Page:Warren Hastings (Trotter).djvu/188

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182
WARREN HASTINGS

of the active part which the Begams had borne in Chait Singh's revolt. Some of their troops had taken service with the Rájá of Benares, and the country around Faizábád was openly hostile to the English and their ally.

'This town' — wrote Colonel Hannayon September 8, 1781, from Faizdbád — 'has more the appearance of belonging to Chait Singh than the Vizier. The Begams have placed guards to prevent any of my people going to the bázár in it. Within these few days Shaik Khán, with near 1000 horse and foot, has marched from hence to Benares.' A few days later Hannay reported that the country from Faizábád to the Ganges was 'in the utmost ferment,' and that numbers of people, horse and foot, were daily sent to Chait Singh from Faizábád. Middleton himself and every English officer employed in Oudh reported or testified to the same effect[1].

On the 19th September, 1781, Hastings signed the Treaty of Chanár, which relieved the Nawáb-Wazír from the chief part of his military obligations, and empowered him to resume at will all the jaghírs within his realm. Fifty-five lakhs were afterwards paid into the Calcutta Treasury, with a promise of twenty more to follow. Six days later the Wazír left Chanár resolved, with Hastings' virtual consent, not only to resume the Begams' jaghírs, but to reclaim for himself the paternal treasure locked up in the palace at Faizábád[2].

  1. Forrest.
  2. Mill, Auber, Gleig.