My dear Sir,-Lord Wellesley has received your official dispatch of the 6th instant, and has been made acquainted with the contents of his excellency the vizier's letter, which reached me on the night of the 14th-His lordship is preparing instructions for you, and a reply to his excellency's letter, both of which will be dispatched to you in the course of a few days; his lordship, however, deeming it advisable that you should be apprized as early as possible of his general sentiments and intentions, in order that you may be prepared to act in conformity to them as occasion may arise, has directed me to state them to you in the form of a private communication.

His lordship considers a territorial cession an object of too much importance, and our right to demand it too well founded, to relinquish the attempt; it is therefore his lordship's intention, at a future period, to press that demand upon his excellency with increased urgency; with this view his lordship desires that you will not suffer his excellency to consider the measure as abandoned, but that you will keep the question alive until you shall be instructed to press it upon his excellency with renewed earnestness.

The two points which his lordship is anxious should be immediately insisted on are, first the payment of the arrears due from his excellency to the extra troops serving in Oude from November 1798, to this time, and, secondly, the further reduction of his excellency's

army.

With regard to the first point, you will have observed that his excellency in his late letter to the governor-general acknowledges the justice of the claim, and consents to fulfil it.

Hitherto his lordship has been disposed to consider this claim in the light of a contingent resource; had his lordship considered it as a resource for the relief of the public exigencies his lordship would long since have pressed his excellency for payment; under the disposition which his excellency has now manifested, his lordship deems any longerforbearance unnecessary, and is anxious, without a moment of delay, to secure

the full benefit of so seasonable a supply in the present embarrassed state of the public finances.

His lordship therefore desires that you will insist upon his excellency's instantaneous discharge of the arrear: - the proper officers are employed in framing the account upon the principles stated in your private letter to colonel Kirkpatrick of 19th October, 1799. The account will be transmitted to you shortly; in the mean time this commmunication of his lordship's sentiments will enable you to commence the requisition for payment, which his lordship desires you will not fail to urge with every degree of earnestness and perseverance.

If the urgency of this just demand should induce the vizier to relax the obstinacy of his objections to a permanent and general arrangement of the affairs of Oude, founded on either of the propositions detailed to you in the governorgeneral's instructions of the 22d January, 1801, his lordship is satisfied that you will not fail to avail yourself of any such favourable turn in his excellency's mind; but the false and artful character of the nabob requires that you should be peculiarly cautious to preclude the possibility of his endeavouring to delay the pay

ment

of a demand which he has, admitted to be just, by pretending a disposition to commute these arrears for territorial cession, or for any other arrangement.

With regard to the second point, the reduction of his excellency's remaining troops, his lordship observes that his excellency has himself furnished the strongest probable ground for insisting upon that point, by the principle declared in his last letter to the governor-general--that the funds for the payment of the additional British forces stationed in Oude must be sought in the reduction of his excellency's own troops.

His lordship is extremely desirous that this important object should be completely effected at the earliest possible period of time, and has accordingly directed me to request that you will immediately urge its completion with the utmost degree of earnestness, and with the force and advantage which his excellency's recent declaration enables you to command.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c. (Signed) N. B. EDMONSTONE. 16th March, 1801.

Copy

My Lord,-1. In the letter which I did myself the honour of addressing to your lordship yesterday, I communicated my intention of waiting upon the Vizier this morning for the purpose of remonstrating with his excellency on the contents of the letter which he had prepared in reply to the one from your lordship. It is with extreme mortification and concern I now inform your lordship, that all the arguments used and enforced by me to prevail on his excellency to qualify or withdraw his rejection of both the propositions have proved ineffectual; under which circumstance I have with this dispatch transmitted his excellency's letter to the Persian translator.

