32 CONQUEST OF BENGAL. 



though these proposals were at first rejected, the prince, 

 on mature reflection, not only received the English com- 

 mander, but proceeded with him to Patna. He was there 

 met by Meer Cossim, and a treaty was concluded, by which 

 the latter was invested Subahdar of Bengal, Bahar, and 

 Orissa ; in return for this he stipulated to pay the annual 

 sum of twenty-four lacks of rupees, or three millions ster- 

 ling. Some reason was even given to expect that the 

 English might aid in restoring the prince to the imperial 

 power ; but the embarrassed state of the finances, and other 

 circumstances now to be related, prevented any steps from 

 being taken in fulfilment of this object. 



The first measures of Meer Cossim's government were 

 prudent and vigorous ; and had he been left to the exercise 

 of independent power, he might have become a very good 

 ruler. But he stood in a relation to his patrons which a 

 high-spirited prince could scarcely continue to brook. After 

 having twice deposed and set up a nabob, they felt them- 

 selves, and were viewed by others, as the real masters of 

 Bengal. Their most subordinate officers conceived that 

 they were entitled to the obedience of the highest native 

 authorities. This bad feeling was fomented by a party in 

 the council hostile to the governor, who soon became the 

 majority, and who, having been originally adverse to the 

 elevation of Meer Cossim, delighted to thwart him in every 

 possible manner. Mr. Ellis, stationed with a detachment 

 at Patna, was greatly influenced by these high notions, and 

 omitted no occasion of annoying and insulting the nabob. 

 The complaints of this ruler assumed a serious shape, in 

 consequence of the privileges in regard to trade, which the 

 English claimed in virtue of a former grant from the Mogul. 

 They were thereby exempted from those heavy transit 

 duties which, according to the impolitic system prevalent in 

 India, were imposed on all goods passing up and down the 

 river, and from city to city. This immunity, which gave 

 to the British an immense advantage over the natives, was 

 farther abused by affording the sanction of their name to 

 agents, bj whom t lie regular merchants wen entirely driven 

 oil' the field. In consequence of the heavy Complaints 

 lodged by the nabob upon this subnet, Mr. Vansittart, at 

 Monghir, concluded an agreement, according to which the 



