ires, and the step I had
taken in consequence. _His Excellency appeared to be very much hurt and
incensed at the measure, and loudly complains of the treachery of his
ministers,--first, in giving you any hopes that such a measure would be
adopted, and, secondly, in their promising me their whole support in
carrying it through; but, as I apprehended, rather than suffer it to
appear that the point had been carried in opposition to his will_, he at
length yielded a _nominal_ acquiescence, and has this day issued his own
purwannahs to that effect,--_declaring, however, at the same time, both
to me and his ministers, that it is an act of compulsion_. I hope to be
able in a few days, in consequence of this measure, to transmit you an
account of the actual value and produce of the jaghires, opposed to the
nominal amount at which they stand rated on the books of the circar."

XII. That the said Warren Hastings, instead of expressing any
disapprobation of the proceedings aforesaid, in violation of the rights
secured by treaty with the mother and grandmother of the reigning prince
of Oude, and not less in violation of the sovereign rights of the Nabob
himself, did by frequent messages stimulate the said Middleton to a
perseverance in and to a rigorous execution of the same,--and in his
letter from Benares of the 25th December, 1781, did "express doubts of
his firmness and activity, and, above all, of his recollection of his
instructions and their importance; and that, if he could not rely on his
own [power] and the means he possessed for performing those services, he
_would free him_ [the said Middleton] _from the charges_, and would
proceed _himself_ to Lucknow, and would _himself_ undertake them."

XIII. That very doubtful credit is to be given to any letters written by
the said Middleton to the said Warren Hastings, when they answer the
purposes which the said Warren Hastings had evidently in view: the said
Middleton having written to him in the following manner from Lucknow,
30th December, 1781.

XIV. "MY DEAR SIR,--I have this day answered your _public_
letter in the form _you seem to expect_. I hope there is nothing in it
that may appear to you too pointed. _If you wish the matter to be
otherwise understood than I have taken up and stated it, I need not say
I shall be ready to conform to whatever you may prescribe, and to take
upon myself any share of the blame of the (hitherto) non-performance of
the stipulations made on