Three Frenchmen in Bengal / The Commercial Ruin of the French Settlements in 1757

enamed it after himself, lay a group of European Factories in the village or suburb of Cossimbazar.[65] Of these, one only, the English, was fortified; the others, i.e. the F

ul Mr. William Watts; the Dutch factory was under M. Vernet,[66] and the French und

istinguished themselves, both rose to the rank of colonel, one by his services to the French East India Company, and one by the usual promotion of an officer in the King's army. The only proof that the elder was t

been published, but which is of great interest to the student of Indian history. For us it has the added charm of containing a picture of ourselves painted by one who, though a fo

an admirer of Aliver

ung man of twenty-fou

earance. Before th

of Siraj-ud-daula w

own. In fact, he had

rts of debauchery,

women are accusto

s. Siraj-ud-daula,

hem were beautiful,

boats to carry th

when the river ove

pset or sunk in ord

g the terrified con

en, women, and chil

swim, were sure

get rid of some gr

appeared in the bus

is houses or gardens

ear the cries of th

to be

sacted their business mainly through wakils, or native agents, who, of course, had the advantage of knowing the language and, what was of much greater importance, understood all those indirect ways in which in Eastern countries one's own business is forwarded and that of one's rivals thwarted. Then, as now, the difficulty of dealing with native a

h went eve

ions they refused

ossimbazar and the

is excessively blust

eak the furniture, o

y. But Siraj-ud-da

egarded as an insul

ish fort at Cossimb

'Behold the Englis

ish to receive me i

long before the de

ula was hostile

ench it was

d, he was very we

nterest to humour

times more politene

ai Durlabh Ram and

important affairs

rom time to time, a

The previous year

im, owing to the bu

he Danes in Bengal.

was enabled to conc

ed him to retain al

d no bad place in the

a profligate, bu

ho could be useful

d man. Nawajis Mu

cious as Siraj-ud-d

idol of t

of being opposed to it. So far from this, he is strongly suspected of having entered into correspondence with the widow of Nawajis Khan, who had adopted Siraj-ud-daula's younger brother[72] and was supporting his candidature for the throne, and also with Saukat Jang, Nawab of Purneah and cousin of Sir

ions in Europe, they might find themselves at war with each other in India, began to repair their old walls or to erect new ones. This was exactly what Siraj-ud-daula wanted. His first care on his accession had been to make himself master of his grandfather's and uncle's treasures. To these he had added those of such of his grandfather's servants as he could readily lay hands on. Other wealthy nobles and officers had fled to the English, or were suspected of having secretly sent their treasures to Calcutta. It was also supposed that the European Settlements, and especially

w up an Arzi, or P

Council in Chande

se two papers were se

tisfied with th

did not forbid our

ing new ones. Besi

handernagore, bein

presents made them,

so that our busine

d if not insolent in tone,[73] reached the Nawab at the very moment w

at the Nawab of P

he had received fro

eve, but this is how

ooner had the Nawa

m the English, th

g out his sword, s

Feringhees.[74] At t

ch of his army, an

mand the advance gu

ad used the genera

all Europeans, som

ho did not know ho

n me to be on my g

The alarm was gre

simbazar. I spent m

y; carrying wood, pr

soon knew what to e

nd the English fo

fficial letter from

and that he was as

pleased with

e of the Nawab's generals, and Siraj-ud-daula advanced on Calcutta. It was wi

e respect which he

him afraid of fai

had been represen

nded by three or f

trongest terms to en

ve him what assista

lcutta is yours,' h

give you that place

e services you wil

nglish are your ene

ither in Europe or

rpret your refusal o

take in what conce

ood as Salabat Jang

ou refuse my friends

soon see me fall

same treatment tha

favour.' He wishe

l the ships and oth

. After having t

tion towards us, I

t war with the Eng

romandel Coast was

ed amicably, and t

us no cause of offen

rs either from Europ

tance he asked for

n in the mind of a ma

ore he would hav

t or not, and that,

ught to be law to u

elessly. At the mom

one of his uncles

nd he sent me a lett

h he begged him to g

o myself this was s

Hole, he sent Holwell and three others before him to Murshidabad. Law, who had already sheltered Mrs. Watts and her family, and such of the

