'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎121] (158/562)

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[ 121 ]'
The French, by the prevailing power of corruption, had gained fome of 1757^
the courtiers, and they fo influenced the Nabob An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. , that without waiting for
the above anfwer to his letter of the 19th, on the 20th he fent another let
ter to the admiral.
"THE letter I wrote to you yefterday, I imagine you have received ;
fince which I have been informed by the French Vackeel that five or fix
additional fhips of war have arrived in the river, and that more are ex-
pefted. He reprefents likewife, that you defign commencing hoftilities
againft me and my fubjedts again, as foon as the rains are over. This is
not afting agreeable to the character of a true foldier, and a man of honour,
who never violated their words. If you are fincere in the treaty concluded
with me, fend your fhips of war out of the river, and abide fledfaftly by
your agreement •, I will not fail in the obfervance of the treaty on my part.
Is it becoming or honeft to begin a war, after concluding the peace fo
lately and folemnly ? The Maharattas are bound by no gofpel, yet they are
ftrift obfervers of treaties. It will therefore be matter of great aftonifhment,
and hard to be believed, if you, who are enlightened with the gofpel, fhould
not remain firm, and preferve the treaty you have ratified in the prefence
of God and Jefus Chrijl"
mi;
01 ee ' To this the Admiral replied in a letter dated the 25th of February %
ifci 1757-
"YOUR letter of the 20th inftant I received two days ago; but being
jufl in the height of my difpatches for England, I was not able to anfwer
it till now. I know not how to exprefs to you my aftonifhment, at find-
ing myfelf taxed with having a defign to break the peace, on fo flight a
foundation as a bale fellow's having dared to tell you fo, without any one
aftion of mine being produced to fupport fo extravagant and impudent
an accufation, which has not the leaft fhadow of probability to render it
credible. You tell me, " It is unworthy the character of a foldier, and
" man of honour, to violate their words!" In what fingle inftance, fince my
being here, have I a6led fo unworthily as to make you think me capable
of violating mine ? Yourfelf can anfwer for me, in none. My dealing with
you nath always been full of that franknefs and fincerity, for which my
countrymen are remarkable throughout the known world. From you. Sir,
I exped juftice on that bafe man, who has dared falfely to accufe me,
and to impole upon you. Jn the mean time, I have complained to the
L renth of their Vackeel's behaviour; who have promifed me to write to
you their knowledge of the falfity of his accufation. You may reft affured,
t.iat I will always religioufly obferve the peace; and I beg you to believe,
that people who raife reports to the contrary, can only do it to create
R jealoufies.