* 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 ON THE GOVERNMENT OF INDOSTAN. 
 
 WITH A SHORT SKETCH 
 
 OF THE HISTORY OF BENGAL, 
 
 FROM MDCCXXXVIIII TO MDCCLVI; 
 
 AND AN ACCOVNT 
 
 OF THE ENGLISH AFFAIRS 
 
 TO MDCCLVIII: 
 BY LVKE SCRAFTON ESQ. 
 
 LONDON, PRINTED MDCCLXIII 
 
 REPRINTED BY W. STRAHAN IVN. 
 
 FOR G. KEARSLEY, IN LVDGATE STREET, 
 
 AND T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND, 
 
 MDCCLXX 
 
 ■ ■ ftOt 6

 
 -5 
 Id 
 
 REFLECTIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT 
 OF INDOSTAN. ETC. 
 
 LETTER I 
 
 Sir, 
 
 In obedience to your repeated commands, I am now 
 
 tfet down to give you fuch an account of the revolutions 
 
 to . ° J 
 
 ^in Bengal, as my memory and the papers I have by me 
 
 <will enable me: But, firft, I find it neceflary to give you 
 oafome account of the religion, cuiloms, policy, and go- 
 vernment of the native Indians, and their conquerors the 
 Mahometans j that, being familiarized to them, you may 
 fee the principles on which they act, and that the whole 
 may appear a natural chain of events. I then propofe to 
 give you the hiftory of Bengal, prior to the acceflion of 
 Cheraujee al Dowlaj and, laftly, the account of the un- 
 r% happy cataftrophe of all the company's fettlements there, 
 ~ and of the feyeraJ interefting events that followed. You 
 ^ muft not expect a graceful diction, and ornamented ftile : 
 o I pretend to no other merit than a ftrift adherence to 
 <t truth, and fuch obfervations as are the refult of much 
 converfation and intercourfe with the natives. 
 
 Firft, of the religion and cuftoms of the native In- 
 dians, whom I fhall call Gentoos, agreeable to the com- 
 mon pronunciation. They pretend, that Brumma, the 
 founder of their religion, was a being of fo exalted a na- 
 ture, as to be inferior only to god himfelf: of infinite 
 knowledge, and all his words were truth. From thecon- 
 zz du£f. of mankind, as recorded in the hiftorics of other 
 " countries, I incline to think, this Brumma was one of 
 a= thofe great geniufes, which Providence, from time to 
 
 A 2 time, 
 
 301293
 
 4, LETTER 1 
 
 time, bcflows on mankind for the improvement of their 
 happinefs: fuch were Confucius, Zoroafter, and I might 
 add Peter the Great, who, had he appeared in a lcfs en- 
 lightened age, would, I doubt not, when tjme had caft 
 a veil over his failings, have been as much revered among 
 the Ruffians, as thefe men were in their refpective nations. 
 They date the exiftence of Brumma many thoufand years 
 beyond our account of the creation. Poffibly their chro- 
 nology is no better founded than that of the Chinefe; 
 f yet they have undoubted claims to remote antiquity ; for 
 the earlier! accounts we have of them, reprefent them as 
 cultivating all the ufeful arts in great perfection ; and to 
 judge by their flow progrefs among us, this feems to be 
 the work of ages. Perhaps thefe eaftern countries, peo- 
 pled in the infancy of the world, never degenerated into 
 that ftate of barbarifm in which we were fo long involv- 
 ed ; the foil and climate were propitious to mankind, and 
 the mind was a ftranger to the fiercer paffions, which 
 arofe from the ftimulatina; neceffities of our more northern 
 climates. The Bramins fay, that Brumma, their law- 
 giver, left them a book, called the Vidam, which con- 
 tains all his doctrines and inftitutions. Some fay the ori- 
 ginal language in which it was wrote is loft, and that at 
 prefent they only poffefs a comment thereon, called the 
 Shahftah, which is wrote in the Sanfcrit language, now 
 a dead language, and known only to the Bramins who 
 ftudy it. In this they are taught to believe in one fupreme 
 Being, who has created a regular gradation of beings, 
 fome fuperior, and fome inferior to man : in the immor- 
 tality of the foul, and a future ftate of rewards and pu- 
 nifhments, which is to confift of a tranfmigration into 
 different bodies, according to the lives they have led in 
 their pre-exiftent ftate. This is all I know of their 
 doctrine on thefe two important fubjects ; and this is be- 
 lieved by the moft learned of the Bramins. But, from 
 
 an
 
 LETTER I 5 
 
 ah opinion that fenfible objects were necefTary to 
 this intelligible to the vulgar, thefe doctrines ha\ 
 taught in allegory: hence images were made of the fu- 
 preme Being, according to the particular attribute they 
 would exprefs ; his power, by an image with many 
 hands and fwords, his wifdom by an elephant's head, and 
 fo for the reft: and this is the principal fource of all ido- 
 latry; for the explanation being loft, in procefs of time 
 the images became themfelvcs the objects of their worfhip ; 
 and as the knowledge of the Sanfcrit lanjrua^e is confined 
 to a few of the moft learned Bramins, thefe alone pof- 
 fefs the magic lanthorn, from whieh they refect what 
 objects they plcafe; and though all the Gentoos i 
 continent, from Lahore to Cape Comonr., agree in ac- 
 knowledging the Vidam, yet they have greatly varied in 
 the corruptions of it: and hence different images arc 
 worfhipped in different parts; and the firft fimple trutfl 
 of an omnipotent Being is loft in the abfurd worfhip of a 
 multitude of images, which, at firft, A.vre only fymbcls 
 to reprefent his various attributes. This i.s ail i fliall 
 venture to fay on their doctrinal points; but their cuf- 
 toms are reckoned part of their religion, b c : n l; fan- j 
 by the fuppofed divine character of their legi Gator, it 
 conjectures are permitted, I fhuuld fuppofe, that Bn \i 
 v/as kino;, as well as legislator, c ntinent of 
 
 India, and that the chief points he had in view, were$ to 
 attach the people of India to their own country, and td 
 render facred whatever cuftoms he thought neceflary to 
 be oblerved in fucli a climate: Hence I n lor 
 
 the three great rivers which water all the cou 
 Indus, the Kiltnah, and the Ganges; and h 
 veneration for the cow, a ere".",::, moft eflentially n I - 
 fary in a country where milk is th i^od, 
 
 and where oxen are fo ufeful in cul lanc\ 
 
 But the cuftom which diftingui&ea the lad i 
 
 A 3 the
 
 6 LET T ER I 
 
 the reft of mankind, is the divifion of the natives into 
 tribes. 
 
 The four principal tribes, are the Bramins, Soldiers, 
 Labourers, and Mechanics. Thefe are again fubdivided 
 into a multiplicity of inferior diftinctions. There are 
 Bramins of various degrees of excellence, who have the 
 care of religion allotted to them. Thefe are held facred 
 by the reft : thev fwear by their heads ; they kifs their 
 feet ; and the Bramins have the entire government of 
 their minds ; and fuch as do not follow any worldly pur- 
 fuits, are fupported by the reft, which is a great burden 
 upon the land. It is difficult to draw a general charafter 
 of the Bramins, as they vary fo much in their purfuits, 
 and in their degrees of knowledge. Some I have conver- 
 fed with, acknowledge the errors that have crept into their 
 religion, own one fuprcme Being, laugh at the idolatry 
 of the multitude, but infift upon the neceflity of working 
 upon the weaknefTes of the vulgar, and will admit of no 
 doubt of the divine character of their legiflator. Talk 
 to them of the truth of the Chriftian religion, they 
 fay, " They believe it is all very true; but that God 
 *' has given different laws, and ordered different forms 
 " of worfhip for different nations, and has prefcribed 
 " them theirs, which their forefathers have praetifed for 
 '* many thoufand years, and they have no reafon to doubt 
 " its being acceptable." For this reafon they admit no 
 converts, nor are themfelves ever converted, whatever the 
 Roman miflionaries may pretend; except indeed the Hal- 
 lachores, of whom I fhall fpeak hereafter, who are glad 
 to be received into a fociety where they are treated as 
 fellow-creatures. But I much doubt whether there ever 
 was an inftance of anv other of the Indians being con- 
 verted by the miflionaries ; and even thefe do no honour 
 to the Chriftian religion, for as far as my obfervation has 
 reached, thefe half Chriftians are the moft abandoned 
 
 profligate
 
 LETTER i : 
 
 profligate wretches of the human fpecies. But to return 
 to the Bramins, fome few there are, who, verfed in their 
 learned languages, foar above the vulgar ; but the gene- 
 rality are as ignorant as the laity. Such who are not en- 
 gaged in worldly purfuits, are a very moral fuperftitious 
 innocent people, who promote charity as much as they 
 can to man and beaft; but fuch who engage in the world 
 are generally the worft of all the Gentoos ; for, perfuaded 
 the waters of the Ganges will purify them from their fins, 
 and being exempted from the utmoft rigour of the courts 
 of juftice, under the Gentoo governments, they run into 
 the greateft excefies. 
 
 The Soldiers are commonly called Rajah-poots.* Thefe 
 inhabit chiefly the northern provinces. And it is from 
 hence I conjecture, that the founder of their religion was 
 alfo king of the whole continent, and that he fent off" this 
 tribe to govern the reft; for in all the fouthern provinces, 
 the reft of the inhabitants are quite black ; and the family 
 that govern, are a fair-complexioned people, of the colour 
 of thofe of the northern provinces. Thefe Rajah-poots 
 are much more robuft than the reft, have a great (hare of 
 courage, and a nice fenfe of military honour, which con- 
 fifts, among them, in fidelity to thofe they ferve. Fighting 
 is their profeffion, and they readily enter into the fcnrkfe 
 of any that will pay them, and will follow wherever he 
 leads ; but as foon as their leader falls in battle, their caufe 
 is at an end, and they run oft' the field without any ftain 
 to their reputation. 
 
 The Labourers are next in rank. This tribe includes 
 farmers, and all who cultivate the land. And the me- 
 chanics include merchants, bankers, and all who follow 
 any trade. Thefe again are fub-divided into each pro- 
 feflion. And now I muft mention the Hallachorcs, '.vhom 
 T cannot call a tribe, beinc: rather the rtfule ot alt the 
 
 * Perfons defended from R.ij>tbt. 
 
 A \ tribes.
 
 t LETTER I 
 
 tribes. Thcfe arc a fet of poor unhappy wretches, de- 
 fined to mifcry from their birth. They perform all the 
 vjlefl offices of life, bury the dead, and carry away every 
 thing that is polluted. They are held in fuch abomina- 
 tion, that on the Malabar fide of India, if they chance to 
 touch one of a fuperior tribe, he draws his fabre, and cuts 
 him down on the fpot, without any check, either from 
 his own confeience, or from the laws of the country. 
 How the legiflator could let fuch an injuftice enter into his 
 fyftcm, I can no otherways account for, than by his fup- 
 pofing a neceffityof a regular gradation ; and that he was 
 obliged to facrifice a portion of his people, to preferve 
 the purity, or that wherein he defined purity to confift, 
 of the reft. All the different tribes are kept diftinct from 
 each other, by infurmountable barriers. They are forbid 
 to intermarry, to cohabit, to eat with each other, or even 
 to drink out of the fame veflel with one of another tribe; 
 and every deviation in thefe points, fubjecls them to be 
 rejected by their tribe, renders them for ever polluted, and 
 they are thence-forward obliged to herd with the Halla- 
 chores. 
 
 It does not enter into my plan to give you a detail of all 
 their religious follies and ceremonies ; which, if you are cu- 
 rious, you may find amply defcribed in Mr. Picart's collec- 
 tion of religious ceremonies. Let it fuffice, that amidft all 
 their errors they agree in thofe truths which form the har- 
 mony of the univerfe, that there is one supreme 
 
 GOD, AND THAT HE IS BEST PLEASED BY 
 
 charity and good Works, Their worfhip and 
 ceremonies at the great temple of Jagernaut feem inftr- 
 tuted to remind them of this j for there the Bramin, the 
 Rajah, the labourer, and mechanic, all prefent their of- 
 ferings, and eat and drink promifcuoufly together, as if 
 they would ir.finuate, that all thofe diftincHcns are of 
 human invention, and that in the fight of God all men are 
 
 equal.
 
 LETTER I 9 
 
 equal. This divifion into tribes has had two efrl-cls o.n 
 the whole nation. It has occafioned fuch a difunion among 
 them, as has always made them an cafy prey to every 
 invader ; for no man thinks of defending himfclf, unlefs 
 he is of the lbldier's tribe : and hence it is, that the in- 
 vaders, who, like Alexander, came in on the northern 
 frontiers, inhabited moftly by Raja-Poots, have always 
 met a very brave refi fiance, while thofe who came in from 
 the fea, of which more hereafter, have met with very 
 little. But it is the fame difr.incr.ion alfo, which has prc- 
 ferved the manufactures anions them, manure all the re- 
 volutions and all the opprcflions introduced by the Ma- 
 hometans ; for while the fon can follow no other trade 
 than that cf his father, the manufactures can be left only 
 by exterminating the people. 
 
 Their legislator has even ordained different kinds of 
 food to the different tribes ; but whether this was found- 
 ed in policy* or in a real perfuafion of the doctrine of the 
 Mctempfychofis, I will not pretend to fay. The B; 
 touch nothing that has life ; their food is milk, vegeta.bk.-s 
 and fruit ; and if you fhew them through a microfcope 
 the infects on a leaf, invifible to the naked eye, they fay 
 it is a deceit, that the objects are in the glafs, not in the 
 leaf; The foldiers are permitted to eat venifon, muttoa 
 and fifh. The labourers and mechanics are dii 
 cording to their fects and profeflions ; foir.c are confined 
 to milk and vegetables ; others arc permitted fifh, but 
 nothing further; the privilege of eating fiefh i 
 entirely to the foldiers, and in general, almofi: without ex- 
 ception, they are remarkable for a temperance that hold- 
 ers on abircmioufjicfs. Another circumflancc tha: 
 tributes to form their genera) character, is, their a 
 ing when infants; and yet no women ..re more remark- 
 able for their conju lity, in which they arc dif- 
 tinguifh/.'d beyond the reft of their fex, by that remark- 
 able
 
 io LETTER I 
 
 able cuftom of burning with their hufbands. Many 
 authors afcribe this to have been inftituted to prevent 
 their wives poifoning them ; but I am well perfuaded, 
 they often fubmit to it from a nice fenfe of honour and 
 conjugal affection. Let it be confidered, they are 
 brought up together from their infancy j the woman has 
 no opportunity of ever converfing with any other man ; 
 her affections are centered folely in this one object of 
 her love ; fhe is firmly perfuaded, that by being burnt 
 with him, fhe fhall be happy with him in another 
 world ; that if fhe neglects this laft token of affection, 
 he may take another wife, and fhe be feparated from him 
 for ever. However falfe thefe principles, yet, if thofe 
 poor women are perfuaded they are true, you muft allow 
 they are powerful motives. No doubt they are likewife 
 influenced by the difgrace of furviving him ; for they are 
 then condemned to a perpetual widowhood, and from 
 miftrefs of the family, degraded to the ftate of a menial 
 fervant. This affords but an unhappy profpectj where- 
 as, their burning themfelves is thought to reflect great 
 honour to the family, and there is no doubt but the 
 dying hufband recommends it to her in his laft moments. 
 Thus their minds raifed to the utmoft pitch by this 
 ftrange commotion of love, grief, and honour, they go 
 through the terrible trial with amazing fortitude. The 
 practice is far from common, and only complied with 
 by thofe of illuftrious families. Nor is it on this occafion 
 only that the Gentoos meet death with fortitude. The 
 men are equally ready to refign their lives to preferve 
 their religious purity ; of which we had laft year a re- 
 markable inftance in three Bramins, who had their 
 daughters forced from them by a Mahometan, beyond 
 the reach of juftice : they complained to the governor of 
 the province, but finding no redrefs, they all fwalloweu 6 
 poifori, and died at the door of his tent. Alfo, when 
 
 the
 
 LETTER I ii 
 
 the forces came from Madrafs, by the unexpected length of 
 the paflage, they were greatly reduced for provifions, in- 
 fomuch that there was no rice left for the Gentoofcapoys*, 
 and nothing to ferve out to them but beef and pork j 
 but though fome did lubmit to this defilement, yet many 
 preferred a laneuifhing death by famine to life polluted 
 beyond recovery. The Mahometan governors often take 
 advantage of this, when they want to extort money from 
 them ; and though they will bear the feverelt corporal 
 punifhment, rather than difcover their money; yet, when 
 once their religious purity is threatened, they comply, if 
 the fum is in their power j if not, and the man is be- 
 loved by his tribe, they make a fubfeription to raifc the 
 money. Fortitude on thefe occafions is common to all 
 of them, even thofe who in other dangers appear of moft 
 daftardiy fpiritlefs difpefitions. Such you fee is the 
 force of principle, that it has preferved its efficacy 
 through a feries of ages. And when we confider the 
 dreadful penalties annexed to any deviations from what 
 their religion ordains, we fhall ccafe to wonder at the 
 little change that appears among the Indians, compared 
 with the darlleft accounts we have of them. 
 
 There is no forming a general character for fo vafr. a 
 tract of country, extending from Cape Comorin in the 
 latitude 6, to Lahore in 30. The whole of it is divided into 
 little principalities, many of which being tainted with the 
 difiolute manners of their conquerors, afford . of 
 
 characters, differing according to the climate, the trit 
 and the government. But in jufiice to the Gentoo • 
 and cuftoms, I muft ! before the late wars be- 
 
 tween the French and us in the Carnatick country, 
 which i divided into little Indian RajahuY 
 
 human nature in no part of the world afforded a finer 
 plation to a philofophic mind
 
 \2 LETTER I 
 
 thing feemcd calculated to promote agriculture and 
 manufactures. 
 
 The fruitfulnefs of thefe hot countries depending en- 
 tirely on their being well watered, and the rainy feafon 
 being here of very fhort duration, the prefervation of the 
 water is a principal object : For which reafon the high 
 lands are mounded in by great banks to collect the water 
 that falls from the mountains ; and thefe refervoirs are 
 kept up by the government for the public benefit, 
 every man paying for his portion of a drain. The roads 
 are planted with rows of large trees, which add to the 
 beauty of the country, and aftbrd a pleafing and refrefh- 
 ing made j and every two or three miles are ftone-build'- 
 ings called Choultrys, for the convenience of travellers^ 
 who always find Bramins attending to furnifh them with 
 water : And fo free is the country from robbers, that 
 I doubt there having been an inftance of one in the me- 
 mory of man. The diamond merchants, who generally 
 pal's this country, have feldom even a weapon of defence^ 
 owing to that admirable regulation, which obliges the 
 Lord of that fpot where the robbery is committed, to 
 recover the efFe&s, or make good the value. At the ex- 
 tremity of every town or village are large groves of 
 trees, where the weavers carry on their manufactures, 
 and, if the foil will admit, there is a handfome ftone 
 refervoir, called a Tank. 
 
 In the capital of every confiderable diilricl is generally 
 a large temple or pagoda, fome of them mofl ftupen- 
 dous buildings, all of ftone, the outfide from top to 
 bottom adorned with little images, reprefenting the hii- 
 tories of their gods, and too often their amours, full as 
 bad as any of the ancients. Thefe pagodas are gene- 
 rally built by the Rajahs, or rather by fucceffive genera- 
 tions of them, for fome of them appear to be the work 
 of ages. They confift of feveral courts, which contain 
 
 places
 
 LETTER! jj 
 
 places for their idols, and apartments for their Bramins, 
 of which there are fome thoufands, who have generally 
 the revenues of a trait of country afligned them for their 
 fupport, 
 
 The Bramins, who in other refpects have perverted 
 the doctrine of their founder, have however flrongly 
 inculcated the virtue of charity, hy teaching them how 
 much it will contribute to their happy tranfmigration. 
 Happily for the country they have grafted a vanity on 
 this virtue, which promotes and extends its good ef- 
 fects. It is the height of their ambition to have a 
 temple or choultry called after their name, and reflects 
 more honour to their children, than if their parents 
 had left them immenfe wealth. 
 
 What greater proof need we of the goodnefs of the 
 government, than the immenfe revenue their country 
 yields ; many of the Gentoo provinces yield a revenue 
 in proportion of extent of country equal to our richeft 
 countries in Europe ; and yet, like u.s, they have no 
 mines, but draw their wealth from the labour of their 
 hands. Such was the Carnatic before it was ravaged 
 by our late wars. And I have been told, that the 
 Gentoos of the northern provinces ftill prefervc the 
 Gentoo purity and fimplicity uncontaminatcd ; but they 
 indeed were never properly fubdued : The fucceflbrs of 
 Tamerlane made fierce and conftantwar upon them, but 
 always met with a vigorous and brave refiftance, and 
 were at la ft convinced it was better to have them as a 
 kind of tributary allies than enemies. Ehbar Shah was, 
 the firfl; who entered into a treaty with them ; his ex- 
 ample was followed by fuccceding emperors ; and they 
 long proved an excellent barrier againft the Afghuanj 
 and the northern Tartars : But when the emperors de- 
 generated into lewd monfters and tyrants, they forfook 
 their alliance, and thei t was. expofed 
 
 to
 
 i + L E T T E R I 
 
 to the invafion of the Mharattas,the Perfians, and laflly, 
 of the Afghuans. 
 
 The moft extenfive Gcntoo government is that of the 
 Mharattas, who have now almoft. overturned the whole 
 empire, of which more when I come to fpeak of their 
 government and hiftory. I fliall only obferve here, that 
 they have vaftly deviated from the true Gentoo character. 
 The military fpirit that has prevailed among them for 
 the two laft centuries, has utterly corrupted their man- 
 ners ; their manufactures are totally neglected ; com- 
 merce is banifhed ; and their Rajahs have laid wafte their 
 own country by their oppreflion, almoft as much as 
 that of their enemies, while the generals of their army 
 and their foldiery are grown immenfely rich by the plun- 
 der of more than half of the Mogul empire. There are a 
 number of Rajahfhips intcrfperfed throughout India, 
 which by the advantageous fituation of the country, 
 have either never been fubdued, or are only tributary to 
 the Mahometans, preferving their own religion and 
 laws : Such is the Rajahfhip of Tanjour, the Rajah of 
 which two years ago repulfed the veterans of France, 
 commanded by lieutenant-general Lally. 
 
 We read in ancient authors, that the Brachmans, who 
 I incline to think were a fet of philofophers rather than 
 the tribe of Bramins, excelled in aftronomy, and were 
 famed all over the world for their learning. It is very 
 poflible they had juft pretenfions to that character ; but 
 in all thefe eaftern countries, if any man pofleffes any 
 fecret of nature, he only confiders how he fhall make ufe 
 of it to delude the ignorant multitude, and attract their 
 veneration ; and therefore the key of the Arcana is 
 trufted to very few. For example, I was amazed to fee, 
 that the Bramins could foretel an eclipfe ; and yet afk 
 them the nature of it, and they tell you an abfurd ftory 
 of a dragon laying hold of the fun, and they teach the 
 
 people
 
 LETTER I 15 
 
 people to run into the river and make all the noife they 
 can, which they pcrfuade them will frighten the dragon 
 away. This led me to enquire into it, and I found that 
 they are poflefled of a lift of eclipfes calculated for fome 
 thoufand years to come. Now, whoever made this lift 
 muft certainly have known the motions of the heavenly 
 bodies, whereby it was occafioned ; but it is the fyftem 
 of the Bramins, that the vulgar are to be governed only 
 by talcing advantage of their ignorance : Therefore v.c 
 are not to wonder at the excefles they run into injudi- 
 cial aftrology, which they carry indeed to the hi 
 degree of folly. Their almanac, compofed by the Bra- 
 mins, has not only a planet or genius that prefides over 
 every day, but over every hour, every minute, and every 
 action ; nor do they enter on any new undertaking, 
 without confulting it, and it requires a concurrence of 
 fortunate circumftances to form a lucky minute. Some 
 days are fit for going to the north, others to the fouth ; 
 fome days are fo entirely taken up by evil fpirits, that 
 they abftain from all manner of bufinefs ; and a clap of 
 thunder at once breaks their rclblutions, let the almanac 
 fay what it will : So that between the Mahometan and 
 Gentoo aftrologers together, one half of the year is taken 
 up in unlucky days. The head aftrologer is ever prefent 
 at all their councils ; no new enterprize is begun with- 
 out his being firft confultcd ; and his veto is as effectual 
 as that of a tribune in the Roman fenate ; the ftrefs they 
 lay on this really makes it of great confcqucncc, and the 
 general who mould march an army againft the opinion 
 of the aftrologer, would be as much condemned, as the 
 Roman general who fought, though the chicken would 
 not feed. 
 
 After having fatd fo much on the cuftoms and religion 
 of the Gentoos, I think I may venture to fay on the 
 whole, that the Gcntoob, uninfluenced by the Maho- 
 metans,
 
 16 LETTER I 
 
 metan», are a meek, fuperflitious charitable people, & 
 character formed by their temperance, cuftoms, and re- 
 ligion. They are almoft ftrangers to many of thofe paf- 
 fions that form the pleafure and pain of our lives. Love, 
 at leafr. all the violent tumults of it, is unknown to the 
 Gcntoos, by their marrying fo young, and by the little 
 intercourfe they have with other women ; ambition, is 
 effectually reftrained by their religion, which has, by 
 infurmountable barriers, confined every individual to a 
 limited fphere ; and all thofe follies, arifing from de- 
 bauchery, are completely curbed by their abstaining from 
 all intoxicating liquors. But from hence alfo, they are 
 ftrans;ers to that vi^or of mind, and all the virtues 
 grafted on thofe pailions which animate our more active 
 fpirits. They prefer a lazy apathy, and frequently 
 quote this faying from fome favourite book : " It is 
 *' better to fit than to walk, to lie down than to fit, 
 * c to fleep than to wake, and death is beft of all. " 
 Their temperance, and the enervating heat of the cli- 
 mate, ftarves all the natural paflions, and leaves them 
 only avarice, which preys moft on the narrower! minds. 
 This bias to avarice is alfo prompted by the oppreffion 
 of the government, for power is ever jealous of the in- 
 fluence of riches. The Rajahs never let their fubjedts 
 rife above mediocrity ; and the Mahometan governors 
 look on the growing riches of a fubjedl: as a boy does on 
 a bird's neft ; he eyes their progrefs with impatience, 
 then comes with a fpoiler's hand, and ravifhes the fruit 
 of their labour. To counter-adl: this, the Gentoos bury 
 their money under ground, often with fuch fecrefy as 
 not to truft even their own children with the know- 
 ledge of it ; and it is amazing what they will fufFer 
 rather than betray it : When their tyrants have tried all 
 manner of corporal punifjiments on them, they threaten 
 to defile them $ but even that often fails ; for refent- 
 J ment
 
 LETTER I 
 
 «7 
 
 merit prevailing over the love of life, they frequently 
 rip up their bowels, or poifon themfelvcs, and carry the 
 fecret to the grave ; and the fums loft in this manner, in 
 fome meafure account why the illver in India does not 
 appear to increafe, though there arc fuch quantities con- 
 tinually coming into it, and none going out of it. 
 The Gentoos of the lower provinces are a flight 
 people. Rice is their chief food. It feems to afford 
 but poor nourishment ; for ftrong robuil men are feldom 
 feen among them. Though the people in general are 
 healthy, yet they rarely attain to any great age, which 
 is in fome meafure made up to them by an early ma- 
 turity. They arc married in their infancy ; and con- 
 taminate at fourteen on the male fide, and ten or elc 
 on the female : and it is common to fee a woman of 
 twelve with a child in her arms. Though a barren 
 woman is rare among them, yet they bear but : 
 children j for at eighteen their beauty is on the decline, 
 and at twenty-five they are ftro th age : . 
 
