HINDOOSTAN. 87 
would therefore immediately have been- made on Chan- 
dernagore, had not a deputation arrived from that place, 
requelting a neutrality in this part of the world, until mat¬ 
ters fhould be finally decided in Europe. The negocia- 
tion, however, was broken off, on a fuggeftion, that the 
government of Chandernagore, being fubordinate to that 
of Pondicherry, could not render any tranfaftion of this 
kind valid. It remained therefore only to obtain the con¬ 
sent of the nabob to make an attack upon this place ; but 
this was impofiible ; for in ten days after the conclufion 
of the above treaty, he lent a letter to admiral Watfon, 
complaining of his intention. “ It appears (fays he) that 
you have a defign to befiege the French factory near Hoog¬ 
ly, and to commence hollilities againft that nation. This 
is contrary to all rule and cullom, that you fliould bring 
your animofities and differences into my country; for it 
has never been known, fince the days of Timour, that 
the Europeans made-war upon one another in the king’s 
dominions. If you are determined to beliege the French 
faftories, I fliall be neceflitated, in honour and duty to my 
king, to afiill them with my troops.” 
Nothing lefs was now decided upon in the Englifli coun¬ 
cil at Calcutta, than the depofition of the nabob ; which 
at this time appeared eafily practicable, by fupporting the 
pretenfions of Meer Jaffier Ali Khan, who had with other 
noblemen entered into a conlpiracy againft him. Meer 
Jaffier had married the filler of Aliverdi Khan, the pre- 
decefforof Surajah ul Dowlah; and was now fuppcrted in 
his pretenfions by Ameen Chund, general of the horfe, and 
by Jugget Seet, the nabob’s banker, who was reckoned the 
richeft merchant in India. By thefe three lending perlons 
the defign was communicated to Mr. Watts, the Englifli 
refident at the nabob’s court, and by him to colonel Clive, 
and the fecret committee at Calcutta. The management 
being left to Watts and Clive, it was thought proper to 
communicate the fecret to Omichund, through whom the 
neceflary correfpondence might be carried on with Meer 
Jaffier Khan. This agent proved fo avaricious, that it 
was rel'olved to ferve him in his own way ; and by a piece 
of treachery, to gain their point with both parties. Two 
treaties where therefore prepared ; (fee the article Eng¬ 
land, vol. vi. p. 745;) in one of which was ftipulated 
a compliance with Omichund’s demand ; but in the other 
his name was totally omitted ; and both thefe treaties were 
figned by all the principal perfons concerned, except ad¬ 
miral Watfon, whom no political motives could influence 
to fign an agreement which he did not mean to keep. 
Thefe treaties, the fame in every refpeft, except as to 
Omichund, who was thus oufted of his claim, were to 
the following purport: i. All the effects and factories be¬ 
longing to the province of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla, 
Khali remain in poffeffion of the Englilh, nor fliall any 
more French ever be allowed to fettle in thole provinces. 
2. In conlideration of the Ioffes fuftained by the Englilh 
company by the capture and plunder of Calcutta, Meer 
jaffier to pay one crore of rupees, or 1,250,000k fterling. 
3. For the effefts plundered from the Englifli at Calcutta, 
he engaged to pay fifty lack of rupees, or 625,0001. 4 
For the effects plundered from the Gentoos, Moors, and 
other inhabitants of Calcutta, twenty lacks, or 250,000!. 
7. For the effects plundered from the American mer¬ 
chants, inhabitants of Calcutta, feven lacks, or 87,500!. 
8 . The diffribution of all thefe fums to be' left to admi¬ 
ral Watfon, colonel Clive, and Meffrs. Drake, Watts, 
Kilpatrick, and Becher ; to be dilpofed of by them as 
they fliould think proper. 
All things being now in readinefs, colonel Clive began 
his march againft Surajah ul Dowlah, on the 13th of June 
r756. Before any act of hoftility was committed, how¬ 
ever, colonel Clive wrote the nabob a letter, upbraiding 
him with his partiality to the French ; and telling him, 
that “ the rains being i’o near, and it requiring many days 
to receive an anfwer, lie had found it neceflary to wait 
upon him in his camp. Surajah ul Dowlah, foreieeing 
that he was to be attacked, marched to Plalfey, where he 
threw up iiitrencliments, and waited the arrival of colonel 
Clive, who, among the Hindoo chiefs, was now Called Sa-. 
but Jung. Before the battle commenced, colonel Clive 
was informed by Ameen Chund, that Meer Jaffier had 
pretended to reconcile all differences with Surajah ul Dow¬ 
lah, and had agreed to join him, the better to carry on 
the conlpiracy ; but that, inltead of allowing his troops to 
engage, .he fliould endeavour to gain over the chief com¬ 
manders; none of which, he affured Clive, would make 
any defence after the firft onfet; but either fly from the 
field, or-join the Englifli. 
