The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 12 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
History
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 12 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
prisoner's counsel have taken abundance of pains to show that such
persons do sometimes head armies and command legions in the East. This
we acknowledge that they sometimes do. If these eunuchs had behaved in
this way, if they had headed armies and commanded legions for the
purposes of rebellion, it would have been a fair presumption that their
mistresses were concerned in it. But instead of any proof of such facts,
Mr. Hastings simply says, "We do not arrest them for the purpose of
extorting money, but as a punishment for their crimes." By Mr.
Middleton's account you will see the utter falsity of this assertion.
God knows what he has said that is true. It would, indeed, be singular
not to detect him in a falsity, but in a truth. I will now show your
Lordships the utter falsity of this wicked allegation.
There is a letter from Mr. Middleton to Sir Elijah Impey, dated Fyzabad,
the 25th of January, 1782, to which I will call your Lordships'
attention.
"Dear Sir Elijah,--I have the satisfaction to inform you that we
have at length so far obtained the great object of our expedition
to this place as to commence on the receipt of money, of which, in
the course of this day, we have got about six lacs. I know not yet
what amount we shall actually realize, but I think I may safely
venture to pronounce it will be equal to the liquidation of the
Company's balance. It has been at once the most important and the
most difficult point of duty which has ever occurred in my office;
and the anxiety, the hopes and fears, which have alternately
agitated my mind, cannot be described or conceived but by those who
have been witness to what has passed in the course of this long
contest. The [Nabob's] ministers have supported me nobly, and
deserve much commendation. Without the shrewd discernment and
knowledge of the finesse and tricks of the country which Hyder Beg
Khân possesses, I believe we should have succeeded but
indifferently; for I soon found that no real advantage was to be
obtained by proceeding at once to violent extremities with the
Begum, and that she was only to be attacked through the medium of
her confidential servants, who it required considerable address to
get hold of. However, we at last effected it; and by using some few
severities with them, we at length came at the secret hoards of
this old lady. I will write you more particulars hereafter.
"I am sorry to inform you my little boy still continues in a very
precarious way, though somewhat better than when I had last the
honor to address you. My respects to Lady Impey. And believe me,
with great regard, my dear Sir Elijah, your faithful, obliged, and
most affectionate humble servant,
"NATHANIEL MIDDLETON."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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