390 A. D. 1764. 



ftruck the firfl: blow in this war by an attack upon the town of Patna, 

 which they almoft inftantly made themfelves mafters of, and abandon- 

 ing themfelves to the licentioufnefs and diforders of pillage, they were 

 as fuddenly driven out of it in four hours thereafter, and obliged to 

 take fhelter in their fort, which they as fpeedily abandoned, fled acrofs 

 the Ganges, and three days after were completely routed by the Indian 

 forces (25th June — ifl July 1763). 



Major Adams immediately marched into the nabob's territories ; and, 

 though Collim conduced his operations with a degree of prudence and 

 military knowlege never before attained by any of the Indian princes, 

 and his troops were alfo better armed, clothed, and difciplined, and dif- 

 played more courage and firmnefs than is ufual with Indian armies, the 

 iliperior military knowlege and difcipline of the Englifli in a few months 

 (July — Ociober 1763) drove him from pofl to pofl:, and at laft entirely 

 out of his dominions to take fhelter with Sujah Dowlah, the nabob of 

 the neighbouring province of Oude, who, fearful of drawing on him- 

 felf the refentment of the Englifh, refufed to admit any of his troops, 

 though he willingly afforded an afylum to himfelf. 



Such was the fituation of affairs in India, when the difpatches were 

 fent home : and, though the event might be confidered as rather fa- 

 vourable to the company, yet, when they received the unwelcome news 

 of a war, the progrefs and confequences of which might be fo defl:ruc- 

 tive to their revenue, which from territorial and commercial funds now 

 amounted to between fix and feven hundred thoufand pounds a-year, 

 it ftruck them with fo great a conflernation, that India flock imme- 

 dia^jely fell 14. per cent (February 6th), and great debates enfued on the 

 jneafures proper to be purfued in India. 



Lord Clive was generally confidered by the proprietors of India flock 

 as the perfon befl qualified for the military command in iuch critical 

 circumftances. But there were fome difputes on the fubjedt of his 

 jagheer, which the company, through whofe hands only he could re- 

 ceive it, had withheld from him, as being anfwerable for it to the 

 Mogul, if he fliould ever be in a capacity to demand it of them. There 

 was alfo another difficulty. While they wifhed Lord Clive to be at the 

 head of their army abroad, they defired that Mr. Sullivan fliould pre- 

 fide as chairman in the direction at home. But Lord Clive politively 

 refufed to take any concern in the company's affairs, if that gentleman 

 were to be at the head of the diredion. And fo high were their hopes 

 and their confidence in Lord Clive's military talents, that all difficulties 

 were fmoothed, the affair of the jagheer was accommodated to his la- 

 tisfadion, and Mr. Sullivan was obliged to content himfelf with being 

 merely one of the directors. Lord Clive, having thus got all matters 

 in difpute fettled almofl on liis own terms, embarked for India about 

 the end of May. 



