388 
MADRAS. 
I sincerely wished he had declined paying me ihe compliment^ 
after having so long neglected it. I was however obliged to 
submit. 
February 2,3. — At twelve I went to Lord William Bentinck's to 
receive the Nawaub's visit. He arrived soon afterwards in an English 
coach with four horses, and attended by his body-guard. He had 
no suwarry, and indecorously made it a private visit : however, I 
am much more inclined to attribute this to ignorance, than to any 
intention of behaving uncivilly. The secretary and aid-de-camps 
met him at the steps of the portico, and conducted him up stairs; 
at the top he was received by Lord William and myself, who both 
embraced him, and led him to a seat. The conversation was tedious 
and uninteresting. After repeating all his messages to the Royal 
family, and wishing me a pleasant voyage, he at length departed ; 
having staid till I was nearly out of patience. I understand that he 
is extremely fond of paying visits to the Governor, and of mixing 
as much as possible with Europeans. Whether the assumption of 
the country were or were not justifiable, it seems, at least, perfectly 
clear that it has not in the slightest degree mortified his Highness, 
who seems quite satisfied with reigning in his palace at Chepauk, 
and receiving a revenue much larger than ever actually entered 
the coffers of his predecessors. A suspicion has fallen upon him 
that he was accessary to the death of his cousin, the deposed Nawaub, 
who died within the walls of Chepauk : but when it is considered 
that this event tookplace in the apartments of his own mother, which 
in the East are a certain protection, and to which he had removed, 
of his own accord, from the residence allotted to him without the 
palace, candour will acquit him of the charge. Being perfectly con^- 
