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diff --git a/old/10946.txt b/old/10946.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ccf718 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10946.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6355 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Frenchmen in Bengal, by S.C. Hill + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three Frenchmen in Bengal + The Commercial Ruin of the French Settlements in 1757 + +Author: S.C. Hill + +Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10946] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE FRENCHMEN IN BENGAL *** + + + + +Produced by Wilelmina Malliere and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + +THREE FRENCHMEN IN BENGAL + + + + +[Illustration: THE GANGES VALLEY AND THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS IN +BENGAL, 1756 (_After Rennell_.)] + + + + +THREE FRENCHMEN IN BENGAL + +OR + +_THE COMMERCIAL RUIN OF THE FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN 1757_ + +BY + +S.C. HILL, B.A., B.Sc. + +OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE RECORDS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHOR +OF "MAJOR-GENERAL CLAUD MARTIN" + +_WITH MAPS AND PLANS_ + + +1903 + + + + +TO + +MY DEAR WIFE + + + + +PREFACE + + +This account of the commercial ruin of the French Settlements, taken +almost entirely from hitherto unpublished documents, originated as +follows. Whilst engaged in historical research connected with the +Government Records in Calcutta, I found many references to the +French in Bengal which interested me strongly in the personal side +of their quarrel with the English, but the information obtainable +from the Indian Records alone was still meagre and incomplete. A few +months ago, however, I came across Law's Memoir in the British +Museum; and, a little later, when visiting Paris to examine the +French Archives, I found not only a copy of Law's Memoir, but also +Renault's and Courtin's letters, of which there are, I believe, no +copies in England. In these papers I thought that I had sufficient +material to give something like an idea of Bengal as it appeared to +the French when Clive arrived there. There is much bitterness in +these old French accounts, and much misconception of the English, +but they were written when misconception of national enemies was the +rule and not the exception, and when the rights of non-belligerents +were little respected in time of war. Some of the accusations I have +checked by giving the English version, but I think that, whilst it +is only justice to our Anglo-Indian heroes to let the world know +what manner of men their opponents were, it is equally only justice +to their opponents to allow them to give their own version of the +story. This is my apology, if any one should think I allow them to +say too much. + +The translations are my own, and were made in a state of some +perplexity as to how far I was bound to follow my originals--the +writings of men who, of course, were not literary, and often had not +only no pretension to style but also no knowledge of grammar. I have +tried, however, to preserve both form and spirit; but if any reader +is dissatisfied, and would like to see the original papers for +himself, the courtesy of the Record officials in both Paris and +London will give him access to an immense quantity of documents as +interesting as they are important. + +In the various accounts that I have used there are naturally +slightly different versions of particular incidents, and often +it is not easy to decide which is the correct one. Under the +circumstances I may perhaps be excused for not always calling +attention to discrepancies which the reader will detect for himself. +He will also notice that the ground covered in one narrative is +partly traversed in one or both of the others. This has been due to +the necessity of treating the story from the point of view of each +of the three chief actors. + +I may here mention that the correspondence between Clive and the +princes of Bengal, from which I have given some illustrative +passages, was first seen by me in a collection of papers printed in +1893 in the Government of India Central Printing Office, Calcutta, +under the direction of Mr. G.W. Forrest, C.I.E. These papers have +not yet been published, but there exists a complete though slightly +different copy of this correspondence in the India Office Library +(Orme MSS. India XI.), and it is from the latter copy that I have, +by permission, made the extracts here given. The remaining English +quotations, when not from printed books, have been taken chiefly +from other volumes of the Orme MSS., a smaller number from the +Bengal and Madras Records in the India Office, and a few from MSS. +in the British Museum or among the Clive papers at Walcot, to which +last I was allowed access by the kindness of the Earl of Powis. + +Finally, I wish to express my thanks to M. Omont of the Bibliotheque +Nationale, Paris, to Mr. W. Foster of the Record Department of the +India Office, and to Mr. J.A. Herbert of the British Museum, for +their kind and valuable assistance. + +S.C. HILL. + +_September_ 6, 1903. