The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

that, not satisfied with the bare discharge of his duty under the said request, he, the said
Hastings, did, on the 8th of January, 1779, write to Fyzoola, "that, in his own name," as
well as "that of the board, he [the said Hastings] returned him the warmest thanks for this
instance of his faithful attachment to the Company and the English nation."

IV.[24] That by the strong expressions above recited the said Warren Hastings did
deliberately and emphatically add his own particular confirmation to the general testimony
of the Nabob Fyzoola Khân's meritorious fidelity, and of his consequent claim on the
generosity, no less than the justice, of the British government.

PART V.

DEMAND OF FIVE THOUSAND HORSE.

I. That, notwithstanding his own private honor thus deeply engaged, notwithstanding the
public justice and generosity of the Company and the nation thus solemnly committed,
disregarding the plain import and positive terms of the guarantied treaty, the Governor-
General, Warren Hastings aforesaid, in November, 1780, while a body of Fyzoola Khân's
cavalry, voluntarily granted, were still serving under a British officer, did recommend to the
Vizier "to require from Fyzoola Khân the quota of troops stipulated by treaty to be
furnished by the latter for his [the Vizier's] service, being FIVE THOUSAND HORSE,"
though, as the Vizier did not march in person, he was not, under any construction of the
treaty, entitled by stipulation to more than "two or three thousand troops," horse and foot,
"according to the ability of Fyzoola Khân"; and that, whereas the said Warren Hastings
would have been guilty of very criminal perfidy, if he had simply neglected to interfere as a
guaranty against a demand thus plainly contrary to the faith of treaty, so he aggravated the
guilt of his perfidy in the most atrocious degree by being himself the first mover and

<<   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   >>

More intriguing information