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Rh which entitled him to receive the tribute. Acting with common prudence on grounds of public policy, Hastings refused to fulfil his share of a compact already broken by his former ally. Any other statesman in his place would almost certainly have done the same thing.

As the Emperor had steadily refused to regain possession of his lost provinces by renouncing his claim to the forfeit tribute, Hastings resolved to make them over on certain conditions to his neighbour and ally, the Nawáb-Wazír, who had shown himself a strong ruler and a serviceable friend to the power he had once so recklessly defied. Shujá had reasons of his own for seeking help from his English allies. The money which he claimed from Ráhmat Khán was not forthcoming. On one plea and another, the Rohillá leader evaded the claim. Forgetful of the shelter afforded him by Ráhmat's countrymen after the rout of Baxár, the crafty Wazír caught at so opportune a pretext for carrying out his father's schemes against Rohilkhand. He had already persuaded Sháh Alam to invest him with the office of Protector, in the room of Ráhmat Khán. It only remained for him to secure the countenance, if not the direct support, of his English neighbours.

In answer to his proposals, made in the early part of 1773, Hastings, with the full consent of his Council, agreed to hold a conference with the Wazír. Their first meeting took place in August at Benares, and