OF TH E
REVOLUTION
I N
I
~t
(MEMOIRS
V -
O F TH E
REVOLUTION
/
I N
BENGAL,
ANNO. DOM. 1757.
By which MEER JAFFEIR was raifed to the
Government of that Province, together with
thofc of Babar and Orixa.
INCLUDING
The Motives to this Enterprize ; the Method in which it
was accomplifhed ; and the Benefits that have accrued
from thence to that Country, our United Company
trading to the Eaft Indies, and to the Britijb Nation.
LONDON:
Printed for A. M i L L A R, in the Strand*
M.DCC.LX. t. . IT-
I
r:
.
PREFACE.
TH E Succefs that has every
where attended the Efforts of
the Britifh Arms, during the Courfe
of this juft and neceffary War, will
render this Period of our Hiftory re-
fplendent, even to lateft Ages. It
feems, therefore, requisite to give the
moft accurate and diftincl Accounts
that can be obtained of thefe Suc-
cefies in the remoter Parts of the
Globe, that the Nature and Confe-
quences of them may be the better
under-
vi PREFACE.
understood here. The People of
Britain are as well entitled to know,
and will with equal Pleafure read,
what has been efTe&ed for their Ser-
vice at Bengal, as at Goree ; and ac-
cept as kindly the Laurels brought
them from Afia> as thofe that come
from Afrlc or America.
In this we follow only the Cuftom
of other Nations. The Portuguefe and
the Dutch have not only general
Hiftories of their Atchievements in
the Indies^ and feparate Accounts of
their refpeclive Settlements, but nu-
merous Memoirs of particular Expe-
ditions, in which they have been
exceeded by the French. We fhould
therefore be wanting to ourfelves, if,
having performed as great Things as
they, and having as authentic Vouch-
ers, we fliould willfully fuffer the
Memory
PREFACE.
Vll
Memory of them to be loft, and the
Merits of our deferving Countrymen
fwallowed up in Oblivion.
The following Pages will flhew,
how one of our fineft Settlements in
the Eaft. Indies was fuddenly facked
and fubverted by the Impetuofity of
,a young Man, intoxicated with So-
vereign Power ; in what Manner it
was recovered and reftored ; the
Peril to which it was again expofed
from the fame Perfon ; and the Means
by which it was not only refcued
from a Second Definition, but the
Caufes of thefe Calamities removed ;
the Britijfj Intereft placed on a more
fold Balis than ever ; with additional
Advantages that were never hoped ;
fo that Stability may be truly faid to
have been extracted from inteftine
Troubles, and Public Miferies ren-
dered
viii PREFACE.
dered the Source of Public Safety and
Public Benefits.
But as thefe Wonders could never
have been performed but by the Af-
fiftance of his Majefty's Fleets and
Forces, and as this was derived from
the conftant and laudable Concern
of the Adminiftration, for the Fate
of Britijh Subje&s wherever difpofed,
it is but a juft Tribute of Gratitude
to fhew how Meafures fo wifely taken,
proved fo fuccefsful in the Event,
that Pofterity may profit by the Ex-
ample, and our Trade ever meet
with the like Support, under Officers
(if they are to be found) of equal
Abilities.
Laftly, it will appear how far the
Nation has reaped the Fruits of thefe
fignal Events. The Settlement at
PREFACE. ix
Calcutta being not only effectually
reftored, but, as far as the Nature of
Things will admit, its future Safety
as effectually fecured, the Honour
of the Britijh Name repaired, and
the Terror of her Arms diffufed
throughout the Eaft. The Fortunes
of Britijh Subjects, ruined in the firft
Calamity, unprovided for in the firft
Treaty, entirely recovered by the
Second ; many of which being now
brought over, are actually vefted in the
Funds or Lands of Great-Britain.
MEMOIRS
[ I]
MEMOIRS
OF THE
REVOLUTION in BENGAL,
THE late Revolution in Bengal is fo
extraordinary in its Nature, of fuch
immediate Confequence to the Eajl
India Company, and may poffibly be of fuch
Importance to the Nation, that a fhort and
perfpicuous Relation of this memorable Tranf-
action cannot but be acceptable to the Public.
Such a Relation will give a diftincl Idea of
Things, as to which the World has hitherto had
but confufed Notions j difpofe all Events re-
lating thereto in their proper Places, fo that
their Motives and Confequences may be clear-
ly understood ; and fupply thole Chafms, that
difturb the Order and deftroy the Connection
between the Narratives which have been writ-
B ten
2 M E M O I R CJ
ten occafionally of particular Points of Fa&.
Befides, it will explain the Conduct of thofe
who have been chiefly instrumental in bring-
ing fuch an hazardous, as well as arduous
Attempt as this to a happy Conclufion ; will
fhew why it was thought neceffary, and on
what Account it was originally undertaken ;
the many, and fome of them formidable, Ob-
ftacles that were in the Way ; and how thefe
were either gradually removed, or glorioufly
overcome. In a Word, when thoroughly and
circumftantially explained, it will open as
iingular and furprizing a Scene to the View of
the inquifitive and judicious Reader, as per-
haps he will find in any Hiftory refpecling our
own Times, which, let me have Leave to fay,
are thofe that concern us moil.
But previous to the Narrative, it will be
expedient to give a concile Account of the
Inhabitants, and the State of the Govern-
ment in that Country, where this furprizing
Political Cataftrophe fell out ; and without
being well acquainted with which, thefe fuc-
cincl: Memoirs would not only be Icfs intelli-
j .
gible, but, which is yet worfe, would become
alfo very liable to bemifunderflood. The Nature
of
the Revolution in BENGAL. 3
of Things depends on their Properties, alike
difcernable by all who will examine them
with equal Care, and with the fame Degree of
Attention. But the Nature of Facls is deter-
mined by the Circumftances that attend them;
and if thefe be not fairly and fully reprefent-
cd, they muft be falfely, or at leafl imperfecl>
ly apprehended. In Cafes relative to the
Alteration of States, a bare Recital of Events
eftablifhes only what Alteration they .pro-
duced, and does not at all inform us to what
the Change was owing ; gives us no Grounds
to conclude, "as to the Advantages or Difad-
vantages flowing from fuch a Mutation, and
does not furnim us with the Means of fram-
ing any probable Conjecture as to the Stability
or Inflability of the New Government.
The two great Nations, inhabiting this Part
of the Indies^ differ widely from each other in
their Complexions, Language, Manners, Dil-
pofition, and Religion. The Moguls (Moghuls)
who are commonly called Moors or Moormen^
are a robuft, ftately, and, in refpect to the
original Natives, a fair People. They fpeak
what the EngUjh in India commonly call the
Moors Tongue, which is in truth the Perfian,
B a or
4 M E M O I R S of
or at lead a Dialed of the Perfian. They
are naturally vain, affect Shew and Pomp in
every thing, are much addicted to Luxury,
fierce, oppreffive, and, for the moil part, very
rapacious. In refpect to Religion, they are
Mohammedans , the common Sort of the Seel:
of Omar (in which they agree with the Turks) ,
but thofe of Superior Rank are moilly of the
Seel: of Ali( which is followed by the Per/tans),
and fome affect to be very devout. Thefe
have the Dominion, and are pofTeffed of all
the Offices of Truft and Power, in virtue of
their Defcent from the Moguls, whofe Empire
was eflablimed by Timur, commonly called
famerlane in this Country j but they are now
a very mixed People, compofed of Tartars,
Arabs, .and Perftans ; more efpecially of the
laft mentioned Nation ; who for various Rea-
fons have quitted their own Country, but
chiefly for the Sake of that Favour and Pre-
ferment, which for many Ages they have met
with at the Court of (Debit} Deify. The
Gcntoows, or Native Indians, are of a fwarthy
Afpect, as their proper Appellation Hindu
implies ; lefs warlike but more active and
induftrious than the Moors. They are a
mild, fubtle, frugal Race of Men, exceedingly
fuper-
the Revolution /^BENGAL. 5
iuperflitious, fubmiflive in appearance, but
naturally jealous, fufpicious, and perfidious ;
which is principally owing to that abject Sla-
very they are kept in by the Moors j and their
Vices are fuch as innate Cunning, of which
they have a great deal, fuggeils to counteract
thofe of their Mafters. They are divided into
feveral Cafts or Tribes, of which the mod
noble is that of the Bramins, and there are alfo
feveral Cafts of thefe. Their Religion is Pa-
ganifm, grofs and abfurd among the Vulgar,
but not ib amongft the wifer and better Sort.
Thefe Characters are not drawn through any
Spirit of Prejudice or Partiality, but from Ex-
perience and Obfervation ; and the Faults of
both do not fo much arife from any Want of
Parts, or Defect in their natural Talents, as
from their refpective Conditions, and the bar-
barous Severity and perpetual Instability of
their Governments.
The Mogul, or, as we commonly call him,
the Great Mogul, is, according to the Con-
ftitution of Indoftan, if Defpotiim can with
any Propriety be ftiled a Conftitution, as ab-
folute as a Monarch can be. He is the fole
Pofleflbr of Property, the fingle Fountain of
B 3 Honour,
6 ME M o i R s c/"
Honour, and the fupreme Oracle of Jufticc.
The whole Country belongs to himj all
Honours are Perfonal, are beftowed by his
Bounty, and refumed at his Pleafurej his
Subjects having no other Laws than the Dic-
tates of his Will. The Omrahs, or Great
Lords of his Court, who difcharge the high
Offices in his Houfhold, exercife the Functions
of Miniflers of State, or hold fuperior Com-
mands in his Armies, are all Creatures of his
own, and fo are the Governors of Pro-
vinces, filled in the Language of the Country
Nabobs, who have again lefler Governments,
to which they appoint, called P boundaries.
Thus things actually flood under the long
Reign of Aurengzebe, and under the mort one
of his Son ; but fince the Days of his unfortu-
nate Grandfon, Mohammed Shah, who was
dethroned, and reflored by Thamas Kouli
Khan, the Moguls are no more than Shadows
of what they were ; and their Prerogatives
become rather Sounds than SuWlance. Thofe
Emirs or Nabobs, who govern great Provin-
ces, are fliled Subahs, which imports the
fame as Lord-Lieutenants or Vice-Roys.
Thefe Vice-Roys have ever held their Pro-
vinces of the Mogul, by rendering him a
yearly
the Revolution in BENGAL. 7
yearly Tribute, and furnifhing their Contin-
gent of Troops, when demanded for his Ser-
vice } each of them exacting the like Services
from their fubordinate Governments; in both
the Nabobs and Phoufdars were fupreme, and
executed a kind of Sovereign Authority, fub-
jecl only to thofe from whom it was delegated,
and by whom it might be again taken away
when they thought fit. But now they affect a
kind of Independence, fend their Tribute to
Court when they efteem it convenient, and
that is but feldom : and devolve their Em-
ployments on their Heirs, who having imme-
diate PofTeiTion of the Means, find no great
Difficulty in getting themfelves confirmed, by
making proper Prcfents at Defy. If the Mo-
gul attempts to depofe any of them, the
Perlbn to whom he gives the Cqmmiflion
muft raife an Army, and force a Pafiage to
the Government bellowed upon him with his
Sword. The fame thing happens with re-
gard to the Phoufdars, removed by the JJu-
ba's ; and hence the Confufions that cnfuc,
whenever the Pretenders to the flimc Poll
(who are alfo fometimes fupported, as their
Intereft leads them, by the different trading
Nations upon the Coaft) to gratify their Ambi-
13 4 lion.
S MEMOIRS of
tion, create implacable, ruinous, and endlefs
civil Wars.
As to the Gentoows, though Multitudes of
them live in the Cities and Provinces govern-
ed by the Officers of the Mogul, yet in the
mountainous Countries, and in fome others,
there are many who fr.il! maintain their Free-
dom, or rather are Slaves to Princes of their
own, {tiled Rajahs, amongfl whom the Ma-
hah Rajah, or King of the Marattes, is the
moft powerful. His Subjects inhabit the
Mountains to the South-Eail: of Goa, and he
has fometimes brought Armies of one Hun-
dred, and fometimes of two Hundred Thou-
fand Men into the Field, compofed moftly of
Horfe. Thefe, as well as the Troops of the
lefler Rajahs, of whom there are many, are
employed chiefly in predatory Expeditions,
and by making very rapid Incurfions, and no
lefs rapid Retreats, do a great deal of Mifchief
in a very little time. This has induced fome
of the wifeft amongft the Mogul Governors
to confent to the Payment of an annual
Tribute, ftiled the Chout, amounting to a
fourth Part of the Revenue of the Province,
to prevent thefe Inroads. The Nabobs like-
wife
the Revolution in BENGAL. y
wife frequently entertain the Troops of thefe
Rajahs in Pay, in order to increafe the Strength
of their own Armies. From this concife Ac-
count of Things, it will fufficiently appear,
that the Power of the Mogul is rather nomi-
nal than real j that a kind of Anarchy reigns
through the Country ; and that where there
is any Thing that refembles ever fo imper-
fectly a Form of Government, it has Force
for its Bafis, is fupported by Fraud, and that
in Fact there is hardly any fuch thing as legal
Authority fubfifting in any Part of the Em-
pire j io that to meafure the Rectitude of
Men's Actions in fuch a Country as this, and in
relation to fuch Governors as thefe, by the
fame Rules that take Place under regular
Eftablimments, where Laws are fettled and
known, and where Juflice is duly adminiftred,
is not at all founded either in Reafon or
Equity.
The Englim eftablifhed their Prefidency at
Calcutta^ towards the Clofe of the laft Cen-
tury, in virtue of a Phirmaund (Firman)
from the famous Aurengzebe, who much ex-
tended the Bounds of the Empire on this Side.
His Firman was confirmed, and the Privileges
of
lo MEMOIRS^/
of the Eajl 'India Company much augmented
by his great Grandfon Mohammed Furrukszr.
It is therefore indubitable, that having thefe
Conceflions made to them in the moft ample
and honourable Manner, and when the Mo-
gul Empire was in its moft flourifhing Con-
dition, the Englifo Nation had as firm and
folid a Right to their Pofleffions and Immu-
nities as that Conftitution could give. They
were not therefore certainly to be difturbed
or controuled by the Governor of the Pro-
vince, while they behaved themfelves peace-
ably and properly towards him.
The Company and the Servants of the
Company had ftricHy obferved the Terms up-
on which they were beftowed, and were ib
modeft, or rather fo cautious, as to keep much
within the Bounds of thofe Conceflions, and
chofe rather to wave fome of their Rights than
run the Hazard, under fo unfettled a Govern-
ment, of affording any Colour of Complaint.
The fame Spirit prevailed 5 the fame Care was
taken in all the Factories fubordinate to this
Prefidency. When Injuries were done them,
they applied to the Suba's for Relief; when
the Officers of thofe Vice-Roys, either with
or
4
the Revolution in BENGAL. n
or without their Knowlege, ventured upon
Exactions, they proceeded by Remonftrance.
If this had its Effect, they thought themfelves
happy j if not, they bore it with Patience, of
which many Inftances might be given. They
knew very well that Trade was their Bufinefs,
and that Difputes with the Country Govern-
ment muft be detrimental to their Interefts ;
and therefore fludied to avoid them. That
this was really the Cafe, that they had no ambi-
tious Views, that they had not the fmalleft In-
tention to perplex or to interfere with the late
Suba, appears to Demonftration, from his not
attempting to fix any fuch thing upon them ;
and frill more fo, from the Condition in which
he found them.
The old Suba of the three Provinces of
"Bengal^ Baber, and Orixa, who had advan-
ced himielf, and leized that Dignity in the
ufual Way, by a fortunate Audacity, flicking
at nothing to gratify his Thirft for Power,
Aliverdy Caivn, died much advanced in Years,
April the gth, I75<>> and was fucceeded by
his adopted Son Sure] a Doivlat (Sur Rajah al
Dowlat) who began his Adminiflration with
Ads of Violence, and Breach of Faith to feme
of
ii MEMOIRS of
of his own Family ; and by that time he had
been a Month in PofTefficn of the high Office
he aflumed, manifefted his Averfion to the
'Englijb.
On what his Refentment to the Britifo
Nation was founded, he was himfelf at a Lofs
to fay ; and the trivial, inconfiftent, and in
various refpects ill-grounded Pretences, he
afterwards fuggefted, as the Motives to his
Conduct, evidently fhew they were contrived
rather to hide, than to declare the Intentions
from which he really acted. It has been af-
ferted, and very probably not without fuffi-
cient Foundation, that fome who knew his
violent and rapacious Difpofition, made their
Court to him, by reprefenting, that the Euro-
peans fettled in the Provinces he poflerTed
were immenfely rich ; that he might well ex-
pect confiderable Sums from them to merit his
Favour and Protection upon his Acceffion to
the Government j that he had a Force much
more than was adequate to the cruming them
abfolutely, if he fo pleafed -, that by compell-
ing them, under Colour of their coming as
Merchants only into Indo/lan, to defift from
raifmg any new Fortifications, he would have
them
the Revolution /# BENGAL. 15
them always at his Mercy; and that in order
to fucceed effectually, and with little Trouble,
he mould, to prevent their making it a com-
mon Caufe, break only with one Nation at
a time ; and firft with the Britiflj, who could
pay him beft, and whofe Submiffion -would
prove an effectual Precedent to the French and
Dutch. It is not unlikely, that the Authors
of this Advice might alfo undertake to nego-
tiate a Compromife at a proper Juncture.
This, however, is certain ; that, before he pro-
ceeded to Hostilities, he had determined to
reduce Calcutta, and had taken all his Mea-
fures for that Purpofe, and difpofed his In-
ftruments properly with that View.
Caffimbuzar being fituated, as it were, at
his Door, was of courfe the firft attacked.
He caufed the Place to be inverted on the
Twenty-fecond of May, by a numerous Body
of Troops, and then invited Mr. Watts, who
was Chief of the Factory, to a Conference,
upon a Safe-Conduct. As the Place (in the
Opinion of the beft Judges) was indefenfible,
and if it had been defenfible, was without a
Garrifon j as in point of Ceremony it was the
ufual Cuftom for the Chief of that Factory to
com-
14, MEMOIRS^"
compliment every new Suba on his afluming
that Office, and Mr. Watts had all imaginable
Reafon to hope a good Reception, he accepted
that Invitation, and went to the Suba's Camp,
where, contrary to his Faith, and in Breach of
thofe Engagements which are in that Country
held facred, he feized and detained him, till
by purfuing the fame Conduct, and intermix-
ing Fraud and Force againft thofe who had
cot the Means, and perhaps were doubtful
whether they Jiad any Authority to refifr, he
pofTefTed himfelf of Cafjimbuzar^ on the fourth
of June, and then made no farther Secret of
his Defign to deprive the Englijh of all their
Settlements, to which, according to the Con-
flitution of the Mogul Empire, they had a
much better Right than he had to his Domi-
nions. Thus the Troubles of Bengal were be-
gun by him in whofe Ruin they ended.
