According to Burke, Sheridan, and Macaulay, the Wazír and the Governor-General joined in a plot to rob two ladies, one of whom was 'parent to one of the robbers.' As a matter of fact, the robbery had been committed in 1775 by the parent upon her son, through the intervention of the British Resident. In spite of Hastings' solemn protests, the Supreme Council thought fit to confirm the unrighteous bargain which their agent had forced upon the young Wazír. Since then Hastings had reluctantly but loyally stood by an agreement contrary to justice, policy, and good faith[1]. He now saw his way to place matters on a fairer footing. The Begams, he held, had clearly forfeited all right both to their jaghírs and the treasure from which they drew the means of plotting against their own sovereign and his English allies. So far from conniving at an act of robbery, he had pledged the Wazír at Chanár to grant his kinswomen liberal pensions in exchange for the military fiefs which they had no lawful right to hold[2].
After his return to Lucknow, the Wazír's courage began to fail him. His mother, the chief Begam, was a woman of strong mind and violent temper, and Asaf-ud-daulá found many excuses for delaying the fulfilment of his late compact. But Hastings pinned him to his promises by threatening to withdraw his Resident and the British troops from Oudh. Middleton, who had once more replaced Bristow at Lucknow, was ordered to stand no more shuffling from the weak-
