110 
C. R. Wilson — Topography of old Fort William. [No. 2, 
'designs of a more perfect hand — this I hope will show I had no sinister 
views of my own. 8 
9. It appears from the Consultations of 24th November 1755, that 
Plaisted. 
Mr. B. Plaisted also furnished to Mr. Prank- 
land “a plan he had taken of the town of 
Calcutta.” 
Colin Simson. 
10. On 25th February, 1756, a letter was addressed to Drake and 
Manningliam 9 by Colin Simson who thus intro- 
duces his own plan. 10 
Since the time I have had the honor to be appointed Eno-ineer I 
have had an opportunity to examine the plan projected by Col. Scott for 
a fortification where Fort Wm. now stands, which appearing to bo 
deficient in some of the things principally requisite in a fortification, 
I thought it my duty to represent the same to yr. Hons, that if you 
think proper the representation with the accompanying plan may be 
transmitted to the Ct. of Ds. 
[He proceeds to criticise adversely Scott’s plan in many particulars.] 
Tho whole Fort when finished will be a narrow slip on the side of 
the River, and in order to build it, the whole north side of the Factory 
which contains the apartments for most of the young gentlemen in the 
Company’s service, the magazine for arms and military stores, shop for 
medicine, smith’s shop, &c., must be pulled down immediately, as also 
8 This plan was ordered “ to be sent to the Honourable Company in the box of 
books per Hardwick.” As for Captain. Jones, £. Drake Junior and his brethren 
did not like to be hustled by this plain-spoken and honest man ; his gloomy fore- 
bodings — too soon to be realized, but from a quarter which even he did not foresee 
were most unwelcome. Like the daughter of Priam he possessed the gift of pro- 
phecy which nobody believed, and accordingly he got nothing but rebukes for his 
pains. “ On the 4th August Captain Jasper Jones sent in a letter to the Board with 
his sentiments on the present fortifications of the place, and what he thono-ht 
necessary for its defense in case of war. The Board being of opinion it was irre- 
gular, improper and unnecessary, we ordered our Secretary to inform him that our 
orders had been issued to his Superior Officer to whom he should have applied if he 
had anything material to offer.” Poor Jones did not go to the coast as he proposed : 
he died instead on the 22nd November 1755, having been overtaken with monoton- 
ous punctuality, by the “ violent fever ” which had already accounted for so many 
of those who dealt with the defences of the settlement. The Bengal recording 
angels said grandiloquently, in their letter to the Court of Directors, that ho 
“ demised,” and this they announced without the hollow customary formality of any 
expression of regret. Captain Witherington reigned in his stead, and Lieutenant 
Grant became a Captain. II. E. B. 
9 Tho special Committee on fortifications presumably. II. E. B. 
10 Letters from Bengal 1756. 
