observes, "The question which relates to your Lordship's jaghire might
have been carried by a much greater majority, had the question been
otherwise stated, and would, at the same time, have answered every
purpose intended by it: but Mr. Walsh did not consult any of the
Directors in forming it, nor could he be prevailed upon to alter it."
Mr. Scrafton, then a Director, was also of opinion that Mr. Walsh, in
his zeal to serve Lord Clive's interests, precipitated the question too
much, bringing on his motion soon after the news of the acquisitions in
Bengal had arrived, without giving time to see the effect of the great
things that had been done. Mr. Walsh, on the other hand (perhaps alive
to the uncertain operation of public gratitude), eager to accomplish
what he had undertaken, and brooking no delay, charges the conduct
of Lord Clive's friends, and especially of the Directors, with being
hesitating and timid, so as to have thrown a damp upon the matter, and
to have rendered doubtful the success of a proposition which would
otherwise have received a pretty general concurrence. Lord Clive
certainly thought that their conduct was at least lukewarm.
Such was the state of affairs when he arrived in England. Of the
singular success of his management of the Company's concerns there was
but one opinion; and the last months of his residence in India had
added extremely to the reputation which he had previously acquired.
It seemed indispensably requisite, therefore, that the Directors
should redeem the promises which, at the time of his setting out, and
afterwards in their public letters[150], they had made to him. About
two months after his return a General Court was held, when the grant
of the jaghire for ten years additional, which had been recommended
at the previous meeting, was conferred on him by an unanimous vote.
His irreconcileable enemies were probably led to decline appearing in
opposition to the grant, by the certainty that their efforts would be
fruitless.
This affair of the jaghire unluckily tended to alienate Lord Clive
more than ever from his friends in the Direction. In truth, their aims
were quite opposite. It was Clive's interest, when asking the reward
of his services, that the revenues, and other acquisitions gained for
the Company, should be published to their full extent: the Directors,
fighting against a rise of dividend, were anxious to conceal their
amount, and to represent them in as moderate a light as possible. The
matter was most essentially important to Lord Clive's interests, and
he was at no time very patient of contradiction. They had all along
endeavoured to prevent the matter from being brought forward. He felt
this conduct very sensibly, and did not conceal his resentment. While
he used considerable exertions to secure an ascendency in the Court of
Proprietors, he silently left the Court of Directors to follow their
own opinions. This gave rise to many reports and groundless surmises.
Writing, soon after, to Mr. Scrafton, his very sincere friend, who
had differed in opinion from Mr. Walsh as to the management of this
affair, he says[151], "I received both your letters at a time when I
was too much indisposed to answer them. Neither am I inclined to answer
that last part of them at all which relates to a difference in opinion
between two friends, both equally hearty and zealous in every thing
that concerns my honour and interest. Let it suffice to say, that I
never entertained the least doubt of your regard and friendship for
me. You are liable to an error of judgment as well as my friend W.;
which has been the case sometimes with both of you.--However, I cannot
avoid being much surprised at the behaviour of many of the Directors,
who, either from jealousy or misrepresentation, or some worse cause,
have entertained the injurious opinion that I mean to overthrow them,
and be a Director myself. The being a Director may be an object to the
Directors, but not to Lord Clive. With regard to overthrowing them I
have the interest of the Company too much at heart to attempt any thing
of that nature, even if they should behave towards me in the manner
which I hear some of them have threatened to do. In short, there are a
few individuals whom I never looked upon as my friends, or friends of
the Company. Such cannot expect any countenance from me. You have often
heard me express myself on that subject."
Mr. Scrafton, before receiving this letter, had written to Lord
Clive[152], then at Walcot; and, after congratulating him on the
resolution of the General Court on the subject of the jaghire, and
wishing him long life to enjoy the prolonged period, proceeds to
mention some reports which had reached the Directors, that he had
in conversation expressed a wish that the Court were purged of the
Chairman, and of many others of the Directors. Mr. Scrafton continues:
"I suppose it a very impertinent misrepresentation of something that
may have dropped from your Lordship in an unreserved conversation, for
I would not wish you really to entertain such a design; for, whatever
defects they may have, certainly the present Directors have the merit
of having very steadily supported your Lordship while abroad, and are
entirely disposed to pay the utmost attention to your advice at home."
After pointing out the great evils that would arise from a change of
system, the certain consequence of a change of Directors, he continues:
"If your Lordship conceives any resentment on the conduct of the
Directors respecting the jaghire, you will act from misrepresentation.
One or two were cold on the subject, by believing themselves the
objects of your resentment, in consequence of Wh--'s story; but the
general sense was, 'We cannot, as Directors, recommend so large a
grant: the fate the question met with before proves that many thought
it too much; but we will give our votes for it.' To conclude, my Lord,
I really think it for your own honour, and for the interest of the
Company, to support the present set."