This Step taken, his next Enterprise was
directly againft Calcutta ; to reduce which,
the Suba marched with an Army of Seventy
thoufand Men, and, when he became Mafter
of it, acted with a Degree of infolent Cruelty,
of which the World is too well apprized al-
ready, to need any Detail of it here. Let it
fuffice
the Revolution in BENGAL. 17
fuffice then to fay, that the Suba wreaked his
Malice, for Vengeance it could not be ftiled,
upon a Multitude of innocent People, who
had never given him the fmalleft Offence.
Having deftroyed the Place, recalled, and then
again difperfed the Inhabitants, and with the
fame lawlefs Violence extorted large Sums
from the French and Dutch Factories, that he
might feem to manifeft a general Diftafte to
Europeans, he returned to Muxadpvad in
Triumph.
He had full five Months from this Period
to recollect himfelf, and to confider the Effects
of thefe bold and arbitrary Proceedings, and
in which he might have concerted either the
Means of reftoring the Peace of the Province,
or of fortifying his own Strength in fuch a man-
ner as to be able to make Head againfr. all his
Enemies j for he began to find, that befides
thofe this wanton Exercife of his Power had
excited, he had feveral amongft fuch as ( had
been fubject to the Authority, and even fin-
cereiy attached to the Perfon of his Predecef-
for. But his extreme Haughtinefs, and his
perpetual Sufpicions, joined to the natural
Mutability of his Temper, and Want of Ex-
perience,
16 MEMOIRS^/
perience, being a very young Man, rendered
him equally incapable of correcting paft Er-
rors, or of digefting any well-conne&ed Plan,
and fupporting it with that Firmnefs, without
which Succefsis not to be expected. Sometimes
obftinate, moftly irrefolute, he forfeited equally
the Efteem of Foreigners and Neighbours; and
by an unaccountable Compound of Ficklenefs
and Severity, loft the Confidence of all, and
excited the Secret Hatred of moft of thofe
who were about him.
On the Fifth of December Admiral Watjon
anchored with his Squadron in BaHaforeR.oa.d
to which Place Mr. Watts and Mr. Becher y
both Gentlemen of the Council, were fent to
congratulate his Arrival, and to acquaint him
with the Situation of their Affairs j Mr. Watts
having been releafed by the Nabob in July.
Ten Days after the Squadron arrived at Fulfa,
where, without Lofs of Time, Meafures were
concerted for retrieving the Honour of the
Engli/b Nation, and reftoring the Affairs of
the Company. The Force was not great, but
it was directed by Men of determined Cou-
rage, and of diftinguiflicd Capacities. Admi-
ral Watfon, and the Commander in Chief of
the
the "Revolution in B E N G A L. 17
trie Land Forces, Colonel C/ive, who, after
performing Wonders in other Parts of the
Indies^ came to perform flill greater Wonders
here, and brought With him a Reputation
that abundantly fupplied the Want of Num-
bers. Ori the Twenty-eighth, the Fleet pro-
deeded up the River. On the Twenty-ninth,
Colonel CHve landed j and the very next Day,
with the Afliftance of the Squadron, made
himfelf Matter of the Fort of Bujbudgia-,
which, though a Place of great Strength, if it
had been well defended, was taken with lit-
tle Lofs, and proved the happy Omen of all
the mighty Things which afterwards followed.
On New- Year's- Day, 1757, fome of his
Majefty's Ships cannonaded the Batteries,
which had been ccnftrucled by the Enemy
for the Defence of Calcutta -, where they had
a confiderable Force ; and this with fuch
Succefs, that when the Troops debarked, they
were abandoned. On the Second, the Eng-
glffb re-poffefied themfelves of their demolifh-
ed Settlement; finding in the Fort, as they
had done on the Batteries, a numerous Artil-
lery left behind, by thofc, who had not either
Skill or Courage to ufc them. After this Suc-
C cefs 5
18 MEMOIRSO/*
cefs, it was refolved to proceed up the River
to Hugbley, a very populous Town, full of
Warehoufes and Magazines j and in that, as
well as other refpects, a Place of Confe-
quence ; and fo much the fafer from our
Naval Force, as it could not be reached by
large Ships. On the Fifth, Captain Smith in
the Bridgewater t and the Sloop of War, an-
chored within Reach, and fired warmly upon
the Town j and being feconded by all the
armed Boats in the Fleet, it was very foon re-
duced. The better to diflrefs the Enemy,
the more to alarm the Province, and to work
upon the Suba's governing Paffion, Fear j Or-
ders were given, though with much Reluct-
ance, for burning the Houfes, and for de-
ftroying, particularly, all the Magazines on
both Sides of the River j which Orders were
very punctually executed, and thereby Ipeedily
produced the defired Effects.
Both Vice-Admiral Watfon and Colonel
CUve had written, towards the Clofe of the
preceding Year, in as civil and polite Terms
to the Suba, as the Circumftances of Things
would allow, with a View to bring about a
Treaty. But that Prince, who had an Army
about
tfo Revolution in BENGAL. 19
about him, and vvhofe Reftntments ran as
high as ever, was either not inclined, or did
not care to (hew an Inclination, to come
to any Terms. It was this, that made the
Expedition to Hugbley requifite j and up-
on the Lofs of that, and the Supplies he
had there, his Confidence immediately a-
bated, and he condefcended to anfwer the
Letters, affirming that he had already writ-
ten, but that he had Reafon to believe, thofe
Letters had not been delivered. Yet even
now, when he found it was necefTary to offer
a Negotiation, and to exprefs a Willingnefs to
reinstate the Company in their Factories, he
added, as if requifite to fupport his Character,
that if the Englifo thought they could reap
greater Benefits by purfuing the War, they
might ftill proceed in their military Opera-
tions j as if, by this Appearance of Indifference,
he could conceal the Terror he was under,
from what had already happened. To fup-
port this Air of Intrepidity, he made, at the
fame Time, a Motion with his Army towards
Calcutta*
Colonel Clive having communicated thefe
Propofals to the Select Committee, entrufled
C 2 with
ao MEMOIRS of
with the Management of the Affairs of the FaO
tory, they fent MefTieurs Waljh and Scrafton,
as Deputies, to the Camp of the Suba, who,
either deceived by this into an Opinion that
he was ftill formidable to the EngUfo^ or de-
firous of impofing upon the Deputies, behaved
towards them with fuch a Mixture of Haugh-
tinefs and Contempt, as gave little Hopes of
their making any great Progrefs in their Bufi-
nefs ; and therefore, after fome Delay, the
Vice-Admiral and the Colonel were obliged
to refume their former Meafures, and to think
of making a frem ImprefTion on the Suba,
that might convince him, he had as much to
dread from the Land-Forces as the Fleet. In
order to this, it . was concerted, that a De-
tachment of Seamen, commanded by Captain
Warwick, mould land and join the Army,
and that Colonel dive mould then force the
Nabob's Camp. The Captain accordingly de-
barked, upon the Fifth of February, about
One in the Morning : At Two they came up
with the Forces, which were under Arms.
By Three, every Thing was in Order, and
they began to move towards the Enemy j the
Sailors attending the Train, which confifted
of Six Field Pieces, and one Haubitzer. About
the Revolution in BENGAL. 21
Five, the Action began, and the Artillery
playing on the Right and Left, Colonel Ctive
marched his Troops directly through the
Camp of the Suba ; though he had between
Forty and Fifty thoufand Men, and obliged
him, with great Lofs, to diilodge, and even
to abandon fome of the Ports that he took
after his Retreat j and this, with very little
Detriment to his very fmall Army, not above
Forty Men being killed, and not fo many as
Seventy wounded. This briik Attack, fe-
conded by a Letter from Vice-Admiral Wat-
Jon, intimating, that this was a Specimen
only of what the Britijh Arms, when pro-
voked, could perform, anfwered the Intention
perfectly. The Suba immediately defired to
renew the Negotiation, which went on with
fuch Alacrity, that it was concluded and
figned upon the Ninth, by which an end was
put to a War, that had fubfifted about Nine
JVIonths. This Treaty was conceived in the
following Terms.
I. Whatever Rights and Privileges the King
has granted the EngUfo Company, in their
fhirmaund, and the Hufhulhoorums fent
C 3 from
24 MEMOIRS 0/*
from Deify, fhall not be difputed, or taken
from them j and the Immunities therein
mentioned, be acknowledged and ftand good.
Whatever Villages are given the Company by
the Phirmaund, fhall like wife be granted,
notwithstanding they have been denied by
former Subahs. The Zemindars of thofe Vil-
lages not to be hurt qr difplaced, without
Caufe.
Signed by the Nabob, in his own Hand.
I agree to the Terms of the Phirmaund.
II. All Goods pafling and repafiing through
the Country, by Land or Water, with Eng-
l'ijh Duflicks, fhall be exempt from any Tax,
Fee, or Impofition whatever.
I agree to this.
III. All the Company's Factories, feized
by the Nabob, fhall be returned. Ail Mor
nies, Goods, and Effe&s, belonging to the
Company, their Servants and Tenants, and
yvhich have been feized and taken by the
Nabob,
tie 'Revolution in BENGAL. 23
Nabob, (hall be reftored ; what has been
plundered and pillaged by his People, made
good by the Payment of fuch a Sum of Mo-
ney, as his Juftice fhall think reafonable.
I agree to rejlore whatever has been feized
and taken by my Orders, and accounted for
in my Sincary.
IV. That we have Permiflion to fortify
Calcutta, in fuch Manner as we may think
proper, without Interruption.
I confint to this.
V. That we fliall have Liberty to coin
Siccas, both of Gold and Silver, of .equal
Weight and Finenefs with thofe of Muxada-
vad, which fhall. pafs in the Provinces.
/ confent to the Englilh Company's coining
their own Imports of Bullion and Gold into
Siccas.
VI. That a Treaty fliall be ratified, by
Signing and Sealing, and fwearing to abide
by the Articles therein contained; not only
C 4 ly
24 MEMOIRS^
by the Nabob, but his principal Officers and
Minifters.
J have fealed and figned the Articles,
before the Prejence of God.
VII. That Admiral Watfon and Colonel
Clive, on the Part and Behalf of the EngliJIj
Nation, and of the Company, do agree to
Jive in a good Underflanding with the Nabob,
to put an End to thefe Troubles, and to be
in Friendmip with him, while thefe Articles
are performed and obferved by the Nabob.
I have fealed and figned the foregoing
Articles^ upon thefe Terms, that if the Go-
vernor and Council will fign and feal them*
'with the Company 's Sea/, and will fivear to
the Performance on their Party 1 then con?
fent and agree to them.
Jn this Treaty, the intelligent {leader will
fee, there were Three great Points furHciently
explained, to fhew the Injuftice and Oppref-
fion of the Suba, in his Attack upon the
Englijh Settlement?, even upon Reflexion in
his own Opinion, tho* far from being as pon r
clufive
the Revolution in B E tf G A L . 25
in refpeft to the Remedies and In-
demnifications, that, in confequence of fo full
a Declaration, were to be procured. The Firft
regarded the PofTefTions, Immunities, and
Privileges, conceded to the Eaft India Com-
pany, by the Royal Phirmaund, which Suraja
Dowlat acknowleged to have violated, pro-
rnifed Restitution, and undertook, in the
mofl folemn Manner, not to invade them
again. But as this was conceived only in
general Terms, thefe Rights, and the Limits
of their refpeclive Pofleffions, required a
thorough DifcufTion. The next was, as to
the Fortifications of Calcutta; the Legality
and Expediency of which he now admitted in
their utmoft Extent, as being plainly necef-
fary to the Security of the Place, the Britijh
Inhabitants, and even of the Mogul\ Sub-
jects, living under its Protection j and to this
was added, the Coinage of their own Im-
ports, in Gold and Silver, to which they had
always a Right, though it had not been ex-
erciied. The lafl was, the full and imme-
diate Compenfation, which he flipulatcd, for
all the Damages the Company, and thofe
dependent upon it, had fuftained ; but which
Jie contracted only to make, fo far as the
Produce
26 MEMOIRS of
Produce of the PJ under fhould appear to
have come into his Hands. It was evident,
therefore, that, though in Words and in Ap-
pearance much had been obtained by the
Peace, this flill depended, in a great Mea-
fure, as to the moft material Part, the Per-
formance, on the proper Settling of thefe Ar-
ticles, and the Liquidation of the Damages,
in reference to which, the Sincerity of the
Suba's Intention, and his Readinefs to execute
what he had undertaken, was almoft the
fole Security. In order to adjuft thefe Points,
without which the Treaty was of very little
Confequence to thofe ruined and undone by
the War, the Select Committee very pro-
perly made choice of Mr. William Watts,
who had been their Chief at Caffimbuzar, who
was one of the Members of that Committee,
a Perfon well known to the Nabob, and who
had been, as the Suba himfelf owned, the firft
innocent and caufelefs Victim to his Refent-
ment, or rather Caprice. His Acceptance of
this CommifTion, by which he was again to
put himfelf into the Power of this unfleady
Prince, in fo critical a Conjuncture, and
charged with fo troublefome and intricate a
Negotiation, was a very full Proof of his
Fide-
tie Revolution in BENGAL. 27
Fidelity to, and Zeal for, the Interefts of the
Company ; as it likewife was an evident Tef-
timony of the good Opinion of his Afibciates ;
who, upon mature Deliberation, invefted him
folely with fo great a Truft,
He was, indeed, in every refpect, fitted
for this Employment (had there been any
Competitor) ; an Employment, by far the
weightieft, and of the mod Confequence, of
any in Bengal. He had been many Years in the
Country j was well acquainted with the Lan-
guage, as well as accuftomed to the Manners
and Difpofition of the Inhabitants ; was much
efteemed, and had many Connections with
them. He underftood their Politics alfo, at
leaft as much as fuch fluctuating Politics as
theirs could be underftood j the true Intereft
of the Province, and the Conftitution of In-
dojlan in general, and the State of the neigh-
bouring Governments in particular. Befides,
he was perforially known to all the Mini-
fters, and had received very fingular Marks
of Efteem from the Suba himfelf. Add to
all this, that the Company, in cafe of the
Death or Refignation of Mr. Drake, had
Appointed this Gentleman to the Govern-
ment
8 M E M o i fc s of
ment of Calcutta, which, taken together,
proves, that this Choice was not the Work
of Chance or Favour, but proceeded from
mature Deliberation, and a juft Regard to
the Confequence of that Negotiation, in
which he was to be employed.
The Perplexities fpringing from fuch a Va-
riety and Complication of Matters that were
to be adjufted, the Mutability of the Suba's
Nature, and his Want of Judgment and Ex-
perience, and the Difficulties naturally ariling
in fettling the Concemons, which had been juft
extorted from him by Treaty, were not the
only Circumftances that embar railed this Ne-
gotiation. The French, perfectly well in-r
formed of every Step taken or intended, and
no lefs fkilled in the Art of Intrigue, had mod
effectually retained feveral of thole whom
the Suba frequently confulted, or chiefly
trufled, in their Interefl by gratifying them
with Prefents. They had flill a more power-
ful Tie on them than this, being in Debt
Thirteen Lack of Rupees, or upwards of One
hundred and Sixty thoufand Pounds Sterling,
to Juggut Seat, the greateft Banker in the
Empire of Indoftan> and the Second in Power
the Revolution in B E N G A L. 2p
in Bengal; to whofe Advice for many Years
pafl the Subas paid the greatefl Attention.
They very well knew, that Men might be
falfe to their Benefactors ; but they rightly
judged, that even the word of Men, more
efpecially when avaricious, would be true,
where they could not poffibly be falfe, with-
out betraying their own Intereft. Under
Circumftances like thefe, there was no Pro-
bability, indeed there was no Poflibility, of fo
much as attempting any Thing, but in the
Mode of the Court ; that is, by oppofing Cor-
ruption to Corruption, making Friends of the
Mammon of Unrighteoufnefs, and getting up-
on even Ground with thofe, with whom they
were obliged to contend.
But in order to underftand the whole of
this Matter thoroughly, we muft confider the
State that Affairs were then in, with refpet
to the two contending Nations. Advice of the
breaking out of the War, between Great
Britain and France, arrived in India > the
very Day after the Treaty was concluded with
the Suba; and of courfe opened a new Scene.
From being commercial and political Rivals,
we were now become open Enemies j a Cir-
'"mftance
b MEMOIRS*?/*
cumftance which we were very fure the*
French would improve, and which therefore
it was our Duty not to neglect. We had at
prefent a Fleet and an Army 5 for however
fmali they might be, as Matters flood, they
both deferved thofe Titles, and this gave us
great Advantages. On the other Hand, the
former was foon to quit the Coaft, and per-
haps Part of the latter, which was a great
Difadvantage. The capital Point, therefore,
vvas to avail ourfelves of them, while they re-
mained, fo as to fettle Things upon a ftable
Foundation, with regard to the French, as
well as to the Nabob, before the Seafon
came in which the Fleet was to return. In
fefpecl: to the former, the Admiral and Co-
lonel CUve, with the Afliflance of the Select
Committee, were to take the beft Meafures
-they could j and Mr. Watts was to regulate
the latter ; and his Succefs, or Want of Suc-
cefs, muft have apparently had fuch an In-
fluence upon the whole, that the Reader mofl
certainly needs not be informed, how much
depended upon his Courage, Conduct, and
Capacity.
The Intereft the French had in the Court
of
ike Revolution in BENGAL. 31
of the Suba, and their Method of acquiring
it, have been already dated. This they
would have underftood'to be barely for their
own Support and Security ; but however,
there were fbme Surmifes, that it was alfo,
and had ever been, not a little to our Preju-
dice. It was whifpered, that the Favour
mewn them, in Comparifon of the Dutch.,
after the Deftruction of our Settlements, when
he affected to fine both Nations for aug-
menting the Works about their refpeclive
Factories, was, in Confideration of their
having fecretly furnifhed Artillery, when he
marched againft Calcutta. This was a Suf-
picion in the Indies^ and as fuch only is men-
tioned j but it is very certain, that the Letters
wrote Home to Europe were entirely in
Suraja Dowlafs Favour, containing a very un-
fair, and, which was much worfe, a very
plaufible, but utterly falfe Reprefentation of
the Grounds of the Quarrel, which was pub-
limed to our Prejudice in all the foreign
Gazettes.
