ing-girl the
miserable Nabob's whole family; and that the fund for corruption might
be large enough, he did not take the money for this dancing-girl out of
the Nabob's separate revenue, of which he and the dancing-girl had the
private disposal between them.

Now upon what pretence did he do all this? The Nabob had represented to
Mr. Hastings that he was now of age,--that he was an independent,
sovereign prince,--that, being independent and sovereign in his
situation, and being of full age, he had a right to manage his own
concerns himself; and therefore he desired to be admitted to that
management. And, indeed, my Lords, ostensibly, and supposing him to have
been this independent prince, and that the Company had no authority or
had never exercised any authority over him through Mr. Hastings, there
might be a good deal said in favor of this request. But what was the
real state of the case? The Nabob was a puppet in the hands of Mr.
Hastings and Munny Begum; and you will find, upon producing the
correspondence, that he confesses that she was the ultimate object and
end of this request.

I think this correspondence, wherein a son is made to petition, in his
own name, for the elevation of a dancing-girl, his step-mother, above
himself and everybody else, will appear to your Lordships such a
curiosity as, I believe, is not to be found in the state correspondence
of the whole world. The Nabob begins thus:--"The excellency of that
policy by which her Highness the Begum" (meaning Munny Begum) "(may her
shadow be far extended!) formerly, during the time of her
administration, transacted the affairs of the nizamut in the very best
and most advantageous manner, was, by means of the delusions of enemies
disguised under the appearance of friends, hidden from me. Having lately
seriously reflected on my own affairs, I am convinced that it was the
effect of maternal affection, was highly proper, and for my
interest,--and that, except the said Begum is again invested with the
administration, the regulation and prosperity of this family, which is
in fact her own, cannot be effected. For this cause, from the time of
her suspension until now, I have passed my time, and do so still, in
great trouble and uneasiness. As all affairs, and particularly the
happiness and prosperity of this family, depend on your pleasure, I now
trouble you, in hopes that you, likewise concurring in this point, will
be so kind as to write in fit and proper terms