 The men indeed wear fomething bettor, though 1 
 alfo are on the decline after thirty. Thus the fpring 
 of life is but of fhort duration, and the organs decay 
 before the faculties of the mind can attain to any perfec- 
 tion. Is nature then deficient ? Surely not. V 
 always fee the organs of the body fuited to the cli- 
 mate ; nor do I know a ftrongcr or more active race of 
 people than the Mallays, who live moflly within fix 1 
 grees of the equinoctial : We mull rather look for it 
 in that early indulgence in venereal pleafures, tlu;r 
 cc/five abftemioufnefs, their fedentary wi -d, 
 
 in Bengal and the conquered provinces, in the dejected fta 
 of their mind . ny of their con- 
 
 querors. No wonder then, that v ith fuch cuftoms, 
 fuch bodies, and fuch minds', prey to 
 
 kvery invader. 
 
 B or
 
 33 LETTER I 
 
 OF THE MOORS. 
 
 The word Moors is ufcd by us to exprefs the Maho- 
 metans of all feels and countries who are fettled in India. 
 It is indeed necefTary to have fome general word ; for 
 whether Pytan, Perfian, or Tartar by birth, it matter 
 not, the enervating foftnefs of the climate, foon forms 
 but one common character of them, the diftinguifhing 
 qualities of which are perfidy and fenfuality : But it 
 will be, neverthelefs, neceffary to trace their progrefs to 
 that character, and to diftinguifh the various nations 
 they come from, before they are melted down into the 
 common mafs. 
 
 The Moors of India have the following origins. 
 
 The Arabs, who came from the Perfian gulph, fet- 
 tled at Mafiulipatam ; from thence made conquefts of 
 the open country up to Dehli, to which they gave a 
 race of kings, who were expelled by Tamerlane and 
 his fucceflbrs ; but they appear to have founded various 
 colonics in different parts, who ftill fubfift, and are 
 called Pytans. 
 
 The Afghans, who came from Candahar and the 
 mountains that divide Perfia from Hindoflan, are alfo 
 called Pytans ; but whence the word is derived, or why 
 the appellation fhould be common to both of them, I 
 will not pretend to afcertain. The Tartars, or the 
 Mungul Tartars, who came in from Bochara and Sa- 
 marcand with Tamerlane, are commonly called Mo- 
 guls. The fame name is alfo given to the Ouibeg, Cal- 
 muc, and other tribes of Tartars, who are continually 
 coming in, as a kind of adventurers, as well as the Per- 
 sians, who, fince the destruction of their own empire, 
 feek a refuge at the courts of the Mogul and the 
 Nabobs of the provinces. Thefe, with the flaves 
 they have brought up to their own religion, compofe 
 
 the
 
 LE T T E R I 19 
 
 the whole body of Mahometans, whom we blend 
 together, under the general denomination of Moors ; 
 and who, though not in number the hundredth part 
 of the natives, yet, by the divifion of the Gentoos, 
 keep almoft the whole in fubjecrion. Of thefe, the 
 Moguls are in polTeflion of the throne of Dchli, and 
 moft of the principal governments and employments de- 
 pendent thcrecn. 
 
 If we would come* at their true character, we muft 
 look for it in their education. Till the age of five or 
 fix, the boys of rank and family arc left entirely to the 
 eunuchs and women ; and from the fondnefs ai 
 nefs of their management, they firit acquire a delicacy 
 of constitution, a timidity, and an early tendency to 
 the pleafures of the feraglio. They are then p: 
 with tutors, to teach them the Perfian and Arabic lan- 
 guages j and, at this early age, they are brought into 
 company, where they are taught to behave with great 
 gravity and circumfpc&ion, to curb every motion of im- 
 patience, learn all the punctilious ceremonies < 
 eaftern courts, to fay their prayers in public, am! 
 exterior of devotion ; and it is aftonifhii how 
 
 well a boy of eight or nine years old will acquit h 
 in company. They are alfo tan !e, and the ufe 
 
 of arms, and are furnifhed with their fhield and fibre, 
 and a little dagger at their v/aift, which is calicd a cut- 
 tarry, the principal ufe of which, is to ftab on occa- 
 fion. When the hours of fchool and con 
 they return to the feraglio, and the parents never f< 
 to admit them to all their pla) i rid , a; which 
 
 are exhibited rcprefentations of every thing thai 
 and unnatural, not in a manner to excite horror, but 
 merely to afford d Nothing ever (hock 
 
 more than to fee the infenfibility in ex- 
 
 pofmg fuch nder mind 
 
 B 2 '1 he
 
 20 LETTER I 
 
 The flaves and women of the feraglio wait with impa-* 
 tiencc the firft appearance of defirc to debauch them* 
 unknown to the parents, and this manner of education 
 continues till thirteen or fourteen, when they confum- 
 mate their marriages, which are mad r parents 
 
 in their infancy, and a feparate houij. '■ is formed for 
 them. They are then forbid tj r's feraglio, are 
 
 permitted to fee none but their mothers, nor has the fa- 
 ther even the permiflion to fee histlaughter-m-iaw ; and 
 from that time, that di/Timulation, which they learnt 
 from the father's Ieflbns and examples, is pracf.il 
 tween father and fon, and too often a jealoufy arifes be- 
 tween them, which their hiftory fhews frequently ends 
 in blood. This is the general education of all the great, 
 and there are few exceptions ; the poor and middling 
 fort are only curbed by the fhortnefs of their finances ; 
 for as foon as they acquire money, they tread in the fteps 
 of their fuperiors. Here, then, you fee the feeds of 
 that perfidy and fenfuality, which are the diftinguifhing 
 qualities of an Indian Moor; qualities, that would 
 long fmce have defixoyed the whole race of them, 
 had they not been continually fupplied with new re- 
 cruits from their original country. 
 
 The Pytans, as I faid before, are fettled in numerous 
 colonies in the interior of India, and chiefly in the bar- 
 ren and mountainous parts, and appear to be the de- 
 fendants of thofe Arabs, who came in from the gulph 
 of Perfia, whofe power was broke by Tamerlane and 
 his fucceflors - y but fuch, who had got pofleffion of any 
 country difficult of accefs, maintained themfelves there, 
 and their defendants are the bell foldiers of the empire 
 but are detefted by the Moguls, who look on them to 
 exceed themfelves in perfiuioufnefs and cruelr. . They 
 make a trade of hiring themfelves out, and ii 
 an opportunity, make no fcruple of deti 
 
 it
 
 LETTER I 21 
 
 power which hires them. A to -.an Pytans, 
 
 they feldom continue here, they only make incurfions 
 for plunder, and return with their booty. The Oufbcc, 
 Calmucs, and the various tribes of Tartars, who come 
 to fettle here, when they firft arrive, arc a bold, hardy, 
 martial people. Their rufticity, and the barbarity c,t 
 their manners, are greatly d ided by the oid (landers. 
 They generally bring a coed hone with them, and arc 
 furc to be taken into fervice, for are recko: 
 
 more faithful than other Mahometans. They begin 
 a fimple cavalier, and are perferred by degrees, till fome 
 of them come to great commands. At firft they ab- 
 hor the fenfuality and effeminacy of their maflers ; but 
 by degrees their native manners wear oft", they adopt the 
 luxury they defpifed, they marry the women of the 
 country, and their children or at the utmoft their grand- 
 children, have nothing remaining of their Tartar ori- 
 gin ; like our Englifh hou ten fent abroad, the 
 firft breed of which retains fome little of" I 
 of a hound, but the next are no better than curs. 
 
 The Perfians are but a final 1 number; and on account 
 of the fairnefs of their con | , and their pclitenefs, 
 
 are favourably received at court, the great men b>.'.::'j; de- 
 firous of marrying them to their daughters, that they may 
 keep up the complexion of their family; for degenerate 
 as the Moors are, they are proud of their origin, and as 
 the Mungul Tartars are a fair complex ioned people, a 
 man takes his rank in fome meafure from his colour. As 
 to the flaves bred up to the Mahometan rtli. 
 much fuch a race as the converts the Pprtugu 
 their religion; they arc destitute of ail the i 
 qualities of the Gentoos, and acquire only 
 of the Mahometans. I am fenfible I have 
 yen the Moors a deteftable character; and 1 am I 
 fay it is fo univerfally true, that 1 never knew above 
 
 B 3 ur
 
 ft* LETTERI 
 
 cr three exceptions, and thofe were, among the Tartar 
 and Perlian officers of the army, whofe native manners 
 were not yet utterly corrupted. 
 
 Hofpitality is, I think, the only virtue they can pre- 
 tend to. It feems to be a refuge from the oppreflion of 
 the government j and many of them fcruple a breach of 
 faith with any man they have entertained under their roof. 
 By this you would think friendfhip was a facred bond 
 among them. True, it is ever in their mouths, but 
 rarely in their hearts, and it is a word feldom ufed but to 
 deceive. Their friendfhip like their devotion is all orien- 
 tation ; they will drink a dram in the intervals between 
 each prayer, though all fpirituous liquors are forbid by 
 their laws, and they will ftab while they embrace you j 
 for which reafon the great men never embrace but on the 
 left, that the perfon they embrace may not come at their 
 dagger with their right hand. The Mahometans in other 
 parts of the world are enthufiafts to their religion; but 
 here the feils of Ofman and Ali never difagree about 
 who was the lawful fucceflbr to the caliphat, if they 
 agree about the fucceflion to the government they live 
 under. There are but few mofques, ftill fewer priefts, 
 and the great men, though, by habit, vaftly punctual 
 in their private devotions, rarely go to the public 
 mofques. 
 
 The Moors may be divided into two characters ; thofe 
 who afpire at power, and thofe who are in pofTemon of it. 
 The former are brave, active, vigilant and enterprizing, 
 fometimes faithful to the party they engage with; but 
 once in pofTeffion of power, they feem to have fought it 
 only to abufe it, by making it fubfervient to their fen- 
 fuality. The charms of the feraglio at once difarm them, 
 they abandon themfelves to their pleafures, and feem to 
 fce fattening themfelves up for a facririce to fome one that 
 pofTefles thofe qualities themfelves have loft, 
 
 paving
 
 LETTER I 23 
 
 Having (aid thus much of their character, I (hall en- 
 deavour to explain how government can fubfiir with fo 
 little virtue. 
 
 As I before obferved, the univerfality of the Gentoo 
 religion throughout the continent fhould imply, that there 
 alfo fubfifted an univerfal empire ; but no accounts we 
 have of India go far enough back to prove it ; for in 
 Alexander the Great's time, it appears to have been di- 
 vided into great Ra'ahfhips, whofe Rajahs were i 
 nually at war with each other. Then enfucs a lone; 
 chafm in our knowledge of them. When the Portu' r uele 
 hrfl: rounded the Cape of Good Hope, they found, that 
 the Arabs had made feveral conquefts along the fea fhore, 
 and had even penetrated along the open country up to 
 Dehli. As they mutt have come by fca, it is highly prob- 
 able their force was not very great ; and their progrefs 
 muft have been owing to the inteftine wars of the Rajahs. 
 When Tamerlane came in, he overpowered them with 
 mighty armies ; but though he is called conquei 
 India, he fcems to have conquered only the open country. 
 That vaft tract of country, from the Indus to the G: 
 was unfubdued; nor had he made any gr^ut progrefs in 
 the caftcrn provinces; and it was not till the time ol 
 Aurengezebc, that the Tartar arms penetrated into the 
 Decan andCarnatic; and even he did not make a ; 
 conqueft of them, for he was on an exj gainft 
 
 the Mharattas when he died. Thus the Tartar conqueft 
 was never perfect; for their gnvernment was lb weaken- 
 ed, by the various ftrugglcs for the fucceifion, Oil 
 of every emperor, but more by their abandoning them* 
 felvcs fo totally to the pleafures <>!" the f 
 never took any deep root; and even I wh.it 
 
 thev had conquered, was {till kit in the h the old 
 
 Rajahs families, in confu of their p 1 
 
 I 'niually to the viceroys appoints I .1 over 
 
 each
 
 * 4 LETTER I 
 
 each particular province. Thus the Mahometan laws 
 never extended further than the capital cities; and even 
 there the old cuftoms were (till regarded. This is one 
 happy effect of the tenacioufnefs of the Gentoos to their 
 own religion ; for had they turned Mahometans, they 
 would indeed have been the moft abject and wretched 
 of the human fpecies. 
 
 I am amazed to fee, that all the writers have afferted, 
 that there are no laws in this country ; that the land is 
 not hereditary; and that the emperor is univerfal heir. 
 I am ready to allow, there are no written inftitutes ; no 
 acts of parliament ; and that there is no power to controul 
 the emperor; but I mufc afTert, that they proceed in their 
 courts of juftice by eftablifhed precedents; that the lineal 
 fucceflion, where there are children, is as indefeafible here 
 as in any country that has no check on the fupreme 
 power ; and that the emperor is heir to none but his own 
 ofneers. Although the Tartars, from their roving life in 
 their own wild country where they live in tents, require 
 few laws, and no fettled police, yet they could diftinguifh 
 the ufe of them in the countries they conquered; and 
 accordingly, both in China and India, they made no 
 innovation, lo that the old Gentoo laws {till prevail. 
 The moft immutable of thefe is the hereditary right to all 
 lands, which even extends to the tenants. The lord of 
 the manor has an uncontefted right, as long as he pays 
 the ufual tax to the government; fo alio the tenant under 
 him cannot be removed while he pays his lord the ufual 
 rate; and the fum at which each acre is valued, as alfo 
 the taxes to the government are wrote and preferved in 
 the county books, and can never be exceeded. Thefe 
 laws were wifely inftituted, as barriers againft opprefiion, 
 and were general, except for the dernefnes of the crown, 
 which on the expulfion of the great Rajahs families, fell 
 to the Tartar conqueror; and for the Jaghire lands, 
 
 which
 
 L E T T E R I 25 
 
 which are lands bellowed by the crown out of its demefnea 
 to the Omrahs, for the fupport of their forces, which, on 
 the death of the poffeflbr, revert to the crown ; but even 
 this regards only the lordlhip of the lands ; for under thefe 
 the right of the tenants is indefeafible. 
 ' Thefe laws continued in full force, till the invafion of 
 Nadir Shah; and till that time there was fcarce abetter 
 adminiftered government in the world. The manufactures, 
 commerce, and agriculture flourished exceedingly; and 
 none felt the hand of opprCiTion, but thofe who were dan- 
 gerous by their wealth or power : but when the governors 
 of the provinces found the weaknefs of the Mogul, and 
 each fet up for fovereign in his own province, aithou h 
 they would not break through thefe immutable laws, they 
 invented new taxes under new names, which doubled or 
 trebled the original ones, and which the land-holder was ob- 
 liged to levy on his tenants. The old irock of wealth for 
 fome time fupported this ; but when that failed, and the te- 
 nants were frill pre fled for more, they borrowed of ufurers 
 at an exorbitant intereft ; and the government ftill continu- 
 ing thefe demands, the lords of the land were obliged to do 
 the fame; but as all this while the value of the lands did 
 not increafe, the confequence was, that, at Lift, unable 
 to pay the intereft of the mortgages, the ren 
 by rapacious ufurers. The government find::-.;, the reve- 
 nues fall fhortcr eve: at laft fent collectors and 
 farmers of the revenues into the provinces. Thus the 
 lord of the land w the power over his coun- 
 try, and the tenants expofed to mcrcilcfs plunderers ; till 
 the farmer and manu f la- 
 boured, the more uld 
 work no more, the fanner Qui til i e, than was 
 neceflary for the hare fubl I miljr. Tl 
 tiii* once flour iihing and pleni i in the 
 e of a 1 I to fuch mifc 
 
 many
 
 2& LETTER I 
 
 many thoufnnds arc continually perifhing through want. 
 The crown lands are {till worfe off; let out to the higheft 
 bidder, the farmer of them looks no farther than to 
 make the moft of his fhort time; and the Jaghire lands 
 alone remain unplundered. Hence that equal diftribution 
 of wealth, that makes the happinefs of a people, and 
 fpreads a face of chearfulnefs and plenty through all ranks, 
 has now ceafed ; and the riches of the country are fettled 
 partly in the hands of a few ufurers, and greedy cour- 
 tiers, and the reft is carried out of the country, by the 
 foreign troops taken into pay to maintain the governors 
 in their ufurpation. This unhappy decay the India com- 
 pany have already experienced, in the decline of their 
 trade, and rife of the price of their manufactures, and 
 will, I fear, experience more and more annually. 
 
 I would always have you carry in your mind, 
 that thefe grievances have arifen only fmce the invafion 
 of Nadir Shah, from the difproportionate number of for- 
 ces kept up by the revolted governors, whofe neceflities 
 have led them into thefe oppreflive meafures, and not 
 from the nature of the government : for, till within 
 thefe very few years, merchants were no where better 
 protected, nor more at their eafe, than under this 
 government ; nor is there a part of the world, where arts 
 and agriculture have been more cultivated, of which the 
 van 1 plenty and variety of manufactories, and rich mer- 
 chants, were proofs fufficient. 
 
 Unhappily for the Gentoos, themfelves are made the 
 minifters of oppreflion over each other; the Moormen, 
 haughty, lazy, and voluptuous, make them, of whom 
 they have no jealoufy, the minifters of their oppreflion, 
 which further anfwers the end of dividing them, and 
 prevents their uniting to fling off the yoke; and by the 
 ftrange intoxication of power, they are found ftill more 
 cruel and rapacious than their foreign matters; and what 
 
 is
 
 LETTER I 27 
 
 is more extraordinary, the Bramins flill exceed the reft 
 in every abufe of power, and feem to think, if th( 7 
 bribe God by beftowing a part of their plunder on cows 
 and Faquirs, their iniquities will be pardoned. Yet 
 at the fame time, they ferve their tyrants with fear and 
 trembling. There is no further connection between than 
 than the ufe they are of to each other. The Gcntoo, 
 cool, deliberate, and indefatigable in application, is I 
 
 on by the profpedl: of enriching bimfelf, while his maftcr 
 finds means and leifure to give himfclf up to the de- 
 lights of his feraglio : But as his profufenefs is ftill more 
 than his minifter can fupply, in his fir ft exigence he feizea 
 on him, and puts him to the torture to difcover his I 
 hoard. If the fum he gets by this means anfwers his 
 expectation, he rcinftates him in his former authority ; 
 if not, he cuts off his head and puts another of the 
 fame (tamp in his room. Thus all money affairs arc in 
 the hands of the Gentoos. Not only thofe of the go- 
 vernment, but every Moorman of rank and every mer- 
 chant has his Gentoo agent, who keeps his account*, 
 and is the petty tyrant over his tyrant's (laves. Thus 
 jnuch for the management of the revenues. 
 
 With refpedt to the executive part depending on power, 
 the government of the Moors borders fo near on anarchy, 
 you would wonder how it keeps together. Here every 
 man maintains as many armed men as the ftate of his 
 finances will admit, and the degree of fubmiflion is pro- 
 portioned to the means of refinance; and the grand my- 
 ftery of their politics is to foment this difunion, \fl 
 ever any fubject becomes formidable cither by I 
 or power, they prefer the filent execution of aflaiiu. q 
 to that of public jufticc, left a criminal, publiclyarra. 
 fhould prove as a ftandard for the feditious to repair to. 
 
 Loyalty and patriotifm, thofe virtuous incenth 
 great and noble actions arc here unknown, and when 
 
 they
 
 28 L E T T E R I 
 
 they ccafc to fear, they ceafe to obey; but to keep their 
 and miftrufts in perpetual agitation, whole legions 
 of fpies are entertained by the government; thefe are 
 difperfed all over the country, and infinuating themfelves 
 into the families of the great, if they engage in any plot, 
 are fure to betray them, but cftnergive falfe information 
 againft the innocent for the fake of reward. The per- 
 fon informed againft, ignorant whence the information 
 C .es, in felf-prefervation informs againft his neareft 
 friends. Thus mutual good faith, the bond of fociety, 
 is broke, and treachery and fufpicion embitter every hour 
 of their lives; but {till fuch meafures anlwer the end of 
 the government, as far as the inflection of the fupreme 
 power extends ; but in all thefe great unwieldy empires, 
 they have no check on the diftant provinces; and a go- 
 vernor has no fooner taken the oath of allegiance, than 
 >ts how to break it with fecu i are all 
 
 precautions, where there L no cl .r; whatever 
 
 ' s the Emperor from the centre of his dominions, af-^ 
 Is the opportunity of "a revolt ; and this is the fource 
 of all their revolutions. Money is here, if I may foex-. 
 prefs myfclf, the effence of power; for the foldiers know 
 ther attachment than their pay, and the rich eft party 
 foon becomes the ftrongeft. 
 
 Another principal caufe of the frequent revolutions in 
 this country is, their ftrange error in the government of 
 their armies. One would expedt to fee good fenfe in their 
 military eftabliihment at leaft. 'Their whole force is di- 
 vided into great commands, and the pay is ifTued from the 
 treafury to the refpe£tive generals. Hence the foldiers re- 
 gard only the man from whom they receive their pay, and 
 are intirely at his devotion, except indeed the Emperor's 
 or Subah's body-guard which he pays himfelf, and he 
 only endeavours to keep a kind of balance of power among 
 thefe great officers ; he docs not ftudy to attach the whole 
 
 to
 
 LETT E R I 29 
 
 to hitnfelf, cnly a majority, the rcfl he awes wit! 
 power, and makes them fight from fear; and, what is 
 more extraordinary, he keeps his troops g r 
 from a mifraken notion, that they will be true to him, 
 from the fear of lofing their pay. The confcqucnce is, 
 that if the invader offers fair, he wins over th J 
 
 officers to him, and a revolution is at once effected ; or 
 elfe they refufe to take the field, tiil their arrear 
 and perhaps the treafury is too low to fatisfy them, 
 by this delay, the enemy have time to gather ftrength; 
 and finally, when the day of action comes, they draw 
 their fwords but faintly, having no great motive to in- 
 fpire them with courage, while the invaders are pufhej 
 on by the hepe of reward and plunder. On the 
 fide ag?in, when the Emperors or Subahs have fee 
 majority of their general officers, and defire to difmifs a 
 part of their force, they abfolutcly refufe the pay that is 
 juflly due to them, and make them and their fokliers quit 
 the country, or perhaps follow them with a body of troops, 
 and cut them in pieces. 
 
 I now flatter myfelf, to have explained to you the 
 fources cf the frequent revolutions among thefe people. 
 An Encrliihman cannot but wonder to fee how li: 
 
 
 
 fubjects in general are affected by any revolution in tne 
 government. It is not felt beyond the fmall circle 
 court. To the relt it is a matter cf the utmoft indiffe- 
 rence, whether their tyrant is a Perfian or 1 'i 
 they feel all the curfes of power without any of the 
 benefit, but that of being exempt from anarcl , 
 is alone the o; than that thry endure. 
 
 I am, c:c.
 
 3^ 
 
 LETTER II 
 
 Sir, 
 
 In the account I propofc to give you of thefe coufltriesj 
 I (hall confine myfelf to fuch particulars only as are ne- 
 cefiary to give you a clear idea of the ftate of Bengal* 
 prior to the fatal cataftrophe which happened to all the 
 company's fettlements there. 
 
 The laft conquerors of India were the Tartars under 
 the conduct of Timur Beg, a fierce and warlike people^ 
 who, in the fame century, over-ran China and Perfiaj 
 but their poflerity degenerated into a weak, effeminate 
 race, incapable of maintaining the conquefts acquired by 
 the bravery of their anceftors ; fo that in China, they were 
 foon expelled by the natives, till frefh irruptions of their 
 uncorrupted countrymen again fubdued them. The fame 
 in Pcrlia, where the race of Tamerlane governed with 
 great glory for fome few reigns, till, enervated by the con- 
 tagious foftnefs of the people they fubdued, they were 
 unable to refift the invafion of a handful of mountaineers, 
 who lately put an end to their race, in the death of Shah 
 HofTein. In India their degeneracy has been ftill more 
 flagrant. Who can trace the martial hardy Tartar in 
 the weak degenerate poflerity of Tamerlane, from Auren- 
 gezebe to Mahomed Shah ? As well might we feek for 
 Roman virtue in Caracalla, Heliogabalus, and thofe monf- 
 ters who reigned in the decline of the Roman empire 
 When Nadir Shah invaded them, they were indeed ripe 
 for deftrucHon, and he wifely judged he could not leave 
 the government in weaker hands than thofe he found it 
 in : He knew well, a monarch like Mahomed Shah* loft 
 to all (eiSc of glory, and immerfed in the Circsean plea- 
 fures of a feraglio, was not to be animated by fo noble a 
 motive as a juit revenge. His judgment proved too truej 
 
 a (lupid
 
 LETTER II 3I 
 
 a ftupid languor fucceeded that terrible ftorm ; all looked 
 on the empire as a fhip in difrrefs ; and, inftead of vi 
 ro'ufly exerting themfelves to lave her, they left her to bz 
 dafhed to pieces ■> every one ftrove to feize a portion of 
 the wreck : The governors of the provinces imn 
 threw off their dependence, or at leair kept up but a mock 
 (hew of it, referving to themfelves the revenues of the 
 provinces, to ftrengthen them in their ufurpation. Tht 
 Rajahs too, who moftly poilefs the woody mountainous 
 countries, fecure in their fituation, once more threw < 
 yoke they had always borne with impatience; and thus 
 was the mighty empire rent in pieces by the Perfian in- 
 vafion, nothing remaining to the emperor but the pro- 
 vinces from Dehli to Lahore. 
 
 I mail go no farther back than the year 1725, when 
 Bengal was governed by Soujah Caun ; who, for 
 and fidelity to the crown, had been rewarded with the 
 inveftiiureof this government in his own family ; and his 
 authority then extended over the provinces of Bengal, 
 Bahar and Oriflk; the two laft he governed by his depu- 
 ties, and kept his court at Aiuxadavad in the center of 
 the province of Bengal. 
 
