RI PTURE WITH MEER COSSIM. 33 



same duties w>re to be paid by the company's servants and 

 by the country traders. This judicious arrangement, after 

 the Indian prince had somewhat hastily begun to act upon 

 it, was annulled by the majority of the council, and affairs 

 were again thrown into their former confusion. The nabob 

 then determined to end the controversy by abolishing at 

 once all those inland duties, — a measure salutary in itself, 

 but of which the English unreasonably and loudly com- 

 plained, because it left no distinction between them and his 

 own subjects. As the tide of discontent swelled, both par- 

 ties began to assume a warlike attitude. The nabob busied 

 himself in raising money, levying troops, and disciplining 

 them in the European manner. Learning that some boats 

 with military stores were proceeding up the Ganges to 

 Patna, he ordered them to be detained ; but soon after 

 feeling this to be a questionable step, he allowed them to 

 proceed. No sooner, however, had Mr. Ellis received news 

 of the first detention than he resolved, agreeably to con- 

 ditional instructions from the council, to attack the city of 

 Patna, which, being ill provided for defence, was quickly 

 carried. Cossim Ali, on receiving intelligence of this violent 

 measure, became furious, and thenceforth breathed nothing 

 but war. He was, however, soon gratified, by learning that 

 the victors, having resigned themselves to security and 

 plunder, had been surprised by the late governor, driven 

 from the city, and, in attempting to escape up the river, had 

 been all taken prisoners. The factory at Cossimbuzar, with 

 its garrison, was also captured. 



The English now again raised to power Meer Jaffier, 

 whom the blind desire of governing induced to forget all his 

 wrongs. At the same time Major Adams, who commanded 

 the troops, was ordered to open the campaign with the 

 utmost possible vigour. He found Meer Cossim better pre- 

 pared for resistance than any Indian sovereign who had yet 

 been encountered. The British had first to defeat a strong 

 advanced guard in front of Moorshedabad, and afterward to 

 storm the lines constructed for the defence of that city. 

 Continuing to press forward, they found the subahdar with 

 his whole force drawn up in the plain of Geriah. The 

 troops presented the aspect of a European army ; being 

 brigaded, clothed, and accoutred in the English style, and 



