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Since the day you arrived at Murshdabad the chief of traders has, two or three times, sent me an invitation but because of my physical condition I have not been able to avail this oppurtunity and travel to Murshidabad at such a short notice. I am at present feeling very weak and hope that by the time you visit Murshidabad again I will have recovered from my illness and be able to pay my respect.

I have received your request for granting your agent permission to cross our territory with one hundred horses. Your agent who was staying with Mr Presto at the Port of Buxar has been provided with all necessary provisions and asked to stay at the kothi of Katak. Similarly, as a gesture of goodwill, Mr Pleadel [?] who had tried to go through a different and unauthorised route has been forgiven. As Maharajah Januji Bhonsalah is engaged in the suppression of a rebellion of indigo and peacock farmers he has given instructions to close all borders with other states. These borders will remain closed until the rebellions are completely suppressed. Your agents will then be allowed to move from the port of Buxar and carry on their business as usual.

Delighted to have received your letter. I have sent two envelopes, one addressed to Mr Amherst in charge of Azimabad Factory, and the second addressed to Maharajah Ram Narayan so that he could send it to you by post. In this I have informed him about the details of entry of our forces in Palakha[?].

I received your letter informing me that Mr Biston/Liston has left in the company of Navab Nasir al-Mulk and that his son has been appointed to look after the administration of Chaklah Burdwan while he is away and that he will arrive there soon. -- É -- I cannot describe the situation at Murshidabad. I spend every day with great difficulty and under duress. The contents of the letters I receive from Murshidabad make me loose my sanity. Mr Liston will be able to give further details about the situation but it is necessary that we receive the payment of wages for the staff at Abid Kothi.

Raja Ram Singh and myself would like to bring to your notice that the district allocated to Mir Ali Akbar in Lalbagh is situated at a distance of one Karoh from the Fort. As Raja Ram Singh had not received any intimation before you sent the parwanah of his appointment he has refused to accept this appointment. Therefore Mir Ali Akbar has not been able to take up his appointment.

A messenger had arrived from Bandar Balsar carrying papers belonging to the Bara Sahib [Governor of Calcutta?]. He informed me that these papers belonged to Colonel Bhut?/Sot and were taken at Machhli Bandar. They were brought in here after receiving a reply from here. With the help of God I have managed to rescue these from him; please let me know what steps to take next.

The military administration of Chaklah Hasr[?] had remained with my father for the past thirty years. Now after he has passed away all the landlords and chaudharis have asked their lawyers to approach the court officials to carry on this responsibility. Recently they have brought in two or three Tilangas to administer this place and they have dismissed these lawyers and court officials so that no one could investigate the crimes of dacoity and robberies that are being carried out day and night by the landlords as well as these Tilangas. They are disregarding all orders issued by you to maintain peace and order. I would be grateful if you could send me a letter of authority to take these culprits into custody and release the lawyers so that they can carry out the process of law and order.

Draft of a letter sent to Mr Scrafton? at Murad Bagh. -- Manik Chand Gujrati has certain grievances against Gaval Das. Gaval Das has been writing letters of complaint to the authorities against Manik Chand. As Manik Chand has always been very helpful to me I suggest that you call both of them together and hear their case. I will be pleased if you could help to remove his grievances.

Jagat Seth Mahtab Rae is leaving today the 23rd of Muharram and will be with you soon. The festival of Dusehra is approaching and as this a special occasions for these people it would be appreciated if he is not detained there for long so that he could return in time to celebrate this festival with his people. -- Enclosure.1. -- I had received some gifts for you from Huzur-i Wala through Rifaat Pinah Zain al-Din Muhammad Khan and I am sending these gifts to you through Jagat Seth Mahtab Rae who is well versed in etiquette and the procedures of receiving and delivering gifts.

I have already conveyed to you details of my sad circumstances. Today on the 15th of Katak the Chothi Thakurani, that is the wife of the Maharajah Sahib, accompanied the funeral out of the palace walls and brought it to a designated place at the banks of the Ganges. I am also at present staying at the same place and am planning to proceed to Murshidabad from here. -- Enclosure: From Rajah Tara Chand to Clive. -- Thakurani Sahibah is leaving for Murshidabad today the 16th of Katak; I am also accompanying her.

I was very pleased to have received the good news that you have entered the districts of Divani. I will be leaving here soon and will encamp near the Ganges and then wait for your orders. The rest will be decided when we meet.

Thank for your reply to my letter regarding your writing a letter to Mr Heshton [Hastings] asking him to confiscate three bundles of cloths which were not added to the Company warehouse earlier. I am waiting for these to arrive here. I am also waiting for the arrival of Mr Vajih, Rasikh Jang Bahadur.

I hope you have received my earlier letter. As I did not receive any reply I have been concerned about your health. I would be grateful if you could inform me about your well-being.

