The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

year in particular, from the excessive drought, deductions of many lacs" (stated by the
Resident, in his letter to the board of the 13th of the month following, to amount to twenty-
five lac, or 250,000l. sterling) "have been allowed the farmers, who were still left
unsatisfied. I have received but just sufficient to support my absolute necessities, the
revenues being deficient to the amount of fifteen lac [150,000l. sterling], and for this reason
many of the old chieftains with their troops, and the useful attendants of the court, were
forced to leave it, and there is now only a few foot and horse for the collection of my
revenues; and should the zemindars be refractory, there is not left a sufficient number to
reduce them to obedience." And the said Nabob did therefore pray that the assignments for
the new brigade, the corps of horse, and the other detached bodies of the Company's troops
might not be required from him: alleging, "that the former was not only quite useless to his
government, but, moreover, the cause of much loss, both in the revenues and customs; and
that the detached bodies of troops under their European officers brought nothing but
confusion into the affairs of his government, and were entirely their own masters."

VI. That it appears that the said Nabob was not bound by any treaty to the maintenance,
without his consent, even of the old brigade,—the Court of Directors having, in their letter
of the 15th December, 1775, approved of keeping the same in his service, "provided it was
done with the free consent of the Subah, and by no means without it." And the new brigade
and temporary corps were raised on the express condition, that the expense thereof should
be charged on the Nabob only "for so long a time as he should require the corps for his
service." And the Court of Directors express to the Governor-General and Council their
sense of the said agreement in the following terms: "But if you intend to exert your
influence first to induce the Vizier to acquiesce in your proposal, and afterwards to compel
him to keep the troops in his pay during your pleasure, your intents are unjust; and a

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