When Mr. Watts fet out for tbe Suba's
Refidence, he was accompanied by Omicbund>
an eminent Merchant of Calcutta, ' who was
well
jl MEMOIRS e/*
well knowrt to the Suba, and his Miniflers.'
This Merchant, Mr. Watts fent to Hughley,
to difcover, as far as he could, what were
the real Intentions of the Mbors, in cafe we
attacked Chandenagcre. He returned the next
Day, February the Eighteenth, with a very
diftind~l Account. He had been informed by
Nuncomar, the Phoufdar, 6r Governor of
Hughley, that the very Day before, Two Per-
fons, Seen Bawboo and Montrd Mullj arrived
from the Nabob, with a Lack of Rupees; a3
a Prefent to the French Factory; and alfo
with Orders to the Phoufdar, to affift the
French, if attacked ; or if they were the Ag-
greflbrs, to affift the EngliJJj. Mr. Watts
was too well acquainted with the Genius of
the Moors, and the Temper of the Suba, to
be deceived by this Shew of Impartiality. He
confidered the Prefent as a Declaration in
Favour of the French ; and the Stile of his
Orders as calculated to amufe the Englifo.
Omicbund was entirely of the fame Opinion.
Mr. Watts, therefore, advifcd the Select Com-
mittee to attack Chandenagore without Delay,
afluring them, that they had nothing to ap-
prehend from the Refentment of the Suba ;
that if once the two Nations were engaged
in
the Revolution /# BENGAL. 33
in Hoftilities, the Moors would not come to
the Succour of either ; and that after all, there
were but Three hundred Matchlock Men in
Uughley. He faw from the Beginning the
Michief that was to be feared ; and the only
Remedy that could be applied. He therefore
very freely pointed out the one, and very
warmly recommended the other. It had beea
a very happy Event, if his Counfel had been
then taken.
On the Twenty-firft of February^ in the
Evening, Mr. Watts arrived in the Camp, and
had his Audience of the Suba, who embraced
him, gave him the ftrongeft Aflurances that
every thing fhould be adjufted fpeedily, and
to his Satisfaction ; adding a Promife of the
Surpau, (Sirrapah) or Veft of Honour, which,
however, Mr. Watts declined receiving, till
they came to Muxadavad. He was very foon
fenfible of the Difficulty of his Tafk, the
Pains he mufl be at in tracing the Goods *a-
ken from their feveral Factories, the procur-
ing actual Reftitution in fome Cafes, an equi-
table Equivalent in others ; the restoring a free
Commerce, which had been flopped, by ex-
prefs Orders, from the very Beginning of die
D Trou-
34 MEMO IRS o/*
Troubles; and in doing all this, of the almofl
infurmountable Obftacles that the Mutabi-
lity of the Suba's Inclinations, the Intrigues
of the French^ the Iniinuations of Minifters,
fwayed folely by their own Interefts, would
throw in his Way. But he faw, that the
true Source of all thefe Embarraffments was
the Suba's Infmcerity, and the Scheme he had
formed of refuming his Defpotifm, in regard
to the Europeans, by borrowing their own
Afliftance, and playing one Nation againft
another, till, by the weakening of their Forces
in fuch Difputes, he became too ilrong for
both. His Project was too great for his Ca-
pacity; he did what he could to execute it,
but it was beyond his Force, and his very
manner of managing it defeated his Defign.
The public Declarations of this irrefolute
Prince, were diametrically oppofite to the
whole Tenor of his Conduct. He had no
focner concluded the Treaty with Us, than
he wrote to Admiral Watfon in the warmeft
Terms of Friendship, and in a very remark-
able Letter to Colonel Ch've affurcs him, that
our Enemies fhould be his, as he expected
tliat we mould look upon his Enemies as
ours i
the Revolution in B E N G A L. 35
ours ; and that he depended upon the Affift-
ance of the EngHJh for maintaining the future
Tranquility of his Dominions. But when
Mr. Watts communicated to him at large the
Reafons that might induce us to reduce the
French Settlement at Chandencigore^ he made
no Scruple of altering his Language. He
then faid, he would not fuffer the Peace of
his Territories to be violated by either Na-
tion ; that he would protect both, while they
remained quiet; that he would affift the
French with all his Forces, if we, after this,
ever attacked them ; and that he would join
us in like Manner, if we were attacked by
the French. All this, however, was far from
impofing on thofe who were at the Head of
our Affairs. Mr. Watts framed his Precau-
tions fo well, that he knew exactly the
Meafures which the Suba took, or was in-
clined to take, and gave the mofl early In-
telligence of them to the Select Committee,
who, from thence, were well enabled to take
their own ; by which his Schemes were
difappointed without Noife, and withont fo
much as fufpecling their having any fuch In-
formations ; though thefc came chiefly from
his own Head-Spy, who, by an Application
D i thcfe
$6 M E M O I R S of
thefe Sort of People rarely can refift, Mr.
Watts had brought over entirely to the Com-
pany's Interefts.
By comparing his private Intrigues with
fome of his more public Tranfactions, there
could not be a Shadow of Doubt left as to
his real Intentions, though he always dilTem-
bled, and often difavowed them. Immediate-
ly after his Treaty with Us, and confequently
after he knew that they were our Enemies,
he beftowed upon them very confpicuous
Marks of Kindnefs, and fuch as could- not
fail of affording Umbrage to the EngUJh. He
made them, as has been before-mentioned, a
Prefent of a Lack of Rupees in ready Mo-
ney; he cancelled an Obligation they had
given him for twice that Sum j he promifed
them the Privileges of a Mint ; he propofed
granting them a very confiderable Augmen-
tation of Territory ; and even went fo far, as
to offer them the Pofleffion of the City of
*
Ilughley. Thefe were Circumftances that
indicated their landing much in his good
Graces, or that he expected from them Ser-
vices equivalent to thefe fubflantial and ex-
traordinary Benefits. The Truth, as far as it
could
the Revolution in BENGAL. 37
could ever be discovered, was this. They, and
his Minifters in their Intereft, made him be-
lieve their Strength in his Dominions to be
very far beyond what it really was. Befides
this, they magnified their Succefles in other
Parts, and took a great deal of Pains to per-
fuade him, that Mr. Biiffy, with a very nu-
merous Army, was within a little Diftance
of his Territories, and might either fall up-
on, or come to his Support againft, any Ene-
my, according as he fhould behave towards
them. Thefe Reprcfentations, the Nature of
the Suba confidered, may in ibme meafure,
and only in fome meafure, account for the
Part that he acted.
As Mr. Watts was upon the Spot, watch-
ed every Motion of the Suba, knew exactly
the Character of his Courtiers and principal
Ministers, and had the mod certain Intelli-
gence of every thing that pailed, he con-
tinued to reprefent the Neceflity of attacking
Cbandenagore. He faw that, as far as his Ti-
midity would furler him to go, the Suba was
already united to the French. He was fatis-
fied that he dealt deceitfully wiih the Eug-
lijb -, more efpecially after Mr. Watts pyevail-
D 3 td
38 M E M O I R S of
ed on Colonel CKve to write to the Suba, in
the ftrongeft Terms, that he might confide
in him on every Occafion , and that on any
Emergency he would march at his Re-
queft to his Affiftance, againft all his Ene-
mies. After this, the Suba never mentioned
any Defire or Thoughts of demanding Aid
from the Britijb Nation. Mr. Watts was
therefore convinced that we could never
gain him ; and that, though now he tempo-
rized, he waited only a fit Seafon to act
againft us, in Conjunction with the French,
upon whom he was daily heaping Favours,
while it was with much Difficulty, and in
confequencc of repeated Soliicitations, he was
ever brought to do common Juftice to us. In
this Situation Mr. Watts exhorted the Ad-
miral, the Colonel, and the Select Commit-
tee, not to let flip this favourable Opportunity,
and to apprehend nothing from the Suba's
Refentment, who would never venture to
give them any Succours, or take an open Part
in their Favour, or to our Prejudice. But if
the Fleet was once gone, and a fair Occafion
offered, he would .as certainly embrace it,
and begin a new War, with as little Scruple
as he had done the laft, with more Advan-
tage
the Revolution ///BENGAL. 39
tage on his Side, and lefs on ours : Argu-
ments, which, though ftrong and felf-evident,
did not meet with general Acceptance.
The Select Committee, though they paid
great Deference to the Advice, and had a
very juft Senfe of the Zeal, of Mr. Watts,
for the Nation and the Company's Service ;
yet they were very unwilling to venture again
upon Hostilities, from a ftrong Sufpicion that
the Suba, whether he actually joined the
Enemy or not, would fufpend the Execu-
cution of the Treaty, renew the Interruption
of their Trade, and by that Means hinder
their Inveftments for another Year. They
knew fo well, and dreaded fo much, the Con-
.fequences that would have inevitably attend-
ed fuch an Event, that, in fpite of all Mr.
Watts could allege, they inclined to a Neu-
trality. This was an Expedient the Suba had
propofed, and was another vifible Indication
of what were his fecret and fettled Intentions.
The Sentiments, or rather the Solicitations
of the Select Committee, prevailed upon the
Admiral and the Colonel to acquiefce in this
Plan j infomuch that the latter wrote in very
ftrong and pathetic Terms to the Suba, in-
D 4 formin
4O MEMOIRS o/"
forming him, that whatever Reprefentations
of a contrary Nature he might have received,
yet himfelf was very confident, that his Forces
were able to reduce Chandenagore in Two
days j neverthelefs, in confideration of the
great Repugnancy he mewed to the difturb-
ing the Tranquility of the Province, he
would, out of pure Regard to the Suba's
Friendfhip, confent to fuch a Neutrality as
he propofed, provided it was guarantied by
him, and he folemnly undertook to act with
all his Forces againft that Nation by which
it was firft infringed.
When Mr. Watts faw, that after all he had
offered againfl it, this Point was driven thus
far, and that in all Probability it would be
fpeedily concluded, he turned his Thoughts
to the giving it flill greater Security, and with
that View advifed, that Juggut Seat mould
undertake for the due Performance of what-
ever mould be agreed upon by the French ;
which, confidering the Influence that his Debt
gave him over them, and the high Credit
in which he ftood with the Suba and his
Minifters, appeared to be the only Method of
giving to this Meafure the utmofl Confifl-
ency
the Revolution in B E N G A L. 41
ency of which it was capable. This mews
how perfectly well-difpofed Mr. Watts was
to facilitate any Step taken for the Company's
Service, though ever fo contrary to his own
Opinion ; and at the fame Time affords a
Proof of his thorough Knowlege of Men and
Things in that Country, by which he was
enabled to devife the Means of rendering this
Convention more fafe and more effectual, than
any that had been propofed by fuch as had
originally planned, and now preiTed its Exe-
cution. But though he difcovercd fo much
Integrity, and fo much Abilities in fuggefting
this additional Strength to a Neutrality, he
flill looked upon it as diametrically oppofite
to the Company's true Intereft, and as the
fingle Step that could ever put it in the Power
of the Suba and the French , to bring their
deep and dangerous Defigns to bear.
But when all fecmed to be abfolutcly fet-
tled, and nothing wanting to this Neutrality but
the concluding and iigning it in Form, the
French themfelves overturned it, by avowing
that they had no furHcicnt Authority to lup-
port an Aft of that Nature, which might be
declared invalid by their Superiors. Mr. Watts
im-
42 MEMOIRS^/"
immediately laid hold on and improved this
very unexpected Incident, by reprefenting, in
the ftrongeft Light, to the Suba, the Con-
defcenfion fhewn him by the Eritijh by ac-
cepting, and the Indignity offered to him by
the French in rejecting, his Expedient. This
had fo great an Effect, that in the firfl
Tranfport of his Refentment he directed a
Letter to be written to Vice-Admiral Watfon,
in which he tacitly permitted the Attack of
the French Factory, by recommending Mercy
to the Enemy when it mould be reduced ;
and defiring the military Operations of the
Englijh might be conducted with as little
Prejudice to his Country, or Difturbance to
his People, as it was poffible. Mr. Watts,
who had fecured the Suba's Secretary to our
Intereft, engaged him to pen this important
Epiflle in a proper Stile, fo as to permit the
Attack immediately, and to difpatch it with-
out Delay : Precautions, which were of the
utmofl Confequence, and which, in the Event,
gave us ail thofe Advantages we afterwards
reaped, and which, through the Blefling of
Divine Providence, we ftill poffefs in Bengal.
As there was great Addrefs ufed in ob-
taining
tie Revolution in BENGAL. 4.3
taining this Letter, fo it arrived in the moft
critical Conjuncture. For, notwithftanding
the French had avowed their Want of Power
to conclude an effectual Neutrality, yet fb
much were fome afraid of recurring again to
Arms, that they were ftill for accepting of
this Expedient, however precarious. Upon
this, Admiral Watjbn held a Council of War,
to conlider what was moft proper to be done ;
and it was while this Council was actually
fitting, wherein thofe who argued yet for a
Neutrality infifted chiefly upon the Suba's
Repugnancy to fee the Flame of War, fo
lately extinguished, again rekindled in his
Dominions, that this Letter was brought,
which cut die Gordian Knot, and put an End
to the Debate. How the French came to act
in this Manner, and by fo frank a Declara-
tion defeat the Scheme of the Suba, and run
themfelves upon Deftru&ion, is not eafy to
conceive. In all Probability, they did not
imagine, that even, after this, we would ven-
ture to fall upon them, and they were wil-
ling to preferve to themfclves, againft a pro-
per Seafon, the Liberty of attacking us ; or,
which is yet more probable, depended on the
Suba's exerting his whole Force, in Cafe of
our
44 ME MO i R s of
our befieging them, in their Defence -, which
would have rendered the Expedition much
more difficult. Be this as it will, the Letter
defeated all their Schemes ; and the Sequel of
the Tranfaction mewed how much better
Mr. Watts was acquainted with the Difpofition
of the Moors, and more thoroughly Ma-
fler of the Suba's Temper, and Manner of
acting, notwithftanding the Intrigues they had
been fo long carrying on in his Court, and
their having fuch Connections with his Fa-
vourites and Minifters.' But let us now
return from Reflections to Facts, and having
clearly ftated this very remarkable Stroke of
Policy, refume the Thread of our Narrative.
Vice-Admiral Watfon, Colonel Give, and
the Select Committee, came to this final Re-
folution, in the Beginning of the Month of
Marc/j y and entered with all the Diligence
and Difpatch pofiible on the neceflary Pre-
parations for this important Expedition, well
knowing that the French were not ignorant
of their own Danger, or at all remifs or care-
lefs in providing againft it. Chandenagcre> the
chief of their Settlements in Bengal, was a
Place very well fituated on the Side of the
River
the Revolution in BENGAL. 45
River, Twenty-feven Miles above Calcutta,
which is a Branch of the Ganges, at a fmali
diftancc below Hughley. The Director at this
Settlement has under him the French Com-
pany's Factories otCaffimbuzar, Dacca, Patna y
Jeuda t and Eallajbre. They prudently con-
trived, at the Beginning of the Troubles, to
flrengthen it with various Outworks and Bat-
teries, had in it a Garrifon of -Five hundred
Europeans and Seven hundred Blacks, with
fome Mortars, and near Two hundred Pieces
of Cannon mounted. They took the Precau-
tion allb to fend away fome of their Mer-
chandize, and the beft Part of their Effects,
under Colour of providing the better for their
Defence; raifcd confiderable Magazines, which
were well provided ; and made fuch Difpofi-
tions, and kept fo good a Countenance, as
impofed upon moft of the Moors, and per-
haps upon fome of themfelves. As they chiefly
feared the Squadron, they funk Two Ships,
a Ketch, a Hulk, a Snow, and a VefTel with-
out Marts, directly in the Channel, within
Gunfhot of the Fort, and laid Two Booms,
moored with Chains, acrofs the River. Be-
fides thcfe, they funk and ran on Shore Five
large Veffels, above the Fort, that they might
throw
46 ME M OIRS of
throw every Impediment poffible in the Way
of our Squadron. In confequence of thefe
military Operations, which were very judici-
oufly planned, and the beft their Circumftances
would admit, they refolved to ftand the At-
tack j but whether they had any Hopes
given them by the Suba of his Affiftance, or
whether they relied at all on his Infinuations
of Aid, in cafe they were given, could not
be learned j though he actually advanced a
Corps of Troops, as we mall fee hereafter,
which might render fuch a Conjecture not at
all improbable.
A Reinforcement of Three hundred Men
from Bombay arriving at Calcutta, Colonel
dive advanced by the River Side, with Seven
hundred Whites, and Sixteen hundred Sea-
poys, towards the French Settlement; and
with very little Lofs took PolTeffion of moft
of the Out-Pofts on the Fourteenth of March.
On the Fifteenth, the Enemy abandoned all
their Batteries, notwithstanding thefe were
very well difpofed, and in exceeding good Or-
der. He was now poflefled of every Poft
they had, but the Fort, and a Redoubt feated
between the River Side andrthe Fort Walls,
where-
the Revolution ///BENGAL. 47
wherein were mounted Eight Pieces of Can-
non, Twenty-four Pounders, Four of which
pointed down the River. The fame Day Ad-
miral Watfon failed with the Kent of Sixty-
four, the tyger and Salijbury, each of Fifty
Guns, having previoufly fent a Twenty-Gun
Ship, and a Sloop, to cover the Boats attend-
ing the Camp. On the Eighteenth, he an-
chored about Two Miles below Cbandenagore,
and the Troops on Shore being employed in
railing a Battery againft the Fort, the Wea-
ther becoming extremely foggy, and the
Impediments before-mentioned being of Ne-
ceffity to be removed, occafioncd fome De-
lay. The Firft Thing to be done was clear-
ing the River ; and the Booms being cut, and
running adrift, a proper Pafiage was foon
difcovered, by founding, and without lofing
Time in weighing the French VeiTcls. While
this was about, the brave Admiral Pocock y
who was juft arrived at Culpce in the Cumber-
land, refolving to have a Share in the Action,
came in his Long-Boat, and going on board
his Majefty's Ship the Tyger, hoifted his Flag
there. On the Twenty- third, at Six in the
Morning, the Tyger> Kent, and Satiflury,
weighed.
