The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

state of that province at the last poonah as may be deemed irrecoverable, or such as may
procure an immediate relief and encouragement to the ryots in the future cultivation of their
lands."

IX. That the said Mahomed Reza Khân, in the execution of the said great and important
trusts and powers, was not so much as suspected of an ambitious or encroaching spirit,
which might make him dangerous to the Company's then recent authority, or which might
render his precedence injurious to the consideration due to his colleagues in office; but, on
the contrary, it appears, that, a plan having been adopted for dividing the administration, in
order to remove the Nabob's jealousies, the same was in danger of being subverted by the
ambition "of two of his colleagues, and the excessive moderation of Mahomed Reza Khân."
And for a remedy of the inconveniencies which might arise from the excess of an
accommodating temper, though attended with irreproachable integrity, the President and
Council did send one of their own members, as their deputy, to the Nabob of Bengal, at his
capital of Moorshedabad; and this measure appears to have been adopted for the support of
Mahomed Reza Khân, in consequence of an inquiry made and advice given by Lord Clive,
in his letter of the 3d of July, 1765, in which letter he expresses himself of the said
Mahomed Reza Khân as follows: "It is with pleasure I can acquaint you, that, the more I
see of Mahomed Reza Khân, the stronger is my conviction of his honor and moderation, but
that, at the same time, I cannot help observing, that, either from timidity or an erroneous
principle, he is too ready to submit to encroachments upon that proportion of power that has
been allotted him."

X. That, the Nabob Jaffier Ali Khân dying in February, 1765, Mahomed Reza Khân was
appointed guardian to his children, and administrator of his office, or regent, which

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