"حياة ومراسلات اللواء السير جون مالكوم، قائد فرسان وسام الطُهر، المبعوث السابق إلى بلاد فارس وحاكم بومباي؛ من رسائل ومذكرات غير منشورة. في مجلّدين. المجلد II." [‎٣‎٢‎٣] (٦٥٤/٣٤٠)

LETTER TO LORD HASTINGS.
323
respect for the royal donor, the omission of which might be no
ticed, I would not for a million of Reports prove a recreant knight
in my acknowledgments for so proud a distinction. To your
Lordship it is necessary to say no more upon this subject, but
that nothing can reconcile me to the sacrifice of not having the
warmest wish of my heart gratified, by receiving my new honors
from the hands of him to whose favor and partiality I owe their
attainment, but a full expression of your opinion that my public
duties are of a nature not to permit my absence from my station;
and unless some troubled waters become smooth very soon, this
will apply to more than my completion of the Report.
My excellent friend Sir Thomas Munro writes me that it is
his hope, and that of those he communicated with in England,
that circumstances may occur to induce me to remain. I appre
hend, from what is stated in letters I have received, that your
Lordship will be written to upon this subject. In anticipation of
such an occurrence, I wrote Mr. Adam on the 8th of April, re
questing he would show my letter to your Lordship in the event
of any such communication as was expected being made, either
by Mr. Canning or the Directors. I shall write him to give you
that letter, at all events, as I feel, whether such application be
made or not, I can have no reserve with your Lordship, whom I
only entreat to believe three facts connected with this subject i
Firstly, That I have no wish to remain in India, and that this
feeling is grounded upon a conviction that it will be better for my
health and future advancement (if I pursue public life) to go to
England;
Secondly^ That I am not so foolish or unreasonable as to de
sire or expect that your Lordship should make, or recommend to
be made, any appointment for me that is not in your opinion
necessary as a part of the administration of the empire under your
charge; and.
Lastly, That though I might feel it was not an object for me
to remain in India unless I filled a permanent situation of high
rank, I never could have proposed one that I was not conscien
tiously convinced it was for the good of the public interests
should be made.
I am, with much respect, &c., &c.,
J ohn M alcolm.
y 2