4,3 M E M o i R s of
weighed. About Ten Minutes after the Ene-
my began to fire from the Redoubt, but their
Artillery was foon filenced by the Tyger. Be-
fore Seven the Ships were properly ftation-
ed, and the Signal being given, the Engage-
ment began j the Firing continuing very brifk
on both Sides, till a Quarter after Nine, when
the Befieged hung out a Flag of Truce, and
the Articles of Capitulation were very quick-
ly fettled and figned. In confequence of
this, Captain Latham, of the T^yger^ was dif-
patched by Vice- Admiral WatJ'on to receive
the Keys of the Fort, into which Colonel
CUve marched with the Troops about Five
in the Afternoon. Thus Chandenagore, ac-
cording to the Scheme originally propofed,
conftantly infifted upon, and at laft render-
ed practicable by Mr. Watts > with all the
French fubordinate Settlements in the Pro-
vince of Bengal^ were reduced -, and thereby
moft of the Schemes laid for the future De-
ftruclion of Calcutta^ and the other EngKJb
Factories, rendered abortive. An Expedition,
in the firft Inftance, glorious to the Brittjh
Arms, and in its Confequences, as from the
Sequel of this Relation will appear, of the
highcft Importance.
This
be Resolution in B E tf G A L. 49
This fignal Advantage was not obtained
without fome Lofs. Admiral Pocock was
wounded, but not dangeroufly. The gallant
Captain Henry Speke, equally diftinguifhed
by the Clearnefs of his Head and the Warmth
of his Heart, who commanded the Kent, on
board which Vice-Admiral Watfon wore his
Flag, received a Wound from a Cannon Shot,
which unhappily carried away the Leg of his
Son, who deceafed fbon after, a Youth of the
moft amiable Character, extraordinary Learn-
ing, and admirable Abilities. The firft Lieu-
tenant, Mr. Samuel Per reau, and the Mafter
of the Tyger, were both killed ; the Third
and Fourth Lieutenants were alfo wounded -,
and the former died. Of the private Men
there were Thirty-two killed, and One hun-
dred wounded. The Enemy had Forty kil-
led and Seventy wounded in the Fort.
They muft be allowed to have defended
themfelves with great Spirit and Refolution,
and probably would not have fubmitted fo
foon, if they had not fuffered feverely from
Colonel dive's Batteries, and been ftill more
galled by the Fire of his Men, from the flat
Roofs of the Houfes, which in Truth made it
almoft impoffibie for them to (land to their
E Guns.
50 MEMOIRS o/*
Guns. A Part of the French Troops made
their Efcape, and marched Northwards, after
whom Colonel CKve fent a Detachment of
Six hundred Seapoys, and Vice Admiral
Watfon ordered feveral Boats up the River of
Hughley^ to feize upon whatever was French
Property j notwithstanding which, a great
deal of the Company's Effects and Merchan-
dize were concealed and carried away. This
Blow was very deciiive in reference to the
French y whofe Meafures it entirely broke, by
rendering the Schemes they had formed, with
f efpect to the Suba, utterly impracticable. On
the other hand, it releafed the Englifo from
the Apprehenfions they were under of being
again attacked in Calcutta, in cafe the Squa-
dron had left them without reducing this
Place. Thefe were fo far from being Suf-
picions lightly founded, that their Danger
was fo great and fo apparent, confidering the
Circumftances they were then in, and the
Suba's delaying to reftore their Artillery, that,
if not encouraged by this Event, they would
have been very (low in re-fettling Calcutta.
Happy as thofe immediate Effects were ! they
were hardly fo much as remembred, after the
greater Advantages that followed j which de-
mon-
the Revolution in BENGAL. 51
monftrated how juftly this Refdution was
taken, and in what a critical Conjuncture it
was executed.
We have before hinted, that, notwithftand-
ing the Suba had transmitted a Letter of Per-
miflion to Vice-Admiral Watjon to act as he
thought proper againft the French, without
which Letter the Admiral and the Colonel
would not have proceeded, nay went farther,
and recommended them to his Mercy, yet he
prefently changed his Mind. He defired Mr.
Watts to write to the Colonel, that he would
not have War made in his Country, by which
the People under his Government muft fuf-
fer, the King's Revenues be leflened, and
the Tranquility of his Dominions difturbed.
The French, who had milled him from the
Beginning, deceived him to the very laft.
They allured him, that, in the firft Attack,
the Englijh had been repulfed with Lofs, and
gave him to undcrftand, that they did DOC
doubt oblitfinz them to retire. The Suba
o O
was fo much cmbarraffed by the contradic-
tory Reports he heard, and looked upon
this Tranfaction to concern him fo nearly,
that he wrote Letter after Letter to Colonel
E 2 Ch've,
j2 MEMOIRS 0^
CKve, who is faid to have received no lefs
than Ten of them in one Day, and thefe in
very oppofite Stiles j which the Colonel an-
fwered punctually, with all the Calmnefs and
Complaifance imaginable, expreffing great
Concern at the Imprefllon which the Calum-
nies of his Enemies had made on that Prince's
Mind, and affuring him of his fincere At-
tachment, as long as he adhered to the Treaty.
At length the Suba grew fo very uneafy, that
he fent Mutrumul, in whom he faid he placed
great Confidence, to the Colonel, with Or-
ders to a<5l, if there was any room for it, as
a Mediator. But the Situation of Things at
his Arrival made fuch a Commiflion vifibly
impracticable ; which Mutrumid perceiving,
extolled the Englifo highly, and threw all
the Blame upon the French. To give Weight,
however, to this intended Mediation, Roydoo-
lub advanced, by his Matter's Command, at
the Head of Six thoufand Men, within a fmall
Diftance of Hughtey. But to prevent this from
giving any Umbrage, Mutrumid^ when the
Attack was made, allured the Colonel, that
RoydooJub had the Suba's Inftructions to obey
his Orders, which the Colonel took in ex-
ceeding good Part, and returned that Prince
Thanks
the Revolution in B E N G A L. 53
Thanks for this gracious Offer of his Aflift-
ance. The Moment the Place furrendered,
he gave Notice of it to the Suba, and afcribed
his Succefs to the Favour of Heaven and his
Excellency's Aufpice, under which hi s Arms
had been fo fortunate. A Compliment, which
the Suba knew not how to receive with even
a tolerable Grace, or to reject without giving
Offence. In reality, he had brought his Af-
fairs by this time into a very perplexed Con-
dition, of which he was fenfible, now it Was
too late j though very probably he might not
have Sagacity enough to difcern, that the
Whole of thefe Misfortunes had no other
Source than the Unfteadinefs of his Councils,
ancl the Duplicity of his Conduct. What we
have already faid will afford Proofs more
than fufficient to eftablifh this ; but as the
letting it in a clear Light will be the beft
means of explaining the Motives to the Tranf-
actions that enfucd, we hope the fubfcqucnt
Remarks will not appear tedious to the
Reader.
The Suba, wanting alike in Parts and in
Experience, unable to reject bad Counfels,
and prone to purfue his own Notions, as far
3 as
54 MEMOIRS of
as they could be carried by his Power, fhewed
plainly from the very Beginning, that he had
no formed Syftem ; and if he could be ftiled
fo at all, was certainly a bad Politician. His
fetting out was by breaking at once with all
the European Nations j which, if their reci-
procal Jealoufies of each other, and feme
other Circumftances, had not hindered, mufl
have united them all againft him, and that
Union would have rendered his Scheme abor-
tive. As thig did pot happen, it encouraged
him to take another wrong Step, by attack-
ing and deflroying the EngHJh, without hav-
ing fo much as a plaufible Pretence. This
Act of arbitrary Violence viiibly fubverted
the Foundation of his own Scheme, if it ever
had any, by proving, in the ftrongeft Manner,
that no European Nation could fubfift as Mer-
chants in his Dominions, without having
Places fo well fortified, as not to lie at his
Mercy. When, therefore, he was reduced to
the Necemty of concluding a Treaty, the very
Bafis of that Treaty was his confeffing this
laft Pofition to be well founded, and admit-
ting by his own Confent, as the only practi-
cable Grounds of Peace, what he had before
laid down as the Reafon of his taking up
Arms.
the Revolution in BENGAL.
Arms. But when he had done this, an.d,
might have been quiet, by adhering con flan t-
ly to that Treaty, he again miftook his Point.
Uniformity of Conduct was fo little in his
Conftitution, that he immediately loft all the
Advantages he feemed to have fought by that
Meafure, and which indeed were clearly al-
iened to have been the Objects he had in
View, in his Letters to Admiral Watfon and
Colonel Give, by flawing a viiible Repug-
nance to the Execution of it in every Step,
and doing that flowly and ungracefully,
which, if he had done chearfully and at once,
might have procured him the Confidence of
the Englijby and have thoroughly extricated
him from thofe Difficulties into which his
firft Errors had plunged him.
His Conduct with regard to the French
was to die full as inconfiderate, and no lefs
inconfiflent. His Kindnefs, Friendfhip, or
whatever it was towards them, was as latal
as his Averfion or DiUikc had been to the
Engtiflj, and productive of th" very fame Mis-
fortunes. He was undoubtedly impoied ;ip-
on and ^mifled by the lalic Imprefiions h>-
received from them of their Strength: L'J:
4 i.
^6 MEMO IRS o/"
in this he was inexcufable, as thefe Repre-
fentations were grounded only upon vague and
uncertain Reports of what they had done,
and of what Strength they had in other Parts
of the Indies, from whence all the Affiftance
they could give him was to be hoped, and
this againft a Power, the Weight of which
he had already felt ; and to fay nothing of the
Obligation he was under to maintain that
Peace he had folemnly confirmed by his Oath,
which was ftill at his very Doors. If he had
really intended, as he feemed very defirbus
it mould be believed it was his Intention, to
preferve Peace in his Dominions, and to pre-
vent the Englijh and French from committing
Hoftilities againft each other in them, to the
Prejudice of Commerce, in which he was
principally interefted, and which was alfo,
and was allowed to be, the common Concern
of all, he might by acting firmly have car-
ried that Point, by infifting upon a Neutra-
lity under his Guaranty, and a peremptory
Declaration that he would ftop the Trade,
and feize the Effects of that Nation, which
violated a Neutrality fo concluded ; fince un-
der this it is certain the Engli/h would have
acquiefced, and, without the Encouragement
or
the Revolution in BENGAL. 57
or Afliftance of the Suba, the French durft
not have broke it. But his Intrigues with
them, or, as many thought, a Secret Treaty,
encouraged their Director to declare, that he
was not vefted with Authority to conclude
any fuch Neutrality ; and even this, which he
always knew, he did not acknowlege, until
the Time was loft, in which he might have
obtained it from Pondicherry ; and this plain-
ly put the EngUjh under a Neceflity of ex-
erting the Force then in their Hands without
Delay, which ended in the taking Cbandcna-
gore. Here again, if he had ever had any
fettled Principle of Action, would have been
his Time to have (hewn it j for if, upon Co-
lonel C/fafs marching, he had aflifted the
French with his whole Force, he might very
probably have faved them. But as he had
hitherto been all along the Dupe of their
Politics, fo in this Inftance they were the
Dupes of his, and were facrifked to his Want
of Steadinefs and Spirit. On the whole,
therefore, it became evident, that the Suba
was more dangerous to his Friends than to
his Enemies ; and the Hazard of being hurt
lay not in oppofing, but in placing any Con-
fidence in him. A Leflbn, which, as it had
been
j8 MEMO IRS of
been taught by his firft Actions, fo, from the
Bent of a ftubborn Difpofition Events could
not correct, he took care to inculcate it from
time to time, as long as it was in his Power
to act at all.
Colonel dive ufed repeated Endeavours to
extricate him, if he would have permitted it,
out of all his Difficulties. He laboured in his
Letters to convince him, that as the Attack
and Reduction of Chandenagore proceeded
entirely from .the Behaviour of the French
themfelves, fo it could not be any-way pre-
judicial to him, or to his Subjects. He af-
fured him, that the Englifh would not fuffer
his Revenue to be impaired, by their being
Matters of the Place 5 but were difpofed, under
equitable Conditions, to re-place the Cufloms
paid by the French ; and that they were well
iatisfied with their own PofTeffions, and did not
defire to enlarge or to extend them. On the
contrary, they were ready to give him what-
ever Satisfaction he could demand, of their
Willingnefs to acquiefce under any Terms,
and to comply with fuch Meafures as mould
appear moft expedient for reftoring and pre-
ferving the Tranquility of his Country 5 that
their
tie Revolution /# BENGAL. 59
their Minds were entkety fet upon. Com/-,
merce ; that they became military merely by?
Force ; but that they mart: ardently wulied ta
retura to, and be known by him , only in,
their old Occupation of Merchants; that, as*
things flood, their Intereft rendered it abfo-
lutely requifite to expel the French out o
Bengal* to prevent new Difputes, which was
his Intereft likewife ; and that, if he- would do
it himfelf, they {hould be well fatisfied, and
confider it as a Favour. That he had been
exceedingly impofed upon, in refpect to the
Conduit of that Nation, on the Coait of Co-
romandely where the Nabobs they had eipouf-
ed were obliged to make exorbitant Grants,
in Acknowlegement fot their Afllftancc; that,
in confequence of this r they had torn away
whole Provinces, of which they were in full
Poffeflion ; while, on the other hand, the
Englijh had lent the Nabeln y with whom
they had taken Part, purely on account of
their being the King's Officers, very large
Sums of Money; with the Repayment of
which they would be well content, without
iblliciting, extorting, or even accepting any
Grants whatever. That he might from
thence judge of the Temper of die two Na-
tions,
60 MEMOIRS*?/
and the Difference that he would find in
having either of them for his Allies 3 and
that therefore, if he regarded his own Wel-
fare, he would adhere ftrictly to, and punc-
tually fulfil, the Treaty he had made j which
if he did, he might not only rely upon the
Support that had been promifed him, but
that he might be affured, he would perfon-
ally lofe the laft Drop of his Blood, and fa-
crifice the laft Man under his Command, in
his Service, againft any of his real Ene-
mies x whenever his Occafions might require
it. Vice-Admiral Watfon wrote alfo to him
to the fame Purpofe.
The Suba, who was equally diffatisfied with
and difturbed at the State of his Affairs, and
found himfelf obliged to be at a great Ex-
pence in keeping Troops in the Field, knew
not what to fay or how to act. He declar-
ed, however, pofitively, againft our reducing
the French fubordinate Factories ; would not
hear of making the Remains of their Forces
Prifoners, and delivering them up to the
Englijh j but, however, difcovered no Scruple
at all in feizing upon their Effects, under
Colour of doing it to make Satisfaction to his
own
the Revolution //* BENGAL. 61
own Subjects, who were their Creditors. At
the fame time he ordered the French to quit
his Dominions, directing them to march to-
wards Patna. He likewife paid farther Sums
of Money to the Company's Servants, and
gave them Hopes, that he would both ftrict-
ly and fpeedily fulfil his Treaty in every re-
fpeft. In regard to the Artillery, which he
did not 'reftore, he alleged, that he was dif-
trefled himfelf for want of Cannon, and was
willing to purchafe them. In this manner
things went on for a Month or Six Weeks,
during which Space every Method was prac-
tifed that could leflen his Apprehenfions, or
free him from that Terror which he feemed
to have of the Englijh advancing their Forces
into the Heart of his Country. He was
even permitted, upon a Rumour that the Gar-
rifon of Cajpmbuzar was augmented to Five
hundred Men, to fend his own Officers to in-
fpeft it, who found and reported, that there
was not above a Tenth Part of the Number.
The fame Compliances were made in many
RefpecU
But in the midft of thefc Compliances and
Concefiions, inftead of growing milder and
better
tfi MEMOIRS of
better difpdfed, the Siiba fhewed very evident
Marks of his being more and more exafpe-
rated againfft thofe who gave them. He
fell again to caballing with the French ; and
inftead -of compelling thofe who had efcaped
to quit his 'Country, as he engaged exprefsly,
he took that' little Body of Men, which were
about Patnciy into his Pay, at the Rate of
Ten thoufand Rupees a Month, of which
Mr. Watts procured the Intelligence, and
communicated it to the Committee. He
turned all his Attention towards Mr. Bitffy,
who, as he was made to believe, had an
Avrny of Twenty thoufand Men, and with
which he might march fpeedily into his Do-
minions. When thefe Rumours at any time
iiink, he was more tractable ; but as foon as
they revived, he became as imperious and as
much out of Humour as ever. Vice- Admiral
'Watfon having fent him feveral preffing Let-
ters, exhorting him to aft fuitable to his Dig-
nity, agreeable to his own Interefts, for the
Good of his Subjects, to give no Ear to idle
Reports, to accomplifh his Promifes, and
fulfil the feverai Articles of his Treaty, he
gave no Anfwers to them, but complained that
they wrote in fo fevere a Stile, that he knew
not
tie Revolution in BENGAL. 63
not how to reply to them. At length his
Uneafmeffes, Jealoufies, and Sufpicions, rofe
fo high, that he ordered all the Boats to be
fearched that came up to Cajfimbuzar, and
publickly declared, that if any Powder or
Ammunition was found aboard, that he
would order the Nofes and Ears of the Wa-
termen to be cut off, which was a direct
Breach of his Treaty. He could not help
knowing, that this Method of acting muft
have a very difadvantageous Effect upon the
Affairs of the EngUJIj in his Dominions, and
impede and perplex their Commercial Tranf-
adtions exceedingly. He could not be igno-
rant that this would diminim his own In-
come, diftrefs his Subjects, and leffen both
their Subfiftence and their Induftry. But
alas ! he was fo much under the Dominion
of his Paflions, that he coniidered only gra-
tifying his Caprice j and acting from no Mo-
tive, could difccrn no Confequences. Hap-
lefs as a Man ! more haplefs as a Prince ! he
had as little Fear of falling into Difficulties,
as, when fallen, he had Skill to get out of
them.
An Attempt has been already made to
give
64 MEMOIRS 0/*
give the Reader fome Idea of the melancholy
and mortifying Situation of Mr. Watts^ who
refided on the Part of the Company at the
Suba's Court, whofe Perplexities daily in-
creafed, and whofe Anxieties hourly multi-
plied, though they had not yet reached to
thofe Circumftances of Difguft and Diftrefs
that they afterwards did. He faw himfelf
almoft conftantly on bad Terms with that
Prince, and of courfe upon no good ones
with his Minifters and Favourites. The Suba
never forgave him extracting that important,
and, as he conceived it, fatal Letter of Per-
miffion to Admiral Watfon j to which, with-
out much Injuftice, he afcribed folely the at-
tacking and taking Chandenagore. It was from
Mr. Watts he received, from Day to Day,
thofc grating Remonftrances that fo much
difpleafed him, and thofe admonitory Letters
that made (till a deeper Impreffion. He
ought, in Striclnefs, to have confidered
him, on thefe Occafions, as the Inftru-
ment only of the Company ; but his Warmth
and Afliduity in all thefe frequent Applica-
tions, made the Suba look no farther than
himfelf He was obliged to confer with him
daily, and, if he was abfent, called for him,
as
the Resolution in BENGAL. 65
Ss being uneafy if he mi/Ted him, whence
of courfe he beheld him often, and yet but
very feldom with a gracious Eye. Mr. Watts
faw, felt, and underftood thefe numberlefs
Inconveniencies, to which he was expofed,
and which, as we have obferved, heightened
upon him every Hour. But the Confolation
he derived from the kind Letters of Admirp.l
Watfon and Colonel C7/W, who had a true
and lively Senfe of his Services and Sufferings,
kept up his Spirits, and enabled him to pur-
fue his Bufinefs with a Vivacity that entirely
Concealed, though it could not remove, but
rather augmented, his interior Chagrin. Befides 1
this, he had another Satisfaction, which was
getting moft Part of the Treaty executed, tho'
with infinite Trouble j and this procured him
the hearty Approbation of the Select Com-
mittee, who were now convinced, that he not
only did all that could be done, but more
than moft Men could have done in his Sta-
tion. As ill as he was treated by him, he
continued to render the Suba many good
Offices ; giving the Committee to understand,
that, in all human Probability, they fhould
gradually obtain all that they defired, and
that therefore they mould not be impatient.