. Holwell express

as able to render

as much to deserv

ve liked

ined consent to M. Courtin's request for the r

eing informed that

English ladies at

dorn his har

his personal influence, for Siraj-ud-daula was by no me

wing on his back

made him politic.

ith the reply sen

and assured him th

greatest kindness.

n Calcutta was tak

fear. Scarcely had

hments to Chandern

mandants to pay c

eir flags taken a

rt, we were forced

ilst he, as he sai

ation which had off

rs to ransom to pay

saw the tyrant re

hinking of the punish

his crimes, and

as yet to have some

hem in peace at the first, or, after the capture of Calcutta, have permitted them to resettle there without farther disturbance. In short, the real necessity of making the European nations respect his authority, instead of guiding him in a settled course, merely provided a pretext for satisfying his g

s to prove the

s one of the riche

out mentioning his

at the Court of D

h in gold and silve

, which had been le

te of this he though

extraordinary exp

utions, and levied

er known himself w

that, in due prop

people as with him

lly were inexhaus

artly due to this.

have said his object

not even his rel

nsions and all the

e of Aliverdi Khan.

p his throne? Tho

hen they saw him

med as Nawab by a

orced to suppose th

at virtue which ba

effects. However, t

overnment except th

same time, passed

had shown some regar

ntil he was recogniz

He had even shown

quite opposed to

ke place for violence

se who had favoured

behave discreetly w

Nawab of Purneah, thought the opportunity favourable for reviving his claims, and, earl

d for a change,

d take place. In f

ity to procure it.

anquillity for Bengal

good-which even

hemselves in-we c

ch have since happe

eans and a few sep

e could have joine

d-daula we should

b-not, indeed, one

ut trifles, one to th

and the chief Moors

d have kept his t

stablished peaceably

e compensation, a

er they liked it or n

at least to the same

the English would

and from sending thi

ibuted so much

st. All this depe

e succession of eve

t has been favourab

quiet, and the ras

hilst it delivered

ad to fear in the c

ngal that the chan

cted only by

Ramnarain,[80] Naib of Patna, arrived to support Siraj-ud-daula. Whilst the malcontents were hesit

, freed by this

ed, it is true, but

name. In a country

wer over the m

people said, predo

himself persuaded o

protected him, he

those passions whi

ery imaginable f

d what we had to

ar. Demand followed

he part of the native

heir behaviour on t

not sufficiently sh

We could not go out

ed to annoyance of

r come. The English, therefore, tried to bring about a revolution favourable to themselves at Murshidabad, and began to look for persons who m

were the bankers

correspondence had

. The house of Jagat

the English all the

it joined several

aula. Up to the de

yed the greatest r

ducted almost all hi

that it had long be

s in Bengal. But n

daula, the most in

t he would need the

could ever have any

the slightest po

ome day or other it

ers, then, were the

d by themselves ha

the assistance of

upon the throne an

ould have required

mongst Indians, and

. The bankers also

not like to risk d

as necessary for th

eve some initial su

elihood of their do

for a peaceful re-es

s they were incline

for the Nawab had no

Europeans; a pa

hat is needed

and England had declared war against each other in the preceding May.[81] The English naturally said nothing about it, and the French were too eager to see the Nawab well beaten to put any unnecessary obstacles in their way.

eutrality of the Ganges; but the French, at present, were needlessly alarmed. The English had no intention of creeping quietly back into the country. Watson and Clive addressed haughty letters to the Nawab, demanding reparation for the wrongs inflicted on the English; and the Admiral and the Council declared war in the name of the King and the Company. This possibly amused the Nawab, who took no notice of their letters; but it was a different matter when a small English force sailed up the Hugli, passed Chandernagore unopposed by the French, capture

s by no means obli

hat confidence coul

had been observed

who for the general

low any act of host

Much more so whe

awab himself. If

what would become o

of the ne

treaty of neutrality at once, to make up his mind and join the Nawab. We have seen wh

spect the reasons

as the gentlemen

ood citizens not to

welfare of our nati

e things differentl

he correctness or

cided us to take one

ly the English to deal with, he foolishly played into their hands by marching to fight them on their own ground, whereas, if he had remained idle at a little distance, merely forbidding supplies to be sent them, he could have starved them out of Calcutta in a few months. As I have said before, Clive attacked his camp on the 5th of February, and so terrified him that he consented t