After Nawab Munir al-Daulah Raza Quli Khan Bahadur had been given leave by His Majesty he was asked to come and see you and convey to you privately and in confidence his messages concerning your welfare and the welfare and betterment of the inhabitants. It was hoped that as a wellwisher of the God-given state and that after listening to these messages you would be able to discharge your duties more efficiently towards His Majesty. As His Majesty regards the aforesaid Nawab as an arm of his state and one who is well versed in statecraft it was hoped that when the banners of the state are raised under his command you would not be lacking in desire to serve and obey his orders. However, whatever was written in our destiny happened and that whatever is destined by God would happen. In order that your name is remembered for time immemorial and that I too, an heir-apparent and descendant of Amir Timur Sahib-i qiran, considered you as an arm and well-wisher of the state and in this matter God and his prophet are my witness that whatever Munir al-Daulah conveyed to you in confidence should have been considered as if it was coming from my own tongue. In addition, if you refuse to support us and turn away from us then, with God's help, the state is capable of defending itself from any designs. God willing, by raising over two hundred thousand force of horsemen and foot soldiers it could crush all rebellious trouble makers in the province. They will become extinct from the world and become a lesson to others as the province returns to its former peace and tranquillity. Let no one dare to commit such unbecoming and disgraceful acts against murshid zadah and inheritor of this country and devote his energies towards the welfare of his people.

Thank you for your letter. A reply to Navab Wazir's letter he had sent to you is long overdue; he has sent me another reminder. In the past I have enquired through Mr Amhurst? whether he had sent Nawab Wazir's letter to Nawab Mir Muhammad Jafar Khan. The Nawab Vazir had, in reply, written to him that he would be able to answer his letter only after he had received advice and a draft of a reply and had shown this draft to Mr Vajah?. As we do not know whether he had received the corrected version of this draft or not it would be a waste of time to send him a reply. At the same time I have received letters from the capital dated the 16th of Rabi al-Avval. In it is written that the Emperor and the Wazir al-Mumalik are returning back to the capital after their conquests and annihilation of the rebel forces of the district. They will reach the capital in two or three days. In the post- bag I have received from you today one letter is addressed to Nawab Vazir, the second to Maharajah Umdat al-Mulk Rajah Nagar Mal Bahadur, the third to Muhammad Sulaiman Khan Bahadur and the fourth to brother Daler Singh Bahadur. These were all presented to His Highness who cannot send a reply at present as he is travelling with his army. In two to four days he will be able to send a reply to the letter of Muhammad Sulaiman Khan who is a courtier of Nawb Wazir al-Mumalik. You will be seeing it soon and it would be good to send him a friendly reply. I have received two letters from Nawab Wazir al-Mumalik, one addressed to you and the other addressed to Mir Muhammad Jafar regarding the case of the state of Nawab Samsam al-Daulah which you had sent him. You may keep the letter addressed to you and you may send the one addressed to Nawab Sahib to him asking him to seek the help of Khvajah Muhammadi Khan and to write to Rajah Ram Narayan that he should withdraw his claim on Malda. His Highness has asked me to stress this strongly. There has been quite a lot of rumours that Abadli was coming but these all turned out be not true. The Marhattas are busy in rampaging the Capital. Amaji Mankser? who used to be always here is back here again. I have sent one of my servants, Hanga, to remind him of the previous favours shown to him. I am hoping that he will be able to deliver the parvanah of Mir Muhammad Jafar Khan to Maharajah Ram Narayan Bahadur asking him not to support Khvajah Muhammdi Khan and not to interfere in the affairs of Malda.

I have already written to you about the death of my grand mother. I feel very ashamed that because of my poverty I am unable to perfom the ceremony of her last rites appropiately. As my benefactor it was essential that I bring this to your notice. I am hoping to perfom this ceremony on 17th of As.

The darogha of my fort, Mr Breere, had written to you emphasising the need to send some bilahadaran/soldiers/oarsmen. They have not arrived here as yet. I would be grateful if the matter could be expedited as we notice the enemey building up its cavalry here. So far, they have not created any disturbances.

I have received your letter demanding one Lac rupees for the upkeep of your men. I have tried my best to comply with your demand but I am short of cash at present and have not been able to pay even my own sepoys since the month of Safar. I have been able to collect fifty thousand rupees which I have given to your agent to forward to you for the upkeep of your army. As you have suggested I have taken the case of Rajah Ram Narayan to Huzur and it has been agreed that he will award him a Khillat on Thursday. After enquiring about your wishes from George Camp? he wants to come and see you. Meanwhile, I have received a bottle of very useful kushtah from an Indian Hakim; if you wish I will be glad to send this bottle to you.

Hamid Allah Shaikh, Shaikh Ghulam Ali and Mir Ghulam Gilani who are at present staying here have proved themselves in bravery, respect and pious behaviour. I hope that when they come and see you you may be able to offer them appropriate employment or service.

Thank for your letter asking me to send you a hubble-bubble made of crystal glass and with a handle decorated with gold patterns. I had sent my messenger to purchase such a handle with gold work but unfortunately they were not successful and I do not have the courage to send you any other handle. Fortunately I have found one such handle made of silver in my own collection; this is being sent to you through messengers. I hope this will be acceptable to you.