F He
66 M E M o i R s of
He prevailed alfo upon Colonel Clfoe to pro-
mife the Suba from time to time his Affiil-
ance ; and he laboured more inceffantly to
convince that Prince, that, if he would con-
fide in the JLngHJh> he had no Reafon to
fear either foreign or domeftic Enemies, with
which, when he thought himfelf in Danger,
he was well enough pleafed ; but when that
was in any Degree over, he mewed a vifible
Uneafinefs at his having confeiTed that he
flood in need of fuch Afliflance,
The Storm, that had been gathering from
the Beginning of Marcb 3 began to burft
about the latter End of April^ and in the
Opening of the Month of May -, when the
Suba, in fudden Starts of Pamon, mewed the
Rancour of his Heart, and teftified fufficient-
ly, that he waited only for an Opportunity
to make the Englifo feel a fecond Time the
heavy Weight of his Refentmcnt. As he
never affigncd any Caufes himfelf, but on
the contrary, even in this Interval, and in the
miuil of Actions inconiiitent with thofe De-
clarations, afTerted his Intention to fulfil
his Treaty, and appealed to God and his Pro-
phet for the Truth of it 5 we muft own it is
extremely
the "Revolution in B E N G A L. 67
extremely difficult to guefs at his Reafons.
They appear, however, to have been chiefly
Three ; Firft, the perpetual Infmuations of
the "French^ that Mr. Bu/Jy might be brought
to his Affiftance ; and that, by a Junction
with his Troops, he would be greatly fu-
perior to the Englift - y and to this Meafure he
was fo much inclined, that he actually wrote
a Letter to that Officer, in which he pro-
mifed him Twenty Lack of Rupees, if he
would march directly into his Dominions,
of which Mr. Watts alib gave the Intelligence.
The next Thing was, the Compliances that
had been made with a View of gaining hirn,
the recalling moft of the Troops from Cban-
denagore, the permitting him to keep the
Cannon, to fcarch the Factory of Caflim
buzar^ and the warm and tender Expreffions
of Friendfhip in Colonel C//Ws Letters, with
the high Teflimonies of Reverence and Re-
fpect paid him, whenever he was pleaied to
be in a good Temper, or to profefs his Dif-
pofition of adhering to his Engagements.
The laft was, the Retreat of the Patans, who
had fhewn an Intention to invade his Terri-
tories, and the putting an End to the Trou-
bles cccafioned by the My Raj ah > by which
F 2 ' hs
68 M E M O I R S of
he thought himfelf in a Condition to employ
all his Forces, and was likewife fecure of
having the French to manage. his Artillery,
tvith which they made him believe they could
perform Wonders. In thefe Circumftances
he was fo very elate, as not to make any
Scruple (though a direct Breach of his Faith)
of interrupting the Engtijh Commerce, keep-
ing his Army in the Field, though he had
moft folemnly promifed the contrary, and
fometimes expreffing a formal Defign of
fending back the Treaty that had been fign-
ed with him, and demanding his own. In
fuch a State of Things it was evident, that
the Company could not rely upon him, or
confider themfelves in any Degree of Security,
farther than as they were fupported by the
King's Squadron and Forces ; and as their pre-
fent Condition was very precarious, fo their
future Profpecl was ilill more gloomy and
alarming ; and though as yet they were not
in a flate of War, they could not, however,
with any Propriety, be faid to be in Peace.
The Vice-Admiral and Colonel Ctive
were exceedingly embarraficd, and found it
very (liilicult to judge what Meafures they
were
tlx Revolution /^BENGAL. 6p
were to take. If they advanced their Forces,
or refumed their military Preparations, it
might, in Appearance, juftify the Suba's Be-
haviour; and befides, Mr. Watts and the
Select Committee both difluaded any Steps
of this kind, as inconiiftent with the Com-
pany's Concerns, at leaft till they had fecured
the Money and Effects of the fevcral Subordi-
nates. On the other hand, they faw that Com-
pliances did more Harm than Gocd, and that
their Profeffions of adhering inviolably to the
Peace, and their repeated Promifes of Friend-
^fhip aad Afiiftance, only flattered the Suba's
Pride, heightened his Notions of his own
Power, and encouraged him to act with greater
Violence and Infolence, of which they had
but too many, and thofe flagrant Inftances.
Colonel C/ive, however, took on one Side
every Method that was neceflary to dcrnon-
ftrate his pacific Inclination, and how fmcere
his Intentions were to reilore and preferve the
Tranquility of the Provinces, defifting from
his Demands that the French mould be de-
livered up, from the repairing the Fortifica-
tions at Caffimbuxar, or reinforcing the Gar-
rifon. At the fame time, he wrote in
F 3 very
70 MEMOIRS of
very plain Terms to the Suba, told him his
Thoughts of his Proceedings, the Concern
they gave him, and the Determination he
had taken, to recur to open Force^ whenever
he found, from his Manner of acting, that
no other Remedy was left, and that it was
entirely in his Power to have him for a Friend
or an Enemy. In the very Height of thefe
Difputes, the Suba demanded an ample Ac-
quittance, under the Seal of the Governor
and Select Committee, and thofe alfo of the
Vice- Admiral and Colonel. To this the lat-
ter wrote him for Anfwer, that it was ftrange
he fliould demand, or expect fuch an Ac-
quittance, when he very well knew, that fe-
veral of the Articles were ftill unperformed ;
that many Lacks of Rupees were due to the
Company, in Satisfaction of their LofTes ;
that the Reftitution of Thirty-eight Villa-
ges, which they claimed, had not yet been
made; and that their Commerce in general
was dill interrupted. But as his Demand
might irply a Refolution to fettle all thefe
Points, and as it was hoped this was really
the Cafe, fuch an Acquittance mould be
immediately prepared, and tranfmitted to
Mr,
tbe Revolution in BENGAL. 71
Mr. Watts, with exprefs Orders to deliver
it, as foon as the Articles hitherto unadjufted
were once thoroughly fettled.
This, however reafonable in itfelf, was
by no means acceptable to the Suba, who,
in Proportion as he loft all feeming Regard,
though really he never had any for the Vice-
Admiral and the Colonel, towards both of
whom he had once profefTcd fo much Efleem,
kept no longer any Mcafures towards Mr.
WattS) whom he looked upon as a Man he
could not deceive, as a Man whom he hated
for that Reafon, and, which was an additional
Motive to his Refentment, though it mould,
if his Mind had corrcfponded with his Rank,
have reftrained it, as a Man abfolutely in his
Power. In order to execute the various
Commiffions with which he was charged
O
more punctually, Mr. JPaffs y according to the
Cuftom of Indoflan, had employed a Pcrfon
to act as his Agent, in the Language of the
Country, a VaquccL Him, in the firft Fit
of his Fury, the Suba forbid his Court. An
Affront very grofs in India, though in Ap-
pearance, and to us, unacquainted with their
Cuftoms, a very flight Thing, but it was quick-
F + ly
72 MEMOIRS o/"
ly followed by perfonal Infults, and thofe of
the moft ferious Nature. At laft, forgetting
the Refpect due to the Britifo Crown, to Mr,
Watts' s Character as Refident from the Eaft
India Company, and his own Dignity, he told
feveral of his principal Miniflers, with a View
that they mould, as they really did, tell it
Mr. Watts again, that, upon the firil Intelli-
gence he had of the Motion of the Englijh
Troops, he would cut off that Gentleman's
Head, or caufe him to be impaled. This
was fuch an Outrage on the Law of Nations
as was inconfiftent with the Rank of a Prince,
and mull:, by the Rules of common Senfe,
leave any Man in his Circumftances at Li-
berty to take the Methods that appeared to
him fafeft for his own Prefervation. Upon
this Occafjon Mr. Watts acted with a Degree
of Temper and Calmnefs that muft furprize
the Reader. He wrote an Account of the
facts to the Governor, without any Exaggera-^
tion, adding, that he defpifed the Suba's
Threatenings, and defned the Select Com-*
mittee would proceed as the Company's In-
tereft directed, and without putting themfelves
in Pain for his Safety. A Circumftance that
would not have been infrrted in thefe Me-,
'moirs,
the Revolution in B E N G A L . 73
jnoirs, if the Perfon was not alive to whom
that Letter was addreffed.
The Gentlemen entrufted with the Direc-
tion of Affairs, faw plainly the Tendency of
the Suba's Proceedings. Indeed they were fo
evident, as to fill all the Inhabitants of Cal-
cutta with Alarms, that were but too well
founded. Experience had already taught
them, how far the Caprice of the Suba might
go j and it was no way improbable, that if
they were fo unhappy as to fall again under
his Power, they might, if pofTible, meet with
flill worfe Treatment, which induced them
to make the beft Provifion they could for
their Defence j and to put the Troops into
fuch Condition, as that, whenever Neceffity
required, they might be able to repel Force
by Force. At the fame time, however, it
was refolved, not to precipitate any thing, to
act with the utmoft Caution, and to lay hold
of any favourable Opportunity that might
offer, towards furniming Means to extricate
them from thefe Perplexities.
Calcutta was not the only Place where
Doubts and Apprehenfions reigned. They
were
74 MEMOIRS 0f
were to the full as ftrong in Muxadavad^ witli
this additional and diftinguifhing Circum-
ftance, that Difcord fpread itfelf through the
Suba's Court, where the only Oracle that
every Man confulted was his own Intereft.
Reverfes of Fortune were equally fudden and
frequent. The Courtiers that were in the
higheft Favour To-day, were To-morrow in
the very Depth of Difgrace. No Man was
fecure, and therefore no Man was contented ;
and which is, and will be always the Cafe in
corrupt Courts, the worft Men had the beft
Chance. Thofe who had nothing to lofe,
had all Things to expect ; and by flattering
their Prince's Humour, and complying blind-
ly with all his Commands, the meanefl and
bafeft People about him grew quickly the
moft confidcrable. Thofe who had been in
the Old Suba's Councils and Confidence, who
were Men of Rank and Family, and who
had both Eftates and Reputations to rifque
were, from thofe very Circumflances, Male-
contents. They faw that this Syflem could
not laft long j that a general Confufion mull
cnfue ; and that a Man, governed entirely by
his Pailions, could never carry on public Af-
fairs with any Degree of Succefs, But thefe
Re-
the Revolution in BENGAL. 75
Reflections, which their own good Senfe and
long Experience fuggefted to them, ferved
only to difturb and to diffract, without afford-
fording them the leaft Glance of extricating
either him or themfelves from that impending
Ruin, which his rafh and raw Meafures
rendered inevitable. They perceived plainly
enough each other's Sentiments, from that
Tincture which they naturally gave to every
One's Language and Behaviour j but they had
no Confidence at all amongft themfelves, and
every Man was afraid of battening his own
particular Fall, by difclofing or lamenting the
Approach of that common Deftruction, which,
however vilible to their Underftandings, was
by no means a fit Subject for their Conver-
fation.
But in the midft of thefe Perplexities a
Ray of Hope very unexpectedly appeared.
The Suba had flicwn the Severity of his
Nature, in fo many Inftances, as to ftrike
a univerfal Terror ; more efpecially as the
Ficklenefs of his Difpofition fuftcrcd no Man
who was near him, and in his Power, to
think himfclf fafc. In luch a State of gene-
ral Danger, there occurcd to every One, ca-
pable
yd MEM o IRS of
pable of thinking freely (the only Species of
Liberty that even Tyrants Favourites retain)
but one fingle Mode of Security, which con-
fifted in depriving him of his Power, who
fo constantly, as well as egregioufly abufed it.
The Conception of this availed little, iince
the Attempt was equally difficult and dan-
gerous; and the failing in it fure to be at-
tended with fudden and certain Deftruction.
There was alfo but one way to move, or ra-
ther to leflen the Rifk ; and this alfo was
very eafily difcovered. It was procuring the
Countenance and the Affiftance of the Eng-
lijh. Such as were in the Suba's Confidence,
and from that very Circumftance moft afraid
of him, were perfuaded they could merit
very much from the Company's Servants, by
laying open his Secrets, and thereby mewing
them, what thefe People thought they did
not in the leaft fufpect, the Danger to which
they flood expofed. Amongft feveral who
reafoned thus in their own Breads, there was
one who had a confiderable fhare of Intereft
and Authority. His Name was Godar Tar
Caivn Laitty> who, when he had for fome
time meditated, and in his own Mind tho-
roughly digefted his Scheme, thought it wore
fa
the Revolution in B E K o A L. 77
Ib fair an Appearance, that he fent feveral
Meflages to Mr. Watts, fignifying that he had
fomething to communicate to him of great
Importance : But the Suba kept fo many Spies
upon that Gentleman, and thofe Spies watch-
ed him fb very clofely, that it was limply
impofiible to comply with Godar Tar Cawn
Laittys Requeil of having an Interview with
him, becaufe it was evidently rifking the ut-
ter Ruin of both. Some Days, therefore,
elapfed, before an Expedient could be found
to remove this troublefome Obftacle, and to
give Mr. Watts the necefTary Information of
what were this Perfon's real Intentions, and
what the Means by which he propofed to
carry them into Execution.
He at length thought proper to fend to
him Omicbund, who has been mentioned be-
fore, in order to draw what Lights he could
from this difcontented Confident of the Suba,
who, after he had conferred with him, re-
ported, that he knew with Certainty his Ma-
fler's fettled Intentions were to break with
and to attack the E?igtiJJ:, as foon as lie had
a favourable Opportunity j that he likewifc
knew the Suba had retained the French, who
had
jS MEMOIRS 0f
had efcaped from Chandenagore, and in the
fubordinate Factories, in his Service, who were
to remain at Patna in his Pay, till an Occa-
fion could be found for employing them ;
that the EngKJh had no Method of prevent-
ing this threatening Tempeft from breaking
upon their Eftablifhments, but by providing
in Time a Force fufficient to refill: it ; that
he was willing, whenever the Suba mould
recur to open Hoftilities, to join Us, and act
againil him, provided we would affifl him in
afTuming the Government of the Province ;
that in return for this, he would, as foon as
he was fixed in that Office, grant, by way of
Recompence, a large Extent of Lands to the
Company, and would like wife pay down a
Sum in ready Money, fufficient to indemnify
the People of Calcutta for all the Loiles they
had fuftained. Thefe were Communications
of fo dangerous as well as fo delicate a Na-
ture, that they would infallibly have turned
a weak Head, or distracted a timid Mind.
They were received calmly and cooliy, as
Points of Information, in regard to which
Mr. Watts could take no Step of himfelf, but
from which the Perfons who had communi-
cated them had nothing to fear; and with
thefe
the Revolution in BENGAL. 757
thefe Affurances, fuch was their Opinion of
his Secrecy, Sagacity, and Steadinefs, that they
remained perfectly fatisfied and eafy, leaving
him fufficient Leifure to confider and reflect
upon thefe very extraordinary Overtures, and
to review and digeft the Thoughts that muft
naturally arife upon fo important a Subject.
But, however, retrained him within the Com-
pafs of Six Days, to procure for this Moorijf)
Officer an Anfwer, from thofe who were en-
trufted with the Management of the Com-
pany's Affairs at Calcutta.
The Situation of Mr. Watts in this Con-
juncture, is much more eafy to conceive than
to defcribe. He was opprefied with Cares,
environed with Perils, and had not fo much
as a fingle Perfon with whom to communi-
cate or to confult. His own Safety, the Wei-
fare, and even the Being of the Britifo Set-
tlements, and indeed the future Fate of thefe
Provinces, depended, at lead in the firft In-
flance, on his Capacity, Penetration, and Dif-
crction. It was a very arduous Tafk to form
any clear Opinion upon this Offer ; it de-
manded much Skill to fet the Motives upon
which fuch an Opinion muft be founded in
their
8o MEMOIRS^
their proper Light; and,when all this Was dorie^
it appeared infinitely hazardous to tranfrhit
Proportions of this Nature, together with his
Thoughts upon them, to Calcutta, while a
jealous Prince, in a Country where the Cha-
racter of a Spy is not dishonourable, had
Multitudes of fuch State Implements about
him, all filled with the Hopes of rifing upon
his Ruin. But though perfectly fenfible of
all this, as he muft have been to counteract
their Vigilance, he boldly undertook, and as
happily performed, all that the Confidence
repofed in him, or his Duty to the Company
could demand. He flated fully the Nature
rf
of thefe Overtures, the Suba's Difpofition at
the Time, the Characters and Credit of the
principal Officers about him, their Tempers,
Circumftances, and Connections, the Proba-
bility that fuch a Defign might be carried
into Execution, the Hazards to which it mail
be expofed, and the Methods moft proper
to avoid them. But when he had done all
this, he added no direct Judgment of his
own. He contented himfelf with giving
Lights, without venturing to pronounce
what Meafure ought to be taken. He had
frequent Experience of the Regard paid by
them
the Revolution in BENGAL. 81
them to his Sentiments, from his having com-
monly fent them the Draughts of the Letters
to the Suba, which being tranfmitted back to
him, he prefented to that Prince ; but he
held this to be a Matter too difficult, as well as
too delicate for him to determine. He knew
very well there was no fmall Danger in De-
lay; but he likewife knew, that there was ftiU
more Danger in a rafh Decifion, and there-
fore he gave none. The Select Committee
concurred with him in this ; they entertained
the Morion, commended his Caution, fug-
gefted that he fhould continue to keep Things
in Sufpenfc, but directed him by all Means to
avoid concluding any Thing, till he mould
receive their future Directions in a Thing of
fo great Weight.
