plainly, _that some persons, both of bad character and base
origin, had found the means of insinuating themselves into his company
and constant fellowship_. In such society it is not likely that either
the Nabob's morals or his understanding could have been _much improved_;
nor could it be deemed prudent to leave him without any check upon his
conduct. Mr. Hastings's opinion on this point may be collected from what
he did, but by no means from what he said, on the occasion.

The House will naturally expect to find that the Nabob's request was
granted, and that the resolution of the board was conformable to the
terms of Mr. Hastings's recommendation. Yet the fact is directly the
reverse. Mr. Hastings, after advising _that the Nabob should be
intrusted with the exclusive and entire receipts and disbursements of
his stipend_, immediately corrects that advice, _being aware that so
sudden and unlimited a disposal of a large revenue might at first
encourage a spirit of dissipation in the Nabob_,--and reserves to
_himself_ a power of establishing, _with the Nabob's consent_, such a
plan for the regulation and equal distribution of the Nabob's expenses
_as should be adapted to the dissimilar appearances of preserving his
interests and his independence at the same time_. On the same
complicated principles the subsequent resolution of the board professes
to allow the Nabob the management of his stipend and expenses,--with _an
hope_, however, (which, considering the relative situation of the
parties, could be nothing less than an injunction,) that he would submit
to such a plan _as should be agreed on between him_ and the
Governor-General.

The drift of these contradictions is sufficiently apparent. Mahomed Reza
Khan was to be divested of his office at all events, and the management
of the Nabob's stipend committed to other hands. To accomplish the
first, the Nabob is said to be "now arrived at that time of life when a
man may be supposed capable, _if ever_, of managing his own concerns."
When this principle has answered the momentary purpose for which it was
produced, we find it immediately discarded, and an opposite resolution
formed on an opposite principle, viz., that he shall _not_ have the
management of his own concerns, _in consideration of his want of
experience_.

Mr. Hastings, on his arrival at Moorshedabad, gives Mr. Wheler an
account of his interview with the Nabob, and of the Nabob's implicit
submission to his advi