 Some time before his acceilion, two Moguls, brother?, 
 named Hadjce Hamct and Allyvherde Caun, came 
 Bengal powerfully recommended by fome of the prin- 
 cipal Omrahs at court, and were received into his I 
 vice ; the former as an officer of the foot foldiers, y 
 immediately attended his own peiion, the other as his 
 Hookah, or pipe-bearer. Hadjee Hamet had in • 
 younger days been at Mecca, which is implied by the 
 title of Hadjee, given to all thofe who have made that 
 pilgrimage. T:. >>:i m a 
 
 country fo diftant from a place, which by th 
 all Muiiulmen ought to vifit once in their lives ; and a 
 reputation (or fanctity is the bed difguife for an ambi- 
 tious
 
 3* LETTER II 
 
 tious man, among a people (o full of enthufiafm as air 
 all the followers of Mahomet : It gave him an eafy in- 
 troduction to the great, which he well knew how to 
 improve : he foon difcovcred his matter's ruling pafliorl 
 to be an unbridled luft after women. To this he made 
 his court, and faw himfelf in the road to greatnefs ; but 
 was confcious of a weaknefs which might prove an in- 
 vincible obftacle to his purfuits, the want of that 
 martial courage fo indifpenfibly neceflary in a country 
 where no one is efteemed but by his merit as a foldier; 
 That, he knew his brother pofieiTed in an eminent de- 
 gree. He therefore determined to labour for his advance- 
 ment, refigning to him the glory of command, and con- 
 tenting himfelf with indulging an ardent thirft after 
 riches. Fame and dominion v/ere the darlings of his 
 brother's more exalted foul. Thus, neceflary to each 
 other, they united thofe qualities which might have 
 commanded fuccefs in a much greater enterprize; 
 Hadjee well knew, that where the object of our purfuit 
 is itfelf criminal, crimes are the fteps by which we 
 muft afcend ; no retreat, no liftening to the voice of 
 nature ; the pamons themfelves muft be fubfervienti 
 and confcience hufhed. Thus refolved, he is faid to have 
 made a facrifice of his own daughter to the luft of his 
 mafter. Admitted a favourite, he lifted his brother from 
 one ftep to another, till, in the year 1729, he obtained 
 for him the Nabobfhip of Patna, where Allyvherde 
 Caun foon made himfelf very powerful ; for, partly by 
 policy in fettin'g the Rajahs of that warlike province at 
 variance with each other, and partly by the fuccefs 
 of his arms, he brought them to an entire fubmifiionj 
 making them pay their tributes, and yet attaching them 
 to his fervice : In the mean time Hadjee, as prime 
 minifter, had acquired great riches, both for himfelf 
 and his mafter ; but not chufing to depend entirely on 
 
 the
 
 LETTER If 33 
 
 Hie frowns or fmiles of another, and perhaps fufpccling 
 jealoufy might be ftruggling with affection in his matter'* 
 bofom, he eyed Patna as a fecure retreat ; and by bribes 
 among the great men atDehli, he privately, in 1736, ob- 
 tained a Phirmaund, or royal grant, for his brother to 
 hold the government of Bahar, independent of Bengal. 
 This could not be fo fecrctly tranfacted, but enough 
 tranfpired to excite the jealoufy of the Soubah, who was 
 probably meditating revenge, when, in 1739, death fur- 
 prized him. His only fon Suffraz Caun fucceeded him 
 in his government, as well as in his dcfigns againft 
 the brothers ; but when the means were confidcrcd, he 
 faw the artful fabric they had railed had too firm a bafis 
 for him to flialcc. Hadjee was in his hands ; but he 
 could not look on his brother's power without tremb- 
 ling : Awed by that, he determined to wait a more pro- 
 per feafon, and Allyvherde, checked by his brother's be- 
 ing in the Soubah's power, durft not attempt any tiling 
 againft him ; fo both determined to diflefnbje. Ally- 
 vherde filled his Liters with proteftations of loyalty and 
 fubmiflion, as the Soubah did his with aiTurances of 
 the confidence he had in him. As the courtiers and fol- 
 diers were moftly enemies to the brothers, it is poflible 
 the Soubah might in time have executed his purpofc ; 
 but, indulging Uimfelf in exceffive debauchery, even to 
 that degree as to diforder his faculties, he foon rendered 
 himfelf odious to his people, and loft the affections of 
 thofe who might have fupported him. But nothing 
 hurt him fo much as a difgrace he put on J 
 the grcateft banker, and perhaps the richeft fubjut in 
 the world. Hearing that his fon Seat Martabruy was 
 married to a young lady of exquiiitc he infiftcd 
 
 on a light of her ; all the father's remonftranc 
 vain ; he perhlted, and 
 from nishoufej faw her, and lent her back, poffiblj 
 
 C injured ;
 
 3+ LETTER II 
 
 injured j but the very feeing her, in a country wher* 
 women are kept concealed, was an injury never to be 
 forgiven. The crafty Hadjee rejoiced in an event that 
 feemed likely to add fo powerful a family to their party \ 
 He immediately tendered his own and his brother's fer- 
 vices to revenge the dishonour, which were readily 
 embraced, and they brought over likewife one Al- 
 lumchand, who had been a faithful fervant to the father, 
 and would have been fo to the fon, but had incurred his 
 difpleafure by reprefenting too freely the ill confequen- 
 ces of his exceflcs. They had a conference, the iflue of 
 which was, that Allyvherde mould march from Patna ; 
 that they would endeavour to win as many of the ge- 
 neral officers to their party as they could ; and, if they 
 were fuccefsful, that Allyvherde Caun mould have 
 the Soubahfhip. But the former obfracle remained, 
 Hadjee was flill in the Soubah's power. Seat and Al- 
 lumchand undertook to get him removed to Patna, and 
 that even by the Soubah's defire. Accordingly they re- 
 prefented to the Soubah, " That Hadjee was tampering 
 Ci with the general officers, that it was dangerous to 
 " keep him at court, and more fo to attempt his life ; 
 ie but, that, as he was no foldier, and could not add to 
 KC his brother's flrength, it was therefore moft expe- 
 " dient to fend him to Patna." The betrayed Suffraz 
 Caun fell into the fnare, and Hadjee received his dif- 
 miffion with great joy. He foon joined his brother, 
 and, by his artful eloquence, fo gloried over the crime 
 with the flattering expectations of future greatnefs, that 
 Allyvherde, who elfe had probably been content with 
 the authority he pofTefTed, was dazzled by the fplen- 
 dor, and faw not that he undertook the death- of his 
 benefactor's fon. Kadjee gave him no time to relent. 
 The refolution was no fooner formed than executed, 
 and in December 174,1, Allyvherde began his inarch j 
 
 full
 
 LETTER Ii 35 
 
 firft writing to the Soubah, " That he was opprefild 
 " with grief to find he had fo many enemies at court, 
 ** who, by their mifreprcfentations, had perfuaded 
 M him to difgrace his brother, that he was coming 
 *' to fling himfelf at his feet, and prove himfelf his 
 *' loyal fervant." The Soubah, rouzed from his dc- 
 lufive flumber, would have taken vigorous meafures j 
 but the fame traitors allured him, M He had nothing 
 " to apprehend from Allyvherde Caun, who had 
 M only a few troops with him ; that if he would give 
 " them leave to allure Allyvherde in his name, that 
 " he would reftore his brother to favour, and that he 
 tc was convinced of his fidelity, that Allyvherde 
 " would march no farther." The Soubah was again 
 deceived, and Allyvherde, by this delay of a few 
 had time to gain the partes which divide Bengal from 
 Bahar, where a few men might have checked his 
 progrefs. The Soubah upbraided his counfello;^ with* 
 their treachery, who pleaded, that thcmfclvcs were 
 deceived j and he was now to put his life and govern- 
 ment to the hazard of a battle. Their forces 
 nearly equal, each army confiding of about thirty 
 thoufand men: But it was but the lad day of his lift 
 that he was to experience how few were faithful to him : 
 His chief reliance was on his artillery, little fufpe&ing 
 his mafter of the ordnance, who, after a few difchar- 
 ges without fhot, went over to the enemy, and wat 
 followed by many others. Of all his comman 
 Mullet Copley Caun, Gofe Caun, and Baunccr Ally 
 Caun, alone remained faithful to him. The two lat* 
 tcr were killed. Mullet Cooley fought his fafety in 
 flight, and would have pcrfuaded the Soubah to do 
 the fame, and his elephant-driver undertook to carry 
 him fafe to the city ; but he cried, " He fcorncd 
 u to give way to the rebels," and ruihed with hi$ 
 C 2 gu
 
 36 L E T T E R II 
 
 guards into the thickcft of the enemy, where, by hTs 
 great efforts, he kept the event for fome time du>- 
 bious, till overpowered by numbers, he yielded to the 
 Superior fortune of his rival. Muffet Cooley Caun 
 fled for Cuttack, of which he was governor; while Al* 
 lyvherde, joined by Suffraz Caun's army, entered Mux- 
 adavad March 30, 1742, and foon ihewed he wanted 
 only a juft title to make him worthy of this high 
 flation. Contrary to the general practice, he fhed 
 no blood after the action, contenting, himfelf with put* 
 ting Suffraz Caun's children under gentle confinement. 
 
 His firft act was, to fend for Hadjee, whom he 
 had left at Patna, that he might have the afliftance 
 of his fupcrior judgment in maintaining what his own 
 bravery, directed by his brother's counfels, had ac- 
 quired ; and having rewarded his party with the polls 
 lately filled by his adverfaries, diffributed part of his 
 treafure among them, and received the fubmiilion of 
 the Rajahs and all the great men, he took the fields 
 with a felecT: body of Pattans added to his forces, 
 under the command of Muflapha Caun, a general of 
 diftinguifhed merit : then appointing his brother go- 
 vernor in his abfence, he began bis march againft 
 MufTet Cooley Caun, who was in Cuttack with the 
 remains of Suffraz Caun's party : After a fhort and un- 
 fuccefsful refinance he fled with all his followers to 
 Decan, and never more, difturbed the Sou^ah. 
 
 He had but a fhort time to indulge himfelf in the 
 pleafing thoughts of being in quiet poffeiuon of the 
 three provinces, when he was fuddenly alarmed with 
 an invafion of eighty thoufand Mharattas, who. entering 
 over the Berbohim hills, made it doubtful whether he 
 could reach his capital in time to preferve it. 
 
 It is neceffary I mould here inform you who the 
 Mharattas ar?, and what their prctenfions in Bengal. 
 
 Every
 
 L E T T E R II 37 
 
 Every body in any degree vcrfed in the hidory of In- 
 dia mufr. know, that the kingdom of Decan and coaft 
 of Malabar were never entirely fubdued. The Rajah 
 of Sittarah, commonly called the Sou Rajah, a cor- 
 ruption of the family name of Sehoo, put himfelf at 
 the head of a confederacy of the independent Rajahs, 
 who poflefs all the country called the promontory of 
 India, from Ganjam weft to Guzzerat : And Aurcn- 
 gezebe, finding all his endeavours to conquer them 
 in vain, and that they haraffed the Decan and other 
 piDvinces bordering on their territory, was at lull 
 glad to make peace with them on their own terms. 
 Thefe were, the independent enjovment of the above 
 countries, exclufiveof the port of Surat, and the quar- 
 ter part of the revenues of Decan, for which a certain 
 i'um was ftipulated, which was called the chotit : But 
 the treaty was never itriclly obferved on either fide. 
 When the emperors had no other wars on their hands, 
 they refufed to pay the chout ; and when there were 
 any inteftine divifions in the Mogul empire, the 
 rattas never failed to extend their boundaries ; till 
 gathering new ftrength, as the Mogul's '. they 
 
 encreafed their demands to the chout of the whole 
 empire, to which the weak em pen ob- 
 
 liged to fubrnit. This year the Sou I ;it to 
 
 demand the chout. The emperor, brought i<> the lail 
 fhte of imbecillity bv the invafion ol Nadir Shah, 
 and unable either to refift or oomply, propofed to 
 them, among other sxp , to lend a fon 
 
 Allyvherde Caun to 1 
 
 laft years; fend his and his brother 1 ourt ; 
 
 and reinftate the family of Sujah Caun. '! 
 rattas g'adly cmbr. 
 
 fure them the conqueft, or at leaft the pi 
 iilIi provinces. 
 
 301293
 
 3 8 LETTER II 
 
 As their force confifts folely of light horfe, thzf 
 made fuch rapid marches, that their arrival was the 
 firft notice the Soubah had of their intentions ; and 
 he was then unfortunately at the very extremity of 
 his territories. By forced marches he reached the 
 province of Burdwan ; but finding the enemy muft be 
 up with him fhould he attempt to join his brother, 
 he there intrenched himfelf, and was foon furrounded 
 by the Mharattas, who, though, fuperior in number, did 
 not attempt to force him. Bofcar Pundit, the Mha- 
 ratta general, now fent a meflenger to acquaint him 
 with his demands ; which were, the revenue due to the 
 crown, the chout of the two laft years, the treafures 
 of Soujah Caun and Suffraz Caun; and that for the fu- 
 ture the Sou Rajah fhould have officers of his own 
 to collect the chout in every diftrict, of the three pro- 
 vinces. The intrepid Allyvherde, exafperated to hear 
 fuch haughty terms, boldly refolved to fight his way 
 through the enemy, and join his brother. He put 
 himfelf at the h;ad of the Pattans ; who, animated 
 by his example, and the promife of reward, charged 
 with fuch fury, that they foon cut their way through 
 the enemy, and gained the high road to the capital. 
 They were followed by the whole Mharatta army 
 for three days together, till at laft they reached the 
 town of Cutwa, where happily the river was ford- 
 able ; and here his fituation admitted of a little reft : 
 But when he formed his forces for palling the river, 
 he found them reduced to no more than three thou- 
 fand Pattans ; the reft of his army, confifting moftly 
 of Bengal troops, the worft foldiers in the empire, had 
 taken the opportunity, while the enemy was employed 
 againft the Pattans, of marching off towards Cuttack, 
 The Soubah now faw, that the dangers paft were 
 far ihort of thofe in profpecti but, mafter of himfelf
 
 LETTER II 39 
 
 at all times, , he betrayed no fcnk of fear, and he. 
 gave his orders with a chearfulnefs which was to his 
 troops a certain omen of fucc 
 
 There was one pals Only by which the Mharattas 
 could come to attack him, before he gained the river: 
 This he gave in charge to Muitapha Caun, afliited by 
 Zaindee Hatnet Caun, Hadjee's ekieft (on, and A I I 
 Jaffier with eighty Pattans, with orders to maintain it till 
 the whole army had croficd the river. The Mharuttas, 
 imagining the Soubah propofed to continue at Cutwa 
 till joined by his brother, flood for fome time aftu- 
 nifhed at the defperate attempt ; but when they faw 
 his army in the river, enraged to fee their prey efcape 
 out of their hands, they attacked the defile with the 
 ben: of their troops; but all their ef;' in vain 
 
 againft the brave Pattans, who obeyed their orders 
 with the lofs of half their number, and joined the 
 Soubah with the relt on the other fide of the river ; 
 and, in this memorable affair, Meer Jaffier is faid to 
 have killed ten Mharattas with his own hand. Their 
 valour was amply rewarded by their gem /ous matter, 
 who, on his arrival at Muxadavad, prefer fta- 
 
 pha Caun with ten lacks of roup , and the reft in 
 
 proportion, The Soubah upbraided his brother in 
 the fevereft terms for his cowardice, in not com 
 to his afliftance ; who pleaded, that, giving him over 
 for loft, he employed his time in fortifying th 
 which the Soubah found fufficienl I 
 
 army which had no cannon. He had no 
 
 * The rupee is a diver coin, ftfuck id the }.l 
 (bription of his name .mil titles, th 
 which it was (buck. It * i b no 7 « 
 
 and the proportion of allay to fine f;lv 
 hundred thoul'ant Ite 1 l..«.k, which 1 
 
 V^e hundred laclts a crorc, one hundred ( 
 
 C 4
 
 40 LETTER II 
 
 fuch a terror into his enemies, and had (o well eft?.- 
 blifhed his character as a foldier, that the Mharattas, 
 not daring to attempt the city, contented themfelves 
 with ravaging the country all around, till the ap- 
 proach of the rains obliged them to retire back into the 
 Burdwan province, and put an end to their operations. 
 The Soubah, on his acceflion, had ordered large 
 levies of troops in the province of Bahar, fo that in 
 October, the rains being over, he again took the field 
 at the head of fifty thoufand men. The Mharattas, 
 alio encreafed their ftrength by the defertion of Meer 
 Hubbib from the Soubah's party, who carried fome 
 cannon with him. He had been deputy governor of 
 Dacca, but being called to the Soubah's court, to an- 
 ivver to fome crime laid to his charge, he rather chofe to 
 truft himfelf with the enemies of his country, than abide 
 the refentment of an injured mailer; and his great know- 
 ledge of the country made him very ufefui to them. 
 
 I (hall not tire vour patience with an account of the 
 
 many fkirmifhes and military operations of the campaign ; 
 
 but in general obferve, that the Mharattas, agreeably to 
 
 their ufual practice, would never venture a general action,, 
 
 but endeavoured to bring the Soubah to terms by ha- 
 
 rafftng his troops and plundering his country. The Soubah 
 
 font to offer peace ; but the Mharattas, to their former 
 
 terms, added that of the refignation of his government 
 
 10 Suffraz Caun's eldcft fon. Provoked at this, the fubtle 
 
 Hadjee tempted his brother to try what treachery could 
 
 effect. A conference was propofed and accepted. A tent 
 
 was pitched between both armies ; and Bofchar Punditt, 
 
 relying on the Subah's oath on the Koran for his perfonal 
 
 . advanced with thirteen of his general officers: 
 
 tent was double, and lined with armed men, who, 
 
 ignal given, rufhed on the unprepared Mharattas, 
 
 hem to pieces in fight of their own army, who 
 
 breathed
 
 LETTER II 41 
 
 breathed inftant revenge; but the Soubah advancing a$ 
 the head of his troops, (truck terror into a multitude 
 without commanders, and the tas, by a fp 
 
 flight, disappointed hi»n of his hopes of bringing them to. 
 a general engagement. The only revenge in ■ ■■■< r, 
 
 was, ravaging the country, which 
 
 tually, burning the towns, and dcl'lroying the inhabitants, 
 without regard to fex or age. The Soubah purfucd them 
 fo clofely, that he at laft drove them bi 
 bohim hills, having killed many in diffc ent fkirmhhe r , 
 and taken a number of prifoners, and among the rcil an 
 officer of diflinction, named oarfaruw, of whom I I 
 have occafion to fpeak hereafter, 
 
 The flattering profpeCt was but as a fudden calm, w hilt 
 the clouds gather together to return with greater v:oh;. 
 •for advice was now, i "44, brought of a frefll army of 
 Mharattas entering by the way of Cuttack, un<3 
 command of Ragojec, and of another by the way of Patna, 
 commanded by Balajerow, general to the Sou R 
 each of lixty thoufand hone. {Jut though independent of 
 each other, they agr^ in concert, and majc 
 
 equal divifion of all plunder and advantages that m 
 be obtained. The Soubah, who turning I 
 
 JBerbohim, apprehenfive of being inc ' 
 
 by fpeedy marches, and pioe. th a 
 
 mind full of anxiety at the mortification of being pbl 
 to leave his country expofed to mercilefs pluj 
 made fuch additional works to the - . ort time 
 
 would permit ; and! inder the char , 
 
 he took the field again wi$h an arm) 
 pofed of troops, whole be 
 
 ue, and their minds fpirii . 
 
 But behold a dawn of hope ! | 
 difcord between the two 
 mediation of Sarfarow, a coal
 
 41 LETTER II 
 
 the Soubah and Balajerow, at which a peace was con- 
 cluded on the following terms. The Soubah paid twenty- 
 two lacks for the chout of the two laft years ; engaged to 
 pay it regularly for the future ; and, it is faid, gave a 
 large fum as a prefent to the general himfelf, who, on 
 his part, promifed to retire out of the country, and to 
 afliit in driving out the other Mharatta army alio. Bala- 
 jerow did indeed retire himfelf, but left the Soubah to 
 fis;ht it out with his confederate : who bein^ no match 
 for the Soubah, divided his forces into fmall bodies, and 
 laid wafte whatever had been fpared by his predecefTors, 
 till the rains, and the Soubah's purfuit, once mere drove 
 them out of the country. 
 
 The next year they renewed the fame fcene; but the 
 Soubah attacked them fo clofelv, that he cleared the 
 country of them early in march 1745, OrifTaand Cuttack 
 only remaining in their hands ; and now he promifed 
 himfelf feme refpite, at leaft till the month of October. 
 He this year appointed Zaindee Hamet Caun, Nabob 
 of Patna, who fet out for that province with a confi- 
 derable body of troops, to prevent the incurftons of the 
 Mharattas, and awe the rebellious Rajahs of the pro- 
 vince. About this time the Soubah firft conceived a jea- 
 loufy of the great reputation of his general Muftapha 
 Caun, who by his bravery, and unlimited profufion to 
 his Pattans, had made himfelf extremely beloved by them ; 
 crimes fufneient to render him obnoxious under a go- 
 vernment depending intirely on military power, and where 
 there is no medium between fupreme command and ab- 
 je£f. flavery. The generous open temper of the man 
 confidered, I doubt much whether the Soubah's fufpi- 
 cions were juftly founded ; but his death was refolved on, 
 and it was determined to afTafnnate him the firft time he 
 came to court. Muftapha was too much beloved to 
 have it kept a fecret from him. To be warned was 
 
 fuffkicnt
 
 L E T T E R II 43 
 
 fufficient to be fafe. His firft thoughts prompted him 
 to revenge, which he was powerful enough to execute, 
 but could not refolve to fpill the blood of a man he 
 once loved. He rather chofe to quit the country with 
 his Pattans, and was followed by Sunnier Caun, at the 
 head of a confiderable body more. They took, their route 
 towards Bahar, intending to pais through that province 
 into their own country. 
 
 The brothers, alarmed at (o great a defection, and 
 fenfible no enemy is fo dangerous as an injured friend, 
 but above all, apprehcnfive or" their joining the Mharat- 
 tas, by great rewards and greater promifes, attached the 
 reft of the Pattans to them, and the Soubah immediately 
 marched in purfuit of them. The Pattans, not fufpeeting 
 any purfuit, had marched but ftowly, and were overtaken 
 near Patna, Receiving advice at the fame time, that 
 Zaindee Hamet Caun was marching from that city to- 
 ward them, they inftantly determined to face about and 
 attack the Soubah, whole forces were little fuperior to 
 their own. The battle began with the moll promr 
 appearance of fuccefs for the Pattans, till Muftapha Caun, 
 borne away by the torrent of his paffion, endeavoured 
 with too great impetuofity to penetrate that part where 
 the Soubah was, but met with a rellltance equal) 
 and received his death's wound from an arm. in 
 
 his eye. The Pattans, as if their general was their only 
 fource of life and courage, inftantly fled, and with their 
 general Sumfeer Cauii, reached their own country. 
 
 The brothers never efcaped a great • d in 
 
 the frenzy of their joy, foi getting the great fervices they 
 had received from the unfortunate Muftapha, they (ha 
 fully expofed his remain', to I :ni- 
 
 nious manner through the ftreets of Patna. 
 
 The Mharattas in this and the following; . , 
 
 again renewed their incurfions. All the fcoub.. 
 
 do,
 
 44 LETTER II 
 
 do, was, to cner the country to the eaft of the Ganges; 
 
 . and weft from Cuttack to Rajahmant lay defolatc 
 •and uncultivated. Indeed they were not fo numerous; 
 the country that had beenfo long expofed to them, would 
 v.o longer iupport fuch vafl armies. But while his atten- 
 tion was taken up by them, a greater, and more unex- 
 
 .. misfortune befel him. The fugitive Sumfeer Caun 
 returned, the beginning of this year, at the head of feven 
 or eight thoufand Pattans, on a project concerted between 
 him and Meer Hubbib, for the plunder of Patna. Of 
 this Hadjee had fome intelligence, and haftened to ailih: 
 his fon with his counftls. Sumfeer Caun arrived on the 
 cppoilte fide of the Ganges, within a few hours march 
 of the city, and wrote a letter to the Nabob of Patna, 
 feigning contrition for what was paft, and dcfiring his in- 
 tercefiion with the Soubah to reilore him to favour. 
 Hadjee advifed to try the fame ftratagem, which had been 
 fo fuccefsful againfl Bofchar Pudnitt; but his fon, whe- 
 ther from fcruple or fear, hefitated and returned for an- 
 iwer, that he was not impowered to promife him pardon, 
 but had wrote to the court in his behalf. The orders 
 foon arrived, which were to follow his father's inftruc- 
 tjons. The Soubah, at the fame time, the better to de- 
 ceive the Pattans, wrote Sumfeer Caun, he gladly ac- 
 cepted his fervices, and preiTed his march to Muxadavad. 
 This propofal Sumfeer Caun made ufe of to crofs the 
 river, giving out he intended to march on to Bengal. 
 Both parties defired a conference with the fame trea- 
 cherous views. It was fettled they fhould meet on a plain 
 before the city, where a tent was pitched, under which 
 Hadjee had contrived to fink a mine, which was to be 
 fired as foon as Zaindee Hamet Caun retired. Sumfeer 
 came at the time appointed, attended by a chofen band ; 
 each party endeavoured to conceal their defigns, by 
 jnoft exaggerated aflurances of mutual friendfhip. On, 
 
 Zaindee
 
 LETTER II <; 
 
 2amdce Harriet's rifing to take hi • leave, Sumfeer I 
 
 and his followers drew their fabres, and cut down the 
 
 Nabob and tbofe that attempted to defend him. In this 
 
 confufion the mine was neglected, arid th 
 
 Vanced and entered the city with the ru , vvhere 
 
 they took old Hadjee prifbnerj as he was atu • 
 
 efcape in difguife. No frratagem, no wily art could avail. 
 
 Af:cr fufFering every indignity which waritori Ci 
 
 could fug 1, he was fevereiy fcourged, >unt- 
 
 ed on ; - with his legs tied under the bcllv, r.:ul thus 
 
 v.r. the fame tour he himfclf had appoi 
 
 tapha Caun. Frefh tortures we: - him, 
 
 and more were in referve, till one of his guar.' 
 
 his great age ?.nd fufferingsj conveved him a dole of poi- 
 
 fon, which put a period to his miferable life. 
 
 Thus Kadjee Hamet defervedly met the fame . 
 himfclf had lentenced others to, and gave the world an 
 inftancje more of the incompatibility of v. with 
 
 happinefs. 
 
 Allyvhcrdc Caun was for fon c time incohi 
 this misfortune. In his brother he loft thi 
 who had <ucccfsfully fleered the veflel, in Which their 
 common fortunes were embarked, tht 
 and dangers of ufurped authority; and in Zaindee H 
 the prop and ftaffofhis declining yea] 
 given one < Lighter in marriage, and whor I 
 
 defrir fucc dor in the 8oubahfhrp, of 
 
 great i. 1 : 
 
 gers foon routed hi n from his lethargy. : 
 
 : Caun and M 
 
 ■ 
 • 
 
 the Soubah, v. (ready tal 
 
 I I 
 
 i . • prevent their ju< Thi
 
 46 LETTER II 
 
 armies, thus marching towards each other, met at Bog- 
 glepore, as at one common centre, which they all reached 
 at the fame time ; but with this circumftance, that the 
 Soubah found himfelf between their armies, both now 
 ready to attack him. In this dilemma, his fupcrior 
 genius, ever fruitful in refources, fuggefted to him an 
 expedient, which extricated him from the greateft danger 
 he was ever yet expofed to. The Pattans, he knew, 
 fought from a principle of revenge for the death of Muf- 
 tapha, and from an attachment to their furviving matter ; 
 but the Mharattas for plunder only : Leaving therefore his 
 camp {landing, he advanced brifldy towards the Pattans, 
 who flood him the hardeft ftruggle he had ever yet been 
 engaged in, but which ended in their tot.il rout, hy the 
 death of their commander Sumfeer. This ftratagem had 
 its utmoft. effect. The Mharattas, regardlefs of the views 
 of their general, and unreflrained by military laws, in- 
 ftead of attacking the Soubah's rear, fell to plundering 
 his camp, maugre all the exhortations of their officers; 
 The Soubah, after the Pattans were once broken* 
 inftead of purfuing them, found the Mharattas plunder- 
 ing his camp in the utmoft confufion. Thus, incapable 
 of making any ftand, they were totally routed with very 
 little lofs to the Soubah, who, thus revenged for the lofs 
 of his faithful brother and beloved nephew, returned to 
 the capital. 
 
