assurances from his Excellency that could justify a further
suspension. I shall as soon as possible inform you of the effect of
the purwannahs, which in many parts I am apprehensive it will be
found necessary to enforce with military aid; I am not, however,
entirely without hopes that the Nabob, when he sees the inefficacy
of further opposition, may alter his conduct, and prevent the
confusion and disagreeable consequences which would be too likely
to result from the prosecution of a measure of such importance
without his concurrence. His Excellency talks of going to Fyzabad,
for the purpose heretofore mentioned, in three or four days; I wish
he may be serious in this intention, and you may rest assured I
shall spare no pains to keep him to it."


"_Lucknow, 28th December, 1781._

"If your new demand is to be insisted upon, which your letter seems
to portend, I must beg your precise orders upon it; as, from the
difficulties I have within these few days experienced in carrying
the points you had enjoined with the Nabob, I have the best grounds
for believing that he would consider it a direct breach of the late
agreement, and totally reject the proposal as such; and I must own
to you, that, in his present fermented state of mind, I could
expect nothing less than despair and a declared rupture.

"He has by no means been yet able to furnish me with means of
paying off the arrears due to the temporary brigade, to the
stipulated term of its continuance in his service. The funds
necessary for paying off and discharging his own military
establishment under British officers, and his pension list, have