It was not long after this, that Meer Jaf-
fclr Aly Caivn, a Perfon of great Diftinction,
who had married the Sifter of Al'werdy Cawn,
the Suba's Grandfather and Predeccfibr, fent
one in whom he could perfectly confide to
Mr. Watts, to difclofe what were his real
Opinions, and how very fhort a Space he
thought was like to intervene, before
the Suba took the Field once more,
G agaiufl
82 MEMOIRS c/"
againft the Engtijh. This Perfon had it far-
ther in Commiffion to reprefent, that the
Difaffedtion of the principal Officers, Civil
and Military, was in a manner general j that
Meer Jaffeir never appeared in the Suba's
Prefence, without Fear of being affaffinated j
and that for this Reafon, whenever he was
conftrained to go, he always caufed his Forces
to be drawn out, under Arms, with his Son
at their Head. In the Clofe of his Dif-
courfe, he added, that a Determination was
already taken, to depofe, for their own Sakes,
Suraja Dowlat; and that if the Engtijh would
engage with, and promife to fupport, another
Perfon, in afTuming the Dignity of Suba,
Rahim Caivn, Roydoolub, and BahadarAly Caivn,
were ready to join Mcer Jaffa'?*, in removing
Suraja Dow/at, whofe Affairs would be then
in a very defperate Situation. Mr. Watts
tranfmitted the Detail of this Converfation
alfo to Colonel dive, and gave it as his own,
Opinion, that Meer 'Jaffeir was by far the
propereft Perfon to be elevated to that Rank,
as his Abilities were greater, his Reputation
better, and his Connections more extenfive
than thofe of Laitty. He at the fame time
acquainted the Colonel, that if this Change
was
tie Revolution in B E N G A L. 83
to be accerhplimed by their Forces, as
he much doubted, whether, after all, the
Moors had Spirit enough to attempt fo extra-
ordinary an Enterprize themfelves, it would
be right to form the Outlines of a new
Agreement, of which the old one ought to
be the Ban's ; and to frame fuch additional
Articles, as might effectually indemnify the
Company for the Rifk they ran, and procure
an ample Satisfaction for the Loffes private
Perfons had fuftained, in the Devaftation of
'Calcutta, of which no Care had been taken
in the former Treaty; and that, in fhort,
nothing fhould now be omitted, that might
put their Affairs for the future upon a firm
and (table Eftablimmcnt ; fo that, in cafe of
Difturbances in the Country, the Servants of
the Company, and thofe who depended on
it, might be in a Condition to protect them-
felves.
As thefe Tranfactions were of a very deli-
cate Nature, and were to be conducted with
much Difcretion, and of courfc with fome
Delay, the Suba had a Seafon of Recefs, in
which, by a Change of Meafurcs, he might
have recovered his Authority, have relettledhis
G 2 diflradcd
84 MEMOIRS of
diftracled Government, and repaired all big
paft Errors. He not only neglected this en-
tirely, but continued acting, in every refpect,
as if he had aimed at his own Destruction.
He endeavoured to negotiate Succours from
fome of his Neighbours, who, though they
knew not the Weaknefs of his Condition, and
therefore civilly entertained his Propofals, had
however fuch an Opinion of the Weaknefs
of his Conduct, that nothing could induce
them to enter into his Meafures. He con-
tinued correfponding with Mr. Bujfy, from
whom he received Letters, which ferved to
Support and increafe his Delufion, and to flat-
ter him with the Hopes of feeing an Army
of Twenty thoufand Men in his Dominions,
which, could he have brought them, would
have tended only to have impoverished his
Subjects, and to have given him new Ma-
flers, under the Title of old Allies. He
was courted all this time by Colonel Clive
to lay down his Arms, to fettle the few re-
remaining unaccomplished Articles in the
Treaty, and, above all, to put the Trade of
his Territories into its ufual Channel, for
the common Benefit of the Europeans and
.the Natives, To thefe Solicitations he gave
no
the Revolution in B E N G A L. 85-
ho Anfwers, or fuch as afforded no fort of
Satisfaction j but, on the contrary, indicated
very plainly, by every Step he took, that he
meditated new Diflurbances, and waited for
what (hould appear to him a favourable Oc-
cafion for renewing the War. In reference
on the other hand, to his own People, he
grew every Day more and more intolerable,
removing, difgracing, infulting, thofe whom
he had formerly treated with the greateft
Marks of Favour and Refpect, and of whom
feveral fled privately and in Difguifc to feek
Shelter in the Englijh Territories, and parti-
cularly in that of Cajflmbuzar. By this Be-
haviour he not only augmented the Difaffec-
tion that had already fpread fo far amongft
his Servants, but likewifc furnifhed fo many
and fuch authentic Proofs of his having flill
the fame Points in V r iew, that he had at his
Entrance on the Adminiftration, and of the
Obftinacy of his Averfion to the JLnglijl^ fo
contrary to the Mutability of his Temper in
every thing elfe, that it contributed exceed-
ingly to fortify the Sentiments of thofc, who
maintained, that* the Peace of that Part of
India could never be effectually rcflored, fo
long as he held the Supreme Power.
G 3" After
$6 M E M O I S of
After the Propofitions made by Mr. Watt*
had been duly canvaffed, and their Impor-
tance maturely confidered, by the Select
Committee, who upon this Occafion framed
and took an Oath of Secrecy, they were
unanimoufly approved, and the Project or
Draught of a new Treaty was tranfmitted to
him. But at the fame time there was great
Latitude left, in cafe of Objections; and he
was requefted to procure as many and as
large Conceffions as might be, in cafe he
found it impracticable to obtain every one of
the Conditions in the full Extent that they
defired. Indeed they relied fo entirely upon
him, that a Blank was left for the Company's
Demand in their Draught of the Treaty for
him to fill up j and how it was filled up,
\vill appear from the Treaty itfelf. This
was not only expedient but neceflary, as he
was upon the Spot, knew the Perfons with
whom he was treating, their Connections
and Circumftances, and the Motives which
might render any of thefe Demands agree-
able or difagreeable. The ufe Mr. Watts.
made of this Confidence was fuch as it de-
ferved, and turned not a little to the Advantage
of thofe who gave it. He was himfelf per-
3 fectty
the Revolution in B E N G A L. 87
jfe&Iy fenfible, and took all imaginable Pains
to make thofe he dealt with no lefs fenfiblc,
that, notwithftanding this Change was for
their mutual Benefit, yet the Weight, the
Hazard, and the Expence, would fall prin-
cipally at leaft, very probably wholly, upon
the Engtijh. He reprefented, therefore,
effectually, that for fuch extraordinary Aflift-
ance, which alone could put the Means of
making it into their Power, a proper Satif-
faction ought in Juftice to be made, and that
this fuitable Satisfaction mould be made like-
wife in a proper Manner. He was appre-
henfive alfo, upon this Head, that-a.falfe De-
licacy might produce future Difputes, and
therefore very prudently provided, that the
unliquidated Demands in the Sketch mould
be reduced to a Certainty. He alfo enlarged
the Sums ftipulatcd for the Lofles of private
Perfons, "and diftinguimed them under Na-
tional Heads ; that, if poflible, no Jealoufies
or Heart-burnings might arife in the Colony,
when they came to be actually paid.
The fureft as well as the fhortcft Method
of fetting this Matter in a true Light, and
G 4 that
88 MEMOIRS of
that will at once place it in the ftrongeft, is to
infert the original Plan of the new Alliance,
as tranfmitted to Mr. Watts, and then the
Project fettled by that Gentleman, which the
Reader will hereafter have an Opportunity of
comparing with the Alliance concluded.
Copy of the ARTICLES of Agreement
fent by Colonel Clive to William
WattSy Efq; May 2, 1757.
AN Alliance offenfive and defenfive againft
all Enemies : The French Fugitives to be
taken and delivered up to us ; all their Fac-
tories to be delivered up to us, in order to
be deftroyed; the French never to be per-
mitted to re-fettle in this Subafhip; in Confi-
deration of which, the EngKJh Company will
annually pay the Amount of Duties ufually
paid into the King's Treafury on the French
Trade, or a Sum not exceeding Fifty thou-
fand Rupees annually.
Pveftitution of the Company's Lofs, by the
taking of Calcutta, and their Out Settlements ;
alfo Reftitution for the LolTes of all Europeans
z by
'the Revolution in B E N G A L. 89
by Ditto, as may be ftated fairly by Admiral
Watfon, the Governor, Colonel C/ive, William
Watts, Efq; Major Kilpatrick, and Mr. Becber.
Blacks and Armenians are not included.
That the whole of our Phirmaund b
complied with, and all other Grants made to
us, particularly in the Treaty with Suraja
Dowlat.
That the Bounds of Calcutta are to extend
the whole Circle of Ditcbdug, upon the In-
vafion of the Marattes ; alfo Six hundred
Yards without it, for an Efplanade.
The Inhabitants within our Bounds to be
entirely fubject to the TLnglifo Laws and Go-
vernment.
That we have Liberty to fortify and gar-
rifon our Factories of Caffimbuzar and Dacca^
as we think proper, and a fufficient Efplanade
be granted us round each.
That Convoys to and from one of our
Settlements to another, be permitted to pals
without Interruption or Moleftation.
That
go MEMOIR s' of
That the Moors (hall erecfc no Fortifica-
tions wifhin Twenty Miles of the River
Side, from Hughley to Ingeke.
That a Tr a& of Land- be made over to the
ILnglifo Company, whofe Revenues mall be
fiifficient to maintain a proper Force of Euro-
peans and Seapoys, to keep out the "French-*
and affiil the Government againft all Enemies.
That whenever the Englifo Troops are
called to the afliftance of the Government,
that the extraordinary Expences of the Cam-
paign, be made good by the Government.
That an Englifo Gentleman, in Quality of
Envoy, be permitted to refide at Court, and
he treated with due Refpect.
Minutes of the Treaty, by Mr. Watts ^
May 14, 1757.
I. That he will confirm all the Grants the
former Nabob made us,
II. He will make an Alliance with the Eng-
lijhj offenfive and defenfive, againft all
Enemies, either Natives or Europeans
III. What-
the Revolution In BENGAL. 91
III. Whatever French are in his Provinces of
Bengal \ Babar, or Orixa, to be de-
livered up with all their Houfcs and
Factories, and they never permitted
to fettle more in either of thofe
Provinces.
IV, On Account of the Company's?
Lofs* I lCrorc '
*, The Rupee is a Silver Coin, ftruck in the Mcghol's
Mints, with an Infcription of his Name and Titles, the
Year of his Reign, and the Pkce at which it was ftruck.
It weighs from 7 dw. 10 j gr. to 7 dw. 1 1 gr. and the
Proportion of Allay to fine Silver, is as I or 2 to 100.
One hundred thoufand Rupees make a Lack, One hundred
Lacks a Coroe or Crore, One hundred Crores an Arrib.
TABLE of RUPEES.
2 M E M O I R $ of
V. On Account of the Lofles of? T T
Europeans _po Lack.
VI. Ditto Jentooivs 30 D.
VII. Ditto Armenians - ioD.
VIII. Ditto for Omichund 30 D.
IX. Whatever Ground there is within the Cal-
cutta Ditch, belonging to the Zemin-
dars, to be given to the EngHJJj, and
Six hundred Yards without the Ditch
all round.
X. A Tract of Land, whofe Rents in the
King's Books amounts to 100,000
Rupees Yearly, to be bought at a rea-
fonable Value, from the Zemindary }
and the Nabob to afllfl us in the
Purchafe, we paying the annual Pif-
ca(h or Revenue, as ufual, to the Na-
bob. Whatever Profit may arife from
this Zemindary, is to go towards
paying our Military.
XI. Whenever the Nabob wants the Aflift-
ance.
the Revolution in BENGAL. pj
ance of our Troops, the extraordi-
nary Expence to be paid by him.
His Plan of the Treaty was returned, with
Alterations : Some of the Articles were mo-
dified, and a Blank left for the Company's
Demand, that in cafe Meer Jaffcir fhould
think it too extravagant, Mr. Watts might
have Liberty to moderate it, and he was
defired to get it carried into Execution ; but
it will appear in the Treaty itfclf, which will
be hereafter given, that Mr. Waits got the
Treaty executed, without any Deduction or
Modification. This was a Work equally ar-
duous and hazardous, as Tilings then flood,
when every Look, every Word, every Motion of
his was fufpccled, and which at the fame time
rendered the procuring its Conclufion cxpc-
ditioufly a Circumftance of the utmod Con-
fequence. In all this, the Rilk might be
truly faid to fall entirely upon himfcif; fo
that it is not eafy to imagine, how any Man's
Circumftances could be more critical than his
actually were in this Conjuncture. We lhall
however fee, that they 'really became fo af-
terwards, and this in a very high Degree, and
in very many Refpects, from Caufcs that could
not
MEMOIRS*/*
not be avoided, and which produced a Train
of unforefeen Events.
It was pretty early known, that Meer
Jaffeir had entertained no very favourable
Notion of Omichund, but there was a Necef-
lity of employing and trufting him notwith-
ftanding, of which though the former did
not complain, yet he did not diflike him the
lefs. In the midft of thefe arduous Tranf-
adtions, and when every one elfe had their
Hands and their Hearts full, it came into
Ofaickand's Head to pradlife a little upon
Suraja Dow/af, probably that he might be
fure of fomewhat, however Things went. He
mentioned to Mr. Watts this very fine-fpun
Project, to which, that it appeared wild and
ftrange, was by no means the ftrongeft Ob-
jection. It was, however, in vain to make
any: there was Money he thought to be got,
and, if it was poffible, he was refolved to get
it. On the Sixteenth of May he went to
the Palace, where, exerting his admirable
Faculty of magnifying the Utility and exalt-
ing the Credit of the Advice he had to give^
and having firft alarmed the Suba's timid
Mind, by touching many Subjects he knew
were
the Revolution in BENGAL. 9$
were difagreeable, and in the Clofe, when
he faw him fufficiently amazed, condefcended
to hint, that he had found means, with great
Difficulty, to come at a Secret of the laft Con-
fequence, and for the revealing of which
he was fure to loie his Life, if it was fo much
as fufpected that he had penetrated and dif-
clofed it. Promifes of every kind were made,
and at length out it came, that the Englijh
had difcovered all his Negotiations with Mr.
Bujfy, fome Circumftances of which he men-
tioned ; that, upon this, they had fent two
Gentlemen to confer with, and to convince
him, how much more it would be for his
Intereft to concur with them j and that they
had made, or were upon the Point of mak-
ing, a Peace ; which, without doubt, mud
be at his Expence. As ftrange as it may
feem, Omicbund prevailed over a Man's
Foibles, which he had ftudicd, and deluded
him into a firm Belief of all he faid, and, in
confequence of this, he procured a Pcr-
wannah, that is, an Order from the Suba to
the Burdwan Rajah, one of his Ofnccrs, for
the Payment of Four Lack of Rupees which
he owed him, and the full Restitution of
the remaining Part of the Money, and all the
Goods,
g6 MEMOIRS^
Goods, of which he had been deipoiled at
Calcutta. This he took wonderful Care to
have immediately executed, for fear of Ac-
cidents, that very Night -, neither did he re-
main within the Suba's Reach long after. He
left Traces, however, behind him, that fuf-
ficiently juftiried Meer Jajfeirs Sufpicions,
and exerted that Power of perplexing, which
he poifefled in full as eminent a Degree as
that of perfuading. This was one principal
Caufe of thofe new Difficulties, to which
Mr. Watts found himfelf expofed, when he
thought the whole Stock of his Abilities
fmall enough to deal with the old ones.
When the Agreement came to be offered to
Roydooluby one of the Suba's principal Miniflers,
but, notwithftanding that, one of the Parties
to this Treaty, he made a Doubt as to the
Poffibility of complying with it. He faid, the
Treafury, fince the Death of the Old Suba,
Aliverdy Cawn, had been much drained, and
that though Suraja Dowlat was indeed very
rapacious, yet he managed his Affairs fo ill, by
keeping his Forces fo long in the Field, as to
have impoverished himfelf by a vaft, and at
the fame time ufelefs Expence. He alfo fug-
geftedj
the Revo/ilftM in BENGAL. 97
gefted, that poffibly in the Confufion that
commonly attends every Revolution, the
Suba's Treafury might be plundered, and
then they fhould remain bound, without
having it in their Power to pay. But to re-
move thefe Difficulties, he propofed it as an
Expedient, to divide whatever was found in
the Treafury with the Englijb. Mr. Watts>
who underftood thefe People perfectly, con-
fented to fign the Treaty with fuch a Claufe,
fubjedt to the Approbation of the Select:
Committee at Calcutta. But when Roydoolub
reflected, that upon fuch a Divilion he could
pretend to no Commifiion, as he might on
Money iflued in virtue of the Treaty, of
which he had Hopes given him ; when
Things came to a Crifis, he rclinquifhed his
own Propofal, and refolded to fign the Treaty
as it flood. It appeared, that the Apprc-
henfions which occafioned thcfs Difputes,
and this Delay, were infufed into ReydeoJub
by Omicbund, who gave him to Underftand,
that if once the Englijb Army tock PoireiTion
of Muxadavad, they would not leave it again
in three Years. This old crafty Man was
not iatisfied with giving this Proof of his
Skill in embarraffing j he went much farther -,
II and
98 MEMOIRS of
and as foon as he was himfelf out of Danger,
divulged the Secret, which brought Mr.
Watts, as well as Meer Jaffeir and the reft,
to the very Brink of Deftruction ; r while at
Calcutta he reprefented the whole Defign as
become defperate and impracticable, becaufe
it was difcovered. It was, indeed, wonder-
ful, all Things, and more efpecially his Be-
haviour, confidered, that it was not fo. How-
ever, this Effect thefe Rumours had, that
Confufion increafed, Difcontent fpread itfelf
more and more in the Suba's Camp, -and
the Divilions between him and his principal
Officers grew daily wider and wider. Meer
Jaffeir was fallen into open Difgrace, re-
moved from his Office of BUXY, or Pay-
mafter ; upon which he withdrew, and con-
tinued in his Quarters with his Troops,, and
came no more near the Suba. A Circum-
flance that rendered it next to impoffible for
Mr. Watts y who was fenfible that he had
many Spies upon his Conduct, to have an
Interview with him, whofe Houfe was en-
tirely furrounded by the Najx)b's Forces,
without its being known j and this had given
the Suba an Opportunity of executing his
Threats, and if that had been a Thing he
regarded,
the Revolution in BENGAL. 90
regarded, without much injuring his Repu-
tation. The Matter, though fo much em-
barrafied, being ftill absolutely neceflar,y, and
the time prefling, Mr. Watts went to him,
in a covered Dooley, the Manner in which.
