the said Begum is again invested with the administration, the regulation and prosperity of this family, which is in fact her own, cannot be effected.  For this cause, from the time of her suspension until now,