INSURRECTION AT BENARES. 
161 
was in arms., so that most of the messengers were 
intercepted ; some were made prisoners,, and others 
returned without having executed their commissions. 
Two of Mr. Hastings's letters,, however, reached 
Colonel Blair, who immediately ordered a battalion, 
commanded by Captain MacDougal, to proceed next 
morning to Benares. Mr. Hastings, having received 
information that the enemy intended to make an as- 
sault upon his quarters — and this was soon after con- 
firmed by the hostile aspect on the opposite side of 
the river — determined, after consulting Major Popham 
and the other field officers who were with him upon 
the expediency of a retreat, to repair without delay 
to the fort of Chunar. On their way they met the 
detachment commanded by Captain MacDougal, 
marching to Benares, which immediately joined them, 
and proceeded with them to Chunar. 
On arriving at that town, Mr. Hastings experienced 
the greatest difficulties in raising supplies for the con- 
sumption of the little army then at the disposal of the 
government in that neighbourhood. They were in the 
greatest distress for provisions, and indeed the situation 
of the Governor-General was altogether a most critical 
one, for so low was the Company's credit in India at 
this period, that their functionaries could not raise 
sufficient money even for the supply of the very 
limited number of troops which they had in pay in 
the Zemeendary. Under these circumstances, they 
must have suffered the greatest extremity of want 
but for the liberality of the Bajah of Berar’s Vakeel, 
who volunteered to advance a lac of rupees to Mr. 
Hastings out of his own private funds, receiving as a 
p 3 
