That the said Hastings did cause the said sums of money to be rigorously
exacted, although no such regular battalions as he pretended to
establish, as a color for his demand on the Rajah, were then raised, or
any steps taken towards raising them; and when the said Rajah pleaded
his inability to pay the whole sum at once, he, the said Hastings,
persevering in his said outrageous and violent demeanor, did order the
Resident to wait on the Rajah forthwith, and "demand of him in person,
and by writing, the full payment in specie to be made to him within five
days of such demand, and to declare to him, in the name of this
government, that his evading or neglecting to accomplish the payment
thereof within that space of time should be deemed _equivalent to an
absolute refusal_; and in case of non-compliance with this [the
Resident's] demand, _we peremptorily enjoin you to refrain from all
further intercourse with him_": the said Hastings appearing by all his
proceedings to be more disposed to bring on a quarrel with the Prince of
Benares, than to provide money for any public service.
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