পাতা:সিরাজদ্দৌলা - অক্ষয়কুমার মৈত্রেয়.pdf/২৮১

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা হয়েছে, কিন্তু বৈধকরণ করা হয়নি।
ওয়াটনের পত্র।
২৬৭

কার করিয়া, হুগলী বিপর্যস্ত করিয়া, বীরসিংহ হইয়া বৃটীশদুর্গে বিশ্রাম-সুখ উপভোগ করিতেছিলেন। সুতরাং ওয়াট্‌সনের শান্তমূর্ত্তি তিরোহিত হইয়া গেল;—তিনি এবার সিংহবিক্রমে প্রত্যুত্তর পাঠাইলেন:—

 “You told me in your letter, that the reason of your expelling the English out of these countries was, the bad behaviour of Mr. Drake, the Company's Chief in Bengal. But besides that, Princes and Rulers of States, not seeing with their own eyes, nor hearing with their own ears, are often misinformed, and the truth (is) kept from them by the arts of crafty and wicked men; was it becoming the justice of a Prince to punish all for one man's sake? Or to ruin and destroy so many innocent people as had no way offended, but who, relying on Our Royal Phirmaund, expected protection and security both to their property and lives, instead of oppression and murder, which they unhappily found? Are these actions becoming the justice of a Prince? No body will say they are. They can only then have been caused by men, who have misrepresented things to you through malice, or for their own private ends; for great Princes delight in acts of justice, and in shewing mercy.

 If therefore you are desirous of meriting the fame of a great Prince, and lover of justice, shew your abhorrence of these proceedings, by punishing those evil counsellors who advised them; cause satisfaction to be made to the Company, and to all others who have been deprived of their property, and by these acts turn off