 The Mharattas never ceafed their incurfions, but kept 
 him almoft continually in the field; and the little refpite 
 he had, was fully taken up in contriving means to raiie 
 money to fupport the immenfe expences he w s at in 
 maintaining forces againft them, to which he cHi^ed 
 every body to contribute : Nor did the European fettle- 
 ments efcape, but, in 1 747, were obliged to pay their quota; 
 he obferving always this policy, not to demand it of them 
 all at the fame time, as he wifely judged liieir union only 
 could make them formidable. At
 
 LETTER II 47 
 
 At laft, in 1750, a firm treaty was fettled with the 
 Sou Rajah, by which the province of C was 
 
 given up to him, and the chout was fettled at twelve 
 lacks per annum ; fince which they have never rr.o- 
 lefted thefe provinces. The only alarm he ever met 
 with after this, was the march of Monfur Allv O.un, 
 Vifir of the empire, into the province of Bahar. 1 an 
 not well acquainted with the motive, of his conr j 
 but he proceeded as far as Patna, and it is probable, if 
 he had continued his march to Bengal, the Soubah's 
 troops, awed with the pomp of royal authority, and in- 
 deed inferior in every refpeft, would not have drawn :i 
 fword for hiin. Whatever the Vifir's intentions vrerCj 
 the intrigues carrying on againft him at court, obliged 
 him to return. Allyvherde Caun made him a magnifi- 
 cent prefent, and the Vifir, in return, confirmed him in 
 his Soubahfhip, on condition of his remitting yearly to 
 court fifty-two lacks of rupees, in which he was a. ; 
 Wards very punctual . 
 
 We have feen this brave uftirper ftruggling through 
 difficulties, which nothing but the utmoft conftancy 
 and intrepidity could furmount. Let us now follow 
 him through the more pleafing fcenes of domeftic life, 
 and public tranquillity. His great age, being now in 
 his feventy-third year, the low flate of his trfeaftny, 
 and the diftrcfled condition of the provinces, v.' 
 had been expofed to the Mhai .'. , an ' !ti- 
 
 yated, and the manufactures loft •, all required the 
 reft of peace, which, henceforward, it was his whole 
 attention to prefe.vc. I mentioned before, he bad no 
 fons >i his own ich the illue 
 
 Of Hadj< -, Nowagi- Mahmud Caun, mai 
 
 ried to his eldeft daughter, Sid l : 
 of Zaindee Hamet. The eldeft of / 
 fons, named Mil imud, a lad of fevente n )j 
 
 of
 
 4 8 LETTER II 
 
 of age, he adopted himfelf, and took into his family the 
 youngeft, named Merzee Mundee ; but the fecond* 
 called Fazeel Cooley Caun, was adopted by Nowagis- 
 Mahmud Caun. Nowagis, the eldeft of Hadjce's chil- 
 dren, he made Nabob of Dacca, with the whole re- 
 venue of that rich province to maintain his court. 
 Sid Hamet was made Nabob of Purhunca, with the 
 enjoyment of its revenue, and Mirza Mahmud wa3 
 made nominal Nabob of Patriae But the old man 
 well knew, no Muflulman was to be trufted with the 
 power annexed to that Nabobfhip, and therefore fent 
 one Joninam, a Gentoo, as deputy governor, always 
 obferving to vifit that province once a year himfelf : 
 And having thus trufted the diftant provinces to thofe 
 he thought he could confide in, he in 1 751, difbanded 
 the gresteft part of his forces, relying on his repu- 
 tation in arms, to keep his neighbours in awe. 
 
 Until the year 1752, it was imagined he intended 
 Nowagis Mahmud Caun for his fucceftbr ; but whether 
 he thought his narrow genius unequal to the talk of 
 government, or was more particularly biafTed by his 
 great affe&ion to Mirza Mahmud, he this year aflociated 
 the latter in the government, declared him his fucceflbr, 
 and procured him from court the title of Chiragee al 
 Dowla *. This was the fignal of diflenfion ; and hence- 
 forward his court was a continued fcene of feuds and ani- 
 mofities betwixt the contending parties. Moil: people 
 who obferved the (trier union between the two nephews, 
 that the eldeft had amaiTed great riches, and, though A 
 weak effeminate man himfelf, had for his prime minif- 
 ter one KofTein Cooley Caun, an able politician, and 
 much efteemed by the army ; and the other nephew 
 
 * Lamp of rickts. 
 
 I (hall henceforward write Surajah Dowla, as neareft the Common 
 pronunciation, 
 
 poflefled
 
 LETTER II 49 
 
 pofiefTed of a rich province, well fecurcd by rivers and 
 mountains, and daily increasing his forces ; and com- 
 pared with thefe the unpromifmg qualities of Burajah 
 Dowla, who was continually immerfed in debauchery, 
 drinking to the utmoft exeef", cRufing his companions 
 from the dregs of the people, and giving every in- 
 dication of a vicious and corrupt mind ; mod people, 
 I fay, little imagined the fucccfiion would ever fall 
 to him. But, in 1754., the balance feettied to incline 
 to him ; for the Soubah determined in his favour, 
 and, apprehenfive Nowagis might prove too power- 
 ful for him, thought it expedient to deprive him of 
 his chief fupport in Hoflein Cooley Caun ; but as 
 his nephew was deputy-governor of Dacca, they b 
 with him, left HofTein Cooley Caun mould fufpedl 
 their intentions, retire to Dacca, and fct up for him- 
 felf. The conduct of this affair was left to Surajah 
 Dowla, who chofc for his inftrument one Aga Saddoe, 
 whofc father was governor of Chit; 1 ut refided 
 
 at Dacca. The fon, an extravagant debauched youth, 
 was then under confinement at Nowagis Mahumud 
 Caun's palace, being left there as hoftage, till he paid 
 a large fum due for the revenues of h:s goA rnn 
 Surajah Dowla afllfted him in his efcape. : ( 
 
 at Dacca the firft of December 1755, and cr. 
 his father in the enterprize, deluded probably by the 
 promife of Surajah Dowla, to make him govern 
 Dacca. The father and fon, with twelve ot 
 dependants, furprized the governor in the 
 night; and, after fome little refiftance, in which the 
 father was wounded, they cut off his head, and pro- 
 claimed it to be done by the order of Sui h D 
 But the next day, an order arrivi 
 Mahumud Caun to fuze A 1 . th real I a 
 
 ©f the city immediately aflembled theii nd at- 
 
 D I
 
 LETTER II 
 
 tacked him. The fon, with fome of his defperattf 
 followers, cut their way through their opponents, 
 and made their efcape ; but the father, and the reft 
 of their party, were killed. This news reaching the 
 capital, the different parties were immediately in arms j 
 but the old Soubah afluring his nephew, that Aga 
 Saddoe had made this attempt entirely in revenge for 
 his confinement, the weak, timid Nowagis was ap- 
 peafed, and the confequence was, that Surajah Dovvla, 
 a few days after, murdered Hoflein Cooley Caun in 
 the ftreets of Muxadavad, This pufillanimous con- 
 duct of Nowagis, made many quit his party, appre- 
 henfive of the fame fate. The old Soubah now gave 
 evident figns of his approaching end. Mens wifhes 
 and inclinations are apt to deceive their judgments. 
 Surajah Dowla daily rendered himfelf more odious j 
 and great reliance was had on the union of the two 
 brothers. But Providence, for its own wife ends, fa- 
 voured this youth with rapid fuccefs. Nowagis and 
 Sid Hamet both died a natural death, within a month 
 of each other ; and Allyvherde followed them April 
 10, 1756, flrft giving Surajah Dowla the keys of 
 his treafure, and declaring his defire that he fhould 
 fucceed him. I have before mentioned Surajah 
 Dowla, as given to hard drinking; but Allyvherde, 
 in his laft illnefs, forefeeing the ill confequences of 
 his exceffes, obliged him to fwear on the Koran, never 
 more to touch any intoxicating liquor, which he ever 
 after ftrictly obferved. But the exceffes he had al- 
 ready committed, had difordered his faculties to that 
 degree, that he had ever after a difturbed imagination ; 
 fometimes frantic with pailion, and cruel to thofe a- 
 bout him ; then again careiling them on equally fri- 
 volous grounds ; and all his words and actions be- 
 trayed a violent and uneven temper. Judges of human 
 
 nature
 
 LETTER II 
 
 Si 
 
 nature will be apt to prognosticate his fudden 
 from iuch fymptoms ; yet he came to the Soubahfhip 
 with the moft flattering profpech He had an army 
 formed by his predecefibr, a full treafury, and no com- 
 petitors but the fon of Sid Hamct, in arms in Pur- 
 hunea, and an infant named Mdradda Dowla, (on to 
 his brother, who had been adopted by Nowagi 
 humud Caun, and was now fupported by his widow 
 with a party which at firfr appeared formidable ; but 
 the attraction of a full treafury foon won that party 
 over, and the widow left alone, was received with the 
 child into his own palace, 
 
 I am, etc. 
 
 D 2
 
 5* 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I hope my preceding letter will have given you 3 
 clear idea of the government's affairs previous to the 
 capture of Calcutta. 
 
 I fhall now endeavour to trace the fource of the 
 Soubah's rcfentment to our nation, which, I appre- 
 hend, is one of thofe ftate-myfieries that die with 
 their authors. Where nothing certain can be obtained, 
 we muft felecl: the moil plaufible reafons from fuch 
 iranfactions as come to our knowledge. I have made 
 it my ftudy fince our intercourfe with the great men 
 at court, to penetrate into the caufe of this event ; 
 but could never obtain any thing fatisfadtory. Some 
 have told me, that the late Soubah, on hearing of 
 the death of Nazir Jung, murdered by the intrigues 
 of the French *, had frequently obferved, that the 
 Europeans were likely to conquer the whole country, 
 and advifed his grandfon to keep a watchful eye over 
 them. The prefent Soubah, on the other hand, af- 
 jfirms, that he ufed to compare the Europeans to a 
 hive of bees, of whofe honey you might reap the 
 benefit, but that if you difturbed their hive they would 
 fting you to death. Perhaps it is a vain refearch to 
 trace the motives of a capricious tyrant. But the rea- 
 fons Surajah Dowla afligned, appear in the terms he 
 propofed to Mr. Watts ; though the moil probable 
 motives were the hopes of an immenfe plunder, found- 
 ed on a notion, that all the Rajahs and great men kept 
 their riches in Calcutta : And as Calcutta had the 
 
 * See Cambridge's hiftory of the wars on the coaft of Corom2ndcl. 
 
 reputa-
 
 LETTER III 53 
 
 reputation of being a place of great ftrength, he hoped, 
 by talcing it, to ftrikc a terror into his own lubjccU 
 and into the neighbouring powers, that might facili- 
 tate his future enterprizes. But I fluill leave you, 
 Sir, to judge for yourfelf, and proceed to relate enly 
 fuch fails as were obvious to every body. 
 
 He was in full march againft the Nabob of Purhunra, 
 when fuddenly, May 1757, fr°m fome unaccountable 
 caprice, he returned to the city, am! publicly declared 
 his intention to extirpate the Englifh ; and without 
 further delay he encamped his whole army oppofitc 
 to the Englifh factory at Caflitr.buzar, and fummoiud 
 Mr. Watts to furrender the place to him ; at the fame 
 time fending him a beetle * as a token of fiiendiLip 
 and affurance of perfonal fafcty. Mr. Watts having 
 only five and twenty Europeans in garrifon, and being 
 fenlible, that if he refilled, he ex poled all the Englifh 
 effects in the Soubah's dominions to be imnn 
 ly feized ; that at the utrr.ofl he could not hold out 
 above a day or two ; and finally, ignorant of the caufe 
 of the Soubah's difpleafure, obeyed thefummons: But, 
 contrary to promife, the Soubah immediately made 
 him prifoner, and prefented him the following articles 
 to fign, 
 
 I. That we fliould demolifli all our new fortifi- 
 cations. 
 
 II. Give no protection to his fubjecl . 
 
 III. Make good all that the government had fu: 
 by the abufe of the duflucks. f 
 
 The firll article alluded to fome additional works car- 
 
 * An aromatic leaf, which they pre lint I 
 fame manner the Turks do coffee. 
 
 -J- tyeaning t l:r privilege given us by our phirmanm), to 
 free of til government duty tor all the «. :.iJc 
 
 ^ 3
 
 54 L E T T E R III 
 
 rying on, on the apprchcnfion of an approaching Frcncffr 
 war. 
 
 The fecond, was to deprive us of the power of pro- 
 tecting our merchants, in which we were privileged by 
 the phirmaund or royal grant; and might alfo allude to 
 the protection given to one of his fubjecls of Nowagis 
 Mahumud Caun's party, who had lately taken refuge in 
 Calcutta. 
 
 The third was rather an opening to extort a large 
 fum of money from the company; for it is almoft im- 
 pofTible but there muft be fome abufe in a privilege of 
 that kind. 
 
 Thefe Mr. Watts figned, and was then made to give 
 up the factory to him, the gates of which he ordered to 
 be fealed, and then marched on to Calcutta. Thefe 
 articles were no more heard of, and he feemed bent on 
 our deftruclion : And that none might prefume to divert 
 him from his refolution, he exacted an oath from Jagut- 
 feat, who had always acted as mediator between the go- 
 vernment and the Europeans, not to interfere or offer 
 any argument to make him alter his mind. After this, 
 no one dared to plead for the unfortunate Englifh ; and 
 the Soubah, furrounded by a thoufand greedy minions 
 and hungry officers, all eager for the plunder of fo rich 
 a place, heard nothing but the moft fervile applaufes of 
 his refolution. Thus the avenues to juftice and mercy 
 were fhut up, and all our fubmifiive offers ineffectual. 
 I mall not dwell on all the circumftances of the fiege, 
 which was fuch as might naturally be expected from a 
 garrifon confuting almoft entirely of citizens, with a 
 few foldiers commanded by officers v/ho had never feen 
 an action, and a fort, that looked more like merchants, 
 warehoufes than a place of defence. June 19, the enemy 
 had made fuch progrefs, that a general retreat was de- 
 termined on for the next day; but whether or not the 
 
 governor
 
 L E T T E R III 5 $ 
 
 governor thought himfelf the more immediate object of 
 the Soubah's fury, and therefore his danger greater than 
 the reft, inftcad of waiting the appointed time, or giv- 
 ing proper orders to the garrifon, he went out at the 
 River gate, and got on board the firft fhip he could 
 come to. All who chanced to be near, and faw the 
 governor going off, concluded the retreat was general, 
 and rufhed out with him. They feized the boats that 
 were at the water fide, and pufhed as faft as they coul 1 
 for the fhips, where once on board, they ftood down 
 the river. Thofe who remained in the garrifon made 
 a virtue of neccflity, and ftill endeavoured to defend 
 themfelves; but from this time all was defpair, bra - , 
 and confunon; and the next evening, their ammunition 
 being almoft expended, and farther defence or a re- 
 treat impracticable, they hung out a flag of truce, 
 which the enemy taking for a furrender, they imme- 
 diately fcaled the walls, killing only fuch as made op- 
 position. On the Soubah's entering the fort himfelf, 
 he ordered the Englifli into confinement. Unhappily 
 for them, they were ftanding all together near the Black- 
 hole prifon, which appearing to the enemy a fecure 
 place, they were forced into it, maugrc all their efforts 
 to avoid it. I {hall not pretend to paint all the hor- 
 rors of that dreadful night, which has been already (b 
 pathetically defcribed by one of the fufferers • ; but only 
 obferve, that moft of the young gentlemen m the com- 
 pany's fervice, and many of the principal inha 
 expired in the moft dreadful torments, twenty-three only- 
 remaining alive out of one hundred forty-fix. I 
 Soubah gave up the town to be plundered, rcferving to 
 himfelf only the effedts in the fort; and thus I 
 to his capricious folly or ambition an 
 whofe trade was the chief fourcc of hi riches. 
 * Mr. HolweU. 
 
 D 4 The
 
 §B L E T TER III 
 
 The other European fettlements were threatened with 
 the fume fate ; but whether they were more politic in 
 their conduct, or that the Soubah was fatisfied with the 
 blood he had already fpilt, he contented himfelf with 
 exacting two lacks of rupees from the French, and 
 four from the Dutch, and then marched back to his, 
 capital, where he was received with the utmoft terror 
 and aftonifhment, which he endeavoured to extend as- 
 much as poffible, by writing to the court of Dehli, 
 and to his provincial governors, that he had deftroyed 
 an army of ten thoufand Infidels, and taken four hun- 
 dred pieces of brafs cannon, and an immenfe quantity 
 of warlike ftores. 
 
 Early in October, he marched againfl his relation, the 
 young Nabob of Purhunea, who was much fuch a giddy 
 abandoned youth as himfelf, fuperior to him in nothing 
 but a braver fpirit. When the two armies drew near 
 each other, the young Nabob was falfely informed, that 
 Surajah Dowla was advanced on an eminence to recon- 
 noitre. Animated at the approach of his rival, and hoping 
 at once to put an end to the war, he haftened to meet him, 
 at the head of a few troops that chanced to be advanced 
 beyond the reft of his army ; but, inftead of Surajah 
 Dowla, it proved to be Meer Jaffier and Dus Mahumud 
 Caun, who were very advantagecufly polled. Still igno-r 
 rant of his miftake, he rufhed forward with great bravery, 
 crying out, " It is the Soubah I feek." Meer Jaffier, de- 
 firous to fave his life, went fo far as to call out to him, 
 that the Soubah was not there ; but when he ftill prefr. on, 
 unwilling, by giving way, to expofe himfelf to the Sou- 
 bah's refentment, he was neceflitated, in felf-defence, 
 to make a vigorous refiftance, and in the conflict the 
 Purhunean received his death from a mufket-ball. By 
 this victory, Surajah Dowla arrived at the greatefl height 
 of power a Soubah of Bengal could attain to. He was. 
 
 in
 
 LETTER III 57 
 
 in the prime of his youth; confirmed from Dehli ; the 
 provinces fubdued; no rival left; a vaft army in his 
 pay; and a full treafury, Flufhed with this grandeur, 
 he governed with all the infolence of unbridled power, 
 dreaded by all, and beloved by none. In the mean 
 time, the wretched remains of our unfortunate colony 
 lay on board a few defencelefs (hips at Fulta, the i 
 nnwholfomc fpot in the country, about twenty miles 
 below Calcutta, and deftitutc of all the common ne. 
 faries of life : But by the affiftance of the French . 
 Dutch, to whole humanity they were much indebted on 
 this occafion, and partly by the afliftance of the nativ , 
 who both from interefr. and attachment privately fup- 
 plied them with all kinds of provifions, they fupported 
 the horror of their fituation till Auguft, when they re- 
 ceived a reinforcement of two hundred and forty men 
 from Fort St. George, under the command of ma 
 Kilpatrick, with money and warlike ftorcs. But their 
 greater! mifery was jet to come; for now the ficldy 
 feafon came on ; and what with bad air, bad weather, 
 confinement on board of mips, and want of proper re- 
 frefhments, fuch a mortality enfued, as fwept off almoft 
 all the military, and many of the inhabitants. They 
 continued in this fituation till the arrival of admiral 
 Watfon, in the month of December, with the kin , 
 fcjuadron, confiiring of the Kent, Salifbury, ami Tyger, 
 With two frigates and two Indiamen, having on board 
 fix hundred Europeans and a thoufand feapoys, un- 
 der the command of lieutenant-colonel Robert Clh , 
 followed by the Cumberland, and another Indiaman, 
 with one hundred Europeans and four hundred (1 
 but which were not pet arrived; a force that i 
 little hopib cf fuccefs, bat from tl r t qu 
 the gentlemen $hat commanded it. Admiral Watfon, w 
 an officer of great
 
 $8 L E T T E R III 
 
 fpirit. Colonel Clive was a gentleman, who had al^ 
 ready eminently diftinguifhed himfelf in the war on the 
 coaft of Coromandel ; where, by a long train of glorious 
 fuccefles againft the conftant fupcrior numbers of the 
 French, he had reftored the Englifh affairs at a time 
 when they were thought defperate : he had lately com- 
 manded the land forces on the fuccefsful expedition againft 
 Angria ; and was now pitched on as the propereft perfon 
 to rcftore their affairs in Bengal. 
 
 It may appear matter of wonder, why the Soubah per- 
 mitted us to continue fo quietly at Fulta, till we were 
 become formidable to him, which I can only account for 
 from his mean opinion of us, as he had been frequently 
 heard to fay, he did not imagine there was ten thoufand 
 men in all Frenghiftan, meaning Europe, and had no 
 idea of our attempting to return by force, but fuppofed 
 that we ftaid at Fulta, only till the feafon would permit 
 our going out of the river. And, indeed, it is poflible, 
 that now his anger was fubfided, he might fee the folly 
 he had committed; and might wifh our return on his 
 own terms, which were, to live under his government, 
 without laws or fortifications of our own, and to carry 
 on our trade like the Armenians and his own fubjedts. 
 Whatever the motive was, it was happy for us, and 
 gave us time to prepare every thing to aflift the fquadron 
 in going up the river j and accordingly December 27* 
 1756, the troops were embarked, and the fleet flood up, 
 and on the twenty-ninth they were re-landed for the at- 
 tack of Budje Boodjee, a place cf fuch ftrength, that 
 had they underftood the art of defence, might have coft 
 us much trouble. After a moft fatiguing march, from 
 five in the evening, till feven next morning, we came in 
 fight of the place, while at the fame time the fieet was 
 got a-brcaft and began to fire. Colonel Clive ordered 
 the grenadiers, volunteers and all the feapoys, to go as 
 
 near
 
 iL E T T E R III 5 9 
 
 near as they could under cover, and be ready for an af- 
 fault as foon as a breach mould be made, whilft the 
 reft of the army halted in a hollow on the plain, in 
 order to intercept the garrifon, if they attempted to re* 
 treat. While we were in this fituation, and ignorant 
 of any other enemy than thofc in the place, we were 
 alarmed at the fight of fome horfe in our rear ; and 
 before we had time to get out of this unlucky fituation, 
 we found ourfelves almoft furrounded by the enemy, 
 who had got pofleflion of the eminences, and began to 
 fire on us. Such a fudden furprife might have endan- 
 gered our little army, had not the colonel a 
 great prefence of mind. He immediately detached pla- 
 toons wherever the enemy appeared moil formidable t 
 but they, prefumptous from their triumph over us at 
 Calcutta, flood with great boldncfs, and killed and 
 wounded eight men of the firft platoon that advanced ; 
 but now we brought a field-piece to bear upon them, 
 which kept them at a greater diflance ; and the detach- 
 ment that had been made for the afTault of th 
 being returned on hearing the firing, and having joined 
 us, we marched into the open plain, and difcovercd our 
 enemy to beMonichchund, the Soubah's governor or Cal- 
 cutta, who was come to throw himfelf into the place, at 
 the head of three thoufand horfe and foot, but being 
 ftunned with the firing of the king's Ihips, he tl. 
 his affiftance would be fruitlefs, and was returning, 
 he came unexpectedly upon us, and attacked us with 
 much greater bravery than we ever experienced in 
 encasement we have had with them, In this fl i 
 we had twenty-one Europeans killed and wounded, and 
 feveral feapoys. Monichchund received .; QlOt th 
 his turband, loft his fecund in command, and 
 pf his men ; and was fo intimidated, by the reap' 
 met with, that without najcing anv ti.iv at Calcutta,
 
 6o L E T T E R III 
 
 he haftencd away to his matter, to afiure him, that thefe 
 were net the fame kind of Englishmen he had before met 
 with. Thcfhips foon filenced the fort; and as our little 
 army was not Sufficient to furround the place, the gar- 
 rifon retreated, unknown to us ; and as the troops had 
 been very much fatigued, the Colonel propofed to defer 
 the aflault till day-break; but fome feamen advancing 
 juft at the clofe of the evening very near, and receiving 
 no fire, they gave a huzza, when fuddenly the whole 
 army, without waiting for orders or officers, rufhed for- 
 ward over the bridge which the enemy had neglected 
 to break down, and entered at the breach made by the 
 dips ; and in this confufion Captain Dougal Campbell, 
 preffing forward to reftrain the men, was by miftake kil- 
 led by our own people, to the great concern of the whole 
 army, as he was a brave and capable officer, and a 
 worthy generous man. 
 
 January 2, 1757, the troops reimbarked, and Jan. 3, 
 at day-break, were again landed in fight of Calcutta, 
 which the enemy abandoned almoft as foon as our ihips 
 came a-brtafr of it, firing only the guns that were ready 
 loaded, which did fome execution on the Tyger, and 
 then Mr. Watfon landed the King's troops, and took 
 pofTeflion of the fort. The inhabitants, in the joy 
 of returning to their fettlements, feemed to forget they 
 were returned to empty houfes, and univerfal bank- 
 ruptcy. 
 
 The conduct of political affairs was now vefled in a 
 feledl Committee and the Colonel ; the Admiral being 
 pleafed to declare, they were the beft judges of the Com- 
 pany's intererr, and that he was ready to execute what- 
 ever they thought moft conducive to it. The Committee 
 left the correfpondence with the Soubah to the Colonel, 
 whom we are henceforward to confider as chief negocia- 
 tor of all affairs with the government. 
 
 w 
 
 It
 
 LETTER III 6r 
 
 It will be proper now to take a view of the prefent 
 ftate of our affairs. The Lift advices from Europ 
 iuch as indicated the greatefr. probability of an approach- 
 ing war with France. The French had a coniiderable 
 fett'ement, called Chandcrnagorc, about thirty miles 
 above us, with a garrifon of more than five hundred Eu- 
 ropeans. We well knew, fhould they join the S.oubah, 
 it would give him an almoft invincible fupcriority over 
 us. From the fear of the government, and the m 
 intereft of both parties, there had hitherto tacitly fub- 
 iifted a kind of neutrality within the ( 
 without any treaty to make it obligatory. It was the 
 undoubted intereft of the French, to force us to confirm 
 this neutrality, or join the Soubah. Senfiblc of 
 they fent a deputation, which arrived a few days afar 
 the recovery of Calcutta, with inftruclions to court us to 
 this neutrality, or threaten their junction with the Sou- 
 bah. It was our intereft to amufc the deputies, till wc 
 could judge what turn our affairs were likely to take with 
 the Soubah. For this purpofe, fome time was pafild in 
 previous ceremonies; and, on our parts, great willingnefs 
 mown to accede to the neutrality, conditionally that they 
 mould unite with us againft the Soubah ; but fome doubts 
 being ftarted, whether, being fubordinatc to Pondichcrry, 
 they had power to bind their fupcriors, they returned tti 
 confult their principals. In the mean time, an exj 
 tion was fent againft Houghly, under the conduct of 
 Major Kilpatrick, with the King's troops, volui , 
 
 grenadiers, and two companies of Scapoys, fuppomd by 
 the Bridgwater, and mann'd boats of the fquadron. 
 The enemy were very numerous, having fix th.- 
 in the fort and in an adjacent camp. They 
 affault, which was very bloody to them, " 
 on our fide. The fort and city were plundered, and as 
 many of the magnificent houfes delhoycd, as the
 
 62 LETTER III 
 
 time would permit ; for now the Soubah was approach- 
 ing, with different fentiments than he before entertained 
 of us. 
 
