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XIII. That very doubtful credit is to be given to any letters written by
the said Middleton to the said Warren Hastings, when they answer the
purposes which the said Warren Hastings had evidently in view: the said
Middleton having written to him in the following manner from Lucknow,
30th December, 1781.
XIV. "MY DEAR SIR,--I have this day answered your _public_
letter in the form _you seem to expect_. I hope there is nothing in it
that may appear to you too pointed. _If you wish the matter to be
otherwise understood than I have taken up and stated it, I need not say
I shall be ready to conform to whatever you may prescribe, and to take
upon myself any share of the blame of the (hitherto) non-performance of
the stipulations made on behalf of the Nabob_: though I do assure you I
myself represented to his Excellency and the ministers, (conceiving it
to be your desire,) that _the apparent assumption of the reins of his
government_, (for in that light he undoubtedly considered it at the
first view,) as specified in the agreement executed by him, was not
meant to be _fully_ and _literally_ enforced, but that it was necessary
_you should have something to show on your side, as the Company were
deprived of a benefit without a requital; and upon the faith of this
assurance alone_, I believe I may safely affirm, his Excellency's
objections to signing the treaty were given up.
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