counsel have taken abundance of pains to show that such persons do sometimes head armies and command legions in the East.  This we acknowledge that they sometimes do.  If these eunuchs had behaved in this way, if they had headed armies and commanded legions for the purposes of rebellion, it would have been a fair presumption that their mistresses were concerned in it.  But instead of any proof of such facts, Mr. Hastings simply says, “We do not arrest them for the purpose of extorting money, but as a punishment for their crimes.”  By Mr. Middleton’s account you will see the utter falsity of this assertion.  God knows what he has said that is true.  It would, indeed, be singular not to detect him in a falsity, but in a truth.  I will now show your Lordships the utter falsity of this wicked allegation.

There is a letter from Mr. Middleton to Sir Elijah Impey, dated Fyzabad, the 25th of January, 1782, to which I will call your Lordships’ attention.

“Dear Sir Elijah,—­I have the satisfaction to inform you that we have at length so far obtained the great object of our expedition to this place as to commence on the receipt of money, of which, in the course of this day, we have got about six lacs.  I know not yet what amount we shall actually realize, but I think I may safely venture to pronounce it will be equal to the liquidation of the Company’s balance.  It has been at once the most important and the most difficult point of duty which has ever occurred in my office; and the anxiety, the hopes and fears, which have alternately agitated my mind, cannot be described or conceived but by those who have been witness to what has passed in the course of this long contest.  The [Nabob’s] ministers have supported me nobly, and deserve much commendation.  Without the shrewd discernment and knowledge of the finesse and tricks of the country which Hyder Beg Khan possesses, I believe we should have succeeded but indifferently; for I soon found that no real advantage was to be obtained by proceeding at once to violent extremities with the Begum, and that she was only to be attacked through the medium of her confidential servants, who it required considerable address to get hold of.  However, we at last effected it; and by using some few severities with them, we at length came at the secret hoards of this old lady.  I will write you more particulars hereafter.

“I am sorry to inform you my little boy still continues in a very precarious way, though somewhat better than when I had last the honor to address you.  My respects to Lady Impey.  And believe me, with great regard, my dear Sir Elijah, your faithful, obliged, and most affectionate humble servant,

       “NATHANIEL MIDDLETON.”