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. THE QUARREL WITH THE ENGLISH + + II. M. RENAULT, CHIEF OF CHANDERNAGORE + + III. M. LAW, CHIEF OF COSSIMBAZAR + + IV. M. COURTIN, CHIEF OF DACCA + + INDEX + + +MAPS AND PLANS + +THE GANGES VALLEY AND THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS IN BENGAL, 1756. +(_After Rennell_) _Frontispiece_ + +MAP OF THE RIVER HUGLI FROM BANDEL TO FULTA. (_After Rennell_) _To +face page_ + +FORT D'ORLEANS, CHANDERNAGORE, 1749. (_Mouchet_) + +MUXADABAD, OR MURSHIDABAD. (_After Rennell_) + +DACCA, OR JEHANGIR-NAGAR. (_After Rennell_) + + + + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE RIVER HUGLI FROM BANDEL TO FULTA. (_After +Rennell_.)] + + + + +THREE FRENCHMEN IN BENGAL + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE QUARREL WITH THE ENGLISH + + +Writing in 1725, the French naval commander, the Chevalier d'Albert, +tells us that the three most handsome towns on the Ganges were +Calcutta, Chandernagore, and Chinsurah, the chief Factories of the +English, French, and Dutch. These towns were all situated within +thirty miles of each other. Calcutta, the latest founded, was the +greatest and the richest, owing partly to its situation, which +permitted the largest ships of the time to anchor at its quays, and +partly to the privilege enjoyed by the English merchants of trading +freely as individuals through the length and breadth of the land. +Native merchants and native artisans crowded to Calcutta, and the +French and Dutch, less advantageously situated and hampered by +restrictions of trade, had no chance of competing with the English +on equal terms. The same was of course true of their minor +establishments in the interior. All three nations had important +Factories at Cossimbazar (in the neighbourhood of Murshidabad, the +Capital of Bengal) and at Dacca, and minor Factories at Jugdea or +Luckipore, and at Balasore. The French and Dutch had also Factories +at Patna. Besides Calcutta, Chandernagore, and Chinsurah, the only +Factory which was fortified was the English Factory at Cossimbazar. + +During the long reign of the usurper, Aliverdi Khan,[1] that strong +and politic ruler enforced peace among his European guests, and +forbade any fortification of the Factories, except such as was +necessary to protect them against possible incursions of the +Marathas, who at that time made periodical attacks on Muhammadans +and Hindus alike to enforce the payment of the _chauth_,[2] or +blackmail, which they levied upon all the countries within their +reach. In Southern India the English and French had been constantly +at war whenever there was war in Europe, but in Bengal the strength +of the Government, the terror of the Marathas, and the general +weakness of the Europeans had contrived to enforce a neutrality. +Still there was nothing to guarantee its continuance if the fear of +the native Government and of the Marathas were once removed, and if +any one of the three nations happened to find itself much stronger +than the others. The fear of the Marathas had nearly disappeared, +but that of the Government still remained. However, it was not till +more than sixty years after the foundation of Calcutta that there +appeared any possibility of a breach of peace amongst the Europeans +in Bengal. During this time the three Factories, Calcutta always +leading, increased rapidly in wealth and importance. To the +Government they were already a cause of anxiety and an object of +greed. Even during the life of Aliverdi Khan there were many of his +counsellors who advised the reduction of the status of Europeans to +that of the Armenians, i.e. mere traders at the mercy of local +officials; but Aliverdi Khan, whether owing to the enfeeblement of +his energies by age or to an intelligent recognition of the value of +European commerce, would not allow any steps to be taken against the +Europeans. Many stories are told of the debates in his _Durbar_[3] +on this subject: according to one, he is reported to have compared +the Europeans to bees who produce honey when left in peace, but +furiously attack those who foolishly disturb them; according to +another he compared them to a fire[4] which had come out of the sea +and was playing harmlessly on the shore, but which would devastate +the whole land if any one were so imprudent as to anger it. His +wisdom died with him, and in April, 1756, his grandson, +Siraj-ud-daula, a young man of nineteen,[5] already notorious for +his debauchery and cruelty, came to the throne. The French--who, of +all Europeans, knew him best, for he seems to have preferred them to +all others--say his chief characteristics were cruelty, rapacity, +and cowardice. In his public speeches he seemed to be ambitious of +military fame. Calcutta was described to him as a strong fortress, +full of wealth, which belonged largely to his native subjects, and +inhabited by a race of foreigners who had grown insolent on their +privileges. As a proof of this, it was pointed out that they had not +presented him with the offerings which, according to Oriental +custom, are the due of a sovereign on his accession. The only +person who dared oppose the wishes of the young Nawab was his +mother,[6] but her advice was of no avail, and her taunt that he, a +soldier, was going to war upon mere traders, was equally +inefficacious. The records of the time give no definite information +as to the tortuous diplomacy which fanned the quarrel between him +and the English, but it is sufficiently clear that the English +refused to surrender the son of one of his uncle's _diwans_,[7] who, +with his master's and his father's wealth, had betaken himself to +Calcutta. Siraj-ud-daula, by the treacherous promises of his +commanders, made himself master of the English Factory at +Cossimbazar without firing a shot, and on the 20th of June, 1756, +found himself in possession of Fort William, the fortified Factory +of Calcutta.[8] The Governor, the commandant[9] of the troops, and +some two hundred persons of lesser note, had deserted the Fort +almost as soon as it was actually invested, and Holwell, one of the +councillors, an ex-surgeon, and the gallant few who stood by him and +continued the defence, were captured, and, to the number of 146, +cast into a little dungeon,[10] intended for military offenders, +from which, the next morning, only twenty-three came out alive. The +English took refuge at Fulta, thirty miles down the river, where the +Nawab, in his pride and ignorance, left them unmolested. There they +were gradually reinforced from Madras, first by Major Kilpatrick, +and later on by Colonel Clive and Admiral Watson. About the same +time both French and English learned that war had been declared in +Europe between England and France in the previous May, but, for +different reasons, neither nation thought the time suitable for +making the fact formally known. + +Towards the end of December the English, animated by the desire of +revenge and of repairing their ruined fortunes, advanced on +Calcutta, and on the 2nd of January, 1757, the British flag again +floated over Fort William. The Governor, Manik Chand, was, like many +of the Nawab's servants, a Hindu. Some say he was scared away by a +bullet through his turban; others, that he was roused from the +enjoyment of a _nautch_--a native dance--by the news of the arrival +of the English.