Women are conveyed in that Country, by
which means he efcaped Notice, and faw
the Treaty which had been figned, fealed,
and fworn to on the Koran, and upon his
Son's Head, by Meer Jaffeir, with all the
Solemnity imaginable, in the Evening of the
Fifth of yune. When this was once done,
and authentic Advice received of its being
done at Calcutta, it removed all Surrnifes,
filenced every Sufpicion, and by giving entiic
Satisfaction, made way for the taking thoic
Meafures which were rcquilite for carrying
it into Execution.
But before we proceed farther, it will be
proper to look upon this Treaty, which with
fuch indefatigable Diligence Mr. U'atts
planned, profecuted, and brought to bear, in
defpite of the Sufpicions, Spies, and inildious
Contrivances, of all his Enemies ; by which
the Company's Commerce, and all their Efta-
blifhrncnts in this Part of India, were fccured,
H 2 the
loo MEMOIRS of
the Loffes which the Inhabitants of thofe
Places had fuftained, repaired, and the Ho-
nour of the Nation vindicated.
Tranflation of the TREATY made
with Meer Jaffeir.
Wrote with his own Hand.
I Swear by God, and by the Prophet of
God, to abide by the Terms of this
Treaty, as long as I have Life.
Mir JAFFEIR KHAN BAHADAR,
Servant of King ALLUMGEER.
TREATY made with the Admiral,
Colonel Clive, and the other Coun-
fellors, Mr. Drake and Mr. Watts.
J.T17HATEVER Articles were agreed
upon in the time of Peace with the
Nabob, Suraja Dowlat, Munfurah
MhnaJek Shaik Kouli Khan Bahadar,
and Hybitt Jung, I agree to comply
with.
II. The
the Revolution in BENGAL. ior
II. The Enemies of the Englijh are my Ene-
mies, whether they be Indians or
Europeans.
III. All the Effects and Factories belonging
to the French, in the Provinces of
Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa, {hall re-
main in the Poffeffion of the EngHjh j
nor will I ever allow them to fettle
any more in the Three Provinces.
IV. In Confideration of the LofTes which the
Engli/h Company have fuftained, by
the Capture and Plunder of Calcutta,
by the Nabob, and the Charges occa-
fioned by the Maintenance of their
Forces, I give them One Coroe of
Rupees.
V. For the Effects plundered from the Eng-
lijh Inhabitants of Calcutta, I agree
to give them Fifty Lack of Rupees.
VI. For the Effects plundered from the Gen-
toows, MiijJ'ulmen, and other Subjects
of Calcutta, Twenty Lack of Rupees
(hall be given.
H 3 VII. For
102 ME MO I R S OJ
VJJ. For the Effects plundered from the Ar-
menian Inhabitants of Calcutta, I will
give the Sum of Seven Lack of Ru-
pees. The Diftribution to be made
of the Sums allotted the Natives,
Englijh Inhabitants, Genfoows, and
Mujjulmen, (hall be left to the Ad-
miral, Colonel C/ive t Roger Drake,
William Watts, James Kilpatrick, and
Richard Becher, Efqrs. to be difpofed
of by them, to whom they think
proper.
yilL Within the Ditch, which furrounds
the Borders of Calcutta, are Tracts of
Lands belonging to feveral Zemindars^
befides which, I will grant to the
Englijh Company Six hundred Yards
without the Ditch.
!X. All the Lands lying to the South of Cal-
cutta, as far as Culpee, mall be under
the Zemindary of the Englijh Com-
pany, and all the Officers of thofe
Parts mall be under their Jurifdiction j
the Revenues to be paid by them in
the
the Revolution in BENGAL. 103
the fame Manner with other Zemin-
dars.
X. Whenever I demand the Afliftance of the
Engli/h, 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 Hughley.
XII. As foon as I am eftablifhed in the three
Provinces, the Sums as afore&id fhall
be faithfully paid.
Dated the i fth Ramzan, in the
Fourth Year of the prefent Reign.
The perfect Harmony that fubfifted be-
tween Vice- Admiral Watfon and Colonel C/he,
and the intire Confidence repofed in them
by the Select Committee, was upon this Oc-
caiion, as it had been often before, the
principal Source of that Alacrity, with which
every thing was undertaken. A Train was
immediately provided, a Detachment of Fiity
Sailors, with a full Compliment of Officers,
appointed to aflift thofe who had the Direc-
tion of it; and Inftruc"lions were given for
H 4 fhtion-
104 MEMOIRS of
ftatiouing a Twenty Gun Ship above
to keep the Communication with the Army
open. Thefe Steps were abfolutely requiiite,
and others of a like Nature were prudently
contrived, and chearfully performed, by the
Officers in the King's and in the Company's
Service ; the Select Committee did their BuQ T
nefs in Silence j and though there was a warm
Spirit of Emulation, yet the leaft Spark of
pnvy or Jealoufy never appeared, though fo
many Corps of different Kinds were ferving
conjunclly in the Expedition. This, as it was
truly fingular, was alfo remarkably happy ;
for no Exploit of this Confequence was ever
begun or profecutcd in a more critical Situa-
tion, or where any untoward Accident might
have more eafily occafioned a Difappointment.
The Forces that were to be employed, tho'
more numerous than in the preceding Opera-
tions, yet were but a Handful, in comparifoii
of the Suba's Army. Meerjaffeir> who had
feparated his Corps of Troops, was again
joined with the Suba, but without any real
'Reconciliation on either Part : Yet this, -how-^
ever, was fufncient to raife a Doubt, how far
any Dependance could be formed upon his
adting; and what followed, plainly fhewed
that
ibe Revolution in BENGAL. 105
that Suspicion was not ill founded. There
was no fmall Danger of being furrounded by
thefe fuperior Troops, and if the Communi-
cation with the River had been intercepted,
the greatcft Difficulties might have enfued.
Befides thefe, the rainy Seafon was juft
coming onj fo that, all Things taken together,
and the Hazard that was to be run being
maturely weighed, the Moors embarked in
this Defign had not the fmalleft Reafon to
repine at the Price they paid for our Aflift-
ance ; as on the other hand, their own Safety,
and the large Stake for which they fought,
being confidercd, the Englijh had great Encou-
ragement to exert themfelves with that fteady
Intrepidity which they did. Mr. Watts* from
what he knew of the Suba's natural Dif-
pofition, and what he had obicrvcd with rc-
ipecl to his Forces, and thofe who com-
manded them, formed fo true a Judgment
of all that might happen, and had previoufly
acquainted the Select Committee with thefe
Sentiments, that there fcarce fell out any
Thing in the Progrefs of this Expedition
which was not foreicen, and in regard to
which therefore the proper Precautions had
not been taken,
After
jo6 MEMOIRS of
After finishing his Negotiations with Meer
yaffeir, and taking all the Meafures requifitc
for executing his intended declining from
the Suba in time of Action, and, if a favour-
able Opportunity offered, feizing his Perfon,
there feemed to be no farther Neceffity for
Mr. Watts to continue under the Eye of a
provoked and capricious Prince. But this
very Circumftance rendered it expedient;
to diftracl his Thoughts, to give him a Dif-
fidence of the Informations he received, and
to afford Leifure for the Preparations making
at Calcutta. His Houfe was furrounded with
Spies, who watched not only his Motions,
but his Words and Looks. It may be, the
ftrong Aflurances they gave, that he could
take no Method to withdraw, but they mufl
have previous Intelligence, contributed to his
Safety. However, his Condition was moft
unhappy ; a fudden ftart of Paffion in the
Suba had in a Moment brought him to a violent
Death, at leaft; perhaps, to Tortures. At
Calcutta they had fo true a Senfe of his Dan-
ger, that it was more than once reported,
Sitraja Doivlat had cut off his Head, and fet
it upon a Pole. There was likewife Doubts
as to the Means of his efcaping. He chofe
to
the Revolution in BENGAL. fc7
to do it with the reft of the Gentlemen on
Horfeback, the Manner leaft fufpected, be-
caufe of the Length of the Journey, and the
extreme Heat of the Seafon, which rendered
it executively fatiguing, and not a little dan-
gerous. But when he understood from Co-
lonel Clive, that every thing refpecling the
Expedition was completed, he happily de-
ceived the Spies of the Suba, and on the
Eleventh of June made his Efcape, though
not unpurfued. It was not to Calcutta he
directed his Courfe, but to the Army, in
which he continued, and was prcfent at the
decilive Action which brought on the Com-
pletion of his Treaty, and thereby reftored
Peace to Bengal. Let us now rcfume the
Operations of the Eritljh Forces.
All things being in Readinefs, the Army,,
which confifled of One thoufand Europeans,
Two thoufand Seapoys, Fifty Seamen, under
the Command of a Lieutenant, with Seven
Midmipmen, and Eight Pieces of Cannon,
began their March from Cbandenagorc to-
wards CaJJimbuzar on the i3th of June.
The very fame Day Mr. Watt 's joined the
Colonel, to whom he imparted all the
Light?,
MEMOIRS of
Lights, and gave the beft Intelligence in
every Refpect that was in his Power. On
the Nineteenth the Town and Fort of Cutwa,
fituated on the fame Side with Ghandcnagore,
of that River which forms the Ifland of
Cqflimbiizar, was attacked and taken. This
was ,an Event of fome Importance, as it
opened a free ParTage, which could not have
been eafily forced, if it had been properly
defended. The Army halted there for two
Days, in order to receive fome Accounts of
the Enemies Strength, as well as to gain
certain Advice of what might be expected from
thofe who were entered into the Party with,
and engaged to fupport, Meer yaffeir > which,
when it arrived, was far enough from being
fatisfactory or explicit. The Colonel, how-
ever, was fo well informed by Mr. Watts, as
to the real Caufes of this feeming Backward-
nefs, and had from his own Experience and
Penetration fo juft a Notion of the Moors
Mode of acting, which, without fuch previous
Acquaintance with their Temper and Manners,
might probably have confounded any other
Officer in his Station, that on the Twenty-
fccond of the fame Month he pafled the
River, and continued his March directly to-
wards
the Revolution in BENGAL. lop
wards Plwffy, where the Army arrived, and
took up their Ground about One the next
Morning, without meeting with any Diflurb-
ance or Moleftation on their March.
This Poft was extremely well chofen for
that Country, and for the Method in which
thofe People make War. It was a Grove,
covered on every Side by Mud Banks, in
the midft of a Plain. At Day-break, on the
Twenty-third, the Suba's Army advanced
within a very fmall Diftance, and with a
manifeft Defign to attack the Englifi Forces.
He had about Fifteen thoufand Horfe, and
between Twenty and Thirty thoufand Foot,
with upwards of Forty Pieces of heavy Can-
non, which were managed by Frencbncn y upon
whofe Skill and Courage he greatly depended.
The Van was commanded by Roydoolub> and
and the left Wing by Meer Jaffeir. About
Six they began to cannonade pretty fmartly
on every Side, and this Diftribution of their
Cannon gave them two great Advantages;
Firft, as they were much larger, and carried
a heavier Weight of Metal, they did Execu-
tion where the EngUfi Artillery was of no
Ufe ; and in the next Place, being thus fepa-
-> rated
no MEMOIRS of
rated to a confiderable Diftance from each
other, it was impoflible to make any Attempt
to feize them, and therefore all the Colonel
could do was to take the Benefit of his in-
trenched Pofts, and leave his Troops as little
expofed as poflible. If the Suba, or any of
his Officers, had understood well what they
were about, they might certainly have pro-
fecuted their Scheme, and have completely in-
verted the Englijb Army, and then the Co-
lonel muft have waited the Approach of
Night, in order to halve forced a Paflage
through 'the Camp, which he in reality had
defigned. But the : Enemy, on the contrary,
upon the falling of a fmart Shower about
Noon, withdrew their Artillery within their
Camp. Upon this, a Detachment marched
with Two Field Pieces, and took Poffeffion
of a Tank, covered with high Banks, from
whence the Moors had fired with Succefs.
They then would have brought out their Ar-
tillery again, but were prevented ; and this
encouraged the fending Detachments to po-
fefs two other Eminences, very near an Angle
of their Camp, covered by a double Breaft-
work; and from thence, as well as from
another Eminence, which Hill remained in
their
tie Revolution in BENGAL. m
their Pofleflion, they kept up a pretty fmart
Fire with their Small Arms. They feveral
times endeavoured to bring up Cannon to
thofe Ports, but our Field Pieces were fo
happily ported, and Ib well ferved, that they
could never effect it. At length \hc.Englijb
ftormed that Angle and Eminence at the
fame Inftant of time, though the former was
defended by Forty French, and a very nu-
merous Body of the Suba's Troops, who had
likewife in that Port Two Pieces of Cannon,
and the latter by a confiderable Corps of Foot
and Horfe. Some Perfons of Dirtinction being
killed immediately before, or at the Beginning
of the Attack, the Enemy being difpirited by
that, quickly gave way, and both the Ports
were forced with a very trifling Expence to
us, though they fufFered fevcrcly. On this
the right Wing and Center fled, abandoning
their Camp and Artillery. Their Lois in this
Action fell little, if at all, fliort of Five hun-
dred Men, and between Forty and Fifty Pieces
of Cannon. Of the Enghjh Forces, there
were Twenty killed and Fifty wounded, the
greateft Part of which were Seapoys. The
Flight of the Enemy was fo precipitate, that
the Suba, mounted on a Camel, with the
better
Ill M E M > I R S 6f
better Part of the Army, arrived at Muxadd-
vad, which was Twenty Miles drftant, by
Twelve at Night. The Colonel, after pur-
fuirig therft Five or Six Miles, halted hrs
Troops, and difpofed of them in the beft
Manner he could. Such was the Battle, fuch
the decifive Victory of Plaifly!
It was obferved during the Action, that a
great Body of Horfe, in the Enemy's left
Wing, kept moftly hovering at a Diftance.
But as they made no SignalSj though they
.fometimes advanced within Cannon-fliot, they
were more than once taught by our Artillery
to retire. However, after the Victory was
declared, the Colonel was informed that thefe
were Meer Jaffeirs Troops, which remained
on the Field in a Body, and the next Day, in
the Morning, he had an Interview with Mr.
C/ive, in which, after congratulating him
upon his Victory, and applauding his Con-
duel, he fignified his Willingnefs to ratify the
Treaty, and to perform all the Articles k of it
punctually, as foon as it was in his Power.
Colonel C/ive advifed him to march without
Delay, and make himfelf Mafter of the Ca-
pital of the Provinces, before Suraja Dow/af
could
the Revolution in BENGAL. 113
could have Time to recoiled himfelf, or draw
together any confiderable Part of his difperfed
Army. Meer Jaffeir faw the Utility of this
Advice, which he carried into Execution with
the utmoft Expedition. At his Entrance into
Muxadavad, he found the City in the utmoft
Confternation. The Suba was in Pofleffion of
his Palace, on the other Side of the River,
\vith fome Troops about him, amongft whom
he diftributed feveral Lack of Rupees; but
the reft, as had been forefeen, difperfed. A
few Hours after, in a Fit of Defpair, he with-
drew, accompanied only by Five Perfons,
and took with him a large Sum in Gold, and
Jewels to an immenfe Value. Upon the
News of this, Meer Jaffeir immediately paf-
fed the River, entered the Palace, and afTum-
ed the Title of Suba, without any Oppofition.
At the fame time, he feized the Treafurcs of
his PredecefTor ; and Things being in this
Situation, he difpatched Advice -inftantly to
Colonel Cli<ve. As there was ftill a great Fer-
mentation amongft the People, and no Cer-
tainty of what was become of Suraja Dowlat,
it was judged expedient, upon the Arrival of
this News, to fend Mr. Watts and Mr. Waljh
thither, that they might uie their beft En-
I dcavours
ME M 01 R S of
deavours to quiet the Metropolis, to fortify
the new Suba, in his Difpofition to fulfil the
Agreement, ^and to put an End to the pre-
fent Confuiions, as foon as it was poffible.
They were fortunate enough to fucceed in
this important Comrniflion j and all things
being reduced to a greater Degree of Order
and Tranquility than could well be expect-
ed, Colonel CUve was invited to pay a
Vifit to the Nabob. On the Twenty-ninth
of 'June he made his public Entry into
Muxada*uad) attended by a Guard of Two
hundred Europeans, and Three hundred Sea-
poys. He was received there with the ut-
moft Expreffions of Joy, and the loudeft Ac-
clamations of the People, as well as with the
moft profound Marks of RefpecT:, and the
warmed Teflimonies of Gratitude, by Mcer
Jaffiirt with whom he went to the Palace,
and faw him felted in Form, upon the Mus-
NUD, or Carpet of State, where he was una-
lumoufiy faluted Suba, and thereby invefled
with the fupreme Authority over the Pro-
vinces, with general Applaufe. Thus, in a
Fortnight's Time, this amazing Revolution
was begun and ended, and that happy Change
from which fuch numerous Benefits
have
the Revolution in BENGAL. 1 1
have fince flowed to the Eaft India Company
and the Eritifh Subje&s in Bengal,
About the fame time the unfortunate Su*
raja Dow/af was feized, near Rajamaal : It is
certain that he was in a very low and diftrefled
Condition, with hardly any Cloaths upon hi 8
Back, and the Report went, that he fought
Shelter in the Houfe of a Man, whofe Ears he
had caufed to be cut off in one of his Tranf-
ports of Paflion, and by whom he was dif-
covered, and given up to his Purfuers. Be
that as it will, the making him Prifoner was
regarded as an Event of great Confequence to
the new Suba. He was no fooner informed
of it, than he committed that Prince to the
Cuftody of his Son, recommending to him
earneftly in public, to take the fureft Methods
to prevent his Efcape ; but at all Events to
preserve his Life. The young Man, inftead
of paying that Refpedt which was due to his
Father's Commands, no fooner had him in
his Hands, than he caufed him to be privately
put to Death. At this, when the Suba ap-
peared to be difpleaied, his Son alleged, that
the captive Suba had found means to write
and convey Letters upon the Road to feveral
I 2
1x6 MEMOIRS of
Jemidars, in order ex'cite a Revolt in the
Army -, to prevent which, he knew no other
certain Remedy than that of depriving him
of Life, which he thought was likewife bet-
ter done, without expecting any farther Or-
ders. It has been furmifed> and very pro-
bably not altogether without Grounds, that
there was fomething of Collulion in this Mat-
ter between the Father and the Son ; a
thing indeed not at all unfrequent in this
Part of the World ; and what made it pafs for
a kind of Juftice, was the Remembrance
that People had, that this unhappy young
Man, Sttraja Dow/at, had been often em-
ployed in the very fame Acts, by the old
Suba, Aliverdy Caivn y who availing himfelf
of the fanguinary Difpofition of his Grandfon,
made ufe of him to remove fuch as through
Avarice, Sufpicion, or Refentment, he in-
dined to have taken away, and then, to fave
Appearances, difavowed the Fact.
