"_Lucknow, the 7th Dec., 1781._

"My dear Sir,--I had the honor to address you yesterday, informing
you of the steps I had taken in regard to the resumption of the
jaghires. This morning the Vizier came to me, according to his
agreement, but seemingly without any intention or desire to yield
me satisfaction on the subject under discussion; for, after a great
deal of conversation, consisting on his part of trifling evasion
and puerile excuses for withholding his assent to the measure,
though at the same time professing the most implicit submission to
your wishes, I found myself without any other resource than the one
of employing that exclusive authority with which I consider your
instructions to vest me. I therefore declared to the Nabob, in
presence of the minister and Mr. Johnson, who I desired might bear
witness of the conversation, that I construed his rejection of the
measure proposed as a breach of his solemn promise to you, and an
unwillingness to yield that assistance which was evidently in his
power towards liquidating his heavy accumulated debt to the
Company, and that I must in consequence determine, in my own
justification, to issue immediately the purwannahs, which had only
been withheld in the sanguine hope that he would be prevailed upon
to make that his own act, which nothing but the most urgent
necessity could force me to make mine. He left me without any
reply, but afterwards sent for his minister, and authorized him to
give me hopes that my requisition would be complied with; on which
I expressed my satisfaction, but declared that I could admit of no
further delays, and, unless I received his Excellency's formal
acquiescence before the evening, I should then most assuredly issue
my purwannahs: which I have accordingly done, not having had any