[123] This observation alludes to their general habits. On religious
festivals, and on their own marriages, and those of their children, the
most parsimonious Hindu often spends great sums.
[124] Ameer-ul-Omra, the second son, and for some period minister, of
Mahommed Ali, the former Nabob of the Carnatic.
[125] Lucknow is the capital of the vizier of Oude.
[126] It is believed to have been principally at the suggestion of
the great banker Jugget Seit, that the English were applied to as the
instruments of this revolution. One great reason assigned, was the good
faith they had always shown in their commercial transactions, from
which a favourable judgment was formed of their general character. M.
Law, than whom there could be no better authority, and who many years
after was Governor of Pondicherry, always gave it as his opinion, that
the English were obliged to none so much as the banker Jugget Seit, for
bringing about this revolution.--D. H.
[127] The grounds upon which the Bengal Committee were ultimately
induced to come to a resolution to join the confederacy against
Suraj-u-Dowlah, are fully explained in their letter of the 14th July,
1757, to the Secret Committee[128] in England. They state, that they
had no doubt but that the Nabob would attack them whenever the squadron
and the troops left the river; that they not only had no confidence in
his friendship, but were convinced he was the determined enemy of the
English, and was using every means in his power to bring the French
to Bengal: that from his conduct in this and numerous other cases,
it was certain he would seize the first opportunity of extirpating
the Company; and lastly, they express their opinion, that from the
detestation in which Suraj-u-Dowlah was held, the confederacy formed
against him must succeed; but that, if they withheld their aid, they
could expect no advantages from such success: whereas, if they took a
prominent part, they might look for remuneration for past losses, and
full security against any future misfortune, similar to that to which
their weakness had before exposed them.
[128] Vide Parliamentary Reports, vol. iii. p. 216.
[129] Mr. Watts writes, under date the 14th of April:--"The Nabob,
before our success at Chandernagore, threatened, in the presence of
Runjutroy and others, to impale, or cut off my head; and yesterday
repeated those threats in the presence of Jugget Seit, Monichund, Cojah
Wazeed, Meer Abdul Caussim, Runjutroy, and Omichund. I write this for
yours and the Colonel's notice alone, and desire no public affair may
be made of it, for I despise what the Nabob can do to me, and would not
have you desist from any vigorous measures you may intend to pursue on
my account."
[130] 22d April, 1757.
[131] Mr. Walsh was paymaster to the Madras troops, but acted
throughout the expedition as secretary to Colonel Clive.
[132] Governor of Hooghley.
[133] Tellingy means a native of Tellingana, one of the ancient
Hindu divisions of India, which includes the north-eastern parts of
the Deckan. Some tribes of the natives of Tellingana have long been
celebrated as foot-soldiers; hence the term Tellingy and sepoy became
synonymous.
[134] 23d April, 1757.
[135] 28th April, 1757.
[136] 26th April, 1757.
[137] 29th April, 1757.
[138] Major Kilpatrick.
[139] Such are the terms said to have been used by Admiral Watson,
in speaking of those who had signed the treaty (proposed by Clive)
to deceive Omichund. This is stated in evidence by Captain Brereton
(Parl. Reports, vol. iii. p. 151.); but a more general and inconclusive
testimony perhaps never was given.
[140] Petrus, an Armenian, was the agent of Meer Jaffier.
[141] The evidence of Mr. Sykes, as taken before a Committee of the
House of Commons, fully corroborates all that Mr. Watts represented
regarding the substance and manner of Omichund's demand, as well as the
threat by which it was accompanied. Mr. Sykes stated, "That in the year
1757 he was stationed at the subordinate factory called Cossimbazar,
in council; that he does not know particularly the terms demanded by
Omichund; but that, being on a visit to Mr. Watts, he found him under
great anxiety; that he took him aside, and told him that Omichund had
been threatening to betray them to Suraj-u-Dowlah, and would have them
all murdered that night, unless he would give some assurances that the
sum promised him (by Mr. Watts) should be made good; that, upon the
visit to Mr. Watts, he further said that he was under the greatest
anxiety how to counteract the designs of Omichund."--Parliamentary
Reports, vol. iii. p. 145.
[142] Lord Clive, being examined by the Committee of the House of
Commons regarding the fictitious treaty, stated, "That when Mr.
