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116 out of her office and appointing Rájá Gurdas in her stead. The post of Náíb Súbah was revived for the benefit of Muhammad Raza Khán. In the teeth of Hastings' protests they conferred khiláts, or robes of honour, upon the Rání of Bardwan and her infant son. In their letters to the Directors they expressed their belief in Nanda-Kumár's innocence, hinted at Hastings' complicity in the matter, and accused the judges of treating the prisoner with needless cruelty before his trial. They demanded that he should be enlarged on bail. They scolded Impey for questioning the wisdom of their interference on behalf of their imprisoned friend. Nanda-Kumár had complained to the Council of the injury done by his imprisonment to his caste; and the Council had taken it upon themselves to enquire into the matter before referring it to the Supreme Court. The Judges refused to let him out on bail; but Impey sent his own physician to see the prisoner, and did his best with the help of certain Pandits to remove all difficulties raised on the score of caste. Meanwhile, Hastings wrote to Graham and Macleane the letter of May 18, in which he revoked his former instructions, and declared himself resolved to await the issue of his last appeal to the home Government. The fact that 'the old gentleman was in jail, and in a fair way to be hanged,' might well encourage him to stand his ground, pending a reply to the scathing sentences in which he exposed the persistent malice of men who, after making him 'the butt of unceasing persecution for these seven