Sir,
Under existing circumstances, I deem your application inadmissible. Government will be guided by my report of this day, and will decide accordingly. So far as relates to yourself, you may apply to the Adjutant-General of the army for a copy. I am left to regret that you and Lieutenant Forbes did not make the required apology for your conduct on the 7th instant. Had you done so, as I requested, private information would not have been acted upon, as far as I know. Matters must now take their course. I will still forward any explanations you may state to me with respect to the observations you made at the mess on the 7th instant, so publicly, with respect to the Nizam's detachment, and officers who are not friends of the army.
(Signed) J. INNES, Lieut.-Col.
No. X.
Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant Maitland to
Lieutenant-Colonel Innes.
Sir,
I am sorry that circumstances exist to subject me to be condemned unheard for a time. I hope Government will not decide upon your report until I have an opportunity of defending myself; which, according to your letter, I must look for from the Adjutant-General of the army. Until I received your letter this day, I never knew for what words or actions of mine an apology was required; or I most solemnly deny ever having given any opinion, in any way, regarding the Nizam's detachment and its officers, that night, or at any other time, in your presence.
(Signed) G. G. MAITLAND,
Lieutenant of the Madras European
Regiment.
Masulipatam,
24th May, 1809.