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Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797

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

Middleton, the Resident, for his temporary and
short forbearances.
LXXXVI. "It could not, I flatter myself, be termed a long or
unwarrantable delay [two days], when the importance of the business, and
the peculiar embarrassments attending the prosecution of it to its
desired end, are considered. The Nabob was _son_ to the Begum whom we
were to proceed against: a son against a mother must at least _save
appearances in his mode of proceeding_. The produce of his negotiation
was to be received by the Company. Receiving a benefit, accompanying the
Nabob, withdrawing their protection, were circumstances sufficient to
_mark the English as the principal movers in this business_. At a court
where no opportunity is lost to throw odium on us, so favorable an
occasion was not missed to persuade the Nabob that we instigated him to
dishonor his family for our benefit. The impressions made by these
suggestions constantly retarded the progress, and more than once
actually broke off the business: which rendered the utmost caution on my
part necessary, especially as I had no assistance to expect from the
ministers, who could not openly move in the business.


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