experience of the disorders and corrupt
practices which intrigues and negotiations to bring about revolutions
among the country powers had produced, did positively and repeatedly
direct their servants in Bengal not to engage in any offensive war
whatsoever. That the said Court laid it down as _an invariable maxim,
which ought ever to be maintained, that they were to avoid taking part
in the political schemes of any of the country princes_,--and did, in
particular, order and direct that they should not engage with a certain
prince called Sujah ul Dowlah, Nabob of Oude, and Vizier of the Empire,
in any operations beyond certain limits in the said orders specially
described.

That Warren Hastings, Esquire, then Governor of Fort William in Bengal,
did, with other members of the Council, declare his clear understanding
of the true intent and meaning of the said positive and repeated orders
and injunctions,--did express to the Court of Directors his approbation
of the policy thereof,--did declare that he adopted the same _with
sincerity and satisfaction_, and that he was _too well aware of the
ruinous tendency of all schemes of conquest ever to adopt them, or ever
to depart from the absolute line of self-defence, unless impelled to it
by the most obvious necessity_,--did signify to the Nabob of Oude the
said orders, and his obligation to yield punctual obedience
thereto,--and did solemnly engage and promise to the Court of Directors,
with the _unanimous concurrence_ of the whole Council, "that no object
or consideration should either tempt or compel him to pass the political
line which they [the Directors] had laid down for his operations with
the Vizier," assuring the Court of Directors that he "scarce saw a
possible advantage which could compensate the hazard and expense to be
incurred by a contrary conduct,"--that he did frequently repeat the same
declarations, or declarations to the same effect, particularly in a
letter to the Nabob himself, of the 22d of November, 1773, in the
following words: "The commands of my superiors are, as I have repeatedly
informed you, peremptory, that I shall not suffer their arms to be
carried beyond the line of their own boundaries, and those of your
Excellency, their ally."

That the said Warren Hastings, in direct contradiction to the said
orders, and to his own sense of their propriety and coercive authority,
and in breach of his express promises and engagements, did, in
September, 1773