[11] Hastening to Murshidabad, he reported his +defeat, and asserted that the British they had now to deal with were +very different from those they had driven from or captured in +Calcutta. + +The English were not satisfied with recovering Calcutta. They wished +to impress the Nawab, and so they sent a small force to Hugli, which +lies above Chandernagore and Chinsurah, stormed the Muhammadan fort, +burnt the town, and destroyed the magazines, which would have +supplied the Nawab's army in an attack on Calcutta. The inhabitants +of the country had never known anything so terrible as the big guns +of the ships, and the Nawab actually believed the men-of-war could +ascend the river and bombard him in his palace at Murshidabad. +Calling on the French and Dutch for aid, which they refused, he +determined to try his fortune a second time at Calcutta. At first, +everything seemed the same as on the former occasion: the native +merchants and artisans disappeared from the town; but it was not as +he thought, out of fear, but because the English wished to have them +out of the way, and so expelled them. Except for the military camp +to the north of the city, where Clive was stationed with his little +army, the town lay open to his attack. Envoys from Calcutta soon +appeared asking for terms, and the Nawab pretended to be willing to +negotiate in order to gain time while he outflanked Clive and seized +the town. Seeing through this pretence Watson and Clive thought it +was time to give him a lesson, and, on the morning of the 5th of +February, in the midst of a dense fog, Clive beat up his quarters. +Though Clive had to retire when the whole army was roused, the +slaughter amongst the enemy had been immense; and though he +mockingly informed the Nawab that he had been careful to "injure +none but those who got in his way," the Nawab himself narrowly +escaped capture. The action, however, was in no sense decisive. Most +of the Nawab's military leaders were eager to avenge their disgrace, +but some of the chief nobles, notably his Hindu advisers, +exaggerated the loss already incurred and the future danger, and +advised him to make peace. In fact, the cruelty and folly of the +Nawab had turned his Court into a nest of traitors. With one or two +exceptions there was not a man of note upon whom he could rely, and +he had not the wit to distinguish the faithful from the unfaithful. +Accordingly he granted the English everything they asked for--the +full restoration of all their privileges, and restitution of all +they had lost in the sack of Calcutta. As the English valued their +losses at several hundreds of thousands, and the Nawab had found +only some L5000 in the treasury of Fort William, it is clear that +the wealth of Calcutta was either sunk in the Ganges or had fallen +as booty into the hands of the Moorish soldiers. + +Siraj-ud-daula, though he did not yet know it, was a ruined man when +he returned to his capital. His only chance of safety lay in one of +two courses--either a loyal acceptance of the conditions imposed by +the English or a loyal alliance with the French against the English. +From the Dutch he could hope for nothing. They were as friendly to +the English as commercial rivals could be. They had always declared +they were mere traders and would not fight, and they kept their +word. After the capture of Calcutta the Nawab had exacted heavy +contributions from both the French and Dutch; but France and England +were now at war, and he thought it might be possible that in these +circumstances the restoration of their money to the French and the +promise of future privileges might win them to his side. He could +not, however, decide finally on either course, and the French were +not eager to meet him. They detested his character, and they +preferred, if the English would agree, to preserve the old +neutrality and to trade in peace. Further, they had received no +supplies of men or money for a long time; the fortifications of +Chandernagore, i.e. of Fort d'Orleans, were practically in ruins, +and the lesser Factories in the interior were helpless. Their +military force, for attack, was next to nothing: all they could +offer was wise counsel and brave leaders. They were loth to offer +these to a man like the Nawab against Europeans, and he and his +Court were as loth to accept them. Unluckily for the French, +deserters from Chandernagore had served the Nawab's artillery when +he took Calcutta, and it was even asserted that the French had +supplied the Nawab with gunpowder; and so when the English heard of +these new negotiations, they considered the proposals for a +neutrality to be a mere blind; they forgot the kindness shown by the +French to English refugees at Dacca, Cossimbazar, and Chandernagore, +and determined that, as a permanent peace with the Nawab was out of +the question, they would, whilst he hesitated as to his course of +action, anticipate him by destroying the one element of force which, +if added to his power, might have made him irresistible. They +continued the negotiations for a neutrality on the Ganges only until +they were reinforced by a body of 500 Europeans from Bombay, when +they sent back the French envoys and exacted permission from the +Nawab to attack Chandernagore. Clive marched on that town with a +land force of 4000 Europeans and Sepoys, and Admiral Watson +proceeded up the river with a small but powerful squadron. + +Thus began the ruin of the French in Bengal. The chief French +Factories were, as I have said, at Chandernagore, Cossimbazar, and +Dacca. The Chiefs of these Factories were M. Renault, the Director +of all the French in Bengal; M. Law, a nephew of the celebrated Law +of Lauriston, the financier; and M. Courtin. It is the doings and +sufferings of these three gallant men which are recorded in the +following chapters. They had no hope of being able to resist the +English by themselves, but they hoped, and actually believed, that +France would send them assistance if they could only hold out till +it arrived. Renault, whose case was the most desperate, perhaps +thought that the Nawab would, in his own interest, support him if +the English attacked Chandernagore; but knowing the Nawab as well as +he did, and reflecting that he had himself refused the Nawab +assistance when he asked for it, his hope must have been a feeble +one. Still he could not, with honour, give up a fortified position +without attempting a defence, and he determined to do his best. When +he failed, all that Law and Courtin could expect to do was to +maintain their personal liberty and create a diversion in the north +of Bengal when French forces attacked it in the south. It was not +their fault that the attack was never made. + +I shall make no mention of the fate of the Factories at Balasore and +Jugdea. At these the number of Frenchmen was so very small that +resistance and escape were equally hopeless. Patna lay on the line +of Law's retreat, and, as we shall see, he was joined by the +second and other subordinate officers of that Factory. The chief, M. +de la Bretesche, was too ill to be moved, but he managed, by the +assistance of his native friends, to secure a large portion of the +property of the French East India Company, and so to finance Law +during his wanderings. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Aliverdi Khan entered Muxadavad or Murshidabad as a +conqueror on the 30th of March, 1742. He died on the 10th of April, +1756. (_Scrafton_.)] + +[Footnote 2: Literally the fourth part of the Revenues. The Marathas +extorted the right to levy this from the Emperor Aurengzebe, and +under pretext of collecting it they ravaged a large portion of +India.] + +[Footnote 3: Court, or Court officials and nobles.] + +[Footnote 4: Such fires are mentioned in many Indian legends. In the +"Arabian Nights" we read of a demon changing himself into a flaming +fire.] + +[Footnote 5: His age is stated by some as nineteen, by others as +about twenty-five. See note, p. 66.] + +[Footnote 6: Amina Begum.] + +[Footnote 7: _Diwan_, i.e. Minister or Manager.] + +[Footnote 8: The English at Dacca surrendered to the Nawab of that +place, and were afterwards released. Those at Jugdea and Balasore +escaped direct to Fulta.] + +[Footnote 9: Captain George Minchin.] + +[Footnote 10: Known in history as the Black Hole of Calcutta.] + +[Footnote 11: Both stories may be true. Manik Chand was nearly +killed at the battle of Budge Budge by a bullet passing through his +turban, and the incident of the _nautch_ may have happened at +Calcutta, where he certainly showed less courage.] + +[Illustration: FORT D'ORLEANS, CHANDERNAGORE, 1749. (_Mouchet._)] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +M. RENAULT, CHIEF OF CHANDERNAGORE + + +The French East India Company was founded in 1664, during the +ministry of M. Colbert. Chandernagore, on the Ganges, or rather that +mouth of it now known as the River Hugli, was founded in 1676; and +in 1688 the town and territory were ceded to France by the Emperor +Aurengzebe. I know of no plan of Chandernagore in the 17th century, +and those of the 18th are extremely rare. Two or three are to be +found in Paris, but the destruction of the Fort and many of the +buildings by the English after its capture in 1757, and the decay of +the town after its restoration to the French, owing to diminished +trade, make it extremely difficult to recognize old landmarks. The +Settlement, however, consisted of a strip of land, about two leagues +in length and one in depth, on the right or western bank of the +Hugli. Fort d'Orleans lay in the middle of the river front. It was +commenced in 1691, and finished in 1693.[12] Facing the north was +the Porte Royale, and to the east, or river-side, was the Water +Gate. The north-eastern bastion was known as that of the Standard, +or Pavillon. The north-western bastion was overlooked by the Jesuit +Church, and the south-eastern by the Dutch Octagon. This last +building was situated on one of a number of pieces of land which, +though within the French bounds, belonged to the Dutch before the +grant of the imperial charter, and which the Dutch had always +refused to sell. The Factory buildings were in the Fort itself. To +the west lay the Company's Tank, the hospitals, and the cemetery. +European houses, interspersed with native dwellings, lay all around. +M. d'Albert says that these houses were large and convenient, but +chiefly of one story only, built along avenues of fine trees, or +along the handsome quay. D'Albert also mentions a chapel in the +Fort,[13] the churches of the Jesuits and the Capucins, and some +miserable _pagodas_ belonging to the Hindus, who, owing to the +necessity of employing them as clerks and servants, were allowed the +exercise of their religion. In his time the Europeans numbered about +500. There were besides some 400 Armenians, Moors[14] and Topasses, +1400 to 1500 Christians, including slaves, and 18,000 to 20,000 +Gentiles, divided, he says, into 52 different castes or occupations. +It is to be supposed that the European houses had improved in the +thirty years since d'Albert's visit; at any rate many of those which +were close to the Fort now commanded its interior from their roofs +or upper stories, exactly as the houses of the leading officials in +Calcutta commanded the interior of Fort