2. The reasoning with which I introduced the subject was deduced from your lordship's letter to his excellency. I referred to that part of it, which in the event of his excellency being unfortunately persuaded to reject the first proposition, insists upon the absolute necessity of a cession of a portion of his teritories sufficient to defray the expence of the subsidy to the extent of the full augmented force; and adverting to the firm assurance contained in the last paragraph, I' intreated his excellency to reflect upon the sentiments which would arise in your lordship's mind on the unqualified refusal of an arrangement which your lordship had declared, in the most solemn manner, was dictated by a sense of duty, and from the principle of which the British government could never depart.

8. In a long conversation, in which his excellency introduced the usual topics of the mal-administration of the former government, and of the disordered state of the country on his own accession, the only remark worthy of being communicated to your lordship, either from its novelty or its tendency, was, that the cession of the territory required would produce very heavy loses to his future resources, which he explained by advert ing to the provinces being received at their present diminished produce. In addition to the argument which I had before used on this subject, I en leavoured to demonstrate that the reverse would be the case in respect to the large portion of

the territory to be transferred now held by Almas Ally Khan.

4. The vigour of that aumil, I observed, by which the Dooab had been brought to and maintained in any sort of order, and the produce of it raised to the highest jumma of which it is capa ble, was daily decaying to such a degree that Almas, sensible of his own ina bility to persevere in his former exertions, was anxious to be released from the charge. The turbulent spirit of the inhabitants, though restrained, was not subdued; and whenever the period arrived when his excellency should be obliged to commit the management of the Dooab to the hands of other aumils, he must look to a diminution of the present revenues; and even if Almas could be persuaded to retain the charge, which I had reason to believe he would not, beyond the present year, the Zemindars, taking advantage of his known imbecility, would withhold the payment

of their rents.

5. Finding his excellency resolute against my remonstrances and arguments, I concluded with informing him, that having fulfilled every dny of friendship and regard to his excellency, I should, since he persevered in the desire, transmit his letter to your lordship; but that it now remained for me to fulfil my duty to your lordship by making a formal demand on his excellency for a cession of territory, in conformity to your lordship's commands, and to the sketch which I had submitted to his excellency's consideration; and I beg leave to acquaint your lordship that in pursuance of that declaration I shall immediately prepare this formal requisition.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.
(Signed) W. SCOTT,
Resident Lucknow.

Lucknow, 7th March, 1801.

"nished the preceding year for the pro❝tection of my country."

With a view, therefore, to remove your lordship's concern on that head, I beg leave to state as follows:

The occasion of my writing to that effect in my communications with colonel Scott was this:

Your lordship formerly wrote to me, desiring that I would communicate whatever was upon my mind to colonel Scott, freely and without reserve, as any concealment and reserve in communicating my sentiments to colonel Scott, who was the medium of intercourse between the two states, would be productive of embarrassment and impediment in our mutual concerns.

Therefore, whereas in your lordship's former letter it was written that, "By "means of this reform I should obtain funds for the discharge of the whole "of the expences of the company's "additional troops;" and whereas in your lordship's second letter it was written that, For the purpose of pro"viding for the additional expences "which were now become indispensably 66 necessary for the defence of my coun66 try, without adding to my encum"brances, it would be sufficient to dis"band the mutinous battalions in my "service;" and whereas in the letter from his excellency sir Alured Clarke, it was written that," Economy would "not be the least of the advantages "resulting to me from a reform in my "military establishment ;" and whereas, at the close of the statement of the additional force which colonel Scott delivered to me by your lordship's orders, it was written that, "The charges of the "additional troops were to be provided "for by the disbanding of my own."

Therefore, since the resources provided by disbanding my troops were inadequate to supply the expences of the company's (additional) forces (in confor mity to your lordship's desire that I would unreservedly communicate my sentiments to colonel Scott upon all subjects), it became necessary for me to state those circumstances to colonel Scott; that is, to desire that in conformity to the several writings (above quoted) he would provide the necessary resources.

In the course of these conferences and communications, however, no impediment of affairs occurred, and no failure or deficiency whatever was experienced in the discharge of the expences of the

new troops, and in the payment of the kists of the fixed subsidy. On the contrary, those expences and kists were punctually paid; accordingly the kist of the fixed subsidy, and the charges of the additional troops, have been completely paid to the end of January, 1801, and colonel Scott has expressed his acknowledgments on the occasion.

