*You owe me a letter; so this extra goes only to acquaint you with
a misfortune that has just happened to poor Clarke, and which he
really considers as such, the loss of a very excellent father. The
blow was sudden; a thin little Man, as abstemious as a hermit, was
destroyed by a stroke of Apoplexy in his Coach, as he was going out
to dinner. He appeared perfectly well, and only two days before had
very good-naturedly dined with us at a Tavern, a thing he had not
done for many years before. I am the only person that Clarke wishes
to see, except his own family; and I pass a great part of the day. A
line from you would be kindly received.
[Sidenote: GREAT NEWS FROM INDIA.]
Great news, you see, from India.[228] Tanjore--four hundred thousand
pounds to the Company; Sujah Dowlah--600,000.* Tygor Roch[229] is
certainly got off from the Cape to Mauritius in a French ship. Adieu.
[228] In 1773, the East India Company at Madras and the Nabob of
the Carnatic were allies: the Rajah of Tanjore, though nominally
an ally, was known to be in correspondence with Hyder Ali and the
Mahrattas. The Company agreed for a sum of money to reduce the
Rajah and transfer his dominions to the Nabob. The bargain was
fulfilled, and the news, transmitted to the Board of Directors,
reached London, March 26, 1774. In October, 1773, Sujah Dowlah,
Nawab of Oude, offered Warren Hastings a large sum of money
if the Company would conquer and transfer to him the Rohilla
country, north of his dominions and east of the Ganges. At the
same time the provinces of Corah and Allahabad were sold to Sujah
Dowlah by the Company.
[229] Captain David Roche sailed with his wife on board the
_Vansittart_, East Indiaman, in May, 1773, in order to take up
an appointment in the Company's service at Bombay. On the voyage
he quarrelled with Lieutenant James Ferguson, whom he killed
at the Cape in September, 1773. It was alleged that Roche had
treacherously assassinated his antagonist; but, on his trial at
Cape Town, it was proved that Ferguson was the assailant, and
that Roche had killed him in self-defence. Strong feeling was
aroused about the affair, because Roche was wrongly identified
with a notorious duellist of the day. The governor of the Cape
obtained a passage for Roche in a French frigate to Mauritius,
whence he reached Bombay. On arrival there, he was arrested and
sent home to England. Examined before the Privy Council on July
10, 1775, he was committed to Newgate. A special commission was
issued (August 5) to try him, and at the Old Bailey, on December
11, 1775, he was again acquitted of the charge of murder. (See
_A Plain and Circumstantial Account of the Transactions between
Captain Roche and Lieut. Ferguson_, etc. London, 1775.)
193.
_To his Stepmother._
London, April 2nd, 1774.