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184 ruler of that kingdom. Before the close of 1781 Hastings had learned enough to convince him that the Begams deserved small mercy at their kinsman's hands. It was shown by evidence which afterwards satisfied his judges in the House of Lords that they had helped Chait Singh with men and money, and fomented insurrection against their own sovereign. In order that the evidence worked into his 'Narrative' of the late rebellion might be duly attested, and that Middleton might be fully informed of his views and wishes, he persuaded Impey, who had come to see him at Benares in October, to extend his journey to Lucknow. Impey accordingly went thither, had a talk with the Resident, and took a number of affidavits duly signed before him on oath. It is strange to think that so harmless a proceeding should afterwards have been charged against him as a crime; still stranger that in this matter Macaulay should have followed in the wake of Sheridan and Burke.

Before Hastings got back to Calcutta in February, 1782, the Wazír had taken heart to fulfil his promises made at Chanár. The jaghírs were resumed in spite of an armed resistance. His British troops entered the palace of Faizábád, and the two eunuchs who managed the Begams' affairs were compelled by scanty fare and confinement in chains to disgorge some of the wealth stored up by the late Wazír. The money thus obtained was remitted to Calcutta, and the balance still due to the Company was ere long made