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aThank you for your letter. I am glad to know that you are pursuing the Prince and his army. I have also received a letter from Mr Amyyat informing that he was keeping a close eye on the movements of the Prince and that he would be coming to this province. Maharajah Ram Narayan has written complaining that you do not care about the developments here. Perhaps you do not remember what Siraj al-Daulah did in similar matters. I can assure you if he does not call the English for help now it may become too late for him. As soon as I had heard the news of the Prince coming towards this place I was summoned to Murshidabad. At the time of writing this letter I am now on my way to Murshidabad. It is well known in this part of the world that the Prince and Nawab Shuja al-Daulah have evil designs.

Thank you for your letter informing me that this is the season for ships to depart and asking me why the company ships have not left as yet and that I should make sure that they depart immediately and if I do not follow this order I should explain the reasons for doing so. -- I am very surprised to read the contents of this letter, as until now the rulers have never bothered to know anything about this matter. We people know better when these ships should depart and have always sent these ships when we thought it was the right time for them to go.

aYadasht - Haqiqat. -- I have heard from people of the city that Balaji Rao has sent letters to Pahalvan Singh, Raja Chatardhari, Babu Audviyat Singh, Bije Singh, Sundar Singh, etc., and the zamindars of Bhojpur to enquire about the affairs of their states and to assure them that should look after their subjects and that he would be visiting them during the Dusehrah festival. I suggest that you send a reliable person to Benares to report. I was unable to get a copy of the aforesaid letters as the people who had read these letters did not keep any copies. -- I have heard from a Portuguese who lives in a village near the road that he met two harkarahs of Shuja al-Daulah who were returning from Azimabad. One of them told him that he was carrying a parwana addressed to Raja Ram Narayan and was now returning after obtaining a reply from the Rajah. The Nawab is hoping to visit this place in the near future. -- A harkarah who was going towards the west from Murshidabad met a men working for the Bhorimal of Chaprah. They travelled together for over one manzil. The harkarah revealed to this man that he was carrying a message from the Begum Sahibah to Raja Ram Narayan informing him that Mir Muhammad Jafar Khan has assassinated the Nawab Shuja al-Daulah Bahadur with the help of the English and has installed himsel

Contrary to the practice of your predecessors we have not heard from you for a long time. I have been informed that some ships have arrived from England. No doubt they will be carrying some presents for us. It is requested therefore that you submit a list of all valuable and rare items, along with their prices so that we could select what we may need from this list. Please also tell your agents who come to this part of the world to sell their goods that they should approach us first for the sale of their goods.

Thank you for your letter informing about the opening of the Port and Colonel [Francis] Forde's stay there and his victory at Rajmundhry and the arrival of the French at the port of Conjivaram. The situation here is still the same. The Prince has left Shahjahanabad and is campaigning in Bengal.

I am anxious to receive the news of your welfare and good health. Mr Knox will be able to explain to you about my own affairs in detail.

As I and Nawab Madar al-Daulah have sworn on the Quran and on Amir al-Momin Ali ibn Abi Talib that we will spend the rest of our lives in harmony as friends and brothers it was decided that the district of Dacca, except the outlying districts, which according to the tradition of Shahamat Jang Bahadur had come to the Nawab Sahib, would be given to me by Hazrat aqdas-i Ala. From the rest of his wealth, state, etc., two portions would come to me and one to the Nawab. If there is any disagreement we should remember that we have taken the oath of Hazrat Ali.

News reports from His Majesty's camp, which were sent by Rajah Sahib in his letter to me, are now being forwarded to you. -- The Emperor and the Nawab Wazir, along with their nobles and courtiers, have assembled near pargana Zaing/ Ring[?]. Most of the trouble-makers in the provinces of Hissar and Hansi as well as zamindars of Raja of Bikaner who had come here have been killed and their country destroyed. The rest who had moved to the country under control of the Emperor are safe. The Nawab Wazir's intentions are that as soon as the management of the country was complete he would accompany the emperor on a hunting expedition or on an excursion. -- Prince Ali Gohaur, who had run away to the country of Sadat-i Barah [Barah Syeds] is accompanied by a small army of four or five thousands cavalry and foot soldiers. -- News that Ahmad Shah Abdali was dead and later on people had reported that he was still alive has no doubt gone to Hell. The Governor of the Lahore province appointed by His Majesty had moved to Sialkot and had established his police posts there. His assistant had moved to Multan. None of the followers of Abdali remains in this province now. Nawab Adinah Beg Kham who was appointed Subahdar of Lahore by His Majesty has passed away, his cousin has been appointed in his place. The province is still under His Majesty’s control. -- Raja Madhu Singh, son of Raja Jai Singh, died of natural causes in Vijenagar. The brother of Raja has now succeeded him. Raghunath Rao and Malhar Rao, after taking their leave from Nawab Wazir, had left for Deccan. They were going there via Rajputana. Meanwhile, the Nawab Wazir had decided to go on an expedition. Therefore, he wrote to the above-mentioned sirdars to wait for him before moving further. They are now encamped about two hundred karohs from the capital and are waiting for new instructions from the Nawab Wazir. -- Nawab Shuja al-Daulah, Governor of Oudh had one day gone alone for hunting. On his way, he came across fourteen Rohila horsemen who were in his employment. They attacked the Nawab who was injured by two arrows but he fought back and killed four of his attackers. Later he killed two more Rohilah horsemen who were with them. Two others were killed by Umraogar Gosain and two more taken as prisoners by him. The Nawab, though injured returned alive to his place. No doubt, he behaved very bravely in this encounter.