William. No other fact could +be so significant of the security which the Europeans in Bengal +believed they enjoyed from any attack by the forces of the native +Government. The site of the Fort is now covered with native huts. +The Cemetery still remains and the Company's Tank (now known as Lal +Dighi), whilst Kooti Ghat is the old landing-place of Fort +d'Orleans. + +As regards the European population at the time of the siege we have +no definite information. The Returns drawn up by the French +officials at the time of the capitulation do not include the women +and children or the native and mixed population. The ladies,[15] and +it is to be presumed the other women also, for there is no mention +of women during the siege, retired to the Dutch and Danish +settlements at Chinsurah and Serampore a few days before, and the +native population disappeared as soon as the British army +approached. The Returns therefore show only 538 Europeans and 66 +Topasses. The Governor or Director, as already mentioned, was Pierre +Renault: his Council consisted of MM. Fournier, Caillot, Laporterie, +Nicolas, and Picques. There were 36 Frenchmen of lesser rank in the +Company's service, as well as 6 surgeons. The troops were commanded +by M. de Tury and 10 officers. There were also 10 officers of the +French East India Company's vessels, and 107 persons of sufficient +importance for their _parole_ to be demanded when the Fort fell. +Apparently these Returns do not include those who were killed in the +defence, nor have we any definite information as to the number of +French sepoys, but Eyre Coote[16] says there were 500. + +The story of the siege is to be gathered from many accounts. M. +Renault and his Council submitted an official report; Renault wrote +many letters to Dupleix and other patrons or friends; several of the +Council and other private persons did the same.[17] M. Jean Law, +whose personal experiences we shall deal with in the next chapter, +was Chief of Cossimbazar, and watched the siege, as it were, from +the outside. His straightforward narrative helps us now and then to +correct a mis-statement made by the besieged in the bitterness of +defeat. On the English side, besides the Bengal records, there are +Clive's and Eyre Coote's military journals, the Logs of the British +ships of war, and the journal of Surgeon Edward Ives of His +Majesty's ship _Kent_. Thus this passage of arms, almost the only +one in Bengal[18] in which the protagonists were Europeans, is no +obscure event, but one in which almost every incident was seen and +described from opposite points of view. This multiplicity of +authorities makes it difficult to form a connected narrative, and, +in respect to many incidents, I shall have to follow that account +which seems to enter into the fullest or most interesting detail. + +It will now be necessary to go back a little. After the capture of +Calcutta in June, 1756, the behaviour of the Nawab to all Europeans +was so overbearing that Renault found it necessary to ask the +Superior Council of Pondicherry for reinforcements, but all that he +received was 67 Europeans and 167 Sepoys. No money was sent him, and +every day he expected to hear that war had broken out between +France and England. + + "Full of these inquietudes, gentlemen, I was in the + most cruel embarrassment, knowing not even what to + desire. A strong detestation of the tyranny of the Nawab, + and of the excesses which he was committing against + Europeans, made me long for the arrival of the English in + the Ganges to take vengeance for them. At the same time + I feared the consequences of war being declared. In every + letter M. de Leyrit[19] impressed upon me the necessity of + fortifying Chandernagore as best I could, and of putting the + town in a state of security against a surprise, but you have + only to look at Chandernagore to see how difficult it was for + us, absolutely destitute as we were of men and money, to do + this with a town open on all sides, and with nothing even to + mark it off from the surrounding country."[20] + +He goes on to describe Fort d'Orleans-- + + "almost in the middle of the settlement, surrounded by + houses, which command it, a square of about 600 feet,[21] + built of brick, flanked with four bastions, with six guns + each, without ramparts or glacis. The southern curtain, + about 4 feet thick, not raised to its full height, was + provided only with a battery of 3 guns; there was a similar + battery to the west, but the rest of the west curtain was + only a wall of mud and brick, about a foot and a half thick, + and 8 or 10 feet high; there were warehouses ranged + against the east curtain which faced the Ganges, and which + was still in process of construction; the whole of this side + had no ditch, and that round the other sides was dry, only 4 + feet in depth, and a mere ravine. The walls of the Fort up + to the ramparts were 15 feet high, and the houses, on the + edge of the counterscarp, which commanded it, were as much + as 30 feet." + +Perhaps the Fort was best defended on the west, where the Company's +Tank[22] was situated. Its bank was only about twelve feet from the +Fort Ditch. This use of tanks for defensive purposes was an +excellent one, as they also provided the garrison with a good supply +of drinking water. A little later Clive protected his great barracks +at Berhampur with a line of large tanks along the landward side. +However, this tank protected one side only, and the task of holding +such a fort with an inadequate garrison was not a hopeful one even +for a Frenchman. It was only his weakness which had made Renault +submit to pay the contribution demanded by the Nawab on his +triumphant return from Calcutta in July of the previous year, and he +and his comrades felt very bitterly the neglect of the Company in +not sending money and reinforcements. One of his younger +subordinates wrote to a friend in Pondicherry:[23]-- + + "But the 3-1/2 lahks that the Company has to pay to the + Nawab, is that a trifle? Yes, my dear fellow, for I should + like it to have to pay still more, to teach it how to leave + this Factory, which is, beyond contradiction, the finest of its + settlements, denuded of soldiers and munitions of war, so + that it is not possible for us to show our teeth." + +The wish was prophetic. + +Like the English the French were forbidden by the Nawab to fortify +themselves. Renault dared not pay attention to this order. He had +seen what had happened to the English by the neglect of proper +precautions, and when things were at their worst, the Nawab had to +seek his alliance against the English, grant him leave to fortify +Chandernagore, and, later on, even to provide him with money under +the pretence that he was simply restoring the sum forcibly extorted +from him the previous year.