s they, and had omitted to mention the French in the treaty, he now, of his own accord, ga

present, and which

affairs in India, e

secret. Scarcely

was known to the l

re suspicious, and

an enemy of Siraj-

informed of his pr

ters written o

fear that Renault intended an alliance with the Nawa

of the Nawab had

us out of Bengal w

uadron of ours with

-ud-daula might joi

become of the En

ached to their inte

so difficult to car

dernagore destroye

n if we were left

cted by the junction

d have been produced

enemies whom he

unted the most res

84] This statement de

oken of the house

, who are named Seth

rs of the Mogul, t

who have ever liv

the revolution. Wit

carried out what

ere not pleased wit

the same respect

done; but the arri

of the Moorish for

alcutta, had made

r favour. The Nawa

were necessary to

except them as med

were, responsible

d the English. Ac

thing but kindness

em, and he consulted

his behaviour o

hs were persuaded

must also dislike

Profiting by the

imself by his violen

y, they had long

arest to the Nawa

em to know what h

the knowledge of t

tended, and this ma

than their destruc

is own. The cause

eths; their interest

o see them acting

that it was this sa

araz Khan[85] to en

reign of the latte

iness, one must conf

persons of so much i

the English were t

ew with the Nawab, and persuaded him to send the 2000 soldiers who were with Renault at the beginning of the siege. More would have been despatched but for the apparent certainty that the treaty of neutrality would be signed. In fact, Renault was so worried that, on the complai

from the Englis

e Durbar at Murshi

might with justice

, except Siraj-ud-d

ad the whole Durb

sisting on this po

lish themselves conf

ged in opposing corr

he friendship of s

equal terms with ou

d ought not to caus

or nothing and, ever

uccessful except b

lance of iniquity.

tain that the Engli

put in more

re the two chief

depends on one o

owards the same obj

ways conquers. A pro

he events connected

n 1756, Siraj-ud-d

fear and greed co

had himself prove

fear took the uppe

y day, and soon put

le to follow, and of

inter

ab first. His hatr

friendship for us. I

as his character an

n all good faith, wh

his friendship? T

imprudent, could he

ssary for him to b

onfidence and was

ng the irresolut

Diwan of Siraj-u

oundrel the earth ha

aster, and yet, in t

ached to him. He h

o understand that the

bring on his ow

ter. The sworn enem

his own against t

ave succeeded so ea

to act, but, unfortu

, and was at this

e could not leave

iraj-ud-daula, but i

. There is strong r

wing to this, Siraj-

of his on

had introduced me

tural to suppose, w

Hugli. He was cons

ad frequented the Eur

awab imagined he k

he most timid o

rybody, and who, ha

thought he might of

some one intended to

t love the Seths,

cient to make h

the other Diwan

was bound to tru

e might have been

s he who pretended

alcutta. He wished,

after the affair of

rt he took was to sh

man; he feared no

glish. This fear dis

h the Seths, of w

He also hated th

many occasions. In

ngle word in our fa

ising himself made

nt, though firmly res

peared to him to

to the Seths, and the members of which, by timidity or ill-h

n their side in th

ults of Siraj-ud-daul

y of the Seths, who,

nd knowing that it

ill they could think

against them and a

Nawab fell readily

t came into his min

gainst all the evi

to do them. The E

chief officers in t

d Khan Latty, and

them by their prese

the ministers of

sgraced, nearly all t

urbar, and even the

expect to achieve

uided by so skilful

English were marching on Chandernagore. By the most painful efforts

the soldiers had been

final orders.

