"Sir,--My mind has been for some days suspended between two
opposite impulses: one arising from the necessity of my return to
Calcutta; the other, from the apprehension of my presence being
more necessary and more urgently wanted at Lucknow. Your answer to
this shall decide my choice.

"I have waited thus long in the hopes of hearing that some progress
had been made in the execution of the plan which I concluded with
the Nabob in September last. I do not find that any step towards
it has been yet taken, though three months are elapsed, and little
more than that period did appear to me requisite to have
accomplished the most essential parts of it, and to have brought
the whole into train. This tardiness, and the opposition prepared
to the only decided act yet undertaken, have a bad appearance. I
approve the Nabob's resolutions to deprive the Begums of their
ill-employed treasures. In both services, it must be your care to
prevent an abuse of the powers given to those that are employed in
them. You yourself ought to be personally present. You must not
allow any negotiation or forbearance, but must prosecute both
services, until the Begums are at the entire mercy of the Nabob,
their jaghires in the quiet possession of his aumils, and their
wealth in such charge as may secure it against private
embezzlement. You will have a force more than sufficient to effect
both these purposes.

"The reformation of his army and the new settlement of his revenues
are also points of immediate concern, and ought to be immediately
concluded. Has anything been done in either?