As my consent to the first proposition is altogether impracticable (accordingly I have already written an ample reply to that proposition), and as it is impossible for me, with my own hands, to exclude myself from my patrimonial dominion, (for what advantage should I derive from so doing?) this therefore is a measure which I will never adopt.

With respect to what your lordship writes about providing a territorial resource for the payment of the British troops, since I have not in any way delayed or neglected to discharge the kists for the expences of the troops, but have paid them with punctuality, where is the occasion for requiring any territorial resource; I expect to derive the most substantial profits from bringing into a flourishing condition this country, which has so long been in a state of waste and ruin; by a separation of territory my hopes of these substantial profits would be entirely cut off, and a great loss would accrue. How then can

I consent to any territorial cession. ?

Colonel Scott has also verbally communicated to me the demand for the expen ces incurred by the company at the period of Zemaun Shah's approach. I am ready to discharge the expences which were fairly and actually incurred by the company upon that occasion. I will reimburse those expences from whatever resources and in whatever mode it may be practicable.

It is equally a subject of astonishment and concern to me, that whereas under the former government the payment of the kists, though so much smaller in amount than the present, was constantly kept in arrear during three or four months, the jumma of the country was diminishing yearly, and yet no such propositions were brought forward, they should be agitated under the govern ment of a friend who hopes for every thing from your lordship's kindness; who is anxious to obey you, and to manifest the steadiness of his attachment; who punctually pays the full amount of the kists, notwithstanding their increased

amount

amount, and who has conformed to your lordship. At all events, upon your lordship I rest my hopes of prosperity.

This is substantially my reply to your lordship's letter, which, with a view to remove your lordship's concern, I have hastly committed to paper, and now transmit to your lordship. I am about to draw up a particular answer to every article (of your lordship's letter.) If your lordship be desirous of a detailed reply, be pleased to intimate the same, and I will in a very short space of time transinit such a reply to your lordship. A true Copy.

(Signed) N. B. EDMONSTONE,

Sec. to Government.

To his excellency the most noble the marquis Wellesley, K. P. governorgeneral, &c. &c. &c.

Fort William. My Lord,-I do myself the honour of transmitting to your lordship copies, in English and Persian, of a memorial which I this morning presented to the vizier.

2. Although his excellency's rejection of the proposition for transferring to the company the exclusive administration of the civil and military government of Oude is conveyed in terms so direct and positive as to leave little hopes of his being prevailed upon, by any persuasions or arguments, to alter his sentiments, yet, that no opportunity might be omitted of drawing his mind to a re-consideration of the subject, I thought it advisable, in the commencement of the paper, to refer to the grounds of your lordship's proposition, and to place, in a distinct but concise point of view, those parts of the draft of the treaty which are the most striking, and the most interesting to his excellency.

3. After the comprehensive view which your lordship had taken of the em barrassed situation of the vizier, and of the baneful system of administration under which the affairs of his country are gove ned, it would have been superfluous in me to have introduced any observations on the subject, had not the recent demands from almost every quarter for troops to assist in the collections, and the operations of an aumil within six miles of the capital, furnished the instant occasion for animadverting upon the rigorous and destructive measures practised for extorting the rents, and for drawing a conclusion, that perseverance in such

5. I cannot reject the hope that the vizier will, on reflection, be convinced of the necessity of affording the security required by your lordship in regard to the funds for the payment of the subsidy and the additional troops; for though his excellency in his letter to your lordship declares that he cannot alienate any of his possessions, yet your lordship would have noticed, that the style and terms of that declaration are less absolute than his refusal of the first proposition.

6. It is not consistent with the vizier's character and disposition to acquiesce either promptly or handsomely in any propositions which are made to him; his object is to delay, and he may possibly indulge the hope of procuring a relaxation in the terms upon which the countries are to be ceded; in this view it is not improbable but that his excellency, notwihtstanding the formal demand which has now been made upon him, may defer giving any explicit answer until your lordship's sentiments upon the contents of this letter may be made known to him.

