cess. I must acquaint you that my son Asoph ul Dowlah had formerly
threatened to seize my jaghire; but, upon producing the treaty signed by
you, and showing it to Mr. Middleton, he interfered, and prevented the
impending evil. The conspiration now framed an accusation against me of
a conduct which I had never conceived even in idea, of rendering
assistance to Rajah Cheyt Sing. The particulars are as follow. My son
Asoph ul Dowlah and his ministers, with troops and a train of artillery,
accompanied by Mr. Middleton, on the 16th of the month of Mohurum,
arrived at Fyzabad, and made a demand of a crore of rupees. As my
inability to pay so vast a sum was manifest, I produced the treaty _you_
signed and gave me, but to no effect: their hearts were determined upon
violence. I offered my son Asoph ul Dowlah, whose will is dearer to me
than all my riches, or even life itself, whatever money and goods I was
possessed of: but an amicable adjustment seemed not worth accepting: he
demanded the delivering up the fort, and the recall of the troops that
were stationed for the preserving the peace of the city. To me tumult
and discord appeared unnecessary. I gave up these points, upon which
they seized my head eunuchs, Jewar Ali Khan and Behar Ali Khan, and sent
them to Mr. Middleton, after having obliged them to sign a bond for
sixty lacs of rupees; they were thrown into prison, with fetters about
their feet, and denied food and water. I, who had never, even in my
dreams, experienced such an oppression, gave up all I had to preserve
my honor and dignity: but this would not satisfy their demands: they
charged me with a rupee and a half batta upon each mohur, and on this
account laid claims upon me to the amount of six lacs some thousand
rupees, and sent Major Gilpin to exact the payment. Major Gilpin,
according to orders, at first was importunate; but being a man of
experience, and of a benevolent disposition, when he was convinced of my
want of means, he changed his conduct, and was willing to apply to the
shroffs and bankers to lend me the money. But with the loss of my
jaghire my credit was sunk; I could not raise the sum. At last, feeling
my helpless situation, I collected my wardrobe and furniture, to the
amount of about three lacs of rupees, besides fifty thousand rupees
which I borrowed from one place or other, and sent Major Gilpin with it
to Lucknow. My sufferings did not terminate here. The disturbances of
Colonel Hannay and Mr