"
Here, then, is evidence of evidence given to Mr. Markham by Mr. Balfour,
from Lucknow, in the month of November, 1781, long after the transaction
at Benares. But what was this evidence? "I communicated," he says, "the
substance of a conversation said to have passed." Observe, _said_: not a
conversation that had passed to his knowledge or recollection, but what
his informant said had passed. He adds, this conversation was reported
to him by a person whom he won't name, but in whom, he says, he had some
confidence. This anonymous person, in whom he had put some confidence,
was not himself present at the conversation; he only reports to him that
it was _said_ by somebody else that such a conversation had taken place.
This conversation, which somebody told Colonel Balfour he had heard was
said by somebody to have taken place, if true, related to matters of
great importance; still the mode of its communication was left to Mr.
Markham, and that gentleman did not bring it forward till some months
after. Colonel Balfour proceeds to say,--"Some days after this
conversation was said to have happened," (your Lordships will observe it
is always, "was said to have happened,") "I was informed by the same
person that the Rajah had received a message from one of the Begums at
Fyzabad, (I think it was from Sujah ul Dowlah's widow,) advising him not
to comply with the demands of government, and encouraging him to expect
support in case of his resisting.
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