[24] Trade was at a standstill, and +Renault was determined that if the enemies of his nation were +destined to take the Company's property, they should have the utmost +difficulty possible in doing so. He expended the money on provisions +and ammunition. At the same time, that he might not lose any chance +of settling affairs peaceably with the English, he refused to +associate himself with the Nawab, and entered upon negotiations for +a neutrality in the Ganges. To protect himself if these failed, he +began raising fortifications and pulling down the houses which +commanded the Fort or masked its fire. + +He could not pull down the houses on the south of the Fort, from +which Clive subsequently made his attack, partly for want of time, +partly because the native workmen ran away, and partly because of +the bad feeling prevalent in the motley force which formed his +garrison.[25] The most fatal defect of all was the want of a +military engineer. The person who held that position had been sent +from France. He was a master mason, and had no knowledge of +engineering. It had been the same story in Calcutta. Drake's two +engineers had been a subaltern in the military and a young +covenanted servant. Renault had to supervise the fortifications +himself. + + "I commenced to pull down the church and the house + of the Jesuit fathers, situated on the edge of the Ditch, also + all the houses of private persons which masked the entire + north curtain. The wood taken from the ruins of these + served to construct a barrier extending from bastion to + bastion and supporting this same north curtain, which + seemed ready to fall to pieces from old age." + +This barrier was placed four feet outside the wall, the intervening +space being filled in with earth. + + "Also in front of Porte Royale" (i.e. outside the gate in + the avenue), "the weakest side of the Fort, I placed a battery + of 3 guns, and worked hard at clearing out and enlarging + the Ditch, but there was no time to make it of any use as a + defence. A warehouse on which I put bales of _gunny_[26] to + prevent cannon balls from breaking in the vaults of the roof, + served it as a casemate." + +The east or river curtain was left alone. The French were, in fact, +so confident that the ships of war would not be able to force their +way up the river, and that Clive would not therefore think of +attacking on that side, that the only precaution they took at first +was the erection of two batteries outside the Fort. It is a +well-known maxim in war that one should attack at that point at +which the enemy deems himself most secure, and it will be seen that +all Clive's efforts were aimed at preparing for Admiral Watson to +attack on the east. + +As regards artillery Renault was better off. + + "The alarm which the Prince" (Siraj-ud-daula) "gave us + in June last having given me reason to examine into the + state of the artillery, I found that not one of the carriages + of the guns on the ramparts was in a serviceable condition, + not a field-piece mounted, not a platform ready for the + mortars. I gave all my attention to these matters, and + fortunately had time to put them right." + +To serve his guns Renault had the sailors of the Company's ship, +_Saint Contest_, whose commander, M. de la Vigne Buisson, was the +soul of the defence. + +About this time he received a somewhat doubtful increase to his +garrison, a crowd of deserters from the English East India Company's +forces. The latter at this time were composed of men of all +nationalities, English, Germans, Swiss, Dutch, and even French. Many +of them, and naturally the foreigners especially, were ready to +desert upon little provocation. The hardships of service in a +country where the climate and roads were execrable, where food and +pay were equally uncertain, and where promises were made not to be +kept, were provocations which the best soldiers might have found it +difficult to resist. We read of whole regiments in the English and +French services refusing to obey orders, and of mutinies of officers +as well as of men. The one reward of service was the chance of +plunder, and naturally, then, as soon as the fighting with the Nawab +had stopped for a time, the desertions from the British forces were +numerous. Colonel Clive had more than once written to Renault to +remonstrate with him for taking British soldiers into his service. +Probably Renault could have retorted the accusation with justice--at +any rate, he went on enlisting deserters; and from those who had now +come over he formed a company of grenadiers of 50 men, one of +artillery of 30, and one of sailors of 60, wisely giving them a +little higher pay than usual, "to excite their emulation." One of +these was a man named Lee,-- + + "a corporal and a deserter from the _Tyger_, who pledged + himself to the enemy that he would throw two shells out of + three into the _Tyger_, but whilst he was bringing the mortars + to bear for that purpose, he was disabled by a musket bullet + from the _Kent's_ tops. He was afterwards sent home a + prisoner to England."