 The account given of us by the Houghly fugitives 
 and Monichchund, had made fuch an impreflion on 
 him, that he would gladly have confented to our re- 
 turn on our former footing ; but it hurt his pride, 
 to think of having fatisfadlion forced from him by 
 merchants : However, he continued his march, deter- 
 mined to fight, or negotiate, as opportunity gave him 
 advantage. The probability of a war with France, 
 which would require our whole force on the coaft of 
 Coromandel, the uncertainty of an a&ion, efpecially 
 if the French mould join him, but, above all, a great 
 part of our force not being yet arrived, inclined us 
 to wifh for honourable peace. At all events, every 
 day gained was an advantage j we were deftitute of 
 draught and carriage oxen, and many other things ab- 
 folutely neceflary, before we could take the field. A 
 camp was formed on a plain about two miles to the 
 northward of Calcutta, which was made as ftrong as 
 the fituation and time would permit; and the Soubah 
 advancing, the troops fent to Houghly rejoined us ; 
 and our whole force now amounted to four hundred 
 battalion, one hundred and twenty train, and one thou- 
 fand four hundred Seapoysj for the Cumberland was 
 not yet arrived. 
 
 Colonel Clive, on his firft arrival, had wrote the 
 Soubah, u That Admiral Watfon, commander of the 
 " King's invincible fhips, and himfelf, a foldier, whofe 
 " conquefts in Decan might have reached his ears, 
 " were come to revenge the injuries he had done the 
 <c Englifh company ; that it would better become him 
 ** to fhew his love of juflice, by making them ample 
 ** fatisfaction for all their lofTes, than expofe his coun- 
 
 " tr y
 
 h E T T E R III 63 
 
 < c try to be the feat of war.'* Such a haughty 
 aftoniflied him ; he would not deign to anfwer it, but 
 permitted Jagutfeat, and others of the great men, 
 Who had kttcrs addrelfed to them to the lame pur- 
 pufe, to anfwer them, and directed them to found our 
 difpofitions and expectations ; and Jagutfeat's :igcnt in 
 camp wrote, by his orders, to defire the ColoacJ would 
 fend a perfon, in whom he could confide, to treat 
 with him j whofe coming he mould wait at a place 
 called Nabob Gunge, twenty miles from our camp ; 
 but the very fame day his van appeared, palling cur 
 army, as if on their way to Calcutta. This had fo 
 much the appearance of an intended infuk or deceit, 
 that the Colonel marched out, at the head of four 
 hundred Europeans, and one thoufand Seapoys, with two 
 field pieces ; and toward the clofe of the evenin?, a 
 cannonading enfued, but the enemy was fo advantage- 
 oufly ported, that the effect was trifling on cither 
 fide, and night approaching, the Colonel returned to 
 Camp. The Soubah, pretending to be ignorant of 
 what had paiTed, fent a meflengcr to conduct to him 
 whoever the colonel mould think fit to krA, who 
 fent Meffieurs Walfh and Scrafton to him : In the 
 mean time, under cover of this negociation, the Sou- 
 bah himfelf, with his whole army, palled in fight of 
 us, and encamped between our army and the town ; 
 which he ridiculoufly thought a mafler-piecc of po- 
 licy, on a falfe notion, that Calcutta, thus deprived 
 of relief, muft fall into his hands, and our 
 would be then at his mercy. The two gentlemen 
 were much furprized to find, that the Soubah, 
 flcad of waiting at the place appointed, Was 
 with his army in the fuburbs of Calcutta. 
 1757, at feven In the , the Soul 
 
 audience in Omichund's garden, where he ..
 
 64 L E T T E R III 
 
 appear in great ftate, attended by the beft looking 
 men amongft his officers, hoping to intimidate themi 
 by fo warlike an aflcmbly. After the firft compli- 
 ments, they were defired to retire, and acquaint his 
 minifters with their propofals. Prior to any accom- 
 modation, they infilled on the Soubah's returning to 
 the place from which he firft offered to treat j but 
 finding the minifter fhuflted with them, they defired 
 a private conference with the Soubah : But his Ex- 
 cellency *, judging from his own treacherous difpo- 
 fition, was fo firmly perfuaded that they had private 
 arms about them and wanted to affaffinate him, that 
 he could by no means be brought to truft himfelf 
 alone with them ; fo that, finding the Soubah only 
 intended to amufe them, they pretended to be fatis- 
 fied, and defired to depart. The Soubah difmifTed 
 them, telling them he expected their return in the 
 morning, with full powers to finifh every thing ; and 
 defired, before they quitted the camp, they would go 
 to the tent of Jagutfeat's agent, who had fomething 
 to communicate to them that would be very agreeable 
 to the Colonel. 
 
 The Soubah had given orders to detain them there, 
 and propofed to afiault the fort the next day j but 
 fufpecling his defign, they put out their lights, pufh- 
 ed forward, and foon gained the camp. On report- 
 ing their embafly to the Colonel, he determined to 
 attack the enemy at day-break ; a refolution that may 
 appear rafh to many, for the Soubah's army con- 
 fiftcd of at leaft J eighteen thoufand horfe, and fixty 
 
 * The term neareft the title ufually given the Soubah. 
 
 J As the numbers differ fo widely from an account lately published, 
 I think it neceflary to fay, I have my authority from the prefent Soubah, 
 who told me Surajah Dowla had in his pay twenty thoufand hcrfe, and 
 eighty thoufand foot; and as the Soubah was not the >n any 
 
 ether war, it is reafonable to ffippofe the greatest part of them were pre- 
 fent : and their appearance confirmed this conjecture. 
 
 thoufand
 
 LETTER LI 
 
 thoufand foot with forty pieces of heavy cannon : but 
 the Colonel confidered only the neccfiity of the at- 
 tempt and not the danger, for all our black camp- 
 followers had difappcared at the approach of the Sc 
 army, and we muft very loon have been diftrefli 
 provifions. To our force, which I have already men- 
 tioned, was added fix hundred failors from the 
 dron ; and the plan of operations was, to nail up the 
 cannon, and pufh at the head quarters. Fcbr. 5, 
 we marched at about three in the morning, an I 
 project fo far fuccceded, that we came upon them 
 unexpectedly; but, when the day appeared, there came 
 on fo thick a fog, that it was impoffible to d'.~ 
 any object at ten yards diftance ; and this w .1 
 Soubah's preservation ; for the fog clearing up 
 few minutes, between (t^ven and eight, we found our- 
 felves at a great diftance from the head quarters, and 
 cxpofed to the enemy's artillery, which did grca: 
 ecution amongft u . The country too w. 
 holes and ditches, which the enemy had lined 
 mufquctry, which did us fonic mifchief; but from 
 immenfe army we had no regular attack, except 
 a large body of Perfian horfe, who received a g ; 
 
 volley from the whole battalion, which obliged thun 
 to face about with the iofs of near half their nil 
 Thus finding himfelf difappointed in his prii 
 object, the Colonel ordered the mai 
 cutta. 
 
 The enemy now pn fled on our rear, and tool. 
 of our field pi ie of v. 
 
 broke by the badnefe 
 men picked off from behind cover. At 
 we reached the fort, and found ! 
 
 and wounded was about 1 hundred and tw 
 failors, and a hundi .
 
 66 L E T T E R III 
 
 of our fmall force ! But the enemy fuffercd AlUcfr 
 more, having loft fix or feven hundred men, killed 
 and wounded, with two general officers, befides a 
 vaft number of oxen, camels, horfes and elephants ; 
 That there might be no doubt of our victory, our 
 army marched out 'again in the evening to their for- 
 mer camp, the route being within a mile of the Sou- 
 bah's head quarters, though covered with a wood ; but 
 the morning's alarm had (truck fuch terror into them, 
 that, far from attacking us, they v/ere ready for con- 
 fufed flight, with which we could not at that time 
 be acquainted. The greatefc advantage we reaped from 
 this action, was in the effect it had upon the Sou- 
 bah, who Was not only intimidated by the boldnc'.s 
 of the attempt, but {truck with his own imprudence, 
 in having expofed himfelf to be attacked at fuch a 
 difadvantage. To add to his uneafinefs, he thought he 
 difcovered fome appearance of difaffection in fome of 
 his principal officers, particularly in Meer JaHier, whofe 
 conduct in this affair had been very myftcrious. The 
 Soubah's army palled that night under arms, in con- 
 tinual apprehenfion of being attacked ; and early in 
 the morning he fent a meilenger to enquire the caufe 
 of our behaviour, and to renew the treaty ; and, under 
 cover of this negotiation, he thought himfelf very 
 happy in quitting the neighbourhood of Calcutta, and 
 encamping on a plain within fight of our army. Had 
 he continued there but one day longer, the Colonel 
 intended to have had a battery on Dum D.umma 
 bridge, which would have commanded to the Lake, 
 and put his army intirely at our mercy. But now, 
 only fenfible of our own lofs, and ignorant of the 
 effect it had on the enemy, we gladly renewed the 
 treaty, which in two days was figned by both par- 
 tics, and of which the following are the articles. 
 
 Firft
 
 letter iii 
 
 Firff was a paper Signifying, that from this 
 hoftilities mould ceafe between his Excellency the Sou- 
 bah of Bengal, Bahar and OrifTa, and the 
 company; and that there mould be perpetual friendi 
 between them; which was flgned by the Adm 
 Colonel, Governor, and council, on behalf of the com- 
 pany, and one in the fame terms* delivered by the Sou 
 
 Articles Jigned and fealed by !.'. ' . y Surajab Dr. 
 
 S: bub of Bengal, Bahar, an i 
 dated February b, 1757. 
 
 I. Whatever rights and privileges the king has 
 granted the Englifh company in their Phirmaun ' 
 and Hufbulhookums,)- fhall be acknowledged, and i : 
 good ; whatever villages have been given to the com- 
 pany by the Phirmaunds, notwithstanding they fa 
 been whh-held by former Soubahs, fhall be given up 
 to them ; nor fhall the Zemindars oppofe their taking 
 poffeflion of thofe villages. jfgn 
 
 II. All goods pacing and rcpafHng through th : 
 country, by land or by water, with Englifh dullucks, 
 fhall be exempted from any tax, fee, or imposition, 
 of the Gantwattas, ChoqueedarSj Zemindar;, [ or 
 others. 
 
 III. All the company's factories seized by the Sou- 
 bah, fhall be returned ; all the money, 
 
 effects belonging to the company, then- fervants and 
 tenants, which have been feized and 
 Soubah, fhall be reftored ; and what has been plun- 
 dered by his people, made good by th*- payfl 1 
 a Ann of money, ws his ji.Uicc (hall think 
 / wilt rrjhre only iv '. 
 vernment bocks. 
 
 * Patents or paper. :' 
 
 -}• Patents dt \ --r. 
 
 X Officers belonging to th< I 
 
 E 2 IV,
 
 63 L E T T E R III 
 
 IV. The Company {hall be allowed to f 
 Calcutta, in fuch manner as they (hall think proper, 
 without hindrance or ohflruclion. Jgreed to. 
 
 V. Ami to coin ficcas,* both of gold and filver, of 
 equal finenefs with thofe of Muxadavad, which mail 
 pafs current through the provinces. Agreed to, 
 
 1'hcn followed the Soubah's feal ; and having fworn 
 to fulfil the fame, Meer Jaffier, and Royduliu'-, two 
 6f his general officers, underfigncd it as fecurities. 
 
 The Soubah then font the ufual prefent to the 
 Governor, Admiral, and Colonel, confifting each of 
 an elephant drefs, and head jewel, which were re- 
 ceived by the Governor and Colonel, as reprefenta- 
 lives of the company. Mr. Watfon, as reprefentative 
 of the King, refufed to accept the prefent j but re- 
 ceived the Soubah's officers who brought it in a 
 very polite manner on board the Kent, and difplayed 
 to them his lower tyre of thirty-two pounders, of 
 which they made a dreadful report to their matter, 
 who not conceiving any great liking to his new friends, 
 marched with all hafte to the capital, happily for his 
 fubjeifs, fomewhat humbled by his late defeat. Mr. 
 Watts being well verfed in the country language, and 
 ill their politics and cuftoms, accompanied the Soubah 
 to attend the fulfilling of the treaty. 
 
 I left the French deputies on their return to Chan- 
 dernagore, to confult their principals on the extent 
 of their powers. The attack of Houghly, and the 
 hafry march of the Soubah, had impeded the negotia- 
 tion, which they now refumed, having firft been tam- 
 pering with the Soubah about a junction with him, 
 Which would certainly have taken place, had we not 
 pufhed our affairs with fuch vigour. In this in- 
 • I . i ^ r , r coin. 
 
 tervaf
 
 LETTER ill 6 9 
 
 terval arrived the certain news ofa declaration of i ai 
 againfl France ; notwithstanding which ir v. 
 debated, whether it were nut mi ie compu> 
 
 intcreft to accept the neutrality ? a 
 in the affirmative, that the majority wire for it; 
 articles drawn up ; and nothing wanting, but Mr. 
 Watfon's approbation, which feemed fo little don. 
 of", that part of the troops were al to 
 
 embark for MadralL, and the French deputii 
 fully perfuaded it was agreed to, only the 
 
 formality of execution: but while things were in this 
 ftatc, Admiral Pocock arrived in the Cumberland, 
 with the reft of the I an unexpected rein- 
 
 forcement of three hundred men from 1; 
 Watfon, arprchcnfive he mi. hi bi , fliould 
 
 he i fuch an opportunity of diftrefling the com- 
 
 mon enemy, hefitated fii ninj , and a profj fur» 
 
 ther troubles in - determined him t 
 
 it for the prcfent. The Afghuans, mountaineers \ 
 poffefs Candahar and the mounta ns Pcrfla 
 
 from Hindoftan, encoura | adir 
 
 th, entered the country wil army, 
 
 commanded by an old o: the Sha 
 
 Abdalla Caun, that tin- court of Dehli, una 
 refill, fubmitted to the con 
 
 came, that he intended to vifit the eafteri ■ s. 
 
 Xhis news alarmed th • tted the 
 
 nel with it, and dropped rig 
 
 his affiftance. The Colonel cm the fir ft am. v.J 
 
 the ( . which w 
 
 march to Chandernagore, or to the Soul i . ! 
 new acci lent, her with th I from 
 
 Mr. Watts, decided the fate of the i rench fcttl 
 by determining the n fult of th 
 found, that the French had, by the | .'. r
 
 7 o LETTER III 
 
 of corruption, won over to their intereft feveral cour-i 
 tiers, who were moft in the Soubah's confidence j and 
 had certain information, that the Soubah had wrote for 
 Monf. BufTey, who commanded a large army in the De- 
 can ; that we might be allured he would never fulfill the 
 treaty, but would infallibly join the French, and fall on 
 us, whenever our fquadron and forces left the river j that 
 the only way to prevent it, was, to attack the French, 
 while he was influenced by his fears of the Afghuans. Mr. 
 Watts's judgment will hereafter appear to be well 
 founded, as the Soubah had already fent a large body 
 of troops to affifr. the French ; had returned' the two 
 lacks of rupees taken from them the year before ; 
 and had entered into fome private negotiation with the 
 French governor, wherein he promifed him the govern- 
 ment of Houghly, a mint, and other advantages. His 
 efpoufmg their caufe fo warmly, made us ftill cau- 
 tious of provoking him too farj but Mr. Watts made 
 fo artful a ufe cf his fears of the Afghuans, obferv- 
 ing to him that we could never think of leaving our 
 fettlement to be attacked by the French in cafe he re- 
 quired our afliftance againft them, that, partly by fuch 
 arguments, and, taught by the French the power of 
 money at the Soubah's court, partly by a handfome 
 prefent of money to his firft fecretary, he produced 
 the following letter from him to Mr. Watfon. 
 
 " Your agreeable letter, acknowledging the receipt 
 c< of mine, which you tell me has difpelled your 
 " anxiety ; that you had hitherto forbore attacking the 
 " French, out of regard to me j that you had pre- 
 " pared reafonable articles ; had fent for them, and 
 " told them to fign them ; that they gave for an- 
 " fwer, if any future commander fhould difapprove 
 " them, they had not power to overrule him ; that 
 *' therefore peace had not taken place, with other 
 
 « dif-
 
 LETTER III 7 r 
 
 " difagreeable circumftances ; I have received, and i 
 « have well considered it. If it be true, that i 
 " Frenchman does not approve, and abide by a ti * 
 " entered into by another, no confidence is to be 
 " placed in them. The rcaf forbidd 
 
 " in my country is, I look on the French a> 
 " my own 1 , becaufe they have, in this affa , 
 
 " implored my protection; for which i 
 
 <c to you to make peace with them, or elfe I had 
 u neither pit t them, nor protected them : But 
 
 " you arc a generous and wife man, and well Icj 
 " if an enemy comes to you with a clear heart, to 
 " implore vour mercy, his life mould be granted him ; 
 " that is, it" you think him pure of heart; but if • 
 " miftruft his fincerity, act according to the 
 
 " TIME AND OCCASIOK." 
 
 This letter may be very well ur. 
 fent to our attacking the French, though it certainly 
 was never meant as fuch ; for he ha J not only his 
 colours flying, ami a body of men at Chandcrnagorc, 
 but had ten thoufand men marching towar ..Jcr 
 
 . command ofRoydullub, \ 
 as Placis, near thirty miles from the cap her 
 
 of four or five thoufand (till nearer, 
 rnand cf Monichchund : But another well . 
 to Nimcomar, the Governor of Houghly, ; all 
 
 obftacles ; for it perfuaded him to tw the tro 
 
 under his command from I nagore, and I 
 
 the Soubah, ** That la the French were by n 
 " able to pefift the Kr. lifli, he had ther 
 " his troops to 
 " lhould be involved in their dil the 
 
 ibah approved of; and \ 
 Monichchund to pro eed no 
 between hi* fears and wifhes, 
 
 E x
 
 72 LETTER III 
 
 thofe whom he was bound, both for his honour and 
 intereft, to fupport ; and now no farther obftaele re- 
 maining, Colonel dive, who was advanced almoft to 
 the limits of Chandernagore, as if on his way to join 
 the Soubah, immediately began the fiege. 
 
 The fort was a regular fquare, mounting twelve twenty- 
 four pounders on each baftion, with feveral cannon 
 mounted en barbette; a fine ravelin before the gate to the 
 river fide; the ditch imperfect; no glacis ; and but a 
 fmall efplanade of about two hundred and fifty yards : 
 and had of foldiers, failors, and other Europeans, near 
 fix hundred men in garrifon, befides three hundred 
 good feapoys. It was invefted on the thirteenth of 
 March, The fourteenth the French abandoned their 
 Outworks ; and from that time to the twenty-fecond 
 were moftly employed in erecting two batteries, which 
 were then ready. On the twenty-third Mr. Watfon, 
 joined by Mr. Pocock, (who on his fhips arrival at Bal- 
 lafore, hearing what was going forward, to partake of 
 the glory of the action, came up in a light boat, and 
 heifted his flag on board the Tyger) pafied the fhips the 
 French had funk, owing to their neglect in finking them 
 fo wide as to leave a pafiage between them, and at feven in 
 the morning the fhips came a-breaft of the fort, and the 
 land-batteries were opened. For two hours it was as 
 bloody an engagement as any during the whole war. 
 The Kent lay expofed to a terrible fire from the flank 
 of the inland baftion, by the tide failing, and preventing 
 her coming to her proper ftation. In this attack, Cap- 
 tain Speke, the Admiral's Captain, whofe wife counfels 
 and enterprifing fpirit contributed much to the great fuc- 
 cefs of this little fquadron in India, had part of his leg 
 carried away by the fame ball that unfortunately killed 
 his fon. Mr. Perrault, firft Lieutenant, and feveral 
 other officers, were killed. The Tyger alia fuffered very 
 
 con-
 
 LETTER III 73 
 
 eonfiderably in men and officers, and Mr. !'•■ 
 fclf received a flight wound. But the French, having 
 feveral guns difiuountc-d ; their parapet almoft demo- 
 lifhed by the fire of the iliips i their v. )>• 
 filaded by the fire of our mufquetry from the tops of the 
 houfes of the town; and a breach nearly made; c 
 lated, and had favourable terms granted them. The 
 army fufrered but \\:ry little, but the fquadron had above 
 a hundred and forty killed and wounded. 'I I 
 found in the warehoufe wen fold for the benefit of the 
 army and navy, and produced about ten : ipees. 
 
 The fquadron returned to Calcutta, but the arm 
 camped at the back of Chandernagore. Surajah 1 
 was in great agitation of mind during the ficge, i 
 times threatening Mr. Watts, and fometimes careffing 
 him, conformable to the news of the day ; but, when 
 the fatal news of the furrender of the place was commu- 
 nicated to h'm by a letter from the Colonel, wherein 
 he afcribed his fuccefl.es to the favour of heaven and 
 his Excellency's aufpices, under which hi-, arm 
 been fo fortunate; he afFe&ed to conceal his chagrin in 
 outward dcmonirrations of joy, and wrote the C 
 the mod pompous congratulations upon the 01 
 To complete his confufton, he now received the news 
 <»f the Afghuans return to their own country, h 
 carried away almoft as great a treafure as Shah N 
 and alfo of Monf. Bufley's being o o quiet 
 
 fomc troubles that had b lecan : So thai 
 
 looking on us as his only enemies, and fcnfible • 
 folly in abandonin the French to us, he determined to 
 protect the fmall remaii I them, which w 
 
 a hundred men, col Cafllmbuza , under 
 
 the command of Monf. Laws, and to diflerable his rc- 
 fentment, till the return of our fquadron and 
 to the coaft gave him an op
 
 74- LETTER III 
 
 and extirpate us for ever. But as the whole tenor of his 
 conduct ftrongly indicated, that he had views of farther 
 fcrvice from this body of French, Mr. Watfon wrote 
 hin:, " that if he continued to protect the king's enemies, 
 ct he would light up a flame in his country, that all the 
 <c waters of the Ganges fhould not quench." Thus 
 intimidated, he obliged the French to quit the province, 
 and to retire to Patna, where he kept them in referve 
 againft the long wifhed for moment, when the return 
 of our forces to the coafl fhould leave us expofed to 
 his revenge. From the time he heard that Chandcr- 
 nagore was taken, he never enjoyed a moment's peace 
 of mind. His imagination was ever haunted by dread- 
 ful notions of the king's mips, which he was told, 
 and was idle enough to believe, could be brought up 
 the Ganges, clofe to his capital ; and, to prevent it, 
 he dammed up the mouth of the Caflimbuzar river. 
 To encrcafe his apprehenftons, our army ftill con- 
 tinued in camp near Houghly. Thefe circumftanccs, 
 together with the mortification of refunding the plun- 
 der of Calcutta, and the repeated demands of the 
 French, would fometimes make his anger burft out 
 from under the veil of diiiimulation with which he 
 endeavoured to cover it. In one of thofe tranfports, 
 he determined to break with us, and ordered Meer 
 Jafner, with a large body of troops, to join thofe at 
 Placis, promifing him a reward of ten lacks of rupees 
 the day he returned victorious ; and lent for Mr. 
 Laws to come down immediately from Patna, for that 
 he was determined to fall on us, and turned our vac- 
 queel * out of the durbar. But thefe fits of valour 
 V/ere of fhert duration ; his fears again prevailed ; the 
 march of the troops was countermanded ; the vacqueel 
 honoured with a drefs ; Mr. Watts careffed ; and Lis 
 * The company's reprefentative at the Nabob's durbsr or court, 
 
 revenge
 
 LETTER III 7S 
 
 revenge fmothcre J, till it might Maze forthwith more 
 fecurity. But he had now given fuch ftron'4 indica- 
 tions of his refulution never to forgive US, that I 
 lonel Ciivc, neceflitaix-d hy thefe repeated proofs of the 
 Soubah's perfidious intentions, recommended to Mr. 
 Watts the forming of a party to join us, in c 
 things fhould come to extremes, which many circum- 
 llances concurred to facilitate. The Soubah, by the 
 feverity and capricioufnefs of his temper, had made 
 himfelf many fecret enemies, both in his court and 
 army. The old minifters of his prcdccefibrs were ob- 
 liged to give way to new favourites, chofen from the 
 dregs of the people ; and there was hardly one of them 
 but had, in his ftarts of paiTion, been threatened with 
 death ; while mutual mifrruit prevented their talcing 
 any meafurcs for their prefervation. At lad one of 
 them, named Coda Yar Caun Laitte, thinking there 
 was more confidence to be placed in us than in his 
 own countrymen, fent a menage to Mr. Watts, that 
 he had fomething of great importance to communi- 
 cate to him, and wifhed to fee him. Mr. Watts 1 
 too clofely watched by the Soubah's fpies, to venture 
 himfelf, but fent one Omichund to him, who \ 
 an agent under him. To him he opened his mind 
 freely, acquainting him with his own dan red 
 
 him the Soubah was firmly bent on extirpating us ; 
 and made a tender of his fervices : Omichund con- 
 firmed him in his fears of t!:.- Soubah, and gave him 
 hopes his 1 A few 1 
 
 after, Mr. Watts was \ furprifed t-> : 
 
 propofals of the like nal 
 
 nen '■•', and nearlj to the S 
 
 bah, by his ' 
 
 I have bci ioned, that ;,. 
 
 tcjious conduce in the !. 1 [t Ik- b |
 
 76 LETTER III 
 
 felf at a diftancc, waiting to fee what ifTuc the affair 
 was likely to have, had made the Soubah fufpicious 
 of him, as well as of Roydullub, for his clofe con- 
 nection with him. The uneven temper of the Sou- 
 bah could never long retain its difguife ; for though 
 he affected an exaggerated^ friendfliip for thofe he in- 
 tended to deftroy, yet his real fentiments would now 
 and then efcape him ; and he had been frequently 
 heard to fay, he would have the heads of them both. 
 This had been told them, and fufucicntly warned them 
 to provide for their fafety ; fo that Meer Jaffier and 
 Roydullub both judged the Englifh protection would 
 be a port of fafety to them. They fent a man pri- 
 vately to Mr. Watts, to let him know how they flood 
 affected, and to allure him, that Surajah Dowla was 
 determined never to forgive the Englifh the difgrace 
 of his late defeat, and waited only a proper opportu- 
 nity to fall on them again ; and concluded with a hint 
 that many of the principal officers of the army, whofe 
 Jives were in continual jeopardy, from the cruel and 
 capricious temper of the Soubah, had determined to 
 depofe him ; that if the Englifh would fupport Meer 
 J^fHer in his views on the Soubahfhip, he would 
 readily make any conceffions that might be deemed 
 necefiary to indemnify the Englifli for the lofTes they 
 had fuffained, and to render their trade advantageous 
 to them. Thcfe propofals were received with great 
 fatisfaction ; and Mr. Watts acquainted the Colonel 
 and the gentlemen below with it, who immediately 
 impowered him to treat, and fettle the plan of ope- 
 rations with Meer Jaffier. Mr. Watts had an inter- 
 view with Meer Jaffier, who reprefented to him, that 
 nothing could be done while the Nabob's army v. 
 in the field, as it feparated him from the heads of 
 his party, and hindered him from concerting proper 
 
 meafures
 
 LETTER III :/ 
 
 meafurcs with him. It w. 1 therefore, to lull 
 
 the Souhah into a firm perfuaflon of our : 
 
 n tent ions, and to try, by diflimulation, I ■ 
 
 his obftacle. For this purpofe, the Colon I i 
 
 he army into quarters, and wrote 
 
 c while the armies continued in 1 
 
 ' would be endeavouring t<> • har- 
 
 c meny and friendfhip which f , cri i ; 
 
 c that he huj th 
 
 ' ters ; a- h he had no real 
 
 ellency's ftri<5 ice to, and fuil c 
 
 ' with, all the of the treaty. 
 