This attempt at a justification of the Directors roused Lord Clive, in
spite of the state of severe suffering under which he then laboured.
"I received your letter," says he in answer[153], "and return you many
thanks for your congratulations about the jaghire. However, you will
scarce believe me when I tell you that I was, before it was confirmed,
and am at this time, very indifferent about it. My wish was to have it
brought to a conclusion at any rate; for I could not avoid observing
all parties at work to suspend coming to a conclusion; and many were
at greater pains, from rank infernal jealousy and envy, to conceal and
lessen my services, in order to lessen my influence: but, I thank God,
I am now an independent man, what I was determined to be at all events.
"I cannot but take notice of one paragraph of your letter; _that
the Directors thought the grant too large, and therefore would not
recommend it_: I am therefore the more obliged to the Proprietors, who
were all of a different way of thinking.
"I am obliged to you for your advice about my conduct towards the
Directors, because I am persuaded you mean me well; but know, Scrafton,
I have a judgment of my own, which has seldom failed me, in cases of
much greater consequence than what you recommend. As to the support
which, you say, was given to my government, when abroad, by the
Directors, they could not have done otherwise, without suffering in
their reputation, and perhaps quitting the Direction. In return, let
me ask, whose interest contributed to make them Directors, and keep
them so? My conduct wanted no support, it supported itself, because it
was disinterested, and tended to nothing but the public good. From the
beginning it put all mankind at defiance, as it does at this hour: and
had the Court of Directors thought fit to make my conduct more public
than they have done, all impartial and disinterested men must have
done me justice. However, that remains for myself to make known, when
convenient and proper.
"After having said thus much, I must tell you (though by your writing
you seem to give credit to the report), that what Whately is said to
have told Wedderburn is absolutely false, as is every thing else said
to have been communicated by Mr. Grenville to Mr. Wedderburn; and I can
attribute these mean suspicions of the Directors to nothing but their
envy and jealousy. However, as I have often said before, and say now,
there is nothing the Directors can do shall make me lose sight of the
Company's true interest. Upon principle, I would always stand by the
East India Company: I am now farther bound by the ties of gratitude.
This is the ground upon which I now stand, and upon which I will risk
my reputation. No little, partial considerations shall ever bias me."
For three years previous to this time, Lord Clive's mind had been
kept painfully on the stretch. He had been compelled, almost singly,
to combat a whole settlement, and especially the highest portion of
it, in arms against him, eager to thwart and defeat his plans of
reform; he had borne the whole weight of the resentment of the officers
of the army, whom he subdued by his force of mind and unrivalled
reputation; he had paid off a large portion of the Company's debt; had
added an immense sum to their revenue, and had supplied them with an
unparalleled investment; he had left their possessions in the East, as
he believed, rich and flourishing, and in peace, and had returned with
ruined health and a broken constitution. In all his trials, and in very
painful circumstances, under which most men would have sunk, he had
supported himself by the strong consciousness that he was doing his
duty, and meriting the applause of his employers and of the world. It
is not surprising, that when he thought himself deserted, and believed
that he was the object of the jealousy and slight of the very persons
whom he had so illustriously served, his disappointment and resentment
should be extreme, and that his sensitive and exasperated mind should
almost doubt the existence of human gratitude. But this feeling of
disappointment never mingled itself with that of his attachment to the
Company itself, as at this very moment, when he was giving vent to the
feeling of his wrongs, we find him communicating to the Directors and
their committees, with the utmost detail and clearness, his opinions on
the whole concerns of the Company, civil, military, and political, in
various letters of great length. He did, indeed, feel very acutely some
appearances of what he thought want of due respect and consideration
on the part of the Directors, in their mode of addressing him; but the
whole powers of his mind and experience continued, as much as ever, at
the service of the East India Company.
When the business of the jaghire was arranged, Lord Clive set out to
visit some of the friends from whom he had been so long separated.
In the last days of September, he had, at Birmingham, a very violent
attack of bilious cholera, attended with excruciating pain. As soon
as he was able he moved to Walcot, and spent the month of October
chiefly there and at Styche, in the bosom of his family, and surrounded
by his friends. At the latter place, he had another severe attack of
the same complaint, attended with very painful symptoms; and it would
appear, that he continued freely to indulge in the use of opium, as he
had done while in Bengal, to moderate the violence of the paroxysms.
His physicians at this time advised his return to Bath, as affording
the best hope of promoting the restoration of his health; and he
accordingly removed thither in November.