Colonel Clive began liis attack with a cannonade fo 
unremitted and inftantaneous, that it confounded the fight 
of his oppofers, and overcame their faculties of hearing 
Meer Jaffier Khan, and his affociates in treachery, kept 
their detachments at a diftance ; but Meer Muddun, and 
his faithful followers, who were ready to facrifice their 
lives, or gain the victory, bravely oppofed the enemy. 
They were, however, unable to charge, from the violence 
of the cannonade, but kept refolutely, though flowly, ad¬ 
vancing, till at length they gained the Grove of Plalfey; 
upon which colonel Clive, not expefting fucli refiftance, 
reproached Ameen Chund, and accufed him of premedi¬ 
tated deception ; faying, “ that he had reprefented the 
army of Surajah ul Dowlah as d if affected to his perfon j 
but now the contrary appeared from their valiant oppo- 
fition.” The Hindoo chief replied, “that the prefent 
enemy was only Meer Muddun, and a few others, who 
were faithful to the nabob ; but when he was routed, the 
truth of his aflertions would appear.” At the inftant of 
this converlation, Meer Muddun received a mortal wound 
from a cannon-ball. He was carried immediately to the 
nabob, and, having uttered a few words, expired before 
him. Surajah ul Dowlah, involved in defpair, now Pent 
liaftily for Meer Jaffier, and befought his afliftance and ad¬ 
vice. Meer Jaffier, judging this a fit opportunity to com¬ 
plete his treachery, advifcd, that, as but little of the day 
was remaining, the troops fliould be recalled to their 
tents; and, in the morning, he promifed to repulfe the 
enemy. The troops were accordingly ordered to retreat; 
which was the fignal for them to fly in every direction, as 
if totally routed. The unfortunate nabob, now perceiv¬ 
ing the treachery, and feeing himfelf wholly defected, ef- 
caped with difficulty from the field of battle; and wan¬ 
dered, he knew not where, with his women and their at¬ 
tendants, in quell of amafylum. 
Meer Jaffier Khan, in the mean time, joined colonel 
Clive at Plalfey ; with whom, and the Englilh troops, he 
the next day entered Moorfhedabad, and iffued proclama¬ 
tions to the inhabitants in his own name. His partners 
in conlpiracy, and thofe attached to his intereft, haftened 
to prefent their congratulations and offerings. On the 
29th of June 1757, Meer Jaffier Khan founded the trum¬ 
pet for his exaltation ; and, affenibling in the grand hall 
of the palace, colonel Clive, in the prelence of the rajahs- 
and grandees of the court, iblemnly led him by the hand 
to the mufnud or throne of ftate; where he was unani- 
moufly faluted foubahdah or nabob ; the Mogul monarch, 
Auiumgeer, having at this time loft all authority in 
Bengal. The important bufinefs of the divifion of the 
plunder, and the reftitutions to the Englifli for their Ioffes 
at. Calcutta, were now immediately entered upon; but 
the fum which Jaffier had engaged to pay on that fcore, 
was found far to exceed all the treafures left in coined 
money and jewels in the treafury of Surajah ul Dow¬ 
lah. The lum ftipulated by the company for its fer- 
vices, according to the accurate Mr. Maurice, amounted 
to 22,000,000 of ficca rupees, equal to 2,750,0001. fterling, 
including donations to the fquadron, the army, and the 
committee. Of this vaft aggregate, upo.n the ftrong and 
repeated reprefentation of the treafurer of the abfolute 
inefficiency of the exchequer at once to dil’charge the de¬ 
mand, one half was agreed to be paid immediately down 
the other half to be paid in three years, at three equal in- 
ftalments. O11 the 6th of July was received the fum, in 
coined filver, of 7,271,666 rupees, which being packed up 
in feven hundred chefts, and laden in one hundred boats, 
was, 
