“At a Council:  present, the Honorable Warren Hastings, Esq., Governor-General, President, Edward Wheler and John Stables, Esqrs.; Mr. Macpherson absent from the Presidency for the benefit of his health:  the following letter and its inclosures were received from Mr. Bristow on the 8th instant, and circulated.

“’Honorable Sir, and Gentlemen,—­I have the honor to forward, for your further information, the inclosure No. 3; it contains a relation of the hardships endured by the ladies of the late Vizier’s zenanah.’

       (Signed) ‘JOHN BRISTOW.’

     “Translation of a Paper of Intelligence from Fyzabad.

“’The ladies, their attendants, and servants were still as clamorous as last night.  Letafit, the darogah, went to them, and remonstrated with them on the impropriety of their conduct, at the same time assuring them that in a few days all their allowances would be paid, and should that not be the case, he would advance them ten days’ subsistence, upon condition that they returned to their habitations.  None of them, however, consented to his proposal, but were still intent upon making their escape through the bazaar, and in consequence formed themselves in the following order,—­the children in the front, behind them the ladies of the seraglio, and behind them again their attendants; but their intentions were frustrated by the opposition which they met with from Letafit’s sepoys.  The next day Letafit went twice to the women, and used his endeavors to make them return into the zenanah, promising to advance them ten thousand rupees, which, upon the money being paid down, they agreed to comply with; but night coming on, nothing transpired.

“’On the day following, their clamors were more violent than usual.  Letafit went to confer with them on the business of yesterday, offering the same terms.  Depending upon the fidelity of his promises, they consented to return to their apartments, which they accordingly did, except two or three of the ladies, and most of their attendants.  Letafit went then to Hossmund Ali Khan, to consult with him about what means they should take.  They came to a resolution of driving them in by force, and gave orders to their sepoys to beat any one of the women who should attempt to move forward; the sepoys accordingly assembled, and each one being provided with a bludgeon, they drove them, by dint of beating, into the zenanah.  The women, seeing the treachery of Letafit, proceeded to throw stones and bricks at the sepoys, and again attempted to get out; but finding that impossible, from the gates being shut, they kept up a continual discharge till about twelve o’clock, when, finding their situation desperate, they returned into the Rung Mohul, and forced their way from thence into the palace, and dispersed themselves about the house and gardens.  After this they were desirous of getting into the Begum’s apartments; but she, being