God knows what he has said that is true. It would, indeed, be singular
not to detect him in a falsity, but in a truth. I will now show your
Lordships the utter falsity of this wicked allegation.

There is a letter from Mr. Middleton to Sir Elijah Impey, dated Fyzabad,
the 25th of January, 1782, to which I will call your Lordships'
attention.

"Dear Sir Elijah,--I have the satisfaction to inform you that we
have at length so far obtained the great object of our expedition
to this place as to commence on the receipt of money, of which, in
the course of this day, we have got about six lacs. I know not yet
what amount we shall actually realize, but I think I may safely
venture to pronounce it will be equal to the liquidation of the
Company's balance. It has been at once the most important and the
most difficult point of duty which has ever occurred in my office;
and the anxiety, the hopes and fears, which have alternately
agitated my mind, cannot be described or conceived but by those who
have been witness to what has passed in the course of this long
contest. The [Nabob's] ministers have supported me nobly, and
deserve much commendation. Without the shrewd discernment and
knowledge of the finesse and tricks of the country which Hyder Beg
Khân possesses, I believe we should have succeeded but
indifferently; for I soon found that no real advantage was to be
obtained by proceeding at once to violent extremities with the
Begum, and that she was only to be attacked through the medium of
her confidential servants, who it required considerable address to
get hold of. However, we at last effected it; and by using some few
severities with them, we at length came at the secret hoards of
this old lady. I will write you more particulars hereafter.