The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

hands of Major Palmer (one of his agents, who had been continued there, though the
Company was not permitted to employ any) to be transmitted to Colonel Cumming as soon
as an adequate force shall be provided for the defence of the Nabob's frontier by
detachments from the Nabob's own battalions,—the said Colonel Cumming's forces, whom
the others were to supersede and replace, consisting wholly of infantry, and which, being
intended for the same service, were probably of the same constitution.

LXXXV. That the old brigade of British troops, which by treaty was to remain, had been
directed, by the instructions of the said Hastings to the Resident Middleton and to the
Resident Bristow, "not to be employed at the requisition of the Vizier any otherwise than
through the Resident"; and the said direction was properly given,—it not being fit that
British troops should be under the sole direction of foreign independent princes, or of any
other than the British government: yet, notwithstanding the proper and necessary direction
aforesaid, he, the said Warren Hastings, hath left the said troops, by his new treaty, without
any local control, or even inspection, notwithstanding his powers under the treaty of
Chunar, and his own repeated orders, and notwithstanding the mischiefs and dangers which
the said Warren Hastings did foresee would result therefrom, if left under the sole direction
of the Nabob, and their own discretion, the said Hastings having stipulated with the said
Nabob not to exercise any authority, or even influence, secret or avowed, within his
dominions.

LXXXVI. That the crime of the said Warren Hastings, in attempting thus to abandon the
British army to the sole discretion of the Nabob of Oude, is exceedingly aggravated by the
description given by him severally of the said Nabob of Oude, and of the British army
stationed for the defence of his dominions. In his letters to the Court of Directors, and in his

<<   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   >>

More intriguing information