The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

not have too theatrical an appearance for the grave state in which we are. But here it is,—
the difficulty, the knot, and the solution, as recorded by the parties themselves. It was the
object of this bold, desperate, designing man, Cossim All Khân, who aimed at everything,
and who scrupled not to do anything in attaining what he aimed at, to be appointed the
lieutenant of the Nabob Jaffier Ali, and thus to get possession of his office during his
lifetime under that name, with a design of murdering him: for that office, according to
many usages of that country, totally supersedes the authority of the first magistrate, renders
him a cipher in his hand, gives the administration of his affairs and command of his troops
to the lieutenant. It was a part of his plan, that he was, after his appointment to the
lieutenancy, to be named to the succession of the Nabob, who had several other children;
but the eldest son stood in the way.

But as things hastened to a crisis, this difficulty was removed in the most extraordinary and
providential unheard-of manner, by the most extraordinary event that, I believe, is recorded
in history. Just in the nick of time, in the moment of projection, on the 3d of July, this
Prince Meeran, in the flower of his age, bold, active, enterprising, lying asleep in his tent, is
suddenly, without any one's knowing it, without any alarm or menace in the heavens that
ever was heard of or mentioned, without any one whatever being hurt or even alarmed in
the camp, killed with a flash of lightning. My Lords, thus was the Gordian knot cut. This
prince dies of a flash of lightning, and Mr. Lushington (of whom you have heard) comes in
the morning with his hair standing erect, comes frightened into the presence of Major
Calliaud, and, with the utmost alarm, tells him of a circumstance that was afterwards to give
them so much pleasure. The alarm was immediately communicated to the Major, who was
seized with a fright; and fearing lest the army should mutiny upon the death of their chief, it
was contrived, in a manner that I believe was most difficult to contrive, that what might

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