valuation of thirty
thousand pounds, were so damaged by ill keeping in warehouses, that they
could not be sold, even for six months' credit, at much more than about
eight thousand pounds; by which a loss in a single article was incurred
of twenty-two thousand pounds out of the fifty, for the recovery of
which (supposing it had been a just debt) such rigorous means had been
employed, after having actually received upwards of five hundred
thousand pounds in value to the Company, and extorted much more in loss
to the suffering individuals. And the said Bristow, being well
acquainted with the unmerciful temper of the said Hastings, in order to
leave no means untried to appease him, not contented with the letter to
the Governor-General and Council, did on the same day write another
letter _to him particularly_, in which he did urge several arguments,
the necessity of using of which to the said Hastings did reflect great
dishonor on this nation, and on the Christian religion therein
professed, namely: "That he had experienced great embarrassment in
treating with her [the mother of the reigning prince]; for, as the
mother of the Vizier, the people look up to her with respect, and any
hard measures practised against women of her high rank create
discontent, and affect our national character." And the said Resident,
after condemning very unjustly her conduct, added, "Still she is the
mother of the prince of the country, and the religious prejudices of
Mussulmen prevail too strongly in their minds to forget her situation."

LXX. That the said Warren Hastings did not make any answer to the said
letter. But the mother of the prince aforesaid, as well as the mother of
his father, being, in consequence of his, the said Hastings's,
directions, incessantly and rudely pressed by their descendant, in the
name of the Company, to pay to the last farthing of the demand, they did
both positively refuse to pay any part of the pretended balances
aforesaid, until their landed estates were restored to them; on the
security of which alone they alleged themselves to be in a condition to
borrow any money, or even to provide for the subsistence of themselves
and their numerous dependants. And in order to put some end to these
differences, the Vizier did himself, about the beginning of August,
1783, go to Fyzabad, and did hold divers conferences with his parents,
and did consent and engage to restore to them their landed estates
aforesaid, and did i