large sum if he suc

ore. I also visited

promised rewards p

d to the Nawab tha

ed if the reinforce

d to persuade him t

y presence. 'All is

esorting to arms it

oid a rupture, and a

romised to obey the

ed the hand of the Se

Nawab in a false i

hand, they assure

only to frighten u

ty, and on the other

by exaggerating the

g the risk he ran

h would probably no

the English were d

a reason for the En

y managed so well

he effect I had prod

isit the bankers

bout our debts, and

ctuality in our pa

estion just now, an

eresting matter, whi

s with respect to

e asking payment a

the English against

planation, they pr

ed to the Nawab. T

English would not

anquil. Knowing t

designs of the Eng

ey did what these

ng them from attac

the despatch of the

sed, and that as th

them to make the

d that the Nawab

glish, and they sai

that, in spite of t

or us. Ranjit Rai,

as the agent of th

'You are a Frenchma

ey attack you, def

what your nation ha

urious to see how y

I told him I did no

a Bengali merchant

heir curiosity. That

clearly that the l

every one was very

ho

ndernagore was merely intended to frighten the French, and, as a pro

having turned on

given the Seths to

I said I understood

they certainly want

tead of denying this,

low voice that

e talked about. Om

he way, cried 'Away

t. If the fact had b

e denied it, and wo

such a way. If the

rt them, they woul

g all that had hap

wab and our obstina

hat we should be jus

posed, provided on

n fact, they did not

mie

to the Seths in payment of the money the French owed them; but he now for the first time fully realized the gravity of the

an began to laugh

so foolish as to in

on of his officers, the Nawab indulged at times in

s not master of hi

firmness in his ch

ke the latter quali

natural dispositio

his harem surroun

was accustomed to

Sometimes this hap

rb

their respective nations to keep the peace, but Mr. Watts skilfully avoided giving any promise, and suggested the Nawab should write to the Admiral

Nawab, looking an

who am I then?' Al

ether that his orde

nded

ith loss, and on the morning of the 16th the Nawab's troops were ordered to advance, but when the same day news came that the French had withdrawn into the Fort, every one cried out that the Fort must fall, and that it was mere folly to incense the English by sending down troops.

, and one who woul

ith ple

he commanded the Hindu soldiers of the Nawab. He was one of the first to fall at Plassey, and though it cannot be said t

ch straight upon Murshidabad. He set about fortifying the enclosure round the French Factory, and, as he had only 10 or 12 men, he induced the Nawab to send him a native officer with 100 musketee

n truth, were not fi

he number was wort

mour always deligh

ir way to Law, and so far was he now from being afraid of Mr. Wa

previous to the fall of Chandernagore still continued

olicitation of my

down the earthwork

ive agent of the En

never suffered wha

awab I replied that

gner should touch my

eement with him I w

the Factory to

as he liked, and for

t the same time, I

d, having had my m

ays previous, I pre

of money which be

duals. The Nawab's

ring to do anything

the execution of his

was happening. H

my leaving the Fact

away; but at the s

lutely necessary fo

nder the present c

things contrary to

y I should draw th

we could not defen

hat I should not be

he would give me mo

d wished to make i

omises, but I was f

o abandon the Factor

down what I had b

work was

afford them; but the Nawab could not be persuaded to force Law to surrender, and, though he agreed to leave the country, Law declared he would not do even that unless he received passports and money.

is interval to pe

us to got to actio

importance, but at

appeared to have s

the Factory, I had op

particular interest

liteness and presen

s. A little later, h

s much from the Eng

that he learned fro

f the Seths, and the

ught to his notice

their garrison at Co

tended they were de

nch. By this trick,

the Moorish camp wi

of an English fleet

or the Nawab's per

to him that the tr

ion, and that they

casks and barrels

found in them. Th

of this kind, and pr

t to leave. This or

ngly passed my garr

and a statement s

and soldier was se

pay them a

eived a sudden summons to at

tion, I determined

ents I could avoid

to start early on th

rsons well armed. A

. On leaving I tol

ommandant, and orde

, to send a detachm

d at the Nawab's p

his harem. We we

re they brought us

d, would soon come.

d not yet dressed. D

sited by some of

egi.[94] I asked h

ed with an appearan

nstantly receiving

numerous garrison w

proper to summon

econcile us, and tha

English should have

m. He added that t

behaviour, and wis

ur arrives. I am w

Mr. Watts and a n

is present Compli

sks me if I have an

I answer that I

me in English: 'Th

epared to surrende

alcutta with all yo

d will be granted t

andernagore. This i

othing of the kind,

hat if I am forced

Factory to the Nawa

ound to the Diwans,

do anything with me,

ll that has pas

I saw clearly th

hy for us. It was,

matters. The Arzb

gged me to consider

propositions, and s

have a good unde

force me to acce

ed to do. I said I

oppose, to the utmo

of the English. 'W

ed. 'You are about

ed of you; you will

. It would be much

y Mr. Watts.' The s

is then took Mr. W

to each other, but

into the hall wh

ost impatience to

s, so much the more

em I had reason to

rres

tes after Mr. Wat

, accompanied by s

and the English, cam

ome fifty persons of

it myself entirely

him I would not

e Nawab to have g

presented to him.