Watts had nearly accomplished the means of carrying that revolution
into execution, he acquainted him by letter that a fresh difficulty
had started; that Omichund had insisted upon five per cent. on all
the Nabob's treasures, and thirty lacs in money; and threatened, if
he did not comply with that demand, he would immediately acquaint
Suraj-u-Dowlah with what was going on, and Mr. Watts should be put to
death. That, when he received this advice, he thought art and policy
warrantable in defeating the purposes of such a villain; and that his
Lordship himself formed the plan of the fictitious treaty, to which
the Committee consented. It was sent to Admiral Watson, who objected
to the signing of it; but, to the best of his remembrance, gave the
gentleman who carried it (Mr. Lushington) leave to sign his name
upon it; that his Lordship never made any secret of it; he thinks it
warrantable in such a case, and would do it again a hundred times;
he had no interested motive in doing it, and did it with a design
of disappointing the expectations of a rapacious man; that he never
heard Mr. Watts had made a promise to Omichund of any money, directly
or indirectly; that when he was last abroad, he had given the same
account, which is entered in the public proceedings; that Omichund was
employed only as an agent to Mr. Watts, as having most knowledge of
Suraj-u-Dowlah's court, and had commission to deal with three or four
more of the court. Omichund's only chance of obtaining retribution was
depending on this treaty; he did not believe that Omichund was known to
Meer Jaffier, but through Mr. Watts."--Parl. Reports, vol. iii. p. 149.
[143] 19th May, 1757.
[144] Omichund had been on the most intimate footing with the Nabob,
who, trusting to him for secret information, was averse to his leaving
Moorshedabad. But as he now desired to go to Calcutta, he told Mr.
Scrafton to remove this impediment, by applying for a present which
the Nabob had promised to make the British commanders in February.
This promise, it appears, was made to Omichund, who afterwards pledged
himself to conceal it. Suraj-u-Dowlah, thinking he had broken that
pledge, was much enraged, and as anxious for his departure as he had
been before for his remaining at his court.
[145] Parliamentary Reports, vol. iii. p. 145.
[146] Letter from Col. Clive to Mr. Watts, May 19th.
[147] This demand of a full acquittance, on paying one fifth of what
was due, had been made some weeks before through Mr. Watts. It had been
rejected with indignation by Admiral Watson and Col. Clive.
[148] Scrafton's Letters, p. 88.
[149] Clive's force consisted of--
Six hundred and fifty European infantry;
One hundred topases;
One hundred Malabar Portuguese;
One hundred and fifty artillery, including fifty seamen;
Two thousand one hundred sepoys;
Eight six-pounders;
One howitzer.
[150] Clive's letters to the Secret Committee, June 19th, 1757.
[151] A maund is 80 pounds.
[152] A considerable province of the kingdom of Bengal, the Rajah (or
Prince) of which was hostile to Suraj-u-Dowlah.
[153] Ghazee-u-Deen, the eldest son of the celebrated Nizam-ul-Mûlk,
was at this period chief minister of Delhi, and had almost uncontrolled
power.
[154] The following is the list of the officers of this council, and
the order in which they voted:--
_Negative._ _For immediate attack._
Rob^t. Clive. Eyre Coote.
James Kilpatrick. G. Alex. Grant.
Arch^d. Grant. G. Muir.
Geo. Fred. Goupp. Cha^s. Palmer.
Andrew Armstrong. Rob^t. Campbell.
Tho^s. Rumbold. Peter Carstairs.
Christian Firkan. W. Jennings.
John Corneille.
H. Popham.
The query and list of the officers are transcribed from the original
proceedings of the council of war, as found in the Clive MSS.
[155] It has been asserted that Clive was induced to change his opinion
by the representations of Major Coote. This was contradicted by the
latter, in his evidence before the House of Commons. He said, "After
the council of war, Lord Clive spoke to him first, unasked, of the
army marching, without his having mentioned a word to him upon the
subject."--Parliamentary Reports, vol. iii. p. 153.
[156] June 21st.
[157] Scrafton's Letters, p. 90.
[158] Major Kilpatrick, observing an opportunity of attacking an
advanced party, under a French officer, by whom the troops in the grove
were annoyed, put himself at the head of two companies and two guns, to
charge; sending, at the same time, to inform Clive of what he had done.
The latter hastened to the spot, commanded the party back to the grove,
and severely reprimanded the Major for acting without his orders. It
has been stated, by those who were desirous of detracting from Clive's
fame, that he was asleep in a hunting-house, which he had made his
head-quarters, when the account was brought him of Kilpatrick's attack.
This assertion has been denied; but, if admitted, it will prove no more
than that this extraordinary man could give, amid such scenes, a few
minutes to necessary repose.
[159] June 22d.
[160] Orme, vol. ii. p. 171.
[161] Moodeen Khan.
[162] A species of cart drawn by a couple of bullocks.