His views of affairs, both in England and India, with some particulars
regarding himself, he communicated about this time in a letter to his
friend Mr. Verelst. He had doubts whether that gentleman, upright,
amiable, and intelligent as he was, possessed sufficient firmness
for the difficult situation in which he was placed; and his advice
is directed chiefly to encourage him in a bold and decided conduct,
the only course by which it was possible to correct the deep-rooted
abuses that prevailed in the service. "As my friendship for you,"
he writes[154] "is too warm and sincere to admit of any reserve, I
shall make no apology for the freedom with which I intend, at all
times, to communicate to you my sentiments upon the proceedings of
your government, wherein your honour and reputation are so deeply
concerned." After mentioning his own share in securing the confirmation
of Mr. Verelst in his office, he proceeds: "But exclusive of the part
I take in your success on my account, my regard and affection for you
lead me to reflect, that the reputation as well as private satisfaction
of your future life in England, must grow out of the honour which
you may, and I trust will, acquire by a resolute and unspotted
administration of the Company's affairs in Bengal. Your integrity and
the goodness of your heart must be acknowledged by all who know you;
and it is with pleasure I observe, that you have set out with a due
attention to other necessary and public qualifications. Continue in
the full exertion of that steadiness and resolution with which you
began your government. Your judgment is sound. Set a just value, then,
upon every opinion of your own, and always entertain a prudent degree
of suspicion of the advice of any man who can possibly be biassed by
self-interested motives. Before I touch upon particulars, permit me to
urge, in general, the necessity there is for you and the whole Council
and Committee to join in holding the military under due subordination
and subjection. The dangerous consequences which may ensue from the
least relaxation of command over a body so numerous as the English
officers, should ever be thought of with horror, and the good effects
of maintaining an inflexible authority cannot be too often recollected,
in the instance of the late association.
"I am glad to find that you are upon your guard against the pride and
ambition of the Colonel, who, if there be any merit in the conduct
of the military officers, will certainly claim the whole to himself,
and write the world to that purpose. His last, I should say his first
dispute, whether the Governor or the Commanding Officer of the troops
ought to have the title of Commander-in-Chief, was such an open and
audacious attack upon the dignity of your office, that I am surprised
you let it pass unnoticed. Had a minute been made of it, he would
infallibly have been dismissed the service.
"It is with great concern I observe that you have consented to the
increase of the military establishment, by the raising of four
regiments of horse, which will be an exorbitant, and yet useless,
expense. General Carnac knows, as I do, that black cavalry, instead of
being serviceable, are very detrimental to us. I am also sorry, that
you have augmented the artillery. One independent company at Calcutta,
in time of peace, will answer every purpose. To have more, either there
or at Ghyrotty, is only sacrificing the lives of so many men, without
service. The Directors, I fear, will reprimand you on these matters,
for they seem much inclined to lessen even the establishment I made for
Bengal.
"The sooner you confine the whole of our force within the boundary of
the Caramnassa the better. The Abdally's invasion of Bengal must be a
mere bugbear. So long a march is next to impossible; and therefore I
think he will never attempt it. The Mahratta is the only power we have
to manage, as invasions from them must retard our revenues, though they
cannot endanger our possessions.
"You certainly did well in persevering not to restore the Monghyr
officers; and I hope you have obliged all, except the young lads, to
embark for England.
"You will have heard, that all our letters and proceedings have been
laid before both Houses of Parliament, and publicly read. Not only the
Directors, but every man of consequence from Bengal, have been examined
upon oath before the House of Lords; so that thousands of people are
now well acquainted with the revenues, forces, and politics of India,
and of Bengal in particular. Permit me here again, my friend, to remind
you of the conspicuous situation you are placed in. Consider well the
great expectations which this nation entertains of extricating itself
out of its present difficulties, by the skill and conduct of the
Governor of Bengal. You must therefore exert yourself to the utmost to
fulfil its hopes; for, as I have already observed, hereupon depends,
whether you will be a very respectable character, or not, upon your
return to England.
"With regard to myself, my health has been very indifferent ever since
my arrival; but I am now following a regimen which has done me much
service, and will, I hope, recover me entirely. I have met with the
most gracious reception from the King and Queen, and a very respectful
and honourable one from the Court of Directors; nor is there any doubt
of my getting an English Peerage, whenever I make application for
that purpose, which, I understand, is always the custom: but the very
unsettled Administration, and my private notions, will not admit of my
applying at present. Hereafter, in all probability, the thing will come
to pass.
"With regard to the Directors, I tell you frankly, that no one can
entertain a worse opinion of many of them than I do. They have neither
abilities nor resolution to manage such important concerns as are now
under their care. Of this the world in general seem very sensible; and
yet what to do I protest I know not. An attempt to reform may throw
matters into greater confusion.