h to see you.' I re

l not go away till

ad no intention of

ed, for at this ve

ival of our grenad

d meet me. Disappo

advanced to the very

owing what would be

to get out of the sc

the Seths' agent, s

affair concerns yo

to speak, but I di

listen to him, that

authority, and tha

hereupon the Arzbe

I would not listen

k to him. 'Well, l

e must come alone

s to withdraw and

to appear being g

ty! The officers wi

A great debate be

At last, giving wa

them that I have

quiet and t

lf before the Naw

manner. As soon as

d way, that I must

or must certainly l

ause, he said, of al

glish. I do not wish t

sake. You are not st

ive way. You ought to

ce you always refused

istance fr

sed that, after al

to reply. I notice

cast down, and tha

hat he paid me thi

noured if I accepted

s absolutely dete

was ready to withd

ary passports I wou

in concert, except

at I could not take

onsent to it. I a

They said I must

wered that the En

hat direction and

ut of the difficulty

kept his face be

aying nothing. Wis

was his intention to

nemies? 'No, no,'

u please, and may

him, received the bet

at parting with Law, as he now believed in the truth of

dare to keep him in

lish, he told him th

depart; but that if

nd for him again.

t assured, my Lord

ll see each other. R

again. It is ne

vening of the 15th of April he was ready to d

ut out of the cit

96] at Patna to turn

of his Subaship, a

tay in any place

the Afghan general at Delhi, that he had supplied L

with colours flying and drums beating, prepared against any surp

opeans, 60 Tellin

ons) "and 4 elepha

ts to try and seduce the French soldiers and sepoys. Law

who had managed to escape from the English. On the 2nd of May the French arrived at Bhagulpur, the Nawab writing

e should have bee

ng; this did not su

to arrive at some

he equipment of

e of eve

ter afterwards made over to Clive-he continued his march to Patna, where he arrived on the 3rd of June, and was well received by Raja Ramnarain, and where he was within fo

ing the English to make extravagant demands which they at the same time urged the Nawab to refuse. To justify one such demand, the English produced a letter in the handwriting of Ranjit Rai, purportin

njit Rai was driv

d, and assassinated

d 2 lakhs from the

wn to them. I can h

ched to the English

were devot

the plot against the Nawab was well known in the country. Re

iracy conducted as

as this was, both

se was talked about

lst every place echo

had a number of spi

g can prove more c

was felt towa

the 8th of June, when he found him still absolutely tranquil; and even on the 10th the Nawab

the delay in the

ived the packets fr

The Nawab was bet

tached to him. The

s messengers and de

ought

ummarily from his post. He now listened to the proposals of the Seths, and towards the end of April terms were settled between him and the English.[101] The actual conclusion of the Treaty took place early in June, and on the 13th of that month Mr. Watts and the other English gentlemen at Cossimbazar escaped under the pretence of a hunting expedition and joined Clive in safety. As soon as he heard of this, the Nawab knew that war was inevitable, and it had come at a moment when he had disbanded half his army unpaid, and the other half was grumbling for arrears. Not only had he insulted Mir Jafar, but he had also managed to quarrel with Rai Durlabh. Instead of trying to postpone the conflict until he had crushed these two dange

tion seems to be o

n, the disbursing

t when M. Law wa

found that

ot philosophical, remarke

d-daula we should

ly he would have be

ld have found ene

ave presented himse

ct to him. No one wo

r Jafar and the E

he would have been

n assi

knows what it i

e first idea which

ittle[102] which rem

t of Siraj-ud-daula

fri

Clive at Plassey on the 23rd

first that carried t

which he reach

mehal. When nearly there he was recognized by a Fakir,[103] whose ears he had, some time before, ordered to be cut off. The Fakir

ive and Mir Jafar wrote urgent letters to Ramnarain at Patna to stop him, but Ramnarain was no lo

ly we arrived at D

e I soon saw we h

imself would not ha

oats we could hav

our fleet was in a

held its own again

dian forces, but the E

jor Coote. As t

ers of the aquatic

r them, when we kne

boats than we had.

