I had begun it at the time of the date prefixed to it, but the bufy icenes which followed, both while I was at Chunar and after my return to Benares, hindered me from profecuting it till a few days before the date which I have fubjoined to it. I did not chufe to alter the introduction, although written at fuch a distance of time from that in which the body of the work was executed, and even from the exiftence of the events which are recorded in the latter, because I found it not easy to give it a new form, without a total omiffion of what had been already produced, while my mind was animated by the recent, and actual scenes on which it was engaged, To an anxious and moft feeling folicitude, not more for the iffue of

the

(i)

the impending conteft, than for its confequences on my own reputation: in the conscioufnefs of the rectitude of my own intentions, I had allowed myself to use an appeal, the most folemn and moft facred that could

bind my relation to truth, or impress the conviction of it on the hearts of others; nor could I, confiftently with my own sense of its obligation, withdraw it, or coldly place it after the narrative already written, and written under the check which I had impofed upon it. I know not whether I fhall be clearly understood; if I am not, yet let this endeavour to explain a feeming impropriety in the conftruction of this performance be accepted for its apology.

I have

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I have only to add my hope, that as I have received the most cordial fupport in the paft events from you, my refpectable, and most respected afsociates in the administration; and as it has been my unvaried ftudy to prevent your suffering any embarrassment from them, my conduct in them may also receive its firft reward, in the teftimomy of your approbation.

I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed)

WARREN HASTINGS.

Benares, 3ft Dec. 1781.

IN

Chunar, 1ft of September, 1781.

'N whatever manner the scene may close in which I am now engaged, the calamities with which it opened will not fail, in their firft impreffion, to influence in fome degree the minds of all men in forming their judgment of it. In the following Narrative, if I can truft to my own fentiments, or if those who fhall read it will credit this declaration of them, I shall less ftudy to efface that impreffion than seek to divest my mind of all partial bias, and to deliver all the past transactions and occurrences with the ftrictest and most faithful regard to truth; in which if I fail, I fail unknowingly: and may the God of Truth fo judge me, as my own conscience shall condemn or acquit me of intentional deception!

B

The

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The motives and objects of my journey were various with these the design of my transactions at Benares had but a remote and secondary connection. I left Calcutta on the 7th of July. At Buxar, Rajah Cheit Sing paid me the customary duty of respect, by advancing to that place which lay the nearest to the boundary of his Zemidarry. He brought with him a great fleet of boats, which, as I afterwards learned, were crouded with two thousand armed and chofen men. This circumftance was noticed by many of the gentlemen who accompanied me, and was certainly a deviation from the established rules of decorum; not only fuch as are observed from vaffals to their fuperiors, but even fuch as pals between equals. An inftance of this will be remembered by many to have happened at Benares, in the year 1773, in the meeting which took place there between the late Vizier Suja ul Dowla and myself. He had left his capital with a large retinue; but hearing that I came unattended, he dismissed his followers, and met me with a ftate as humble as mine.

I received the Rajah with civility, and without any expreffion of difpleasure. I left Buxar the next morning, and received a fecond vifit from the Rajah in my boat. After a fhort fpace, he defired to speak to me in private. The particu

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