"_Q._ Had you any opportunity of observing the general face of the country in the time of Sujah Dowlah?--_A._ I had.--_Q._ Did you remark any difference in the general state of the country at that time and the period when you made your latter observation?--did you observe any difference between the condition of the country at that time, that of Sujah Dowlah in the year 1774, and the latter period you have mentioned?--_A._ I did,--a very material difference.--_Q._ In what respect?--_A._ In the general aspect that the country bore, and the cultivation of the country,--that it was infinitely better cultivated in 1774 than it was in 1783.--_Q._ You said you had no opportunity of observing the face of the country till you was appointed aide-de-camp to the Nabob?--_A._ No,--except by marching and countermarching. I marched in the year 1774 through the Nabob Sujah ul Dowlah's provinces into Rohilcund.--_Q._ Had you those opportunities from the time of your going there in 1774?--_A._ I had; but not so much as I had after being appointed aide-de-camp to the Vizier, because I was always before in a subordinate situation: I marched in a direct line before, with the troops; but afterwards, when I was aide-de-camp to his Excellency, I was my own master, and made frequent excursions into the different parts of the country.--_Q._ Had you an opportunity of observing the difference in the general happiness and disposition of the people?--_A._ I had.--_Q._ Did you observe a difference in that respect also between your first coming and the year 1783?--_A._ Yes, a very sensible difference: in Sujah ul Dowlah's time the country was in a very flourishing state, in merchandise, cultivation, and every article of commerce, and the people then seemed to be very happy under his government, which latterly was not the case; because the country in reality appeared in the year 1774 in a flourishing state, and in the year 1783 it appeared comparatively forlorn and desolate.--_Q._ Was the court of Asoph ul Dowlah, when you left India, equal in point of splendor to what it was in the time of Sujah ul Dowlah?--_A._ By no means: it was not equally splendid, but far inferior.--_Q._ Were the dependants and officers belonging to the court paid in the same punctual manner?--_A._ No: I really cannot say whether they were paid more regularly in Sujah Dowlah's time, only they appeared more wealthy and more able to live in a splendid style in his time than they ever have done since his death."