, but we did not wi

us flee. On the 1

ructed me in the n

it for the English-

e to hurry off. So

d along the bank, a

visions or to lay v

e set sail, resolv

ngal. In spite of

enty-two miles hig

further: prayers an

the English had f

e boats did not be

ttle scruple in se

how to manage th

about it. The boat

tly do not carry sa

sion with the boat

terms were made, and

arrived at Ghazipur

ovinces of Suja-ud-d

h, Lucknow, a

to reconcile him to the English. Law thought this unlikely, yet knowing the native proclivity for underhand intri

at he might write

nknown to the Engl

the time I was soli

e of Chandernagor

of making himself

ligent man, and mu

greatly for having t

ndecided as Si

t his comm

ted to excite in

ut if it did, Mir J

ion was too recent

t for him to risk th

h u

e other hand, he

eneral who, though

e out of humanity,

t perils and fatigu

en we left the Eur

Murshidabad, July 9

ople are now all b

everywhere to inte

ent parties in ques

in, the Naib of Pat

d, you must be sens

annot expect to f

ore, you have any

, I would recommen

ay expect the most

to gran

ed to greater hardships. At Patna Eyre Coote seized the French Factory, where the Chief, M. de la Bretesche, was lying ill. The military and other Company's servants had gone on with Law, leaving in charge a person variously called M. Inno

de la Bretesche had established at Patna unknown to the English, and upon loans raised from wealthy natives, such as the Raja of Bettiah. He believed all along that the French would soon make an

of his hands by sheer bluff, and went on to Chunargarh, where he received letters from Suja-ud-daula, Nawab of Oudh, a friend of Siraj-ud-daula's, whom he hoped to persuade into in

o entertained as officers MM. Debellême (Captain of a French East Indiaman), Boissemont, and La Ville Martère, Company's servants (these three had all escaped from Chandernagore), Dangereux and Dubois (Company's servants stationed at Cossimbazar), Beinges (a Company's servant stationed at Patna), and two private gentlemen, Kerdizien and Gourbin. Besides these, MM. Anquetil du Perron,[105] La Rue, Desjoux, Villequ

e said that the s

y until he has ha

cipline. As soon as

gun he thinks he is

as a European, an

alification, he think

ntry people, whom h

, though he is often

e I have been I ha

ss fear of the Euro

haviour sometimes

ey would expect in

following descrip

f the Subah[106] so

, on the other sid

m that river. The

ty, but what can one

ation? It was parti

f a large portion o

rs of Mansur Ali Kh

the Treasury empty

ula, his successo

rs, all of them off

upon several of the

w for these milita

er had become the Farm

ges abandoned to him

him to an extent gr

fered. The ill-used

ined uncultivated

good order establis

ing the inhabit

human prudence was

ction. For two who

e country regularly

pes of the cultiva

w, we ourselves saw

t was perfect wea

; a darkness like th

and lasted a good h

es under which we w

e next day as we jo

had been produced f

the roads and ever

away down to the r

way the inhabitants

ons of the military

small number of pe

hout exaggerati

of this solitude.

ctr

people of Lucknow

ardly better. The e

e variety of object

to time nature did

ace were covered wi

of the roads, so t

o out without caus

of several of them

and have them clear

not accord with

of this there wer

de its footsteps s

human beings th

re

see what he could do with the Vizir, but as it might have been dangerous to disclose his object, he pretended he was going to march south to Bussy in the Deccan, and obtained a passport from the Maratha general, Holkar. This took some time, and it was not till March, 1758, that he started for Delhi. He reached Farukhabad without difficulty, and on the 21st entered the country of the Ja

ave Law money, and eagerly welcomed the idea of attacking Bengal, but he was himself practically a prisoner. The Vizir, too, could do nothing, and would give no money. The Marathas amused h

