Chronological Table. 171 



1755. — Notwithstanding the late peace, the rivals were still intriguing and inter- 

 fering with the native powers. The English proceeded against Madura and Tini- 

 velly. The French remonstrated and opposed them. — Mill. 



1755. — A settlement at Negrais having been two years previous contemplated by 

 Governor Saunders, Capt. Baker was, this year, sent on an embassy to Ava. — Dai- 

 ry mple. 



Mr. Geo. Pigot succeeded Mr. Saunders, as Governor at Madras. — Dalrymple. 



1756.— Alumgeer assassinated. Ahmed Shah Abdelli first entered Delhi. — Hamil- 

 ton. 



Frederick snagore (Serampore) founded by tht Danes. — E. I. Chron. 



Geriah, the stronghold of the Pirate Angria, attacked by Admiral Watson, and 

 Clive, (just returned from Europe with the rank of Colonel ;) it was carried on the 

 13th February, and much plunder obtained. —Mill. Orme. 



On the death of Aliverdi Khan, Navvaub of Bengal, his grand nephew, Suraja 

 Dowlah, succeeded. Immediately taking offence at the English, for their protection 

 to a native officer, said to have escaped from Dacca, with treasure, he attacked 

 Calcutta, carried it on the 20th June, after a poor defence, (Drake, the Governor, 

 having fled to the shipping,) and allowed his officers to shut up 146 European pri- 

 soners, in a small military prison room called, the black hole*, in which 123 of the 

 number perished, during the night. — Stewart. 



Suraja Dowlah, on his return from Calcutta, exacted 4§ lacs of rupees from the 

 Dutch, at Chinsurah, and 3§ lacs from the French, at Chandernagore. The latter 

 had supplied him with powder. — Stewart. 



Colonel Clive and Admiral Watson left Madras on the 16th October, with 900 Eu- 

 ropeans, and 1,500 Sepoys, to inflict vengeance on the Nawaub ; reached Fulta on 

 the 20th December. — Stewart. 



At this time, there were 70 houses only in Calcutta, and the present site of Fort 

 William was a complete jungle. — Hamilton. 



1757. — Colonel Clive retook Calcutta on the 2nd January, and forced Suraja Dowlah 

 into a treaty, offensive and defensive, on the 9th of February. 



On the 22nd March, Clive took Chandernagore, against Suraja Dowlah's wish, war 

 having been proclaimed anew between the French and English. — Stewart. 



Having made a secret treaty with Meer Jaffier, an officer of the Nawaub, Clive 

 shortly staked every thing in a daring attempt to conquer Bengal itself. Thus refus- 

 ing to return to Madras, as ordered, he advanced in June, towards Moorshedabad, 

 the Nawaub's capital. On the 23rd June, he fought the battle of Plassey, against 

 18,000 horse and 50,000 infantry, and aided by the treachery of Meer Jaffier, routed 

 the Nawaub's troops. Suraja Dowlah fled, but in a few days was seized, and cruelly 

 assassinated, by order of Meer Jaffier's son. On the 29th June, Meer Jaffier was 

 raised to the Musnud, and from that date, the influence of the British may be stated 

 to have become paramount in Bengal. — Stewart. 



During the operations in the Carnatic, on the declaration of war between France 

 and England, Madura was taken by the English, under Captain Calliaud, on the 8th 

 August, after that officer had successfully defended Trichinopoly. The French took 

 Chittaput, Trincomalee, and sundry other forts. — Mill. 



Manillah taken from the Spaniards, by the English. 



The English established a Mint in Calcutta, and the first rupee was struck on the 

 29th of August. — East India Chronologist . 



1758. — Count Lally, on the 25th April, landed at Pondicherry, as Governor Gene- 

 ral, and in three days, the fleet from which he disembarked, had an indecisive engage- 

 ment with Admiral Pocock. — Mill. 



Lally, who was haughty, impetuous, and unconcilating, was not disposed to look 

 favourably on the successes of M. Bussy, in the Deccan, where the latter had been 

 powerfully controuling the entire Subah. Bussy had possessed himself of the strong 

 hold of Dowlatabad, and at the time of Lally's arrival, his influence was immense. 

 He was now recalled, while the effects of his measures, and the French supremacy 

 in the Councils of the Dekhan, were wholly ruined in consequence. — De Bar. 



Fort St. David surrendered to Lally, on the 1st June, and on the 7th Devi-cottab. 

 was abandoned by the English. — Mill. 



* It is to be regretted that the indefatigable and able Historian Mill makes this a handle for some 

 of his wonted sarcastic abuse of the early English in India, and asks, what business had Fort Wil- 

 liam with a black hole ? He might as well inquire, what right has the same fortress now, to possess 

 solitary cells for the soldiery ? The ' black hole' in question, was simply one of a range of eodowns 

 (warehouses) on the ground floor, built against a four-ioot outer wall of the fort, the roof of the 

 warehouse acting as a rampart, on which guns were placed,— the front of the godowns having a small 

 verandah looking into the fort. There were two small windows to the godown which had simply 

 been used as a lock-up house, or ' Black hole,' for disorderly soldiers. 