"You see my jaghire is at last continued to me and my representatives
for ten years after the expiration of my present right. I am more
obliged to the Proprietors for this grant than to the Directors,
who threw a great deal of cold water upon it. Indeed, their whole
conduct towards me and my associates in Committee has shown weakness,
or something worse; for they have upon all occasions endeavoured to
lessen the acquisitions we have obtained for them, and kept every thing
that might contribute to our reputation as secret as possible; and, if
Parliament had not brought our transactions to light, mankind would
have been ignorant of what has been done. In short, they appear very
envious and jealous of my influence, and give ear to every idle story
of my being hostile towards them. Every thing looks as if we were not
upon good terms. They have even asked my opinion upon their affairs
in such a mean, sneaking manner, that I have informed one of them,
unless I am applied to in form, and unless more attention be paid to my
advice, I shall decline giving any whatsoever. Thus stand matters at
present; but how long they may remain so I know not, nor what changes
may happen at the next election.
"From the manner in which I carried the extension of the jaghire, I
conclude the Directors will pay more attention to my opinions than
they lately did; but it will be rather through fear than inclination.
They desired, and I consented to a conference with them, and intended
going to London from Shropshire on purpose; but my health has obliged
me to come to Bath, where I daily expect a deputation to consult on
many important points which the gentlemen cannot themselves readily
determine upon."
His hopes of the efficacy of the Bath waters for removing his
complaints were soon disappointed. Not experiencing that benefit from
them which he had expected, his physicians recommended his leaving
England for a season, and trying the air of the south of France. In
the beginning of January, 1768, he removed from Bath to Berkeley
Square; and on the 17th of that month, Mr. Strachey, in a letter to
Mr. Verelst, written to recommend a young man, to whom Lord Clive had
promised a letter, observes, "Knowing this state of the case, I think
myself bound to acquaint you with it, for the physicians have wisely
prohibited Lord Clive from all attention to business. He is to-day much
better than when I wrote you t'other day; but we are taught not to
expect his recovery without the assistance of the south of France."
But the activity of Lord Clive's mind was not easily restrained by
bodily suffering. Even during this period he wrote several important
letters to the Court of Directors, and to their Committees of
Correspondence and Treasury, chiefly on their military affairs. On
the 19th, he writes his friend Call at Madras: "I have suffered so
much ever since my arrival in England, that I have not been able to
interfere so much with public affairs as I could wish; and the bilious
disorder is at last arrived at such a height, that there seems no other
remedy but that of going to the south without delay; and in two hours I
hope to be getting into my carriage for that purpose.
"With regard to the present Court of Directors, I can only say they
are universally despised and hated; will certainly be hard pushed next
April, and, if I and my friends do not support them, must fall. Their
ignorance and obstinacy are beyond conception.
"I write the Nabob Mahommed Ali by this conveyance. The Queen received
his presents in the most gracious manner from my hands. I was in
private with her Majesty in her closet near an hour; and the chief
part of the time was taken up about the Nabob and his prosperity. The
Queen has promised me to write to him in the most gracious manner, and
assured me at the same time of her disposition to render the Nabob any
service in her power.
"We shall come very strong into Parliament this year--seven without
opposition, probably one more; Lord Clive, Shrewsbury; Richard Clive,
Montgomery; William and George Clive, Bishop's Castle; John Walsh,
Worcester; Henry Strachey, Pontefract; and Edmund Maskelyne, probably
either for Whitechurch or Cricklade.
"As things were too far advanced in favour of Dupré before my arrival,
I take it for granted we shall see you next year, when I shall be glad
to receive you with open arms, and assist you with all my interest in
your parliamentary or any other views whatever; for, although I suffer
excruciating torments from the nature of my disorder, yet, if we may
credit the faculty, there is no danger of loss of life."
He set out, accompanied by Lady Clive and a small party, consisting of
her relation, Mrs. Latham, Mr. Maskelyne, her brother, Mr. Strachey and
Mr. Ingham. The change seems instantly to have produced a beneficial
effect; and he had not long left England when we find, from the letters
of his friends, that his improved state of health and freedom from pain
enabled him to diminish the quantity of opium he had previously been
obliged to use.
A few days after his arrival in Paris, he wrote Mr. Verelst as
follows[155]:--"I am certain it will give you infinite pleasure to
hear of my safe arrival at this place, and of my recovery beyond what
either my friends or myself could have imagined or expected in so short
a time. The remedy, I believe, was found out before I left England;
but the travelling and climate have undoubtedly done me much good. In
short, by the time I have spent a few months in the south of France,
and drank the waters of Spa, I doubt not of enjoying a better state of
health than I have done for some years.