this business:  that his seal was to the treaty and writing of discharge; why did he not negotiate in my favor?  Mr. Middleton replied, ‘The Nabob is the master.’  I wrote frequently, but without effect.  Being helpless, I represent to you the state of my affairs, that, notwithstanding the existence of this treaty, I have been treated in this manner.  It is useless for me to stay here.  Whatever is is a compact; whenever any one deviates from his compact, he meets with no credit for the future; and the light of mine eyes, Asoph ul Dowlah, wrote to me that he had sent his own aumils into my jaghires, and would pay ready money from his treasury.  Reflect on my security for his adhering to his future engagements, from the consideration of his conduct under his past promises.  I do not agree to his ready money.  Let me have my jaghires as formerly; otherwise, leaving this place, I will wait on you at Benares, and thence will go towards Shahjehanabad, because he has not adhered to his engagement.  Send letters to Asoph ul Dowlah, and to Mr. Middleton, and Hussein Reza Khan, and Hyder Beg Khan, not to molest the Begum’s jaghires, and to let them remain, as formerly, with the Begum’s aumils.  And it is here suspected of me that my aumil plundered the property of Mr. John Gordon.  The case is this.  Mr. John Gordon arrived at Taunda, a jaghire of mine, fighting with the zemindars of Acberpore, which belongs to the Khalseh.  Accordingly, Mr. John Gordon having come to Taunda, my aumil performed whatever appertained to his duty.  Afterwards Mr. John Gordon wrote to me to send my people, that he might come with them to Fyzabad.  I sent people accordingly to bring Mr. John Gordon, and the said gentleman arrived here in complete safety; and Mr. John Gordon is now present.  Ask him yourself of these matters.  Mr. John Gordon will represent matters in detail; the truth will then become known, how ill-founded the calumny is.  Should you come here for a few days, it will be very well, and if not, I will wait on you; and your coming here is very necessary, that all my affairs may become arranged.  And send a speedy answer to my letters, and a letter to Asoph ul Dowlah, and Mr. Middleton, and Hussein Reza Khan, and Hyder Beg Khan, on the subject of ceasing to molest my jaghires.  And send me constantly news of your health, for my peace of mind depends thereon.”

This letter was transmitted to Mr. Hastings.  I desire your Lordships will remark upon this letter, for it is a most important one indeed.  It is hardly worth observing that all this correspondence came out of the various trunks of which your Lordships have already heard, and that this letter is out of the trunk of Mr. Hastings’s private Persian secretary and interpreter, Mr. Jonathan Scott.  Now, my Lords, in this letter there are several things worthy of your Lordships’ observation.  The first is, that this woman is not conscious of having ever been accused of any rebellion:  the only accusation