 ' he wifhed he would difappoint I 
 
 ' mutual enemies entertained, by withdr 
 
 ' my from Placid, and that he would haften the 
 
 ' ment of the money, and other articles of th. 
 The Souhah was glad to be freed from the i 
 our army gave him by being in the field, th; 
 Colonel for this proof of his friendfhip, I 
 
 to put hi: troops into quarters : But theft v. 
 tco inconfonant to his fchemes, to be follow 
 tions y for he ftill continued his army encam 
 prolonged to the utmoft the execution of I 
 By the happy ufe of an unexpected ( 
 ftacle was removed, and the Soubah the dupe 
 
 of his own proje 
 
 The Mharattas, hearing of the troub 1 
 and thinking it a pr tortunity 
 
 rich a province to their, already 1 
 wrote to the governor of C 
 letter : 

 
 f& LETTER III 
 
 Ballajccroiv Sechoo Bajeroy, vizir to Ram Rajah, brot)fe)" 
 to Rajah Sehoo, from Hydrabad, to Roger Drake 
 
 governor of Calcutta. 
 " I have a long time wifhed for a meeting with vou, 
 w which the great diftance has prevented : every thing 
 * c profpers with me ; and it is my wifh that fuccefs 
 " attend you, with long life and happinefs : Your 
 lt misfortunes have been related to me by Ragooje, 
 " fon to Janoogee, Make yourfelf eafy, and be my 
 tc friend. Send me your proposals, fuch as you imagine 
 " may be for the beft ; and, with the Divine aflif- 
 * c tance, Sumfecr Caun Bhadre, and Ragoo Baboo, 
 " fon to Bajorey, fhall enter Bengal with a hundred 
 *' and twenty thoufand horfe ; befides, there are other 
 " forces fhall be ready at your call, if you have need 
 " of them, having wrote to Mcu Caun to proceed to 
 •' you, whenever you mall write to him to that 
 tc effecT:. Whatever goods and riches you have loft 
 ki in Bengal, the double of its value fhall be reftored 
 *' by me. Do not, on any account, make peace 
 *' with the Nabob. In a few days my forces fhall 
 " enter Bengal, and the trade of that province fhall 
 * c be entirely yours. Govinroy will relate to you 
 c< farther particulars : To him communicate what force 
 " you have need of, and due regard mall be paid to 
 *' your directions. The French mall not remain in 
 41 Bengal : Your forces fhall keep them out by fea,- 
 tc mine by land." The perfon mentioned in the letter 
 had a private conference with Colonel Clive, wherein 
 he confirmed the contents. The Colonel's firft reflec- 
 tion was, that this might poffibly be an invention of 
 the Soubah to found his intentions } when fuddenly^ 
 with that quicknefs of thought by which he is fo 
 diftinguifhed on all emergencies, he determined to turn 
 the ftratagem on the head of the inventor, by fending 
 
 the
 
 l i. i r i r m 
 
 the letter to tlie Soubah himfelf •, which, if hi 
 
 Were juft, would deceive the 
 
 iuafion, that wo had no jealoufy of his 
 
 if the letter was real, would awe him by the 
 
 of fo powerful an alliance, 
 
 ingly difpatched 
 
 a letter from the Colonel ; in \. , 
 
 "That notwithstanding he hud put the an- > 
 
 tc quarters, and given evei I 
 
 " require of his firm intentions to ol 
 
 " he was not yet fo happy as ' i 
 
 M lency's c •■ army i 
 
 " camped at Placis, which feemed to I 
 
 * c pcndli: j; llorm over our heads ; kept the pg 
 
 ** alarmed ; and prevented the merchants from . 
 
 " ing to Calcutta : That he I one pr<. 
 
 " to give him of his fincerity, which tl would 
 
 " acquaint him with. If that would not fuH 
 
 " mould think himfelf for ever baniflicd fj 
 
 " confidence and friendship." 
 
 The >, who had been informed by 
 
 of the interview between the Colonel and th 
 ratta agent, and of his letter being on the way, . 
 impatient to know the contents. rO* 
 
 duced Mr. Scrafton to the Soubah, and they found 
 him accompanied by Naranfing, the he.. 
 chund, and at. The Soubah affected to 
 
 charmed wit! lonel's letter, which \ 
 
 by every argument fuitable I 
 
 ts of the Colonel's fincerity, bul I unJ 
 I to put on the 
 tion, when the I 
 
 Having read it, he broke forth inl 
 to the Col praifc; and, : . 
 
 us by this ; ;ic>-, faid, his
 
 LETTER III 
 
 army into quarters ; and did not doubt but our fleet 
 and army would quit the country as foon as the fea- 
 fon would permit j and defired we would go to Rajah 
 Mohemloll, his prime minifter, to whom he had given 
 orders to finifli our affairs j and immediately ordered 
 the troops into the city. 
 
 The minifter acted the fame part as his mafter ; 
 but, like an old practitioner in miniflerial arts, pro- 
 pofed, that the Colonel fhould fend up a difcharge in 
 full of all fums ftipulated by the treaty, though nothing 
 was yet determined with refpect to the thirty-eight 
 villap-es,* and very little progrefs made in the reft of 
 the treaty, and that by the time it arrived, the whole 
 fhould be difcharged. The Soubah returned the Co- 
 lonel a favourable anfwer, and told the gentleman who 
 carried the letter, that he expected him back in a week 
 with the defired difcharge, and then he would re- 
 ward him with great prefents and honours. 
 
 Every thing was now in a fair way ; the Placis 
 army broken up and put into quarters ; and Meer 
 Jaffier, after having confulted with Roydullub and the 
 heads of his party, concluded the following treaty with 
 Mr. Watts, and promifed to join us as foon as the 
 armies drew near each other : We, on our parts, pro- 
 mifed, by the blefling of God on our arms, to make 
 him Soubah of the three provinces. 
 
 Treaty executed by Mecr Mahumud Jaffier Caun Bubader. 
 
 I fwear by God and the Prophet of God, to abide by 
 the terms of this treaty whilft I have life.f 
 
 Treaty made with Admiral Watfon, Colonel Clive, 
 and the other Counfellors Mr. Drake and Mr. Watts. 
 
 * See the firft article of the treaty, page 67. 
 
 ■f Thefe words were written in his own hand, at the beginning of '.he 
 Treaty, and were underfigned by him. 
 
 Art. I.
 
 LETTER 111 81 
 
 Art. I. Whatever articles were agreed upon in the time 
 of peace with the Nabob Surajah Dowla, I agree to 
 comply with. 
 
 II. The enemies of the arc my enemies* 
 whether they be Indians or Europeans. 
 
 III. All the effects and factories belonging to the 
 French in the province of Bengal, the paradifc of na- 
 tions, and Bahar, and Orifla, (hall remain in the p 
 fion of the Englifh, nor will I ever allow them any more 
 to fettle in the three provinces. 
 
 IIII. In conhue:ation of the lofies whii .-.jlifh 
 
 Company have fu framed by the capture ;.•..! plunder of 
 Calcutta by the Nabob, and th led by 
 
 the maintenance of the forces, 1 will give them onedore 
 of rupees. 
 
 V. For the effects plundered from the Englifh inha- 
 bitants at Calcutta, I agree to gi\c fifty lacks of ru: 
 
 VI. For the effects plundered from the Ciuitoos, 
 Moors, and other inhabitants of Calcutta, twenty lacks 
 of rupees fhall be given* 
 
 VII. For the effects plundered from the Armenian in- 
 habitants of Calcutta, I will give the fum of feven lacks 
 of rupees. 
 
 The diftribution of the fums allotted to the En 
 Gentoo, Moor, and other inhabitant 
 be left to Admiral Watfon, Colonel Clive, 
 William Watts, James Kilpatriek, and Ri 
 Efquires, to be difpofed of by them* a they 
 
 think proper. 
 
 VIII. Within the ditch which fu I 
 
 of Calcutta are tracts of land belonging to feveral Ze- 
 mindars ; befid . I -it to th ( 
 pany fix hundred yards wit'. 
 
 Villi. All the land lying Couth of Can itl , 
 Culpce, (hall be under th 
 
 Company ; and all the officers of thofe part. Hull be 
 
 i under
 
 £ 2 L E T T E R III 
 
 under their jurifdiction. The revenues to be paid bythC 
 Company in the fame manner with other Zemindars. 
 
 X. Whenever I demand the affiftance of the Englifh, 
 I will be at the charge of the maintenance of their troops. 
 
 XI. I will not erect any new fortifications near the 
 river Ganges, below Houghly. 
 
 XII. As foon as I am eftablifhed in the three pro- 
 vinces, the aforefaid fums (hall be faithfully paid. 
 
 Dated the fifteenth of the month Ramzan, 
 in the fourth year of the prefent reign.* 
 
 There was a feparate treaty ftipulating the payment 
 of fifty lacks to the army and navy. 
 
 Our affairs were now drawing to a crifis, when an 
 event happened, that had like to have blafted all our 
 hopes. Whether any thing of our connections with 
 Meer Jaffier had reached the Soubah's ears, or whether 
 he had before projected his deftruction and thought this 
 the propereft opportunity while we feemed fo quiet, is 
 uncertain; but Meer Jaffier thought himfelf in fuch 
 danger, that he would no longer venture to go to court, 
 and on his difobedience of the Soubah's fummons, his 
 death was refolved upon. The artillery was pointed 
 againft his houfe, and the troops ordered to furround if. 
 Meer Jaffier acquainted the Colonel with his fituation, 
 and wrote him, that nothing could extricate him from 
 the danger he was in, but the news of his march. The 
 die was cafr, and on the thirteenth of June, the whole 
 army marched forward, and the Colonel wrote the Sou- 
 bah, the very day of his march, to the following purport. 
 * £ That from his great reputation for juPcicc, and faith- 
 *' ful obfervance of his word, he had been induced to 
 <c make peace with him, and to pafs over the lofs of many 
 *' Crores of rupees fuftained by the Englifh in the cap- 
 ** ture of Calcutta, and to reft content with what- 
 " ever he in his juftice and gencrofity fhould reftore 
 
 * J«« 1757. « to
 
 LETTER lit 8> 
 
 tf to them ; that his Excellency had not thought fit to 
 
 *' fet any value on the friendfhip of I (h, 
 
 c * had in every thing difcouraged as much as poifiblc the 
 
 ** company', buflnefs, by turning their vaquecl difgrace- 
 
 tc fully from his prefencc, refuting free- pal the 
 
 u Engl ifli through his country, intercepting theu 
 
 *' and fearchirig their factory at Cafilmbuzar for am- 
 
 " munition and warlike ftorcs, on pretence of their m- 
 
 *' tending an attempt on his life, in the time of pro- 
 
 " found peace, threatening them with an inftant ruptui 
 
 Ci if they did not fubmit to the fearch} thatthefe were 
 
 " hut trifles, compared to his open and avowed prot - 
 
 '* tion of the King's enemies, of which hi to 
 
 ** iMonf. BufTey, wrote but a : after his entering 
 
 " into a folcmn treaty with us, inviting him to his coun- 
 
 *' try, was a flagrant proof; that hi; pr I ..nd 
 
 " allowance of ten thouf.md rupees per month, 
 
 " Monf. Laws, and many other circumitam . . ■ oi 
 
 M only fo many deviations from the treaty, bur evident- 
 
 " ly lhewed his Excellency's intention to fall U] 
 
 " the English, as foon as the abl their tro 
 
 " might expofe them to it; that th< of 
 
 " the treaty was infringed, in h tg only a 
 
 " fifth part of the fum paid into the treafury, • 
 
 " plunder of Calcutta, and ye; dei 
 
 ct for the whole. 'I he Colonel complained . of 
 
 cc fo many inful ts put up him, and 
 
 " bah how i I his own conduct ■ - < --d 
 
 ct upon to allifl him againii 
 
 *' clared, his intent 
 
 " to the lull drop of his 1 :cel- 
 
 M lency had i enemies, 
 
 •' and had in ( i vd from his I 
 
 44 ments, he had d( • ation of 
 
 " all who •• I with 
 
 M proceed immediately toCafllmb . .
 
 S4 LETTER III 
 
 *< difputcs to the arbitration of Meer JafEer, Roydullub, 
 tc Jagutfeat, and others of his great men : That it" 
 " it fhould be found, that he, the Colonel, had deviated 
 *' from the treaty, he then fwore to give up all further 
 " claims; but, that, if it appeared his Excellency had 
 " broke it, he fhould then demand fatisfaction for all 
 " the loffes fuftained by the Englifh, and all the char- 
 *' ges of their army and navy ; and concluded with 
 " telling him, that the rains being fo near, and it re- 
 " quiring many days to receive an anfwer, he had found 
 " it neceffary to wait upon him immediately." 
 
 There are fome affairs alluded to, which I thought 
 too trifling to mention in the courfe of this account. 
 
 Some hours before the Soubah had received the Co- 
 lonel's letter, Mr. Watts, and the gentlemen of Caflim- 
 buzar, had made their efcape by a fpeedy flight, which 
 left the Soubah no further doubt of our intentions. 
 And here let me paufe a little, to do juftice to the 
 eminent fcrvices the public received from Mr. Watts, 
 in the courfe of this great affair ; his admirable afiiduity 
 and penetration, in difcovering the Soubah's treacherous 
 negociation with the French; the right judgment he had 
 formed of the Soubah's intentions to extirpate us, when- 
 ever the abfence of our forces gave him the opportunity; 
 and his great firmnefs and conftancy, in remaining in 
 the Soubah's capital, even after our army had begun its 
 march, redound greatly to his honour. 
 
 Affairs between the Soubah and Meer J afRer were now 
 at a crifis. Some of the few who were faithful to the Sou- 
 bah, afiurcd him it was at Meer JafEer's inftigation that we 
 marched up, and advifed him to fall on him immediately; 
 but others of Meer Jaffier's party, who were in his confi- 
 dence , pcrfuaded him to make up the breach for the prefent, 
 and defer his defigna to fome more favourable occafion. If 
 the Soubah erred before in abandoning the French, he 
 
 doubly
 
 LETTER III 
 
 doubly erred now, in admitting a fufpicious friend a 
 whofe death he was flill determined on, to - i:i 
 
 the cha- of troops, which felf-defence 
 
 would have taught him to 
 
 fervation. 11 was (enfible <-i' : but inl> 
 
 of having refolution to rife above it, ;:nd terminating 
 his Cars at once by the attacl - er Jafficr, he en- 
 
 deavoured tot. m by the thin dil juife of grace ;.n.l 
 
 pardon confirmed by oaths. The ! introdu 
 
 the accuftomed ; : their fal 
 
 fwore he would never attempt his life, .' fier, that 
 
 he would be his faithful foldicr, and light for him to 
 the lafl: drop of his bloo parted with fmiles 
 
 on their countenances and treachery in their heal 
 each happy in the thought of over-reaching th 
 and now we were 
 
 The Soubah immediately took th : . .. 
 
 twenty thoufand horli-, and 
 fifty pieces of heavy cannon ; w 
 of a thoufand Europeans, and 
 fix field pieces, and a fin it of fail* i 
 
 the fquadron, were advan 'and, and partly 
 
 by water, as far as the I v I 
 
 were pafil-d there in the moil uneafy fufp 
 for intelligence of th the 
 
 Soubah, and our ally 
 interval, the majority of ot i 
 the river, and every thing bor 
 ment ; but, on the twenty fe< 
 received a letter from Meer 
 him to hazard a battle, a 
 in the i . . 
 
 miles of US ; but f-ir 
 periority of his nun !■, 
 
 approaching p 
 
 F 3
 
 86 L E T T E R III 
 
 to be cxpofcd to the ifiue of a battle. Miitrufr. of hi, 
 own army, and the dread of an enemy, who had before 
 defeated him, made him prefage the worft, and a trifling 
 circumftance, which he took for an ill omen, confirm- 
 ed him in his fears : It is indeed the effect alone which 
 can excufe my mentioning it. 
 
 As he was fitting in his tent, the evenincr before the 
 battle, revolving in his mind the doubtful iffue, his at- 
 tendants imperceptibly left him one by one till he was 
 alone ; when a fellow entered, unperceived by the 
 Soubah, and carried off" the gold top of the hookah 
 he was fmoaking, and cut off fome of the broad-cloth 
 of his tent. It mocked his foul to think, that he, 
 xvhofe frowns were death but in the morning, mould 
 now be fo little feared : He called for his attendants, 
 and cried, with great emotion, "Sure they fee me dead." 
 
 However, with an appearance of compofure, ill fuit- 
 ed with the pangs he felt, he ordered the difpofition 
 of his army, and began his march before day-break. 
 Ours, after a moft fatiguing march from five in the 
 evening till one in the morning, which was abfo- 
 lutely neceffary, in order to be polIeHed of Placis town 
 and grove before the enemy could reach it, halted in 
 the grove till day-break •> when the Soubah's army ap- 
 peared marching from their fortified camp before-men- 
 tioned, and what with the number of elephants all 
 covered with f. arlet cloth and embroidery, their horfe 
 with their drawn fwords glittering in the fun, their 
 heavy cannon drawn by vaft trains of oxen, and their 
 flandards flying, they made a mofl pompous and for- 
 midable appearance : And their difpofition, as well as the 
 
 ular manner in which they formed, feemed to fpeak 
 greater fkill in war than we expedited from them. But 
 what avails pomp and parade, where the heart is not fired, 
 by loyalty to its prince, or love to its country ? 
 
 M
 
 LETTER III J 7 
 
 At fix in the morning, June 23, the enemy was dis- 
 covered marching in a deep column fr.>m their old 
 camp. Between every body of four or five thoufand 
 was a part of their artillery. In this order they con- 
 tinued marching as if they intended to furround us, 
 as far as the river would permit ; but as loon as their 
 rear was got out of the camp, they halted, and a 
 body of about fifty French advanced in front of the 
 reft, their officer calling out in vain for fome of the 
 Soubah's troops to follow him : For ftich Wai their 
 miftrufl of each other, that no commander dared to 
 venture on lingly, tor rear fome other < ommander, 
 fufpctSted of attachment to us, mould fall on him. 
 Thefc advanced under cover of an eminence, to within 
 about five hundred paces of us, 
 general cannonading. Our little army v.m 
 drawn up without the ban - unded the 
 
 grove, but we foon found fuch halls pour- 
 
 ing upon us from their fifty pieces of cannon, molt 
 of which were thirty two and twenty lour pour 
 that we retired under cover of the bank. 
 field pieces without, whilft the other four I 
 ing through the breaches in the bank. In this poirurc 
 both armies remained till about twelve ; wl . 
 
 fhower of rain falling, the enemy's 
 if they meant to take the advantage <<l it : but when 
 they found our field-pieces k>.,>t lit. 
 ing the rain, it checked their ardour. '1 h 
 the cannonading continued till about fo i 
 
 when they began to retire to th( .1 old 
 marching in firft. And now v • t 
 body on our left, moving in fuch .1 
 make it doubtful whether their aim was n> | 
 themfelv.s of the village on our lei 
 were friends, and wanted to join us. Ho\ 1 
 
 F 4 ;
 
 S £ LETTER III 
 
 fignal had been agreed on, owing to the mifcarriage 
 of a meflcnger who had been difpatched to us in the 
 morning by Meer Jaflier, we kept them at a diftance 
 with our field pieces. When all their artillery was 
 got within their camp, Major Kilpatriclc moved for- 
 ward with about two hundred whites and three hun- 
 dred feapoys, and pofTefTcd himfelf of the eminence, 
 where the French had been, till they retired with the 
 reft. On this motion, the enemy feemed inclined to 
 come out again on the plain ; but Colonel Clive or- 
 dering all our fire to be directed againft their oxen 
 and drivers, after feveral attempts they "were obliged 
 to give over \ and feveral large bodies of horfe began 
 to advance on us, and take pofTemon of an adjacent 
 eminence; but we prefently obferved their elephants 
 unruly, and great confufion amongft them. The Co- 
 lonel, conceiving this the moment on which the fuc- 
 cefs of the day depended, immediately ordered the 
 eminence and their camp to be aflaulted by the ad- 
 vanced body, and the whole army to march forward. 
 The enemy flood their ground at the eminence, long 
 enough to receive a general volley, when they faced 
 about with great precipitation ; and fome of their am- 
 munition blowing up, juft as Colonel Clive was march- 
 ing up to their camp, it put them into fuch a con- 
 fufion as made them incapable of refinance, and the 
 rout became general. Their camp, baggage, and can- 
 non, all fell into our hands ; and we continued the 
 purfuit all night. Thus was this glorious and decifive 
 victory obtained with the trifling lofs of about feventy 
 men killed and wounded on our fide, and about five 
 or fix hundred on the enemy's. 
 
 One great caufe of our fuccefs was, that in the 
 very beginning of the action, we had the good for- 
 tune to kill Meer Modun, one of the Soubah's beft 
 
 and
 
 L E T T E R III 89 
 
 and moft faithful officers, which ftruck fuch a terror 
 into him, that he fent for Meer Jaffier, threw his 
 turhand at his feet, and told him with a moft dejected 
 countenance, "That it was he that muft protect that 
 " turband." * Whether this moved Meer Jaff. , 
 compafTion, or his politicks were to fave appearances 
 with both parties, is uncertain ; but he did not offer 
 to join us, only wrote the Colonel a note adviilng 
 him to pufh forward, for that the battle was more 
 than half won : In every thing clfe he flood neuter 
 during the whole action. 
 
 Defppndency had now taken fuch poffeffion of the 
 Soubah's foul, that he left the field at four in the 
 evening on an elephant, and made fuch hafle, that 
 he was himfelf one of the firft that carried the news 
 of his defeat to the capital, which he reached that 
 night. Meer Jaffiefs troops retired flowly and reo-u* 
 larly from the field of action, marching wide of the 
 reft of the Soubah's army ; and halted a few miles 
 from us. In the morning the Colonel fent Omar 
 Beg, a Moor-man particularly attached to Meer Jaf- 
 fier, and Mr. Scrafton, to conduct him to Daud- 
 porc, where he halted that night. As foon as he 
 few the meflengers, he advanced forward with his 
 fon to meet them ; but was far from teftifying that 
 joy which might have been expected : Probablv, bred 
 up in the treacherous court of Allyvhcrde Caun, he 
 1 Iioured fome fufpicion that the Colonel might re- 
 fent his conduct in not joining him conformably to 
 his promifes ; for afterwards when the guards <.. 
 out to receive him as he puffed, he ftarted rs if he 
 thought it was all over with him ; nor did his coun- 
 tenance brighten up, till the Colonel embraced ! 
 
 * To have the head uncovered i. ly Aiarncful in a man of 
 
 rank, 
 
 and
 
 9 o LETTER III 
 
 and faluted him Soubah of the three provinces, ad- 
 viflng him to haften to the capital to prevent its being 
 plundered, and to afTume the title of Soubah, in which 
 he would fupport him with all his force as foon as 
 poiTible. We continued our joyful march towards the 
 city, and had the pleafure to fee the marks of our 
 victory all throu h our route. — The plains being co- 
 vered with cannon, trains of oxen, broken carriages, 
 wounded horfes, and among the reft an elephant found 
 <]ead, fixteen miles from the field of battle, with two 
 fix pound mot lodged in his body. 
 
 Let us now follow Surajah Dowla. On his ar- 
 rival at the city, he aflembled all his great officers, 
 to confult them on this unfortunate event : Some ad- 
 yifed him to deliver himfelf up to the Colonel, againft 
 whom he could have no hope of fuccefs, having 
 been twice defeated by him. This, which was the 
 mod prudent advice, his /hallow judgment miftook 
 for treachery. Others advifed him to open his trea- 
 sury to his army, and endeavour by great rewards 
 to fpirit them up to make another effort. He feem- 
 ed to approve of this, immediately ordered three months 
 pay to his army, and difrnilTed his council with af- 
 furances of his heading his troops again in the morn- 
 ing : But, when left by himfelf, he fuffered all the 
 pangs of advernty. His terrified imagination repre- 
 fented every one that approached him as a traitor that 
 wanted to deliver him up : He abandoned himfelf to 
 his fears, and, knowing not whom to trufr, he dif- 
 guifed himfelf in a mean drefs, and ftole out of a 
 window in the dead of night, with no attendants but 
 one faithful eunuch. 
 
 Before Meer Jaffier could enter the palace, the 
 women of the fcraglio had broke loofe from their con- 
 finement, and carried off jewels to an immcnie value $ 
 
 while
 
 L E T T E R III 91 
 
 while the foldiery had broke into the treafury, and 
 earried away great fums of gold. All was anarchy 
 and confufion ; the frightened inhabitants flood in dread- 
 ful fufpenfe, expecting nothing but maflaere and de- 
 flation from a victorious army; till the arrival of 
 Mcfl'rs. Watts and Walfh, fent forward by the Colo- 
 nel, and a proclamation iflucd out, that Meer Jaffier 
 was appointed Soubah by Colonel Clive, turned their 
 fears to aftonifhment. This, with the news of the 
 halt of our army on the twenty fifth and twenty fixth, 
 rcftored tranquillity to the city. Meer Jnffier, whether 
 confeious how little he had contributed to our fuc- 
 cefs, or that a Muflulman could not conceive fuch 
 moderation, when we had the whole in our power, 
 frill doubted the reality of his exaltation, and it was 
 with great difficulty that Meffrs. Watts and Walfh 
 could prevail on him to adr. as Soubah. 
 
 On the twenty feventh the Colonel entered the city, 
 with two hundred Europeans, and five hundred feapoys, 
 and took up his quarters at a palace near the Soubah. 
 Upon the Colonel's arrival, | ■ ■■ffeat, ::ill -l feveral ot 
 the great men, anxious for their fate, fent their fub- 
 mifiion, with offers of large prefents, which the Colo- 
 nel refufed, afTuring them he defired nothing but their 
 afliftance in fettling the government. The next day 
 jaffier vifited the Colonel, and accompanied him 
 in great pomp to Jagutfeat's houfe, where they fettled 
 all m lirs. 
 
