ct under discussion; for,
after a great deal of conversation, consisting on his part of trifling
evasion and puerile excuses for withholding his assent to the measure,
though at the same time professing the most implicit submission to your
wishes, I found myself without any other resource than the one of
employing that exclusive authority with which I consider your
instructions to vest me: I therefore declared to the Nabob, in presence
of the minister and Mr. Johnson, who I desired might bear witness of the
conversation, that I construed his rejection of the measure proposed as
a breach of his solemn promise to you, and an unwillingness to yield
that assistance which was evidently in his power towards liquidating his
heavy accumulating debt to the Company_, and that I must in consequence
determine, in my own justification, _to issue immediately the
purwannahs_, which had only been withheld in the sanguine hope that he
would be prevailed upon _to make that his own act_ which nothing but the
most urgent necessity could force _me to make mine_. He left me without
any reply, but afterwards sent for his minister and authorized him to
give me hopes that my requisition would be complied with; on which I
expressed my satisfaction, but declared that I could admit of no further
delays, and, unless I received his Excellency's formal acquiescence
before the evening, I should then most assuredly issue _my_ purwannahs;
which _I have accordingly done_, not having had any assurances from his
Excellency that could justify a further suspension. I shall, as soon as
possible, inform you of the effect of the purwannahs, which, in many
parts, I am apprehensive it will be found necessary _to enforce with
military aid_. I am not, however, entirely without hopes that the Nabob,
_when he sees the inefficacy of further opposition_, may alter his
conduct, and prevent _the confusion and disagreeable consequences which
would be too likely to result from the prosecution of a measure of such
importance without his concurrence_. His Excellency talks of going to
Fyzabad, for the purpose heretofore mentioned, in three or four days: _I
wish he may be serious in his intention_, and you may rest assured _I
shall spare no pains to keep him to it_." And further, in a letter of
the 9th December, 1781: "I had the honor to address you on the 7th
instant, informing you of the conversation which had passed between the
Nabob and me on the subject of resuming the jagh