Who was the instrument employed in all this double-dealing?  Gobind Ram, the Vizier’s diplomatic minister at Calcutta.  Suspicions perpetually arise in his mind whether he is not cheated and imposed upon.  He could never tell when he had Mr. Hastings fixed upon any point.  He now finds him recommending Mr. Middleton, and then declaring that Mr. Middleton neglects the duty of his office, and gives him, Gobind Ram, information that is fraudulent and directly contrary to the truth.  He is let into various contradictory secrets, and becomes acquainted with innumerable frauds, falsehoods, and prevarications.  He knew that the whole pretended government of Oude was from beginning to end a deception; that it was an imposture for the purpose of corruption and peculation.  Such was the situation of the Nabob’s vakeel.  The Nabob himself was really at a loss to know who had and who had not the Governor’s confidence; whether he was acting in obedience to the orders of the Court of Directors, or whether their orders were not always to be disobeyed.  He thus writes to Gobind Ram, who was exactly in the same uncertainty.

“As to the commands of Mr. Hastings which you write on the subject of the distraction of the country and the want of information from me, and his wishes, that, as Mr. John Bristow has shown sincere wishes and attachment to Mr. Hastings, I should write for him to send Mr. John Bristow, it would have been proper and necessary for you privately to have understood what were Mr. Hastings’s real intentions, whether the choice of sending Mr. John Bristow was his own desire, or whether it was in compliance with Mr. Macpherson’s, that I might then have written conformably thereto.  Writings are now sent to you for both cases; having privately understood the wishes of Mr. Hastings, deliver whichever of the writings he should order you; for I study Mr. Hastings’s satisfaction; whoever is his friend is mine, and whoever is his enemy is mine.  But in both these cases, my wishes are the same; that having consented to the paper of questions which Major Davy carried with him, and having given me the authority of the country, whomever he may afterwards appoint, I am satisfied.  I am now brought to great distress by these gentlemen, who ruin me; in case of consent, I am contented with Majors Davy and Palmer.  Hereafter, whatever may be Mr. Hastings’s desire, it is best.”

Here is a poor, miserable instrument, confessing himself to be such, ruined by Mr. Hastings’s public agents, Mr. Middleton and Mr. Johnson; ruined by his private agents, Major Davy and Major Palmer; ruined equally by them all; and at last declaring in a tone of despair, “If you have a mind really to keep Major Davy and Major Palmer here, why, I must consent to it.  Do what you please with me, I am your creature; for God’s sake, let me have a little rest.”

Your Lordships shall next hear what account Hyder Beg Khan, the Vizier’s prime-minister, gives of the situation in which he and his master were placed.