Thank you very much for your letter informing that two ships laden with guns, cannons, and other ammunition have arrived from Denmark and that the East India Company was currently involved in selling these arms. You have sought our help in the sale of these armaments and summoned me to Calcutta. -- The news of the arrival of these armaments from Denmark has been known to Janab-I Ali [Nawab Sahib] for some time. He had ordered me twice to confiscate these armaments. Following these orders I have already sent my men to confiscate these armaments. I have also written to Denmark that they should obey and respect the laws and orders of the Nawab. I am now waiting for any further orders from the Nawab Sahib to follow. As far as your letter is concerned, I am always ready to help you in the promotion of your trade. God willing, next Friday, which is the day after tomorrow, I will be sending the sum of one Lac rupees as instalment for the month of Bhadun as well as part payment of the loan from Mr John Sen.

In the beginning the Dutch East Company used to conduct their business from their Kothis. Later they started bringing in their ships and soldiers from their country and started creating wars. Because of this parvanahs forbidding them to trade in India were issued. Now they are trying to destroy the country of the King Emperor. Therefore, an agreement has been reached between the English East India Company and ourselves that the English company would help to destroy the Dutch ships on sea and shores and to protect the country from their further invasions.

Undated and anonymous letter with reference to Nawab Vazir al-Mamalik Bahadur.

Memorandum containing accounts of Ram Dayal, messenger, an inhabitant of Benares and Teka Ram Rajput, an employee of Monsieur Lally who were arrested by Bhurmal, a messenger of Mr Priks and brought to Azimabad for interrogation by Mr Priks. -- Account by Ram Dayal. -- Monsieur Las, a Frenchman is staying in Chanarah village, adjacent to the fort, which is at a distance of six karoh from Benares. On Monday he gave me leave to go and later I heard that he had gone to Allahabad and then to see Shuja al-Daulah Bahadur. He had left his boat behind and was travelling by road. I believe he is travelling with one hundred European horsemen and more than one hundred European soldiers and two hundred and fifty Tilanga soldiers, as well as with two Marhatta Dafadars, one with sixty five men and the other with fifty four men. -- Account by Teka Ram. -- I was employed by the French for the past twenty-five years. I was dismissed three months ago and since than stayed at home. One day Nidhar[?] Rai gave me two letters and asked me to deliver them to Jagan Nath Thakur and Kishn Chand, whom I had known for some time. I had gone to deliver theses letters to Charah when I was taken prisoner.

Bulaqi Singh belonging to the regiment/group of Muhammad Mir Khan was appointed to look after the ta'aluqah of Ramchand in the district of Kalupore, etc. Now the whole population of this district is up in arms against him. This is being reported to you on 4 Jumada I, Bangla yr 1165 [January 3 1759].

Short letter mentioning Nandakumara and stating that because the day is Friday, and a holiday the goods will not therefore be moved until Saturday.

Thank you very much for your letter asking me to arrange enough boats so that the army can cross the river safely. Boat owners had run away from here because of the threats of the enemy forces but I am now able to collect enough boats so that the army will be able to cross the river safely.

Refers to the movement of an army from the fort at Lal Bagh went to the town of Katak[?] on 24 Dhu al-Qadah [19 July 1759 or 30 July 1758]. Both letter and enclosure refer to a 'Mister Gari sahib' [George Gray]) in the context of Calcutta.

It is sad that all means of communications between us were closed and that Pandit Sahib, the Prime Minister of Peshwa, and Navab Nizam al-Daulah Bahadur were facing each other in Berar with large armies and heavy artilleries and were ready to shed blood and destroy each other. Afterwards a treaty of peace was agreed and Raghunath Rao kindly agreed to pay twenty Lac rupees from the Province of Malva and seventeen Lac rupees for the maintenance of the army. In addition, he also agreed to pay the amount of chauth he received from Bengal. As the above terms were not acceptable he went back to Nagpore and sent his able and intelligent diplomat as his envoy to negotiate the new terms of the treaty of friendship.

Before my departure from you we had a lot of questions and answers regarding my attitude towards your sending me to see the benefactor/mushfiq. God is a witness that I was not happy to come to this place but it is after a lot of assurances and cajoling from you that I agreed to take your leave and proceeded to see the mushfiq. This was done only because I care for the well-being of Gods creation and regard myself as your friend, and care for the welfare of the people, the prosperity of the country and your future. That is why, after disregarding my own wishes, and in order not to embarrass you and blacken my face before God, his prophet and his followers and considering the interests of my people above my own interests and considering you as the Plato of this age I departed to see the mushfiq. After a short stay at Benares with your approval I went to see him and stayed with him four to five gharis with him; I am now on my way to come and see you.

I am pleased to have received the news that you are well. I hope you will remember me during your acts of generosity and kindness.

Mir Subhan Ali is a long standing friend of mine who lives in an inherited property in Khurramabad. Lately he has suffered from some accusations. I would be grateful if you could appoint two of your Tilanga soldier to protect him and his property.