7. His excellency this morning complained of indisposition, in presenting the memorial to him, I therefore confined myself to request that he would peruse the last part of it, which he did in my presence, but without giving any answer, or making any observation

upon it.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c. (Signed) W. SCOTT, Resident Lucknow, Lucknow, 16th March, 1801.

Memorial presented to his excellency the vizier by the resident at Lucknow, on the 16th March, 1801.

On the 2d of Shawal I did myself the honour of presenting to your excellency a letter from his excellency the

most

most noble the marquis Wellesley, governor-general, together with a draft of a proposed treaty, prepared in conformity to instructions from his lordship. His lordship in that letter, after taking a comprehensive view of the embarrassed situation of your excellency, and of the distressed condition of Oude, declares his perfect conviction that security against the ruin of this country can only be afforded by the adoption of the plan proposed for your excellency's consideration. His lordship proceeds by informing your excellency, that if your excellency should unfortunately be persuaded to reject the proposals which I was ordered to make to your excellency, the funds for the regular payment of the subsidy, to the full extent of the augmented force, must be placed without a moment of delay, beyond the hazard of failure, and that to this end it is indispensable that your excellency cede to the company such a portion of your excellency's territories as shall be adequate to defray these necessary charges; and his lordship, satisfied that it is only by carrying into effect one of these plans that the important interests of the company, as connected with Oude, can be placed on a solid and secure foundation, concludes by assuring your excellency that it is his indispensable duty to adhere with firmness to the tenor of his letter, as containing principles from which the British government can never depart.

Every day's transaction in the interior of the country furnishes fresh proof that the confusion and abuses which prevail throughout your excellency's dominions are so inveterate, and daily increase to such a degree, that they must in their effects, as predicted by his excellency the most noble the governorgeneral, rapidly impair the resources of the state. What can render necessary such a number of troops as are daily called for to assist in the collection of the revenues but the existence of the vicious system of administration which destroys all confidence between the ryots and the officers employed to collect the rents. I learn from an officer commanding a detachment at Gobramow, furnished at your excellency's request, that the aumil is exerting himself to seize a number of Zemindars, and that in consequence they, with their families, and the inhabitants, have deserted the villages, which the aumil proposes to set in flames. If such violent measures

for extorting the revenues are practised under the walls of your excellency's palace, how great must be the oppression at a distance? How soon must the country become exhausted and depopulated? and under such circumstances upon what a precarious tenure stands the punctual payment of the subsidy to the company?

In the several conversations which I have had the honour to hold with your excellency, since the delivery of the letter from his excellency the most noble the governor-general, and the draft of the treaty, it was my aim to press upon your excellency's consideration the innumerable benefits which the proposed arrangement was calculated to produce; this treaty imparts to the inhabitants of these countries the inestimable blessings enjoyed by the subjects of the company under a wise and equitable government; it effectually and permanently secures the affluence and honour of your excellency and family on the surest basis, the faith of the British government. In pursuance of the solicitude which the company's government has ever shown for the welfare and happiness of your illustrious house, the treaty places under the protection of the company the sons of your deceased father, and the widow of your late brother, and also provides a maintenance for his reputed children. In that spirit of justice and liberality which marks the conduct of the company's government in all its transactions, it continues the possession of Jaghires to persons in the present enjoyment of them, and to the pensioners of the state the enjoyment of their pensions, thereby securing to those persons who had deserved well of your family the rewards which had been conferred upon them. It exonerates your excellency from a heavy but just burthen-the payment of the debts of your predecessor; and, lastly, as I informed your excellency that the draft was open to such modifi cations consistent with the fundamental principle of the arrangement as your excellency should suggest, the treaty might be made to comprehend any further regulations which should occur to your excellency's wisdom for giving satisfaction to the minds of the higher orders of your excellency's subjects, and security to the lower.

It would have afforded me the highest satisfaction had your excellency's magnanimity and love for your subjects

enabled