them to be
ready, at the shortest notice, to proceed to Lucknow, and explained
to them every particular contained in your letter of the 1st
instant respecting them.

"Yesterday morning I sent for Letafit Ali Khan, and desired him to
go to the Bhow Begum, and deliver the substance of my instructions
to her, which he did, and returned with the inclosed letter from
her. From some circumstances which I have heard to-day, I am
hopeful the prisoners will soon think seriously of their removal,
and pay the balance rather than submit themselves to an
inconvenient journey to Lucknow."

_To Major Gilpin, commanding at Fyzabad, from Mr. Middleton._

"Sir,--I have been favored with your letter of the 5th instant,
informing me of the steps you had taken in consequence of my
instructions of the 1st, and covering a letter from the Bhow Begum,
which is so unsatisfactory that I cannot think of returning an
answer to it. Indeed, as all correspondence between the Begum and
me has long been stopped, I request you will be pleased to inform
her that I by no means wish to resume it, or maintain any friendly
intercourse with her, until she has made good my claim upon her for
the balance due.

"I have now, in conformity to my former instructions, to desire
that the two prisoners, Behar and Jewar Ali Khan, may be
immediately sent, under a sufficient guard, to Lucknow, unless,
upon your imparting to them this intimation, either they or the
Begum should actually pay the balance, or give you such assurances
or security for the assets to be immediately forthcoming as you
think can be relied upon; in which case you will of course suspend
the execution of this order."

_Mr. Richard Johnson to Major Gilpin. Lucknow, 24th June, 1782._

"Sir,--I have received the honor of your letter of the 20th. The
prisoners arrived here this morning. Lieutenant Crow has delivered
them over to Captain Waugh, and returns to you in a day or two.

"I think their hint to you a very good one, and worth improving
upon. Was the Bhow Begum to think that she must go to Allahabad, or
any other place, while her palace is searched for the hidden
treasure of the late Vizier, it might go further than any other
step that can be immediately taken towards procuring payment of the
balance