92 HINDOOSTA N, 
treafures. He was faid to. have fent a jemidar with one- 
hundred hprfe'to Jefferaut Khan, to carry this bloody 
fcheme into execution ; with Separate orders to the jemi- 
dar, to put an end to their lives. He refuted acting 
any part in the tragedy, and left it to the other; who 
carried them out by night in a boat, tied weights to their 
legs, and-threw them overboard. They Struggled for Some 
time, and held by the gunwale of the boat; but by Strokes , 
on their heads, and cutting off their hands, they were at 
laft. forced off and drowned. In like manner it was faid, 
that many others of Surajah ul Dowlah’s relations had 
perished ; yet, when it was thought proper*to replace Meer 
Jaflier again in the nibobihip, in 1761, all thefe dead per¬ 
sons were faid to be alive, excepting two. It muft alfo be 
remembered, in behalf of the unfortunate Jaflier, that be¬ 
sides the Sums exacted of him, by the English, at his accef- 
fion, he had ceded to them a large extent of territory, and 
granted them So many immunities in trade, that he had 
in a manner deprived himfelf of all refources ; and it was 
impoffible for hi.n to defray the neceffary expences, with¬ 
out either extorting money from his Subjefts, or infringing 
the privileges he had fo inconsiderately granted. 
There were two accounts of this remarkable revolution, 
both published by authority, yet materially differing from 
one another. The firft was given in-a memorial drawn 
up at a confutation at Fort William, November 10, 1760, 
where were prefeint Henry Vanfittart, elq. president; Wil¬ 
liam Ellis, B. Stunner, William M'Guire, Henry Verelft, 
and Henry Smyth, eiqrs. “ We rei'olved (fays the gover¬ 
nor) to give the nabob the next day (Oftober 10, 1750) 
to relleft upon the letters I had delivered him, proposing 
Some mealufes for regulating thefe abuS'es. I heard nothing 
from him all that day; but found by my intelligence that 
he had been in. council at his old advil'ers, whole advice, 
I was Sure, would be contrary to the welfare of the coun¬ 
try and of the company. I therefore determined to aft' 
immediately on the nabob’s fear. There could not be a 
better opportunity than the night of the 19th offered, it 
being the conclusion of the Gentoo feaft, when all the 
principal people of that call would be pretty well fatigued 
with their ceremonies. Accordingly I agreed with colonel 
Caillaud, that he Should crols the river with the detach¬ 
ment between three and four in the morning ; and, having 
joined Coffim Ali Khan and his people, march to the na¬ 
bob’s palace, and Surround it juft at day-break. Being 
extremely deiirous to prevent disturbance or bloodfned, I 
wrote a letter to the nabob, telling him, I had been wait¬ 
ing all the day in expeftation that he would have fettled 
the urgent affairs upon which I conferred with him yeS- 
terday; but his having favoured me with no anfwer, 
plainly Showed that all I could reprefent to him for the 
good of his country would have no efi'eft, as long as his 
evil counsellors were about his perfon, who would in the 
end deprive him of his government, and ruin the com¬ 
pany’s affairs. For this reafon I had fent colonel Caillaud 
with forces to wait upon him, and to expel thofe bad 
counfellors, and place his affairs in a proper State, and I 
would Shortly follow. This letter I gave to the colonel, 
to Send to the nabob at Such a time as he Should think 
moil expedient. Meafures were taken at the fame time for 
l'eizing his three unworthy ministers, and to place CoSilm 
Ali Khan in the full management of ali the affairs, in 
quality of deputy and fucceffor to the nabob. 