after the Revolut

bject of conversatio

much noise, but it w

to Rai Durlabh Ra

, they said, a gre

from very far at a

the tyranny of Siraj

M. Bussy to kee

principal persons

rom. Others, mixi

that I was a deput

say we were enemie

ne everything in B

and not Jafar Ali

one would believ

people who had ne

their own, that a b

at the most was abl

y as large

soldiers were glad to be off, but about 60 Europeans deserted with their arms to Delhi, where the Vizir offered them pay as high as 50 rupees a mont

most all Hindus, Law forbade his men to kill cattle or any of the sacred birds, or to borrow anything without his permission, and at the same time severely punished all disorderly behaviour. The people having never heard of Christians, thought the French must be a

ly managed, and was an absolute failure. On the 28th of May Law was back at Chatrapur. The only result of the invasion was that

rstanding with Ra

e is a great number

each other by the s

as much as they c

ment, and if it h

bankers, with wh

robable that after t

the victim, they

ish a Hindu Govern

have obtained all

the Muh

l to such tranquillity that Clive considered it safe to visit England. The Shahzada, however, thought the opportunity a favourable one for another invasion, and on the 28th of February, 1760, Law again started to join him. Patna was besieg

not suit Law. On one occasion he was ordered with his own troops and a body of Marathas to capture the little fort of Soupy. The French stormed it at three o'clock in the

on and that of the

ring which we stay

nd sepoys from bayo

incurred the least d

ness, carried off mo

n men, observing

ir plundering, very

y strip

g and beautiful Hindu woman, whom the Maratha wished to seize, but whom Law was

g titles and the right to have the royal music played before him; but as he coul

er, and had assumed the title of Shah Alam. He was still hanging with his army round Patna, and Mir Kasim and the English determined to bring him to book. Kamgar Khan continued to lead the Imperial army aimlessly about the country, and in January, 1761, found himself near the town of Bihar. He had 35 to 40 thousand cavalry, maintained chiefly by plunder, but his o

e Emperor consulted Law, who advised a retreat, but he was not deficient in co

ay we heard that

they would quickly a

yet been made

ed himself very litt

ided to re-enter th

ible under shelter

guns in what I tho

6 or 7 o'clock th

der, crossing a cana

f which might have b

on enough; but every

e thought the e

anal, but, seeing

er was given to go

ickly out of the

valry, at the head o

eror, the Generali

chiefs. Scarcely wer

to await the enemy

; one could see no

ntre, nothing that

to attack or eve

brought me an ord

and to place myself

good cannon-shot

have been exposed to

and even to be outf

first attack. We a

order, but, seeing n

y wanted to get rid

n to where I had f

00 paces in fr

ced steadily. Th

artillery were alr

kly placed their pi

t, and kept up a ver

me, having killed

t others one of m

e's army to turn t

fast as he could, wi

us. The enemy's fi

, continued steadil

in good order, havi

nd one gun dismount

We regained the vil

enemy started in

he village, our gun

ed by ditches and c

tuck fast. As I was

eached us, and sur

Then I surrendered

ers who were with

in the afternoon of

se malign influenc

t, since it was tha

a place 300 leag

left a graphic descri

th the small forc

r, bravely fought th

he made a shift

auxiliaries consist

by Ramnarain and

ided by the Englis

he enemy that thei

er the Emperor or

could not resist, t

ed to follow him,

ndful of troops th

flight and tired o

herto led in his s

ed the Emperor. M.

e, resolved not to

guns and remained

for his death. Th

tached himself from

ome other officers

without taking wit

] at all. Being arr

horses, and, pulling

the air with them,

lute being returne

parley followed in

aying high encomiu

ct, and bravery, ad

ng that could be e

shall be undoubte

n of history; now l

mongst us, and aba

English.' The othe

his surrendering hi

but that as to surr

ng without his swor

to, and that they m

sfied with that co

his firmness, consent

manner he wis

officers, shook ha

every sentiment of

th sides. At th

his own palky, made

camp. M. Law, unwil

ion, shut up the cur

nized by any of his

aintances, hearing o

e were Mir Abdull

ho had excused him

em that they could

o much vexed to re

hi, who was an im

k at him, thought

ng on this man's de

[in it] if we consid

pany he was accusto

of his, doubtless, t

e asked him this q

she?' The Major and

opriety of the ques

and very severe exp

ght bravely, and de

the impertinences

e customary amongs

nnot be suffered in

r to offer an injury

d by this repriman

r a word. He tarr

and then went awa

commander of imp

ad always been pai

or made a show of

rimand did much hon

knowledged, to th

heir conduct in war

n the other hand, no

than their behav

of action or in the

le seem to act enti

our ancient comman

ni

from Major Carnac's Letter to the Select Committee at Calcutta, dated the 17th of Janu