Such was the End of Suraja Doivlat, in the
Prime of his Youth, being at the Hour of his
Death fcarce Twenty-five Years of Age. An
End! luitable to his Life, which had been
Jpent in Violence and Blood. He was na-
turally
the Revolution in BENGAL.
turally ram and headftrong, conceived the
ftrongeft Refentment on the flighteft Occa-
(ions, often without any Occafion at all ; and
notwithftanding the Variablenefs of his Na-
ture, and the continual Fluctuation of his
Mind, either executed fuddenly the Dictates
of his Paflion, or, where that was impractica-
ble, perfifted in his bad Intentions, though he
never fhewed any Steadinefs in the Perform-
ance of his Promifes, or any Regard to his
Oaths, which he made and broke with the
very fame Facility. The only Excufe that can
be offered for him, is, that he had a View of
Sovereignty from his Infancy \ little, and that
but bad, Education in his Youth j and, after
all, lived not long enough to attain any great
Experience, which pofiibly might have made
him better, and poflibly alfo might have made
him worfe. His Reign was but of Fourteen
Months, and in that Space he had little Qujct
himfelf, allowed none to his Subjects; and
with boundlefs Authority, and immenfe
Riches, never excited Duty, or fo much as
acquired a lingle Friend, whofe fage Advices
might have prevented his fad Cataftrophe.
How infignificant then is Power ! How de-
ftructive is Wealth ! when they fall into the
I 7 Hand;
n8 ME M 01 us of
Hands of him, who only poffelfes that he
may abufe them |
There was a Circumftance attending the
Fate of Suraja Doivlat, that perhaps contri-
buted to make even the Manner of it lefs re^
gretted. Mr. Law, who had been formerly
the French Chief at Caffimbuzar> a Gentleman,
to do him JufHce, of Honour and Abilities,
Jiad collected Two hundred of his Nation for
the Service of the Suba, and was within a
few Hours March of him when he was taken ;
upon hearing of which he flopped. This is
a conclufive Proof that he was in his Pay,
and a Circumftance that very fully juftifies
the Englijh in their Conduct. If he had
reached, and preferved Suraja Dowlat, the
War would not have been fo eafily and fo
fpeedily fmimed. He who was without
Friends in his Diftrefs, might have again
found Troops for Pay, or perhaps for Pro-
mifcs j fo that his Death in this Refpeft had
a ftronger Air of Policy, and contributed to
add Credit to the Report, that his SuccefTor
was not fo entire a Stranger to it as he feem-
ed. This Event likewife made it evident,
{hat the Article which provided againft the
Return,
the Revolution in BENGAL. 119
Return of the French into Benga/, was not
either improper or imprudent. Colonel Clive,
who fees Things and their Confequcnces in
an Inftant, detached Captain Coote, then of
Colonel Alder crons Regiment, with Two
hundred Europeans^ and Five hundred Sea-
poys, in Purfuit of Mr. Law j and though,
that Force was fully fufficient, yet he en-
gaged the Suba to fend alfb Two thoufand of
his Horfe, that his own Subjects and all India
might know, that the French were eqnally his
Enemies and Our's, and that being accuftom-
ed, from his firft Entrance on Government,
to fulfil his Engagements, he might learn to
place his own Grandeur in adhering to his
Word, and expert the Safety of his Domi-
nions from the punctual Performance of his
Promifes. A LefTon that could not be taught
at a more convenient Time.
The fetting up the new, or rather reftor-
ing the old Form of Rule, was entirely due
to the Eng/i/b y and the Suba and his Sub-
jects were alike fenfible of it ; which was a
Point of equal Honour and Advantage to tho
Nation. It afforded a llrong and glorious
Proof, that we, who in fo long a Courfe of
1 , Years
120 MEMOIRS of
Years had never given the leaft Trouble or
Uneafinefs to the Government, were yet able
to do ourfelves Juftice, when there was no
other way left to remain in Quiet. On the
other Hand, all the Advantages gained were
by the fair and open Method of a Treaty,
in which the firft and moft difficult Part was
performed by us, and not taken violently or
by force of Arms ; though at the fame
time it was evidently in our Power to have
done it, if it had been at all in our Will.
When, therefore, Colonel C/ive and Mr.
Watts applied themfelves to the Suba, for
the fpecific Performance of that Agreementj
which he had made previous to his Acceflion,
the Juftice of their Demand was without
Helitation acHnowleged, The State of the
Treafury was laid before them in the moft
candid Manner, fo as to leave them not the;
leaft Reafon to doubt, that what Roydoolub
mentioned' as an Objection at the concluding
of the Treaty, was a real matter of Fad j and
from the Diffipation that had happened lince,
the Suba was not in a Condition to fulfil his
Promifes, and difcharge all his Obligations at
once. Befides, it was for the Intereft of the
as well as for the Reputation of the
the Revolution in BENGAL. 121
Company, to fupport the Government which
had been the Work of their own Hands, and
not leave a Prince whom they had raifcd
to the Subamip, with a Treafury abfolutely
empty, fince fuppofing this in their Power, it
muft have exceedingly diftrefled him, and
no lefs difgraced them.
In this State of Things, the Propofition he
made feemed too equitable to be rejected. He
offered to pay down a third of the whole
Sum, to make it up one Moiety in a very
fhort Space of Time, and to difcharge the
Remainder by equal Payments, in the Space
of Three Years. This, therefore, was ac-
cepted, from a moral Perfuafion that he, who
parted with one Half in Confidcration of what
had been done for him, would likewifc pay
the other Half in the limited Time, to fecure
Afliftance, in cafe any thing more was to be
done. Thefc then were the real Motives to
the Agreement, which indeed took its Rile
from Neceflity, a Law that maintains its
Rights under every Government, and in all
Climates. There is a known Cuftom through-
out India, and in that Country more than in
any other Cuilom has the Force of a Law,
that
iaa MEMO IR s ef
that Ten per Cent, is paid as Treafury Fees
upon all Sums received y which thofe Gentle-
men had Weight enough with Roydoolub to
reduce to Five; and by the Help of thisCon-
ceffion, every thing was very foon adfufted,
and the complete Moiety came into the Com-
pany's PofTeflion. The candid Reader will
probably think that Colonel Clive and Mr.
Watts did, upon this very" momentous Occa-
iion, all that it was in their Power to do, and
this was alfo their Sentiment- ; for as- loon as
more was in their Power, they took care to
improve the Opportunity for the common
Benefit of all concerned. A conclufive Tefti-
mony of the Uprightnefs of their Intention*
in the/ whole of this Tranfaclion.
This wonderful Sunfliine of Profperity at
Calcutta was fuddenly overcaft, by the Death
of a Great Man, to whofe Virtues and Abi-
lities the Inhabitants were indebted, in a. very
high Degree, for all the Happinefs they pof-
feffed. This was Charles Watjbn> Efqj Vice-
Admiral of the Blue, whofe amiable Qualities
in private Life added Luflre to his public
Character. His Sentiments were noble^, ge-
nerous, and humane, his Manners graceful,
eafv,
the Revolution in B t N G A L. 123
cafy, and polite ; no Gentleman was ever
more capable of gaining the Efteem of thoib
with whom he converted, and no Officer
ever undcrftood better how to exercife the
Benevolence and Swectncfs of his own Dlf-
pofhion, without impairing his Authority.
Jn his Station he was Active without Hurry ;
Vigilant, without feeming to be Bufy ; and,
with an open Countenance, ever attentive to
his Duty. His Orders were obeyed with
Pleafure, becaufe they were enforced by his
Example ; and he was himfelf ready to do
more than he ever expected from others.
His having the Command in that critical
Conjuncture, was, from -the Beginning, look-
ed upon as a fingular and fignal Blefling to
the Englijh fettled in the Indies ; and every
Action of his afterwards confirmed that No-
tion. No Wonder, then, that his Death was
confidered as a Common Calamity, and his
*
Lofs regretted as d public Misfortune. He
was interred on the Seventeenth of Jluguft,
when an unfeigned Sorrow was plainly vifiblc
in the Face of every Inhabitant, and a vo-
luntary univerfal Mourning exprefled, in fomc
Degree, the true Senfc the People had of his
Merit, and the Effects that had been derived
to
MEMOIRS of
to them from thence. Indeed, they had been
inconfolable, but for the Hopes they had
ftill left in Admiral Pocoek. Hopes ! that did
not deceive them, and which have been pro-
ductive of new Honours to the Britifh Flag.
It was to the Attention of the Admmiftra-
tion at Home, that the Company and the
Subjects of Great Britain in India owed
thefe potent and timely Succours ; and, which
was of no lefs Confequence, the prudent and
happy Choice of the Officers who command-
ed them. The French, though deficient
clfewhere, had a conliderable Naval Force
in the Indies y and were for this Reafbn very
confident of their Succefs in that Part of the
World; in which, perhaps, they had not
been deceived, if, upon the Demife of Vice-
Admiral Watfon, the Command had devolved
upon an Officer of lefs Merit, or even upon
an Officer whofe Merit had been lefs known
or lefs eflablimed than that of Mr. Pocock.
As it was, the Spirits of Britijh Subjects were
not depreffed, or thofe of the Enemy raifed.
They had already known and felt his Cou-
rage, and he made them very quickly fenfible
of the Extent of his Capacity. They faw
him
tbe Revolution in BENGAL. 1 2 j
him equally active and vigilant : Their Squa-
drons no fooner appeared, than they had his
in View. He was the Guardian of all our
Settlements, and the Bane of all their Arma-
ments and Expeditions. His Sagacity defeat-
ed many of their Defigns, his Dexterity and
Dilpatch difconcerted others, till, by his Vic-
tories, he ruined, not their Reputation only,
but their Strength in Afia> as completely as
other Admirals had done in Europe and
America. Thefe are Facts indifputable ; and,
as they are connected with our Subject, we
may take the Liberty of mentioning them,
without giving Offence to that Gentleman,
whofe Modefty renders him as amiable, as
his other Virtues have made him confpicuous.
But to return to our Subject.
All Infant Governments are in their very
Nature fubject to Diforders. The new Suba,
foon after the Departure of Colonel CUve, felt
fufficiently, that, contrary to the firft flatter-
ing Appearances, his Administration was not
thoroughly effoblifhed. Some of the Nabobs
in his Province, dubious of his Intentions
towards them, made no great hafte to ac-
knowlege an Authority that might be pre-
judicial
126 MEMOIRS^
judicial to their own j and in the Indies, this
kind of Delay is ever confidered as Difobe-
dience. Betides, Meer Jaffeir remembred the
Advice which the Colonel had given him at
Parting, which was, to acquire a Reputation
for Firmnefs from his earlieft Actions, if he
meant to tafte Quiet in the remaining Part of
his Reign. He refolved, therefore, to em-
ploy his Forces againfl thofe, who, though
they did not prefume to queftion his Title,
fhewed, notwithftanding, a Reludtancy to
acknowlege it. He found, however, a
fudden Stop put to his Operations. At the
Beginning, fome of his Officers were intract-
able, and his Troops in general were un-
willing to move. He was entitled by the
Treaty to Affiflance from the Engtijh, and,
upon his making the Demand, Colonel Clive
marched inftantly to his Relief. His Forces
were not numerous 3 but he brought with him
a Reputation that carried with it a Perfuafion
that he was ever irreiiftable, and his very
Prefence in the Suba's Camp reftored Obe-
dience to that Prince. Colonel Clive, and
Mr. Watts who attended him, took this Op*
portunity to follicit the affigning Funds for
the Money that was ftiil due, and obtained
from
the Revolution ^BENGAL. 127
from the Suba, though not without fbme
Difficulty, all that they deiired.
They likcwife defired, and obtained, that
the Company's Grant of Lands might be ex-
tended Northward from Culpee to Raugaful-
lab, which, befides the Augmentation of Ter-
ritory, was in other Refpects a Matter of
Importance.
The Nabob of Patna, whofe Name was
Ramnaram> againft whom this Expedition
was made, upon the Approach of the Suba's
Army, offered to fubmit, and to pay his Tri-
bute regularly, if he was continued in his Go-
vernment, and the Suba's Promife was gua-
rantied by Colonel Ctive. The Suba requeft-
ed this as a Favour of the Colonel, and
defired that he would write a Letter to the
Nabob, which he accordingly did > and up-
on the Faith of that Letter, he came and
made his Submiilion. The great Product of
Patna is Salt-petre, about which there had
been formerly continual Difputes between us
and the Dutch. At prefent, it was in the
Hands of neither ; but was flill a Monopoly
under a Leafe. Colonel Give and Mr. Watt^
4 who
128 MEMOIRS^'
who knew the Confequence of fuch an Ao
quiiition to the Englijh, propofed the giving
it in Leafe to them, at the fame Rate, which
would be no Prejudice to the Suba j and the
Juncture being favourable, this Proportion
was complied with likewife, by which the
Company are annually Gainers of about Two
Lack and a half of Rupees, or fomething
more than Thirty thoufand Pounds Sterling.
It is evident, therefore, from thefe Inftances,
that no favourable Opportunity was let flip,
no fingle Occalion loft, that could be turned
to the Company's Advantage.
This Expedition, as it effectually fixed the
new Suba in that Dignity, naturally brings
the Memoirs of this Revolution to their Pe-
riod. We cannot, however, conclude with-
out obferving, that as there could not be any
thing more melancholy than the Situation
of the Company's Affairs, when the Settle-
ment of Calcutta was overwhelmed and de-
flroyed, fo nothing can be more fatisfadlory
than to contemplate the Advantages that have
refulted from this Alteration to the Eaji
India Company, the private and particular
Sufferers, and the Britifo Subjects who either
refide
tie Rfto/tititot in B E U c A I.
refide in, or may hereafter go and rclide in,
Bengal. In reference to the Company, th
Treaty with the prefent Suba procured them
an ample Indemnity, without tying them
down to a Specification of Lofles, which
would have been not more importable than
improper. The Sum was fuch as became the
Rank and Grandeur of him who gave, and
was admirably fuited to the Situation and
Services of thofe who received. The Point
of Security is likewife fully provided for ; the
Settlement may be fortified in fuch a Man-
ner as to remove all Apprehenfions ; at the
fame time that thefe mighty Conceflions are
made, they are made in a Method that ren-
ders them doubly valuable, not through
Fear or Compulfion, but with all poffiblc
Marks of Confidence and Efteem. The In-
terefts of the Company, and the Country
Government, are declared to be the fame ;
and to prevent any Sufpicion of Alteration,
they are allowed an unrivalled Superiority,
and the Enemies of the one are to be of
Courfe the Enemies of the other. There is
a Provifion, as far as fuch a Provifion can be
made, that this Conjunction of Intercfts flull
not be temporary, but perpetual ; fincc the
K Ccm-
130 MEMOIRS of
Company is at Liberty to take whatever Mea*
fures fhall feem moft expedient for the Safety
of her Settlements, which is as much as
could be either expeded or defired.
The Regard fhewn, and the Proviiion
made, for all Degrees of Perfons, who fuf-
fered by the Subverfion of the Colony, was
equally equitable and honourable. The Com-
pany, and thofe who depended upon it, ihared
the good as well as the ill Fortune that au
tended the different Adminiftrations in Ben-
gal. There were many of the European
Sufferers, who were abfolutely ruined and
undone ; reduced from Opulence and Eafe,
to Mifery and Want, by a fudden, unforefeen,
and inevitable Misfortune. Thefe were re*
ftored to the whole of what they had loft,
which was a Benefit to themfelves, and to
their Creditors in other parts of India and
in Europe. Belides, -as many of them had
acquired their Fortunes by their Induftry, and
had fpent almpft their whole Lives in this
Climate* it was not only a Piece of Juilice to
recover for them what they had loft, but a
Point of true Policy to prevent the Terror of
their Fate from having a'mifchievous Opera-
tion
the Revolution in BENGAL. 131
tion in fucceeding Times, which othenvife it
might have had j and this too in many Re-
fpedls. The extending this Refutation to the
Jentoows and Armenians^ was not only a very
exemplary but a very generous Aft of Be-
nevolence, founded in Principle. At the
fame time that it attached the particular Per*
fobs who were relieved, it raifed the Reputa-
tion of the Company. It revived the Spirits
of thofe ufeful Inhabitants, and gave a new
Spring to their Activity and Induftry, which
were not only falutary Confequenccs at the
Time, but will be found more fo in their
Effects, and facilitate the Execution of thofe
Defigns, that will be hereafter mentioned.
This Tendernefs for other Nations, this laud-
able Defire that they mould mare in the
Profperity, who had been hurt by the Ad-
verfity of the Eng/fo, might be fet in a far
ftronger Light, if placed in Comparifon with
the Conduct of others, without ftirring out
of India ; but as that would be invidious, k
is better omitted.
This ftupendious Revolution may be alfo
confidered as equally glorious and advantage-
ous to the Britijh Nation. We Llay be al-
K 2 lowed
MEM 01 RS of
lowed to fay, bccaufe the Fact cannot be
puted, that it is a fignal Proof of the Utility
of Maritime Empire. As Commerce carries
the Subjects of Britain every where, Britijh
Subjects every where experience Britijh Pro-
tection : There are no Limits to our Naval
Power, but thofe by which the Creator has
confined the Globf . The Eaft India Com-
pany was faved, and her Affairs reftored, by
the Attention and Arms of that Government
by which me was erected. Many of thofe,
who would have totally loft the Fruits of
long Labour and various Hardfhips, and who
muft have been Beggars if fubject to any
other Power, are again eafy in their For-
tunes, and fome of them have already tranf-
ported their Effects to their native Country $
the proper Return for the Affiftance they de-
rived from her maternal Affection j and as thefe
Events have diftinguifhed the prefent Age
and the prefent Adminiftration, fo their
Effects will probably be felt in fucceeding
Times. The Company, by an Acceffion of
Territory, has an Opportunity of making
an ample Settlement ; which, under pro-
per Management, may be not only ex-
tremely ferviceable to her, but alfo to the
Nation >
the Revolution in BENGAL.
Nation ; and having a Revenue from thefc
Lands, the Mint at Calcutta, and the Leafc
of the Salt-petre at Patna, which amounts in
the whole to One hundred thoufand Pounds
a Year, there is a Provifion againft future
Dangers upon the Spot, and without farther
Expence. Thefe Benefits have clearly arifen
from that Revolution, of which we have
given an Account, and are due to thofe who
conducted it. May the future Emoluments
do the like Honour to thofe who ihail here-
after have the Care of the Company's and
the Nation's Concerns in the Indies !
PINT S.
* o;. .i f :
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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