vering and his associates, who does not execrate their conduct and unite in wishes for my success against them.' Some weeks earlier he had notified to both these gentlemen his resolution to return home 'on the first ship of the next season,' if the Directors should disapprove of the Benares Treaty or of the Rohillá War, and 'mark an evident disinclination' towards him. This announcement he left them free to make such use of as they might think proper. By the middle of May, things had happened which caused Hastings to change his mind and withdraw from his agents the discretion given them in March[1]. He determined at all hazards to await the issue of his further appeal, 'believing it impossible that men whose actions are so frantic can be permitted to remain in charge of so important a trust.' This change of purpose was well known to his colleagues, for Francis writes in November to Lord Barrington that 'Mr. Hastings is determined, at all events, to hold it out until the return of the answer to my first letters[2].'
Writing by the same mail to the Chairman of the Company, Francis advised him to recall Barwell rather than Hastings: 'You had better keep this man, who has some parts and considerable experience.' By that time he had learned to correct his first impressions of 'this man's' character and abilities. But six months earlier the position for Hastings had become wellnigh intolerable. His opponents