“ The neceffary preparations being made with all care 
and fecrecy poiiible, the colonel embarked with the troops, 
joined Coffim Ali Khan without the leaft alarm, and 
marched into the court-yard of the palace juft at the pro¬ 
per inftant. The gates of the inner court being Shut, the 
colonel formed his men without, and fent the letter to the 
nabob, who was at firft in a great rage, and long threat¬ 
ened that he would make what refiftance he could, and 
take his fate. The colonel forebore all hostilities, and 
•feveral meffages palled between him and the nabob. The 
■affair remained in this doubtful State for two hours, when 
the nabob, finding his perfiftittg was to no puvpofe, fent a 
meffage to Coffim All Khan, informing him that he wa,s 
ready to fend the Seals and all the enSigns of dignity, pro¬ 
vided he would agree to take the whole charge of the 
government upon him, to discharge all arrears due to the 
troops, to pay the uSual revenue to the emperor, to fave 
his life and honour, and to give him an allowance Suffi¬ 
cient for his maintenance. All thele conditions being 
agreed to, Cofiim Ali was proclaimed; and the old nabob 
came out to the colonel, declaring that he depended on 
him for his life. The troops then took poffeffion of all 
the gates; and the old nabob was told, that not only his 
perfon was fafe, but his government too if he pleafed, of 
which it was never intended to deprive him. He anfwered, 
that he had now no more bufineS's in the city, where he 
Should be in continual danger from Coffim Ali Khan; 
and, if he was permitted to go and live at Calcutta, he 
Should be contented. Coffim Ali Khan was now placed 
on tire mufnud, and the people in general feemed much 
■ plealed with the revolution. The old nabob did ,not think 
himfelf fife, even for one night, in the city. -Coffim Ali 
Khan Supplied him with boats, and permitted him to take 
away about fixty of . his family, with a reafonable quantity 
of jewels. He begged that he might Sleep in his boat that 
night, which he accordingly did ; and on the morning of 
■the zzd of October, he fet out for Calcutta, and arrived 
there on the 2.9th. He was met by a deputation from the 
council, and treated with every mark of reipeft due to his 
former dignity.” 
The Second account of this affair was .not published 
till the 1 ith of March 1763, and was Sighed Eyre Coote, 
P. Amyatt, John Carnac, W. Ellis, S. BatSpn, H. VerelSt. 
“ In September 1760, (Say they,) when there was not the 
leaSt appearance of a rupture or difguSt between us and 
the nabob, but friendship and harmony lubfifting, Meer 
Coffim Khan, his Son-in-law, came down to Calcutta, and, 
having Staid a Short time, returned to MoorShedabad. A 
few days after, Mr. Vanfittart went up to that city, on 
the pretence of a vifit to the nabob Meer Jaflier. Colonel 
Caillaud, with two hundred Europeans and Some Sepoys, 
attended him; who, it was. pretended, were going to join 
the army at Patna. When Mr. Vanfittart arrived at Mo- 
radbaug, the nabob paid him two visits ; at the laft of 
which Mr. Vanfittart gave him three letters, proposing the 
reformation of the abules in his government, infilled on 
his naming lbme perfon among his relations to take charge 
of the l’oubahfhip, and particularly recommended Coffim 
Ali Khan, who was Sent for, and the nabob defired to 
Stay till he came : but the nabob, being greatly fatigued, 
was' Suffered to depart to his palace. The night and fol¬ 
lowing day paffied in concerting- meafures with Coffim Ali 
how to put in execution the plan before agreed on in 
Calcutta, where a treaty was figned for this purpofe. In 
confequence of thefe deliberations, our troops crofted the 
river next night; and being joined by Coffim and his 
party. Surrounded the nabob’s palace. A letter from Mr. 
Vanfittart was fent in to the nabob, demanding his com¬ 
pliance with what had been propoied to him. To this the 
nabob returned for anfwer, ‘ that he never expefted Such 
uiage from the English: that, while a force was at his gates, 
he would enter into no terms.’ A meffkge was lent in, 
that, if he did not direftly comply, they Should be obliged 
to Storm the palace. Aftonifhed and terrified at this menace, 
he opened the gates, exclaiming, that ‘ he was betrayed; 
that the Englifn were guilty of perjury and breach of faith ; 
that he perceived their defigns againft his government; 
that he had friends enough to hazard at leaft one battle in 
his defence; but, although no oaths were Sacred enough 
to bind the English, yet, as he had Sworn to be their faith¬ 
ful friend, he would never Swerve from his engagement, 
and rather Suffer death than draw his S’word againit them.’ 
So fulpicious was he of being Sold, that he defired to know 
what Sum of money his fon-in-law Coffim Ali Khan was 
to give for the foubahlhip, and he would give them half 
