desire the women to surrender their house; though it is in evidence before you, that to remove a woman from her own house to another house without her consent is an outrage of the greatest atrocity, on account of which many women have not only threatened, but have actually put themselves to death.  Mr. Hastings himself, in the case of Munny Begum, had considered such a proposition as the last degree of outrage that could be offered.  These women offered to go from house to house while their residence was searched; but “No,” say their tormentors, “the treasure may be bricked up, in so large a house, in such a manner that we cannot find it.”

But to proceed with the treatment of these unfortunate men.  I will read to your Lordships a letter of Mr. Middleton to Captain Leonard Jaques, commanding at Fyzabad, 18th March, 1782.

“Sir,—­I have received your letter of the 13th instant.  The two prisoners, Behar and Jewar Ali Khan, having violated their written solemn engagement with me for the payment of the balance due to the Honorable Company on the Nabob’s assignments accepted by them, and declining giving me any satisfactory assurances on that head, I am under the disagreeable necessity of recurring to severities to enforce the said payment.  This is, therefore, to desire that you immediately cause them to be put in irons, and kept so until I shall arrive at Fyzabad, to take further measures, as may be necessary.”

Here is the answer of Captain Jaques to Mr. Middleton.

        “April 23d, 1782.

“Sir,—­Allow me the honor of informing you that the place the prisoners Behar Ali Khan and Jewar Ali Khan are confined in is become so very unhealthy, by the number obliged to be on duty in so confined a place at this hot season of the year, and so situated, that no reduction can with propriety be made from their guard, it being at such a distance from the battalion.”

You see, my Lords, what a condition these unfortunate persons were in at that period; you see they were put in irons, in a place highly unhealthy; and from this you will judge of the treatment which followed the few severities.  The first yielded a bond for 600,000_l._; the second, a bond for 60,000_l._; the third was intended to extort the payment of these bonds, and completed their series.

I will now read a letter from Captain Jaques to Mr. Middleton, from the printed Minutes, dated Palace, Fyzabad, May 18th, 1782, consequently written nearly a month after the former.

“Sir,—­The prisoners Behar and Jewar Ali Khan, who seem to be very sickly, have requested their irons might be taken off for a few days, that they might take medicine, and walk about the garden of the place where they are confined, to assist the medicine in its operation.  Now, as I am sure they would be equally as secure without their irons as with them, I think it my duty to inform you of this request, and desire to know your pleasure concerning it.

       (Signed) “LEONARD JAQUES.”