 I do not d< ubt, but thai the fums ftipulated by the 
 muft appear immenfe to you ; but it mult be 
 obferved, it was the prevailing and univerfal n 
 that Surajah Dowla had at lea millions 
 
 ing i;i hi'j treafury, in which we now found 
 widely deceived; the new Soubah making it evident- 
 ly appear to us, that if we jnfifted on the imm 
 
 I
 
 92 L E T T E R III 
 
 payment of the whole fum, he would have nothing 
 left wherewith to fupport his dignity, or fecure his 
 power. The Colonel therefore, fenfible it would tar- 
 nifh the glory of our fuccefTes, mould we diftrefs the 
 Soubah at fo critical a time, thought it more confift- 
 ent with the general intereft to accept of one half by 
 the lair, day of Oitober, and to agree, that the re- 
 mainder mould be paid within the compafs of three 
 years, by equal payments every fix months. Befidcs 
 what was ftipulated by the treaty, the Soubah was 
 pleafed to make a prefent to the Governor, the Colo- 
 nel, Committee and Council, and thefc v/ho had moft 
 contributed to our wonderful fuccefs ; and, before they 
 parted, the Soubah, the Colonel, Jagutfeat, and Roy- 
 dullub, entered into a folemn engagement mutually to 
 fupport each other againft all enemies whatfoevcr. And 
 now all our fufpicions of the perfidioufnefs of Sura- 
 iah Dowla proved well founded ; for we found in his 
 iecretary's hands, copies of letters to Meffrs. Buftey 
 and Laws, in one of which, dated in February, a few 
 days after his fwearing a folemn peace with us, he 
 prefies Monf. BufTcy to fend him two thoufand men, 
 under the command of trufry officers ; and in another, 
 invites him with his whole force into his country : 
 And he writes to Mr. Laws, in April, to defire him 
 to come down immediately, for that he was determin- 
 ed to fall upon the Engliih. Thus we fee it was 
 with no lefs juftice than prudence, that we fufpecT:- 
 ed the Soubah's treachery ; and it appears how ne- 
 ceffary it was for us to have guarded againft it, at a 
 time when we wanted the full proofs victory now 
 threw into our hands : For nothing can be more evi- 
 dent, than that if we had trufted to the flattering ap- 
 pearances he endeavoured to amufe us with at the 
 time of the tedious ncgociation that preceeded the 
 
 battle
 
 L E T T E R iH h 
 
 battle of Placis, we had certainly fallen the victims of 
 our own credulity. 
 
 On the twenty ninth the Colonel went to the Sou- 
 bah's palace, and, in prefence of all the Rajahs and 
 great men of the court, led him to his Mufland;* 
 and, in compliance with the cuftoni of the country, 
 made his fubmifiion to him as Soubah, by prefenting 
 him with a few pieces of gold, in which he was fol- 
 lowed by all the great men prefent. From thij time 
 Mecr Jafficr affumed the title of Mohabet Jung, { and 
 aclcd as Soubah of the three provinces. Nov/ eniued 
 a fcene of triumph of a different kind. 
 
 The firft fruit of our fuccefs, was the receipt of 
 near a million fterling, which the Soubah paid us on 
 the third of July, and was laden on beard two hun- 
 dred boats, part of the fleet that attended us in our 
 march up, eleorted by a detachment from th< 
 As foon as they entered the great river, they were 
 joined by the boats of the fquadron, and all together 
 formed a fleet of three hundred boats, with mufic 
 playing, drums beating, and colours flying, and ex- 
 hibited to the French and Dutch, by whole fettlements 
 they paffed, a fecne far different from what they had 
 beheld the year before, when the Nabob's fleet and 
 army paffed them, with the captive Englifh, and all 
 the wealth and plunder of Calcutta. Which fcene 
 
 e them mod pleafurc, I will not prefume to de- 
 cide; nor will I attempt to convey an idea of the 
 vaft joy of our countrymen at Calcutta, when they 
 heard of our victory. 
 
 we were thus -\ our fuccefs, Sura- 
 
 j:.h Dowla was travelling in difgui , I hie 
 
 , towards Patna, where he hoped once more 
 
 . 
 
 to
 
 9^ L E T T E R III 
 
 to appear in arms ; but being difcovered by the go- 
 vernor of Rajamaul, Meer Jafficr's brother, he was 
 furrounded, and advice of it reaching the Soubah, he 
 immediately fent his fon to take him prifoner, and 
 bring him to the city, where he arrived on the fourth 
 of July at night, unknown to the Colonel, and was 
 privately put to death by the Soubah's order, who 
 came in the morning to apologize for having taken 
 fuch a ftep without confulting him, and to palliate 
 an act which he was fenfible the Colonel would highly 
 difapprove. It was not till many months after, that 
 we became acquainted with all the circumftances of 
 his death, which were as follows. On his arrival at 
 the city, the Soubah held a council of his moll in- 
 timate friends, about the difpofal of him, who all 
 agreed, that it would be dangerous to grant him his 
 life, and that he mould immediately be put to death, 
 left the Colonel's clemency and moderation mould plead 
 for his prefervation. Surajah Dowla received the dread- 
 ful fentence trembling ; he wept bitterly, and plead- 
 ed hard for life on any terms ; but, when he found 
 all intreaty in vain, he defired only a delay of a few 
 moments to warn and fay his prayers. His mercilefs 
 executioners flung a pot of water over him, and dif- 
 patched him with their fwords. His remains were ex- 
 pofed on an elephant round the city, and then interred 
 near the tomb of his grandfather. 
 
 Revenge feems glutted by fo tragical a cataftrophe, 
 and companion for a while takes place. But though 
 we may commiferate his unhappy fate, let us not for- 
 get how juftly he deferved it. From his nrft ob- 
 taining power under his grandfather, he had ever made 
 it fubfervierit to ambition, revenge, and cruelty. His 
 treacherous aflaffination of Hoflein Cooley Caun, and 
 his nephew - 3 the wanton cruelty and injuitice of at- 
 tacking
 
 L E T T E R III 9$ 
 
 tacking the Englifh, who, by the immcnfe wcahh they 
 had yearly brought into the country, for a century 
 paft, had greatly contributed to its rich and flourifh- 
 ing ftate, and certainly had done nothing to make 
 them the objects of his refentment; but above all, the 
 death of the gentlemen in prifon, for which, though 
 not occafioned by his immediate order, when he was 
 told of it in the morning, he teflified no concern (and 
 even then might have faved the lives of many who 
 had feme little lire left in them, and might have been 
 recovered by bleeding and proper care) but differed, 
 if he did not order them, to be thrown with the dead 
 into the ditch ; thefe cruelties called aloud for fevere 
 juftice: and vet, I dare fay, even thefe were far fhort 
 of what we mould have fuffered, had he been con- 
 queror at Placis ; for there was found in his ftandifh, 
 a lift of thirteen of his courtiers whom he had doomed 
 to death, and it is probable he would not have fhewn 
 more mercy to us. His fhort reign of only one year 
 was paiTed in war, and in fleecing and punching thofe, 
 who, in the late reign, had been of his rival's 
 He was rapacious, prodigal, and ambitious; but his 
 ambition had neither valour nor wifdom to fupport 
 it: Yet, unqualified a; he was, it is thought he 
 at the conqueft of Dehli and the whole en 
 he was preparing a magnificent throne, and int 
 fhortly to have aflumed the title of Shaw, or king. 
 
 Whoever reflects on this amazing revolution, muft 
 acknowledge the hand of providence in it. Oui 
 calamity fecmed like a final diuolution, and the 
 colony to be loll irretrievably. Our enemy's con- 
 tempt was then our fecurity. But even when our 
 forces arrived, what profpeet was there that inch a 
 handful of men f'hould overcome fuch numerous for- 
 ces ? forces thought fafficient by their matter to fub- 
 
 vert
 
 9& L E T TER III 
 
 vert one of the raoft powerful governments of Afia, 
 and to fecure to him the pofleflion of the throne of 
 Aurengzcbc. Who could then have been fanguine 
 enough to flatter himfelf with the hopes of feeing the 
 wealth of the tyrant's capital, the fruits of many years 
 eaflern oppreflion, transferred to that fettlement he had 
 fo proudly overthrown but a few months before al- 
 moft in an inftant ! 
 
 Thefe glorious fuccelles have brought near three 
 millions fierling to the nation ; for, properly fpeak- 
 ing, almoft the whole of the immenfe fums received 
 from the Soubah, finally centers in England. So 
 great a proportion of it fell into the company's hands, 
 cither from their own mare, or by fums paid into the 
 treafury at Calcutta for bills and receipts, that they 
 have been enabled to carry on the whole trade of 
 India, China excepted, for three years together, with- 
 out fending out one ounce of bullion. Vaft fums 
 have been alfo remitted through the hands of foreign 
 companies, which weigh in the balance of trade to 
 their amount in our favour with fuch foreign nations. 
 And to thefe let me add, the milch icf done to our 
 enemies the French, now totally driven out from thofe 
 fettlements which were the only fupport of their In- 
 <lia trade. 
 
 Nothing was now wanting to complete our fuc- 
 cefs, but to get the Soubah confirmed from court ; 
 for the better obtaining of which the Colonel wrote 
 a letter to the Emperor to the following purport, 
 which was accompanied by another nearly in the fame 
 ftrain from the Soubah } " That the Englifh had 
 lc been long fettled in thefe countries, by virtue of a 
 " phirmaund from the emperor Furruckfeer ; and Cal- 
 *' cutta was become a very great and populous place, 
 ■" and its merchants carried on a trade which enriched 
 
 " the
 
 L E T T E R III 97 
 
 * { the whole country ; that they had always lived in 
 " perfect harmony and friendfhip with the Soubah of 
 " the province, until the death of Mahabut Jung, 
 <c who was fucceeded by Surajah Dowla, who, even 
 " before he had received the royal confirmation, with- 
 *' out any caufe or notice given, fell on the Englifh, 
 *' who, being deftitute of all the implements of war, 
 tc were entirely defeated ; that he took Calcutta and 
 " plundered it on the twentieth of June 1756, and 
 " put to death in one night all the great men, and 
 *' other Englifhmen, who fell into his hands ; that 
 *' Admiral Watfon and himfelf, both fervants of the 
 *' king of England, were come to revenge thefe in- 
 " juries with a powerful army ; that they had re- 
 *' poffefTed themfelves of the ruins of Calcutta, and 
 *' drove his people from Houghly ; that Surajah Dowla, 
 ■' priding himfelf in his numbers, came down againit 
 *' them with a great army, which, by the blcfling of 
 '* God, he totally defeated on the fifth of February 
 *' 1757; but, that reflecting how injurious war was 
 *' to his Majefty's dominions, he made peace with 
 * c him ; to the obfervance of which, Surajah Dowla, 
 " fwore by God and his prophet Mahomet ; yet a 
 '* very few days being elapfed, regardlefs of his oath, 
 " he joined with the enemies of the Englifh to deffroy 
 " them ; that he, Colonel Clive, had feveral times 
 " warned him of the fatal confequences of his un- 
 " faithful conduct j but that he (corned his friendfhip, 
 " and met him with a numerous army, over which 
 tc he, by the bleffing of God, obtained a complete vic- 
 *' tory on the plains of Placis, June 23, 1757; that 
 *' in the purfuit Surajah Dowla was killed, and, by 
 *' the content of all the great men <>f the province, 
 " Meer JafHer was appointed to fucce&d him, a man 
 ** juft and merciful, as his predecefTor was wicked, 
 G " proi
 
 r ; 8 LETTER III 
 
 proud, and cruel, who implored his Majcfry to con- 
 Jinn him in his dignity; that he had joined him 
 with a powerful army, and, by the bleffing of God, 
 nothing fhould be wanting to make the country 
 flourifh, and the people happy ; that in the courier 
 of thefc troubles, nothing had been done to the in- 
 jury of his Majefly's dominions ; and that he was 
 ready, with his life, to obey his Majefly's com- 
 mands." 
 
 A revolution, fo fudden and unexpected, filled every 
 one with terror and aftonifhment, which was kept up- 
 by the march of a confiderable detachment, under the 
 command of Capt. Coote, in purfuit of Monf. Laws, 
 who marched from Patna at the head of an hundred 
 French, the only remains of that nation in all the 
 three provinces, to the aiTiftance of the late Soubah, 
 and were within a few hours march of him when he 
 was taken prifoner, ; but they returned on Capt. Coote's 
 approach, who followed them till they had paiTed the 
 boundaries of the Soubah's dominions. The Na- 
 bob of Patna' was one Ramnaran, a Gentoo, faithfully 
 attached to his late mafler, who, fuppofing Meer Jaf- 
 fier would not confirm him in his government, was 
 meditating a junction with the Soubah of Oude, the 
 fori of the late vifir, whofe territories border on thofe 
 of Patna. There was fuch evident proof of this, that 
 Colonel Clive adv'ifed the Soubah to difplace him, 
 which was approved, accepted, and the order fent ; 
 but different paffions now began to operate, and the 
 Nabob, from fome unknown motive, determined to ef- 
 feci: his purpofe by other means. 
 
 Whoever confiders human nature will eafily per- 
 ceive, that the harmony between the Soubah and 
 us w-as liable to many interruptions. As the brute 
 creation retain no longer their affection's for their pa- 
 rents
 
 L E T T E R III 99 
 
 rents than while they need their help to nourifh them, 
 fo the Soubah, now feeling his own (rrength, Tor- 
 got the authors of his greatnefs. He feemed to 
 look on us rather as rivals than allies ; and his firft 
 thoughts were, how to check our power, and evade 
 the execution of the treaty. In vain did the Colo- 
 nel reprefent to him, that, inftead of draining his 
 treafury for keeping fuch an omnetife army on i'o':> 
 he had better difmifs one half of them, and rclv on 
 the Englifh, who were his natural allies, bound to 
 him by mutual intcrcfr, and every tie that could en- 
 force our inviolable attachment. He formed his plan 
 quite differently, and feemed to think himfclf fuffici- 
 ently powerful to difpute with us the remainder of 
 the treaty ; and to this he bent all his future poli- 
 tics, the natural confequencc of which was, that We 
 were neccflitatcd to ftrengthen ourfelves, by forming 
 a party in his own court to be a continual check 
 upon him, a matter by no means difficult in a country 
 where loyalty and gratitude arc virtues almoft unknown. 
 I have before mentioned Roydullub as clofely con- 
 nected with Mcer Jafficr, and a fellow confpirator of 
 equal rank ; fuch connections are feldom permanent : 
 He thought the Soubah had not rewarded him accord- 
 ing to his merit, and the Soubah thought him too 
 craving. In all, but more efpecially in thofe eafteni 
 courts, jcaloufy is a weed that grows apace. Svco- 
 phants and hungry minions nourifh it with lies and 
 whifpers, and live under hs ihade. The Colonel en- 
 tered into frrict engagements with this man, to pro- 
 tect him as far as life and honour, provided he at- 
 tempted nothing agairift the Soubah's perfon or govern- 
 ment) and he promifed to ufe all the power and in- 
 tercft his pods gave him, to oblige the Soubah to the 
 faithful execution of the articles of the treaty. The
 
 loo L E T T E R III 
 
 clofe connection which appeared between us, widened 
 the breach between them, till mutual miftruft increas- 
 ed to that pitch, that each began to ftrengthen his 
 party. Roydullub endeavoured to gain the officers of 
 the army to him ; and the Soubah difmifled from his 
 court all thofe who had mewed too great an attach- 
 ment to a miniftcr he had made too powerful ; for 
 he was firft Treafurer, Pay-mafter of the troops, and 
 general of a large body of horfe and foot, and his 
 brother and relations occupied the moft beneficial em- 
 ploys at court. Thefe made him powerful - y but it was 
 the Englifh protection that made him formidable to 
 his mafter. But the feafon now approached for tak- 
 ing the field; and in October 1757, the Soubah fixed 
 his ftandard to the north, with great expectations of 
 rendering himfelf as powerful and arbitrary as his old 
 mafter Allyvherde, whofe example he endeavoured to 
 imitate in his government. He had projected a very 
 extenfive plan, to which he was by no means equal. 
 Firft, he propofed the deftruction of Roydullub and 
 his party. Secondly, to crufh the rebellion broke out 
 in Purhunea, where the lute Governor refufed to own 
 his authority. Thirdly, by force or ftratagem to get 
 the Nabob of Patna into his power, and give that 
 province to his brother. And having made himfelf 
 thus powerful, he finally propofed to awe the Englifh 
 into the relinqui/hing the remainder of the money due 
 to them, and the other articles ftipulated by the treaty. 
 This project opened with the death of Adirza Mun- 
 dee, Surajah Dowla's brother, a weak helplefs youth, 
 whom his fpies and parafites had infinuated to h ; .m 
 Roydullub intended to let up for Soubah. The fame 
 jealoufy induced him to fend the widow of Allyv- 
 herde into confinement at Dacca ; and a Ariel watch 
 \yas kept over an infant-fon left by Fazel Coo'ey 
 
 Caun,
 
 L E T T E R III icr 
 
 Caun, the Ton of Zainde Harriet, whom Nowagis 
 Mahumud Caun adopted, and who died feme years 
 before, leaving this only child, called Morada Dowla. 
 Thefe fteps fo alarmed Roydulluh, that, under pre- 
 tence of ficknefs, he abfentcd himfelf from court, and 
 declined taking the held with the Soubah. This was the 
 firft obftacle theSoubah met with ; and now he began to 
 apprehend, that, fhould he march from his capital, it was 
 poffible the Colonel, penetrating his view, might join with 
 Roydullub, and attack his fon, whom he left governor in his 
 r.bfence. He long hefitatcd what part to act with the 
 Colonel ; but at laft determined writing to him, to 
 defire him to march up with his troops, hoping either 
 to awe him by the parade of his numerous forces, 
 or win him by profitable offers to abandon Roydullub. 
 The Colonel, fenfible how eafy it wa; to check him 
 in his flight, let him go on in his airy ideas, con- 
 tenting himfelf with giving frequent hints, that he law 
 what he was aiming at ; but always allured him he 
 would find, in the end, his true intereft was to prc- 
 fervc the friendfhip of the Engliih, by a ftricr. ad- 
 herence to the treaty, for that it was them, and them 
 only, that were able to fupport him : But now that 
 he faw the Soul ' loufy was incurable, he de- 
 
 termined to check him effectually. Force alone could 
 not effect this ; for the debauchery introduced by the 
 prize-money of Placis, and the unwholfomnefs of the 
 climate, had reduced our fine army to about four 
 hundred and fiftj ns, and twelve hundred fea- 
 
 poys ; policy was therefore deemed a nc 
 
 With this final] force, and the name , wc 
 
 took the field in Nov by Roy- 
 
 dullub, whole political ficknefs vanifhed at I 
 proach of our army. At their firfl 
 Colonel reproached the Soubah with his 
 
 G 3 faithful
 
 J02 
 
 LETTER III 
 
 unfaithful conduct ; reminded him of the agreement 
 entered into at Jagutfeat's houfe, declaring himfelf 
 Rovdullub's protestor ; and demanded fecurity for the 
 payment of the remainder of the treaty-money, of 
 which even the firft half was not yet paid, although 
 the time was elapfed for the firft payment of the fe- 
 cond half. The Soubah now felt his chains, and 
 found, that the more he ftruggled, the clofer they fat. 
 After many vain attempts, by threats and careiles, to 
 ihake the Colonel's conftancy, he at laft, with a very 
 ill grace, made over to the company the revenues of 
 the three provinces of Burdwan, Nuddea, and Houghly, 
 for the remainder of the treaty-money ; and then the 
 two armies marched forward. At this place the Colonel 
 entertained the Soubah with a review of our little army, to 
 which he came in great ftate, in a car drawn by two ele- 
 phants, accompanied by two of his children and feveral of 
 his courtiers. The troops went through all their firings 
 and evolutions with great brifknefs and regularity; and 
 the Soubah feemed loft in amazement, at the quicknefs 
 and uniformity of their motions ; but nothing ftruck 
 him fo much as the quick firing of the field pieces, 
 which, he faid, exceeded every thing he could pof- 
 fibly have imagined ; and he was altogether {o well 
 pleafed with his entertainment, that he ordered ten 
 thoufand rupees to be distributed among them, for 
 which the foldiers returned him their thanks, by three 
 Englifh huzzas, This review had a very good effect, 
 "by pointing out to the Soubah, how irrefiftable fuch 
 a clofe compact body of infantry, where every man is 
 lure of being aflifted by his neighbour, is to the loofe 
 irregular attacks of a confufed multitude, where no 
 man has any reliance, but on the ftrength of his arm. 
 
 I heard the Soubah difcourfing of this review amongft 
 his courtiers ; and 3 after exprefftng his admiration, faid, 
 
 »« Thcfe
 
 LETTER III 103 
 
 " Thefc people are not to be fought with at a diftance; 
 " but if we were to rufli on them with our fab res, 
 " we fhould bear them down ; " but he did not 
 difcern, that they have no principle powerful enough 
 to unite them together for fuch an impetuous attack. 
 Military difcipline is fo contradictory to the genius 
 and conftitution of the people, that neither example 
 nor experience can ever make them capable of it •> 
 and the common apprehcnfion of our teaching the In- 
 dians to beat us, is without the lead foundation. It 
 is not that they want natural courage, but they have 
 no motive to fpur them on to danger, except the cx~ 
 ample of their leader, who is always mounted on an 
 elephant, equally confpicuous to his own n our 
 
 field pieces, and his death is lure to be followed 
 the flight of his Colonel Clii e has bid 
 
 made ufe of this principle to gn a tage, in dif- 
 
 ciplining our feapoys, by forming them into battalions, 
 under the command of the befr. of our officers j fincc 
 which they have, on fevera] occafions, proved little 
 inferior to Europeans. On the approach of our unit- 
 ed forces, the rebels of Purhunea difperfed, and the 
 
 :iah made his brother-in-law, Coflim Hof^irj Caun, 
 Nabob of that province, and then marched towards 
 Patna, hoping by force or ftratagem to get Ramnaran 
 into his power, and make his brother Nabob of that 
 province j but neither fcheme fucceeded. Ramnar; 1 
 had taken the field with a very confid iy, and 
 
 could not be prev iled on to truft himfelf in the S 
 bah's power, till he was allured of the C pro- 
 
 tection. The Soubah was very averfe to this, but 
 foon found, that Roydullub had won over the greatcfl: 
 part of his 1 fl . , e more likel I 1 1 . ufe 
 
 nnaran's caufe than his own. Fie at laft con fen t- 
 cd to the Colonel's mediation, which h< -ranted, 
 
 G 4. from
 
 104 LETTER III 
 
 from the motive that it would be a conftant check 
 on the Soubah, to have the Nabob of Patna devoted 
 to us. 
 
 He therefore, at the Soubah's requeft, wrote Ram- 
 naran, that he might come with fafety. The Co- 
 lonel's reputation for the inviolable obfervance of his 
 word, was fuch, that Ramnaran immediately left his 
 army, and came with a few followers to the Englifh 
 camp. He then went, accompanied by Mr. Watts, 
 to pay his fubmiflion to the Soubah, who received 
 him with a conftrained gracioufnefs, and his army joined 
 the reft in their route to Patna. 
 
 The Soubah, who burnt with defire to free himfelf 
 from our yoke, now formed a project, from which 
 he hoped fome relief. He ordered Coja Haddee, a 
 general who commanded fixteen thoufand men, to make 
 a forced march, and enter the city before our army, 
 which had always been the van of the whole. This 
 officer was much fufpe&ed of an attachment to Roy- 
 dull ub, and therefore the Soubah aimed at embroiling 
 him in a fkirmiih with us, indifferent who had the 
 advantage, where he wanted to be rid of both. He 
 accordingly gave him orders, that when he entered the 
 city, he fhould fhut the gates, and permit no troops 
 to enter the city without farther orders. Coja Had- 
 dee not perceiving the fnare, pafTed our army in pro- 
 per order for a&ion. When .he Colonel came near 
 the city, he fent word to Coja Haddee, that the Sou- 
 bah had laid this fnare to deftroy him, and advifed 
 him not to oppofe him, as he was determined to 
 enter. Coja Haddee immediately retired, and fent the 
 Soubah a meffage that he prefumed his orders could 
 not regard his friend Sabut Jung *, whom he had let 
 
 * The title conferred on Colonel Clive by the court of Dehli. It means 
 the proved warri-.r, 
 
 pa fs,
 
 LETTER III 105 
 
 pafs. The Colonel marched through the city, and 
 encamped on the oppofite fide. The Soubah followed 
 with fallen flownefs, mortified at his disappointment, 
 and enraged to fee the Colonel carrying away the 
 glory of the campaign, while himfelf appeared only ax 
 his general. And now enfued a fcene of plots and 
 conlpiracics, wherein the Several actors diSplaycd the 
 arts of treachery and diffimulation with all the refined 
 fubtlety of eaftern politicians. 
 
 I have already mentioned, the Soubah's views this 
 campaign were, to break the power of the minifter ; 
 make his brother Nabob of Patna ; oblige the Rajahs 
 of that rebellious province to fubmit to him ; and, 
 finally, to awe the Englifh into the relinquishing of 
 the treaty-money. Let us now fee how the different 
 parties endeavoured to counteract him. 
 
 Ramnaran and Roydullub foon found they were 
 tending to the fame center, which was the destruc- 
 tion of a mafter they thought they could never truft. 
 Coja Haddee, Cofhm Ally Caun, and moft oS the ge- 
 neral officers, were of their partv, and entered into a 
 written agreement to fupport each other. They fre- 
 quently founded Colonel Clive, and endeavoured, by 
 every artifice and Stratagem, to fet him at open variance 
 with the Soubah ; while their party at court acted the 
 fame part with the Soubah, by continually insinuat- 
 ing to him, that the Colonel was won over by Roy- 
 dullub and Ramnaran, and would certainly attempt his 
 lif,-. While the Soubah's mind was thus agitated by 
 fufpicions oS all parties, an accident happened, that 
 almoft brought: every body to lay afide the maflc, and 
 act in tlu-ir red ch Colonel Clive kept his 
 
 head-quarters at the Englifll S.i. lory, the army h 
 encamped to the weStwaru of Patna j the Nabob's a 
 was to the eafb I a v. .it number of his ti 
 
 were
 
 io6 LETTER III 
 
 were in the city, as were alfo Ramnaran's ; and with 
 the Colonel was a guard of two hundred feapoys. 
 Near the factory was quartered a body of Ramnaran's 
 horfe, and both ufed the fame market. A difpute 
 arofe between them, which from words came to blows, 
 'Mid fome of the Colonel's feapoys were wounded. They 
 came to complain, and the Colonel permitted them to 
 go and take their own revenge. They immediately 
 fallied out, and attacked the horfemen, whom they 
 foon routed, and one or two of them were killed. 
 The alarm fpread inftantly throughout the city ; all 
 parties were in arms ; fpics were running backwards 
 and forwards over the city j every one making a dif- 
 ferent report, according to the fears or wifhes of their 
 mafler. The Soubah, who had his head-quarters in a palace 
 on the eaftcrn fide of the city, immediately fufpected Colo- 
 nel Clive, Ramnaran and Roydullub, were forming a de- 
 fign to attack him. Full of this thought, he inftantly put 
 his women, papers, and jewels, on elephants, fent a party 
 to fecure his retreat, and put all his troops under arms, 
 Roydullub and Ramnaran were alfo under arms, and 
 it was a miracle the city was not fired and plundered. 
 But as the rife of this diforder was entirely acciden- 
 tal, fo nobody was prepared to take any advantage of 
 it ; and, by the intercourfe of mefTengers, the tumult 
 fubfided, and every one flieltered himfelf under the 
 cloak of diffimulation ; firft reflecting, whether they had 
 done any thing in the firft heat of the alarm that 
 might have betrayed their fentiments ? The next morn- 
 ing all the grandees vifited Colonel Clive ; and the 
 commander of the horfe, whofe people had begun the 
 ikirmifh with the Englifh feapoys, was ordered out of 
 the city. The Soubah lived in continual apprehen- 
 iions, but the Colonel was too fteady to be led aftray 
 fry any of them : His honour, and the public intereit, 
 
 ftron^.y
 
 L E T T E R III 107 
 
 frrongly attached him to the Soubah ; though at the 
 fame time, it was our intercft to reduce his power to 
 proper limits, which nothing could more effectually 
 reftrain, than fupporting Ramnaran in the Nabobfhip 
 of Patna, and RoyJullub in the miniftry ; and juft lb 
 far he entered into their views. The Rajahs refuted 
 to pay their fubmimons but through the mediation of 
 the Colonel, which the Soubah was too haughty to 
 accept ; and the clofe connection between Ramnaran 
 and Roydullub, both fupported by us, prevented the 
 reft. Thus the Soubah, equally mirhufting, and mif- 
 trufted of all, had the mortification to fee all his pro- 
 jects vanifh. The only fatisfaiStion he had, was the 
 receiving his confirmation from Dehli, on the fame 
 terms as Allyvherde Caun ; which were, the payment 
 of fifty two lacks per annum, with the ufual prefepts 
 of elephants, cloth, etc. The Colonel at the fame time 
 received the dignity of an Omrah of the empire, and 
 the title of Zubdut Ulmulk Nuflecra Dowla, Sahbut 
 Jung Bahader *, though the charters for holding it 
 did not arrive till fome time after. 
 
