The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

PART VI.

TREATY OF CHUNAR.

I. That the Governor-General, Warren Hastings, being vested with the illegal powers before
recited, did, on the 19th of September, 1781, enter into a treaty with the Vizier at Chunar,—
which treaty (as the said Hastings relates) was drawn up "from a series of requisitions
presented to him [the said Hastings] by the Vizier," and by him received "with an instant
and unqualified assent to each article"; and that the said Hastings assigns his reasons for
such ready assent in the following words: "I considered the subjects of his [the Vizier's]
requests as essential to the reputation of our government, and no less to our interest than
his."

II. That in the said treaty of Chunar the third article is as follows.

"That, as Fyzoola Khân has by his breach of treaty forfeited the protection of the English
government, and causes by his continuance in his present independent state great alarm and
detriment to the Nabob Vizier, he be permitted, when time shall suit, to resume his lands,
and pay him in money, through the Resident, the amount stipulated by treaty, after
deducting the amount and charges of the troops he stands engaged to furnish by treaty;
which amount shall be passed to the account of the Company during the continuance of the
present war."

III. That, for the better elucidation of his policy in the several articles of the treaty above
mentioned, the said Hastings did send to the Council of Calcutta (now consisting of Edward
Wheler and John Macpherson, Esquires) two different copies of the said treaty, with
explanatory minutes opposed to each article; and that the minute opposed to the third article

<<   247   248   249   250   251   252   253   >>

More intriguing information