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THE CAPTURE OF CALCUTTA 
friend and master, for purity and natural grace. Her temper, like 
his, was in all likelihood affected by their calamities. 
History of the Capture of Calcutta in 'iiie East Indies — 
AND an Account of the horrid Catastrophe at the Bl/.ck 
Hole Prison. 
Before the war of 1755, Calcutta was commonly ganisoned by 
three hundred Europeans, who were frequently employed in conveying 
the company’s vessels from Patna, loaded with saltpetre, piece-goods, 
opium, and raw silk. The trade of Bengal alone supplied rich car- 
goes for fifty or sixty ships annually, besides w hat was carried on in ves- 
sels to the adjacent countries. This flourishing state of Calcutta proba- 
bly was one motive for the nabob Surajah Dowlah to attack it in 1750, 
when he marched against it with all his forces, amounting to seventy 
thousand horse and foot, with four hunared elephants, and invested 
the place on the 15th of June. Previous to any hostilities, how ever, 
he wrote a letter to Mr. Drake the governor, ofl’ering to withdraw 
his troops, on condition that he would pay him his duty on the trade 
for fifteen years past, defray the expense of his army, and deliver 
up the black merchants who were in the forts. This being refused, 
he attacked one of the redoubts at the entrance of the town ; but 
was repulsed with great slaughter. On the 16th he attacked an- 
other advanced post, but was likewise rej)ulsed with great loss. He 
renewed the attempt, however, on the 18th, w hen the troops abandoned 
those posts, and retreated into the fort ; on which the nabob’s troops 
entered the town, and plundered it for twenty-four hours. An order 
was then- given for attacking the fort: for which purpose a small 
breastwork was thrown up, and two twelve-pounders mounted upon it, 
without firing oftener than two or three times an hour. The governor, 
calling a council of war, was informed that there was not ammunition 
in the fort to serve three days, in consequence of which the principal 
ladies were sent on board the ships lying before the fort. They 
were followed by the governor, who declared himself a Quaker, and 
left the place to be defended by Mr. John Zephaniah Holwell, the 
second in council. Besides the governor, four of the council, eight 
gentlemen in the company’s service, forty officers, and one hundred 
soldiers, w ith fifty-two free merchants, captains of ships, &c. escaped 
on board the ships, where were also fifty-nine ladies, with thirty- 
three children. 
The whole number left in the fort amounted to two hundred and 
fifty effective men, with Mr. Holwell, four captains, five lieutenants, 
six ensigns, and five sergeants ; also fourteen sea captains, and twenty- 
nine gentlemen of the factory. Mr. Holwell then having held a coun- 
cil of war, divided three chests of treasure among the discontented 
soldiers ; making them large promises also, if they behaved with 
great courage and fidelity ; after which he boldly stood on the defence 
of the place, notwithstanding the immense force which opposed him. 
The attack was very vigorous : the enemy having got possession of 
the houses, galled the English from thence, and drove them from the ' 
bastidns ; but they themselves were several times dislodged by the 
