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Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797

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

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LIV. That the distresses of the said women grew so urgent on the night
of the said 6th of March, the day when the letter above recited was
written, that Captain Leonard Jaques aforesaid did think it necessary to
write again, on the day following, to the British Resident in the
following words. "I beg leave to address you again concerning the women
in the Khord Mohul [the lesser palace]. Their behavior last night was so
furious, that there seemed the greatest probability of their proceeding
to the uttermost extremities, and that they would either _throw
themselves from the walls or force open the doors of the zenanah_. I
have made every inquiry concerning the cause of their complaints, and
find from Letafit Ali Khan that they are in _a starving condition,
having sold all their clothes and necessaries, and now have not
wherewithal to support nature_; and as my instructions are quite silent
on this head, I should be glad to know how to proceed, in case they were
to force the doors of the zenanah, as I suspect it will happen, should
no subsistence be very quickly sent to them.


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