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Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797

"The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 08 (of 12)"


XXXIX. That, after some ineffectual negotiations to make the prisoners
pay the money, which it does not appear to have been in their power to
pay, they were again threatened by the Resident, in a letter to Major
Gilpin, dated 9th June, 1782, in the following terms. "I wish you to
explain once more to the prisoners the imprudence and folly of their
conduct in forcing me to a measure which must be attended with
consequences so very serious to them, and that, when once they are
removed to Lucknow, it will not be in my power to show them mercy, or to
stand between them and the vengeance of the Nabob. Advise them to
reflect seriously upon the unhappy situation in which they will be
involved in one case, and the relief it will be in my power to procure
them in the other; and let them make their option."
XL. That he, the said Resident, did also, at the same time, receive a
letter from the princess mother, which letter does not appear, but to
which only the following insolent return was made,--that is to say: "The
letter from the Bhow Begum is no ways satisfactory, and I cannot think
of returning an answer to it.


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