 When the Soubah found that all his endeavours 
 to win the Colonel were in vain, he endeavoured to 
 outftay him, hoping his preferice would be required 
 in Calcutta, and that he would be obliged to aban-i 
 don his friends to him : But even that proving in- 
 effectual, he, at laft, after a ftay of four months, at 
 an immenfe expence, was obliged to confirm Ramna- 
 ran in the Nabobfhip of Patna, Roydullub in the mini- 
 ilry, and to return to his capital, totally difappuinted 
 in all his views ; whillt the Colonel not only got the 
 proyinc< to the company for the remain* 
 
 der of the treaty, but obtained aifo the farm of I 
 
 * The ptrft&'w f-.vod tf illiry, tic ft
 
 ioS LETTER III 
 
 petrc, which was before farmed out to one of the na- 
 tives, on condition of their paying the Soubah forty 
 thoufand rupees per annum, and filled the province 
 with admiration of his wife conduct, and ftcady ad- 
 herence to all whofe intereft he efpoufed, which, we 
 ihall hereafter fee, was of figrjal fervice to him. The 
 Colonel arrived at Muxadavad the ftrff. of June, where 
 he was met by Major Forde, whom the gentlemen of 
 Calcutta had perfuaded to enter into the company's 
 fen' ice, and to him he left the command of the army, 
 and proceeded himfelf to Calcutta, where he was re- 
 ceived with every demonftration of the finccreff joy. 
 
 I have been fo taken up with the political tranf- 
 a£tkms, that I have omitted to mention, in its pro- 
 per place, the death of Mr. Watfon, who died in 
 Auguft, much lamented by the fleet and fettlement, 
 and whofe memory will be ever revered for his ge- 
 nerous and difmterefted conduct. The public lofs was 
 indeed in a great meafure alleviated, by the command 
 devolving on fo brave and capable an ofHcer as Mr. 
 Pocock, who left the river with the fquadron in 
 February. 
 
 Hitherto we had met with a continued feries of 
 fuccefs, which now feemed for a while fufpended, by 
 the arrival of the French fleet on the coaft of Coro- 
 mandel, commanded by Monf. d'Ache, with three 
 thoufand Europeans on board, under the command of 
 Lieutenant General Lally and many officers of the firft 
 ciftinciion in France j a force, which feemed to threaten 
 the deftruclion of all our fettlements in India. In this 
 danger, our fole reliance was on the vigilance and 
 bravery of our fleet ; and happily we were not deceiv-* 
 ed. Mr. Pocock, though much inferior in force, 
 fought the firft opportunity to engage them, while 
 yet very few of their men were landed. The en- 
 gagement
 
 LETTER 111 M4 
 
 gagement was very bloody to the French, and, but 
 for fome untoward circumfhinces, would have ended 
 in the ruin of their fleet and army; but night fa- 
 voured their efcape, and they got fafe into Pondi- 
 chcrry, with the lofs of only pne 64 gun fliip, and 
 upwards of five hundred men killed and wounded, 
 as appeared by an intercepted letter from the French 
 Secretary. 
 
 This did not prevent the lofs of Fort St. David's ; 
 and we had now little hope of receiving fuccours 
 from England. The Directors, by the fame letters that 
 advifed us of this force failing from France, gave their 
 Governors abroad to understand, that they left them 
 to the protection of Providence ; for that the break- 
 ing out of the war with France rendered it imprac- 
 ticable to fend out any confulerable forces this year. 
 At this crifis, when military virtue and unanimity were 
 more immediately neceflary, the Directors, divided by 
 violent contefvs among themfelves, which certainh did 
 them no honour, were fo unfortunate in their judg- 
 ments as to appoint four governors of Bengal, to go- 
 vern each four months, and left Colonel Clive entirely 
 out of the lift. The abfurdity of fuch a fyftem was 
 too apparent to take place. The gentlemen named to 
 this temporary honour, with great diiintereftcdnefs de- 
 clined it, and joined with the whole fettlcmcnt in re- 
 queuing Colonel Clive to take the government on him- 
 felf. The Colonel, thus flighted, might have returned 
 to his native country, and there enjoyed his immenfe 
 and honourably acquired fortune - 3 but, his patriotic 
 fpirit, and regard for the public welfare, prevailed over 
 private refentment, and on the twenty-third of June 
 1^58, the ami. of the victory of Placis, he en- 
 
 tered upon the government, to the great joy of every 
 one. 
 
 The
 
 U6 LETTER III 
 
 The arrival of the French fquadron, and the lofs of 
 Fort St. David's, had an inftant effect on our influence 
 in the country. The Colonel confidcring, that if the 
 Soubah could be prevailed on to pay him a vifit in 
 Calcutta, it would deceive our enemies into a firm 
 perfuafion, that there fubfiftcd a perfect, amity between 
 us, fent Mr. Watts to him with the invitation, which 
 he readily accepted. I muft here do the Soubah the 
 juftice to fay, that, however jealous of the Engiifh 
 power, he has ever fhewn a fincere regard for the 
 Colonel. 
 
 This outward appearance of harmony was equally 
 necefTary to the Soubah, as it v/as our alliance alone 
 which made him formidable to his neighbours ; but, 
 cbferving how much we courted his friendfhip, he 
 thought he might now execute his defigns againft 
 Roydullub. He left the city under charge of his fon, 
 firii: difmifling his minifter from all his employments ; 
 and, to all appearance, left an order with his fon to put 
 him to death ; for no fooner was his father out of his 
 fight, than he prepared to attack him: But, as our re- 
 putation and influence in the country entirely depended 
 on our protecting him in his life and honour, Mr. 
 Scrafton, then refident at the Nabob's court, marched a 
 company of men to his affiftance, and took him under 
 his protection. The Soubah, who was very little ad- 
 vanced on his way, was alarmed at this, and feemed de- 
 termined to return j but Mr. Watts had addrefs enough, 
 not only to perfuade him to continue his journev, but 
 to let Roydullub come down to Calcutta: The Soubah 
 was glad he had carried his point (o far as to have dif- 
 mifTed him from his poft, without our refenting it ; and 
 the Colonel was pleafed to have kept his word, which 
 extended no further than the protection of his life and 
 honour. The Soubah was moil magnificently entertain- 
 
 ed,
 
 LETTER III irr 
 
 cd, had very great presents made him, returned well la- 
 tisfied to his capital, and left Roydulrub in Calcutta. 
 This vifit had the defired effeft: The French, 
 well as the Soubah's enemies, conjectured, if they 
 tempted any thing againft Bengal, they fliould ' 
 our united forces againft them. The French were i 
 fo powerful on the coaft of Coromandel, having at leaft 
 four thoufand Europeans and fix thoufand teapoys, 
 that wc be^an to fear for Madrafs. — I before mention- 
 ed, that the French had an army in the Decan, from 
 which country they drew a confidcrable revenue. The 
 Colonel, apprehcnfne they might add that army to their 
 other forces, boldly rcfolved, againft the unanimous opi- 
 nion of his council, to fend a great part of our force 
 into that country, with a view to make a diverfton that 
 might call off part of the French force from the coaft 
 of Coromandel. For that purpofe Major Forde em- 
 barked with four hundred and twenty Europeans, and 
 one thoufand four hundred Seapoys, with a fuitable 
 train of artillery, and amply provided with ftores cf 
 all kinds, and landed at Viza^apatam, the Rajah of 
 that country having defircd our affillance againft the 
 French. 
 
 The departure of fo great a part of our force made 
 the Soubah more haughty in his conduct. He had 
 latclv cut off two of his general offcers, Co]a Hadjce 
 and CofTim Ally Caun, whom I have before mentioned 
 to be of Roydullub's party. The former he ordered out 
 of the country, and in his paffage through the ; 
 of Sicklagully, ho ordered the mountaineers and go- 
 vernor of Rajamall to fall on him ; the other his foil 
 affiflinated at an entertainment. And now he fent a 
 forged letter, to prove, that Roydullub was concerned 
 with them in a cmfpiracy to murder him ; but 
 forgery was evidently proved, and the Colonel p 
 
 1
 
 «2 LETTER III 
 
 vered in protecting him. The Soubah feemed in- 
 clined to refent this protection, and hinted, that he 
 expected the mortgaged provinces fhould be rcftored to 
 him - y but the news of Colonel Forde's fuccefs checked 
 him for the prefent. That brave and experienced officer, 
 with his fmall army, defeated the French army com- 
 manded by the Marquis de Conflans, confiding of five 
 hundred Europeans and fix thoufand difciplined feapoys ; 
 and continued his purfuit of them towards Mafulipatam, 
 the French capital of Golconda. 
 
 But now a new fcene opened. The Mogul's fon had 
 efcaped from the hands of the Vizir, who kept the 
 Emperor himfelf and all his family as a kind of ftate 
 prifoners, and appeared in arms on the frontiers of the 
 province of Bahar. The Soubah had lately given fuch 
 proofs of his inclination to avoid all farther connections 
 with us, that he apprehended the Colonel would not 
 be very ready to aflift him; and therefore declined, 
 as long as poffible, acquainting him with the threat- 
 ened invahon : but, like a flothful man, who is not 
 fenfible of his weaknefs till occafion requires him to 
 put his ftrength to the trial, now that the exigency 
 of his affairs demanded he mould exert himfelf, he 
 found how little able he was to cope with an enemy. 
 The immenfe forces he had kept up to no manner 
 of purpofe, having eighty thoufand men at leaft in his 
 pay, had quite exhaufted his treafury, and vaft arrears 
 were ftill due to them : Far from airifting him, they 
 even threatened his life, if he did not immediately com- 
 ply with their demands : All he could do was to fa- 
 tisfy a part of them, who took the field under his 
 fon's command, and might be about four thoufand 
 horfe and as many foot. In the mean time the Prince, 
 or Shahzada, had crofTed the Carumnafla, which is the 
 boundary of Bahar, where he was joined by the Sou- 
 bah
 
 LETTER III 113 
 
 bah of Oude's brother and fome of the Boujepore Ra- 
 jahs, and was on full march towards Patna at the head 
 of forty thoufand men, with Monf. Laws and his 
 little party of a hundred French and two hundred Sea- 
 poys. Ramnaran thought this was the opportunity for 
 him to throw off his obedience to Meer Jaffier, and 
 fecmed determined to declare for the Shazahda. Thus 
 every thing looked as if the Soubah would lofe his life 
 and government, without a fword being drawn m his 
 behalf. In this diflrefs he at laft applied to Colonel 
 Clive, now confirmed governor by the company's ap- 
 pointment. 
 
 The company's affairs were now in almofl as cri- 
 tical a fituation as the Soubah's. The fiege of Madrafs 
 was actually begun, and we had fent thither part of 
 the forces that came out in this year's fhipping; fo 
 that our whole force was but three hundred infantrv, 
 one hundred train, and two thoufand five hundred fea- 
 poys, moft of whom had never (ccn an action. Ne- 
 verthelefs, the Colonel hefitated not a moment, but 
 immediately began his march to Muxadavad, where 
 he arrived on the twentieth of March. He reproached 
 the Soubah feverely for his weak, unitcady con- 
 duct, particularly for the manner in which he had de- 
 ftroyed his two general officers, which had quite alien- 
 ated the affections of his army from him, and for his 
 late behaviour to the Englifh ; but allured him, he 
 might rely on his utmolt endeavours to extricate him 
 from the difficulties he was involved in, and that him- 
 felf and all his army would fight for him to the laft 
 man. The Colonel immediately continued his march, 
 and the Soubah promifed to follow in a few days. All 
 parties had their eyes fixed on the Colonel. The Shah- 
 zada invited him preJfingly to join him, offering him 
 
 U a (hare
 
 ti% LETTER III 
 
 a fhare in the government, and any advantages htf 
 pleafed to afk on behalf of the company ; and, flat- 
 tering himfelf the Colonel might be brought over to 
 him, he would not bring Law's party with him, but 
 left them at Benares, left it fhould difguft the Colo- 
 nel. The Nabob of Patna, not hearing of the Colo- 
 nel's march, had entered into a treaty with the Shah- 
 zada, by which he promifed to declare for him, on 
 condition, that the Shahzada confirmed him in his 
 Nabobfhip, and that his army mould not enter the 
 city : This was agreed to, and Ramnaran came out 
 of the city, paid his fubmiflion to the Shahzada, and 
 made him a prefent of a confiderable fum of money. 
 The Shahzada's army pafTed the city, and encamped 
 towards Bengal ; and a day or two after, he fent to 
 Ramnaran for fome more money and the city can- 
 non. The meffengers affected the haughty airs of con- 
 querors, to which Ramnaran was not inclined to fub- 
 mit, as he had now heard of the Colonel's march, 
 and indeed had received a letter from him to this 
 purport, " That as it was by his mediation he had 
 <c been confirmed in his government, he looked on 
 * e himfelf as refponfible to the Soubah for his fidelity; 
 *' that if he offered to fwerve from his duty, he 
 <c fhould feel his utmoft refentment ; that he was 
 " marching towards him with all expedition, and flat- 
 <c tered himfelf, that the fame Providence which had 
 " bleffed him with victory on fo many occafions, 
 * c would not now forfake him." Intimidated by this 
 letter, and full of the hopes of a fpeedy relief, he turn- 
 ed the Prince's meffengers out of the city, and fhut 
 the gates agaihft him. The Shahzada, furprifed and 
 enraged at this fudden change, immediately began the 
 liege, The Colonel's approach made all parties act 
 
 with
 
 LETTER III 115 
 
 with vigour. The Prince made feveral afTaults, and 
 was very near carrying the- place, when the appearance 
 of our army, which had marched four hundred miles 
 in three and twenty days, obliged him to raife the 
 fiege ; on which his army, which had been brought 
 together only by the hopes of plunder, difperfed, leav- 
 ing him only the Soubah of Oude's brother, and a 
 few horfe, who made the beft of their way out of 
 the province. Thus was the Soubah once more in- 
 debted to us for his life and government, both which 
 muff, have inevitably fallen, but for this vigorous ef- 
 fort ; for fo little able was he to fupport himfelf, that, 
 far from joining us, his troops (unrounded him, and 
 refufed to march, till they had all their arrears, and 
 two months pay advanced them. And even the few 
 forces that marched with his fen, made a dead halt 
 when we drew near the enemy, and would not ad- 
 vance a flcp without their arrears, fo that had the 
 enemy flood, we mud have borne the whole brunt of 
 the action with our little army ; but the name of 
 clive firuck fuch a terror into them, that they would 
 not abide his coming, though they were now jo': 
 by the French (whom the Shahzada had fent for vi 
 he defpaired of winning the Colonel over to him) and 
 mufi have taken the place, had they continued another 
 day before it, for though Ivlonf. Laws's party w: 
 trifling, it was fufticient to have carried one of the city 
 towers, at which the vh< le army might have >. 
 But fuch was the reputation of our arms, that thoi h 
 they had repeated and certain - nee of ti fmall 
 
 number of our forces, th lit it folly to 
 
 contend with us. Nor is this aftoniihing to thofe who 
 know what ftrong fal 
 
 look on fighting againft a fortunate man, as cc. 
 1j 2
 
 ■fi6 LETTER III 
 
 with god himself. When you tell them of a 
 fuccefsful commander, they never afcribe his fuccefles to 
 any human virtue, but lift up their eyes, and fay, 
 " A happy fate attends him ; " and when once a man 
 has gained the reputation of being fortunate, nothing 
 feems defperate in their eyes. 
 
 On the tenth of April, the Colonel entered Patna in 
 triumph, and received the thanks and congratulations of 
 all ranks of perfons there. But to Meer Jaffier the news 
 was as the gift of life to a condemned man : His troops 
 that had unrounded him, and feemed to rejoice inhisad- 
 verfity, were now as fervile as they had been infolent be- 
 fore ; but they foon felt his refentment, by the difmiffion 
 of the greateft part of them from his fervice, convinced 
 at laft that he might rely on the Engliih. During our 
 march, we had the pleafure to hear of Monf. Lally's 
 retreat from Madrafs, after a fiege of fixty-feven days. 
 Were it not foreign to rny fubjeci, I could, with plea- 
 fure, dwell on the gallant actions of Governor Piggot, 
 Colonels Laurence and Draper, Mcffieurs Brereton, 
 Monfon., Caillaud, Prefton and other gentlemen, both 
 cf the King's and Company's troops, who diftinguifned 
 themfelves in that brave defence. 
 
 This good news was foon followed by that of the 
 aftanimirig fuccefs of the expedition under Major Forde. 
 That intrepid officer, after ftruggling through,. many 
 difficulties, in a long march through an enemy's country, 
 and in want of money, at laft appeared before Mafuli- 
 im, with his little army, now reduced to three hun- 
 dred and fifty Europeans, and one thoufand two hundred 
 ■ vs. He found it a city fortified aftei the European 
 manner, furrpunded by a fait morafs, and defended by 
 Con flans, with four hundred fifty regu- 
 { itizens and other Europeans, and fix 
 
 thoufand
 
 LETTER III u 7 
 
 thoufand difciplincd fcapoys. At the fame time, the Soubah 
 of the Decan was marching to the relief of it, at the head 
 of an immenfe army of his own, and a party of two 
 hundred Frenchmen ; and before he had made any pro- 
 grefs in the fiege, the Soubah was advanced fo near, 
 that Major Forde, finding he could not retreat without 
 rilking his whole army, defperately refolved to afiault 
 the place, though there was no way of approaching 
 it, but through a morals waift-deep. Under all thefe 
 di fad vantages he attempted it, and was fuccekful, 
 though with the lofs of a fourth part of his little army. 
 The Marquis and five hundred and twenty two French- 
 men were taken prifoners - y and the Soubah of the Decan, 
 not caring to contend with a conqueror, returned. To 
 add more to the Major's fuccefies, two days after the 
 place was taken, there appeared two French fliipa in 
 the road, with four hundred and fifty men on board, for 
 the relief of the place, who feeing Englifh colours 
 flying, thought fit to fail away ; and the fcafon not 
 permitting their return to Pondicherry, they landed at 
 Ganjam, where they were furrounded by the country 
 Rajahs, who fo reduced them by famine and lkirmiming, 
 that very few cfcaped to Pondicherry, fo that this ex- 
 pedition all together coft the French a thoufand Euro- 
 peans. All our affairs being fo happily circumftanced, 
 Colonel Clive, at the Soubah's requeft, marched vopunifh 
 thole Rajahs, w^o had joined theShahzada, Thefe Ra- 
 jahs arc; ■ le natun if their country, that 
 they had never beentri I, and had always 
 been formidable to the Nabobs V\ r hen we drew 
 their country, v. the re- 
 putation of o.ir arms i their fubmiiEon, 
 and were obliged to pay tnc Soubah all the revenues due 
 from them for feyeraj vears pail. The third, \:l\o had 
 
 been
 
 n8 LETTER III 
 
 been more guilty, kept aloof, and we were obliged to fol- 
 low him amidft his rocks and mountains, expofed to the 
 moft terrible heats that ever Europeans underwent ; but he 
 was preffed fo dole, that at laft, he was obliged to fub- 
 mit under very fevere terms. 
 
 The unfortunate Shahzada, whofe amiable character de- 
 fended a better fate, foon perceived the Colonel was the only 
 cbftacle to his fuccefs ; and, having found he was not to be 
 allured by the flattering profperity that for fome time at- 
 tended him, endeavoured now to make an imprelnonon him 
 by his misfortunes. He reprefented to the Colonel, in a 
 very pathetic letter, the peculiar wretchednefs of his fate ; 
 "That, though born to a crown, the perfecution of the 
 " Vizir had left him not a fpot to reft on ; that he had no 
 " intentions again ft Meer JafHer's life or government ; that 
 " all he aimed at, was an army to make head againft the 
 " Vizir ; and, that if it pleafed God to favour his caufe, 
 *■' the Colonel might command any advantages for the com- 
 " pany or himfelf." This the Colonel communicated to 
 the Soubah's fon and Ramnaran, who both agreed it would 
 be dangerous to have a prince of the blood in any of the 
 provinces ; that he would prove a conftant fource of plots 
 and confpiracies againft the Soubah j would draw on him 
 the refentment of the Vizir, and finally involve the coun- 
 try in continual troubles. The Colonel therefore lent back 
 the meftenger with a relpeclful letter and a prefent of five 
 hundred gold mohurs. * His behaviour fo charmed 
 the prince, that he fent him word, he would force 
 himfelf under his protection and dare him to deliver 
 him up ; but the Colonel was neceflitated to anfwer, that 
 he acted under the Soubah's orders, and would therefore 
 by no means advife him to put himfelf in his power. The 
 unhappy Shahzada was obliged to feekfome other refuge; 
 
 * About £. iooo fterling. 
 
 and
 
 LETTER III n 9 
 
 and the Colonel, to intimidate the neighbouring powers 
 from everdifturbing thcSoubah again, thought ht tofhcw 
 his rcfentment to Sujah Dowla f, by writing to him, 
 " That, as he could not but know, the inviolable friend- 
 <( mip fubfifting between him and Meer Jafficr, he wonder- 
 " ed he mould pre fume to fend forces into his country ; 
 *' that if he ftill perfifted in fentiments of enmity, he fhould 
 " own it frankly, and he would march up again after the 
 " rains, and appeal to the decifion of the fword." This 
 letter, though addrefTcd to as powerful and haughty a 
 prince as any in the eaft, had its full effect, and produced 
 a very fubmiflive anfwer. 
 
 In July, after leaving a detachment of a hundred Euro- 
 peans, and a thoufand feanoys, to awe the late fubmitted 
 Rajahs, the Colonel returned to Muxadavad, where he 
 was received with the moft unfeigned joy by the Soubah, 
 and gazed at with awful refpedt, by all his people. 
 The Soubah acknowledged, he once more owed his life 
 and government to him. And as a token of his gratitude 
 and cfteem, conferred on him the Lordfhip of the lands 
 held by the Company, who are only perpetual renters, 
 by which the Company, as hereditary landholders, pay 
 him the revenues due to the Soubah, amounting to about 
 thirty thoufand pounds fterling per annum, which re- 
 venues they had for two years before, paid to the Soubah 
 himfelf, being the time they had been put into polieffion 
 of thofe lands. This was given him as a revenue to 
 fupport the dignity of an Omrah of the Empire, for 
 which he is fuppofed to maintain fix thoufand men, and, 
 in the country language, is called a Jaghirc, a tenure not 
 
 f SUjah Dow la, is Soubah of the next provinces to the north eift, called 
 the Soubahfhip of Oude. He is fon of the late Vizir Monlur All Cai. 
 mofc formidable Soubah of India, with rdpeft to the goodjiels I
 
 120 L E T T E R ITT 
 
 unlike Knight's fervice, by which lands were held fofj 
 merly in England. 
 
 By this fuccefsful campaign, tranquillity feemed to be 
 perfectly reftored, the Soubah more firmly feated in his 
 government, and the friendfhip between him and the 
 Englifh cemented. 
 
 Before I clofe the fcene of thofe glorious fuccefTes, let 
 me take a view of the figure the Englifh made at this 
 period. No longer confidered as mere merchants, they 
 were now thought the umpires of Indoftan. So great 
 was the reputation of our arms, that the Vifir himfelf 
 preffed the Colonel, by his agents, to march up to Dehli ; 
 and the Emperor fent him an elephant, a veft of honour, 
 and a tiara, which is the ufual prefent to perfons of the 
 higheft. rank. We were not only efteemed for our mili- 
 tary atchievements, but alfo for the fteady and inviolable 
 attachment we had mown to the Soubah and all thofe 
 whofe caufe we had efpoufed, which made them fet the 
 higheft value on our friendfhip. Wherever the Colonel 
 went, he eftablifhed fuch a character for bravery, ftea- 
 dinefs and moderation, as made him univerfally refpected 
 and beloved. But thefe are merely honorary advantages. 
 Thofe of a more lafting nature, are apparent in the pre- 
 fent profperous ftate of the Company's affairs. The 
 Company, before this time, has received the whole of 
 that immenfe fum of one million two hundred and 
 fifty thoufand pounds fterling, ftipulated by the treaty; 
 is in pofTeflion of a tradl of land, which yields a clear 
 revenue of a hundred thoufand pounds fterling per annum, 
 and will, probably, in a few years be raifed to twice 
 that fum; enjoys a flourifhing trade; fees their whole 
 fettlement changed from a ftate of miferable poverty, 
 to a fcene of magnificence; and a great progrefs made 
 in the ftructure of a fortification, which, when completed, 
 
 will 3
 
 letter ill 
 
 will, with prudent management, fecure thofe advantages 
 down to the lateft pofterity. 
 
 On the other hand, the French arc driven entirely out 
 of thofe provinces ; their fine fettlemcnt of ChandernaTorc 
 is laid level with the earth; the inhabitants are difperfed 5 
 and that once flourifhing place is fo totally ruined, that 
 fifty years peace would hardly recover it, fliould the Sou- 
 bah ever permit them to refettle it. And by the happy 
 fuccefs of Colonel Forde's expedition, they have not now 
 a foot of land even in thofe provinces, which, till then, 
 yielded them a revenue of four hundred thoufand pounds 
 ilerling, out of which they maintained a groat force, 
 and remitted yearly a large fum to Pondicherry. Thefe 
 circumftances will, it is apprehended, greatly conduce 
 to the fall of that place, which is all that is wanting to 
 crown our fuccefs and ruin the French Eaft India Com- 
 pany, it is probable, for ever. 
 
 If this account, which has been the amufement of my 
 leifure hours in a long India voyage, mould meet vour 
 approbation, I mall think my trouble amply rewarded -, 
 and if it will be of any fervice, I fhall readily give you 
 my fentiments on the meafuxes which are pr per to be 
 taken at this juncture, for fettling the Eaft India affairs on 
 a Lifting foundation. 
 
 I am, etc.
 
 9 08 2 6
 
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