Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 22.3.1

22.3.1

"Amidst all the dissensions of mighty Kings and proud Sovereigns, "We never heard that any injury has been offered to an embassador." The purport of the letter was this: "That if the murder had "been perpetrated by his own management, or that of his dependants, the punishing of it would, of course, be entered on his "and their account, but that if it had been done by orders from "their master, then let us see," said the writer, "what the Supreme Disposer of events shall bring to pass between the English "and the Navvab." As soon as the letter was dispatched, the Counsellors of Calcutta, all incensed to the highest degree, assembled in the Council chamber; and after several dialogues of the most inflammatory kind, they accused Vansittart, as being Mir-cassem-qhan's patron and protector; but as the latter happened to be out of order that day, and absent, Mr. Hushtin, a Member, with whom he had but one heart and one tongue, was desired to make an apology in his name, to the Council assembled, and to speak in his stead. But, on his taking his seat, and making the apology, the other Counsellors, already alienated, at once attributed this absence to the Governor's consciousness, and to his sense of shame. They loaded him with the bitterest reproaches; and, as they had come with full intention to declare war, and seemed exceedingly passionate and out of temper, they forgot themselves so far, as to drop some improper expressions highly injurious to the Governor and Mr. Hushtin.