[27] + +As might be expected the younger Frenchmen were wild with delight at +the chance of seeing a good fight. Some of them had been much +disappointed that the Nawab had not attacked Chandernagore in June, +1756. One of them wrote[28]-- + + "I was charmed with the adventure and the chance + of carrying a musket, having always had" (what Frenchman + hasn't?) "a secret leaning towards a military life. I + intended to kill a dozen Moors myself in the first sortie we + made, for I was determined not to stand like a stock on a + bastion, where one only runs the risk of getting wounds + without having any of the pleasure of inflicting them." + +If not the highest form of military spirit, this was at any rate one +of which a good commander might make much use. Renault took +advantage of this feeling, and from the young men of the colony, +such as Company's servants, ships' officers, supercargoes, and +European inhabitants,[29] he made a company of volunteers, to whom, +at their own request, he gave his son, an officer of the garrison, +as commander. + +One of the volunteer officers writes:-- + + "I had the honour to be appointed lieutenant, and was + much pleased when I saw the spirit of emulation which + reigned in every heart. I cannot sufficiently praise the + spirit of exactitude with which every one was animated, and + the progress which all made in so short a time in the + management of their arms. I lay stress on the fact that it + was an occupation entirely novel to them, and one of which + the commencement always appears very hard, but they overcame + all difficulties, and found amusement in what to others + would appear merely laborious." + +All this time Renault was watching the war between the English and +the Moors. In January the English sailed up the Hugli, passed +Chandernagore contemptuously without a salute, burned the Moorish +towns of Hugli and Bandel, ravaged the banks of the river, and +retired to Calcutta. Up to this the Nawab had not condescended to +notice the English; now, in a moment of timidity, he asked the +intervention of the French as mediators.[30] Renault eagerly +complied, for had his mediation been accepted, he would have +inserted in the treaty a clause enforcing peace amongst the +Europeans in Bengal; but the English refused to treat through the +French. This could have only one meaning. Renault felt that his +course was now clear, and was on the point of offering the alliance +which the Nawab had so long sought for, when he received orders from +M. de Leyrit forbidding him to attack the English by land. As M. Law +writes, if Renault had been free to join the Nawab with 500 +Europeans, either Clive would not have ventured a night attack on +the Nawab's camp, or, had he done so, the event would probably have +been very different. Under the circumstances, all that Renault could +do was to continue his fortifications. It was now that he first +realized that Admiral Watson would take part in the attack. + + "As the ships of war were what we had most to fear + from, we constructed on the river bank a battery of 6 guns, + four of which covered the approach to the Fort. From the foot + of the battery a bank twenty-two feet high stretching to + the Fort, was begun, so as to protect the curtain on this side + from the fire of the ships, _but it was not finished_. We had + also to attend to the inhabited portion of the town; it was + impossible to do more, but we determined to protect it from + a surprise, and so ditches were dug across the streets and + outposts established."[31] + +It was this waste of valuable time upon the defence of the town that +a capable engineer would have saved Renault from the mistake of +committing. Had he limited his efforts to strengthening the walls of +the Fort and cleared away the surrounding houses, he would have been +not only stronger against the attack of the land force, but also in +a much better position to resist the ships. + +The issue of the Nawab's attack on Calcutta has already been told. +He was so depressed by his failure that he now treated Renault with +the greatest respect, and it was now that he gave him the sum of +money--a lakh of rupees, then worth L12,500--which he spent on +provisions and munitions of war. Renault says:-- + + "The Nawab's envoy further gave me to understand that + he was, in his heart, enraged with the English, and continued + to regard them as his enemies. In spite of this we saw + clearly from the treaty just made" (with the English) + "that we should be its victims, and knowing Siraj-ud-daula's + character, his promise to assist me strongly if the + English attacked us did not quiet my mind. I prepared for + whatever might happen by pressing on our preparations and + collecting all kinds of provisions in the Fort." + +The Nawab and the English concluded a treaty of peace and alliance +on the 9th of February, 1757. Renault mentions no actual treaty +between the Nawab and the French, but the French doctor referred to +in a note above asserts that the Nawab demanded that the Council +should bind itself in writing, + + "to oppose the passage of the English past Chandernagore.... + It was merely engaging to defend ourselves against + the maritime force of the English ... because Chandernagore + was the only place on this coast against which they + could undertake any enterprise by water. _This engagement + was signed_ and sent to the Nawab three days after he had + made peace with the English. The Council received in + reply two privileges, the one to coin money with the King's + stamp at Chandernagore, the other liberty of trade for + individual Frenchmen on the same footing as the Company, + and 100,000 rupees on account of the 300,000 which he had + extorted the previous year." + +It does not matter whether this engagement was signed or not.