cular pleasure to

in the action, but

up near our rear su

of one of the Frenc

a train to it in ho

were storming the ba

d two or three

it had effect, and

oremost of the Naw

umber of near fou

ghty died on

ontin

g, as the Englis

peror Shah Alam,

on in passing, I r

and politeness, sen

f, Mr. McGwire, I f

I should certainly

I was in need of e

for no

62. He was now only forty-two years of age. On his arrival in France he found his services much appreciated by his countrymen, and was made a Chevalier of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, and a Colonel of Infantry. Later on he was appointed Commissary for the King, Commandant of the French Nation in the East Indies, and Gove

ut in the Rains they fill their beds from side to side, overtop the banks, and make the country for miles around a series of great lakes, studded with heavily wooded islands. Amidst these one can wander for days hardly seeing a single human being, and hearing nothing but the rushing of the current and the weird cries of water-birds; at other times the prow of one's boat will suddenly push itself through overhanging branches into the very midst of a populous village. At first all is strange and beautiful, but after a short time the feeling grows that every scene is a repetition; the banks, the trees, the villages, seem as if we have been looking at them for

te

lone was at Cossimbazar, the French being at Saidabad, and the Dutch at Calcapur. B

ewijk Vernet, S

alleson also confuse

is that in the Manuscript Dep

from the Emperor the firman for Bihar. This, according to Scrafton, was 1736, and the connection of

e note,

ore the death of Aliverdi Khan, that it was supposed

Kuli-Khan.

itch, he agreed to it provided it was done with the heads of Moors. I do not believe he said so, but possibly some t

This term was generally applied by Europeans to

als: a term of somewha

ng, Bussy temporarily acquired a

sions, liquors, and cash, we left his Factory with grateful hearts

perial

the influence of the Seths,

of the adherents of the house of Aliverdi Khan and on its extinction of the English connectio

atson in January, 1757, but apparently not the

, Clive writes: "I hope we shall be able to dispossess the French of Cha

second city in the kingdom." Letter

l, Bihar,

a wonderfully beautiful woman, he forced the

ng to save the greater part. Besides, we shall see by what follows that they sacrificed nothing." Law. The extraordinary influence of these people was due not so much to their dealings with the head of the State as to the fact that native princ

speak in enigmas. It is for the great man to divine what is meant. If he has not the wit, so much the worse for him. As a foreigner, I was naturally more bold and said what I thought to Siraj-ud-daula. Coja Wajid did not hesitate to blame me, so that for a

e been bribed to write it in a way suitable to the views of Mr. Watts. The Nawab never read the letters which he ordered to be written; besides, the Moors never sign their names; the envelope being closed and well fastened, the Secretary asks the Nawab fo

The c

res of the Universe could not have freed him from the fear he felt at having to fight the English. He

arch, saying he wished to attack Chandernagore,

must mean simply a

ts of debauchery; but his grandfather, in his last illness, made him swear on the Koran to gi

the officer who r

n as a digestive. When offered to a guest, it is a sign of welcome or dismissa

rank of Naib only. It was considered unsafe to entrust so importa

India XI., p.

, India IX

to Dupleix. Dated Chand

154) gives his na

Watts's first intimation of his readiness to join the English is, I believe,

plundered the Nawab Mir Kasim, when the

e nose and ears he had ordered to be cut off thirteen month

fice, and Clive correspon

veller. He quickly quarr

Prov

udh and father o

eceiver of the r

s are called monsoons, and are named after th

Alamgi

-mulk, Ghazi-

th of his father, November 29, 1759, he

ened by Mr. Pearkes, in July, 1757. See his lett

ned in the European manner, several of the chief officers were Armenians, who effected grea

at Suan. The site is marked in Rennell's map of South Bihar. It li

e Banowr

on the Madras coast. Su

Telingana district in Madras, w

ress or lady. Lass was the native version of L

Com. Consultations,

703, and part at sea in 1764, during my second voyage to