Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.23.8

19.23.8

else, to send him injunctions not to join the Emperor, and not to submit to him, is nugatory; nor is such an order of a nature to admit execution." This speech made some effect; and Mr. Amyatt, who was a man of sense, and of a liberal disposition, having attentively heard what I had said, acknowledged the rationality of it, but added, that although he was convinced of it, he saw no inconvenience in sending the letter requested. To oblige therefore that gentleman, I took pen and wrote just such a letter as Ram-narain had desired, and I put it in his hands; but to repel still more that Governor's imputation, I could not help observing, "that Ram-narain's earnestness on that subject seemed calculated to render my person odious, together with that of my father's; that such letters and such requests would never prevent my father from taking party with the Emperor; and if it was really intended to prevent that step, the best method would be to require him to come to town with his family; otherwise he would unavoidably betake himself to the only expedient that could secure his life, honour, family and property; and in fact, the truth is, that I had not the least correspondence with either my father or my brother, or any one in the Imperial camp; and that I carried the precaution so far on that subject, that whenever chance would have it so, that any one in the service of the enemy should come to see me, I constantly declined the interview;