Autograph document : India, 1780 Aug. 24.

Relating details of a dinner and conversation following it with Sir Eyre Coote, Thomas Graham and Henry Van Sittart in which Sir Eyre Coote discussed, at length, the current state of affairs of the Marratta War and the situation with Mr. [Warren] Hastings; saying that Sir Eyre Coote hopes for an "Honorable Peace. What definition he gives to this Term I am at a Loss to determine; for, notwithstanding the part he has acted, he says in the first Instance, he disapproved of the Marratta War, and was ever of the Opinion, when once begun, that it should have been conducted with Vigor;" adding that "Johnson pretended to be very anxious for Sir E.C.'s expressing an Inclination to support Mr. F.[rancis] and Mr. W. [possibly Edward Wheler]; that from his Resentment against Mr. Hastings he saw Day light, which a private conversation might obscure, but that it was at present Sir E.C.'s Intention to hold no private Conversation with Mr. Hastings;" continuing "Sir E.C. informed me of his having received a great Number of anonymous Letters couched in the most abusive Language;" concluding "This is in Substance all that has passed; I mean to be every day at Ghyretty, from which place, Sir E.C. means at present to go directly to Council without ever visiting the Governor [Warren Hastings].