[32] As +a Frenchman thus mentions it, the rumour of its signature must have +been very strong. It is probable that the English heard of it, and +believed it to be conclusive proof of the secret understanding +between the Nawab and the French. The privilege of individual trade +was particularly likely to excite their commercial jealousy, for it +was to this very privilege in their own case that the wealth and +strength of Calcutta were due. Such a rumour, therefore, was not +likely to facilitate negotiations. Nevertheless, Renault sent MM. +Fournier and Nicolas, the latter of whom had many friends amongst +the English, to Calcutta, to re-open the negotiations for a +neutrality. These negotiations seemed to be endless. The most +striking feature was Admiral Watson's apparent vacillation. When the +Council proposed war he wanted peace, when they urged neutrality he +wanted war. Clive went so far as to present a memorial to the +Council, saying it was unfair to continue the negotiations if the +Admiral was determined not to agree to a treaty. It seems as if the +Council wanted war, but wished to throw the responsibility upon the +Admiral. On the other hand the Admiral was only too eager to fight, +but hesitated to involve the Company in a war with the French and +the Nawab combined, at a moment when the British land forces were so +weakened by disease that success might be considered doubtful. He +had also to remember the fact that the Council at Chandernagore was +subordinate to the Council at Pondicherry, and the latter might, +whenever convenient to the French, repudiate the treaty. However, in +spite of all difficulties, the terms were agreed to, the draft was +prepared, and only the signatures were wanting, when a large +reinforcement of Europeans arrived from Bombay, and the Admiral +received formal notification of the declaration of war, and orders +from the Admiralty to attack the French.[33] This put an immediate +end to negotiations, and the envoys were instructed to return to +Chandernagore. At the same time the English determined to try and +prevent the Nawab from joining the French. + +Whilst the Admiral was making up his mind fortune had favoured the +English. The Nawab, in fear of an invasion of Bengal by the Pathans, +had called upon the British for assistance, and on the 3rd of March +Clive's army left Calcutta _en route_ for Murshidabad. The Admiral +now pointed out to the Nawab that the British could not safely leave +Chandernagore behind them in the hands of an enemy, and Clive wrote +to the same effect, saying he would wait near Chandernagore for a +reply. On the 10th of March the Nawab wrote a letter to the Admiral, +which concluded with the following significant words:-- + + "You have understanding and generosity: if your enemy + with an upright heart claims your protection, you will give + him life, but then you must be _well_ satisfied of the innocence + of his intentions: if not, whatever you think right, that do." + +Law says this letter was a forgery,[34] but as the Nawab did not +write any letters himself, the only test of authenticity was his +seal, which was duly attached. The English believed it to be +genuine, and the words quoted could have but one meaning. Admiral +Watson read them as a permission to attack the French without fear +of the Nawab's interference. He prepared to support Clive as soon as +the water in the Hugli would allow his ships to pass up, and, it +must be supposed, informed Clive of the letter he had received. At +any rate, he so informed the Council. + +Clive reached Chandernagore on the 12th, and probably heard on that +day or the next from Calcutta. On the 13th he sent the following +summons--which Renault does not mention, and did not reply to--to +Chandernagore:-- + + "SIR, + + "The King of Great Britain having declared war + against France, I summons you in his name to surrender the + Fort of Chandernagore. In case of refusal you are to answer + the consequences, and expect to be treated according to the + usage of war in such cases. + + "I have the honour to be, sir, + + "Your most obedient and humble servant, + + "ROBERT CLIVE." + +It is important, in the light of what happened +later, to notice that Clive addresses Renault as a +combatant and the head of the garrison. + +In England we have recently seen men eager to vilify their own +nation. France has produced similar monsters. One of them wrote from +Pondicherry:-- + + "The English having changed their minds on the arrival + of the reinforcement from Bombay, our gentlemen at Chandernagore + prepared to ransom themselves, and they would have + done so at whatever price the ransom had been fixed + provided anything had remained to them. That mode of + agreement could not possibly suit the taste of the English. + It was rejected, and the Council of Chandernagore had + no other resource except to surrender on the best conditions + they could obtain from the generosity of their enemy. This + course was so firmly resolved upon that they gave no + thought to defending themselves. The military insisted only + on firing a single discharge, which they desired the Council + would grant them. It was only the marine and the citizens + who, though they had no vote in the Council, cried out + tumultuously that the Fort must be defended. A plot was + formed to prevent the Director's son, who was ready to carry + the keys of the town to the English camp, from going out. + Suddenly some one fired a musket. The English thought + it was the reply to their summons. They commenced on + their side to fire their artillery, and that was how a defence + which lasted ten whole days was begun." + +How much truth is contained in the above paragraph may be judged by +what has been already stated. It will be sufficient to add that +Clive, receiving no answer to his summons, made a sudden attack on a +small earthwork to the south-west of the fort at 3 A.M. on the 14th +of March. For two whole days then, the English had been in sight of +Chandernagore without attacking. The French ladies had been sent to +Chinsurah and Serampore, so that the defenders had nothing to fear +on their account. Besides the French soldiers and civilians, there +were also about 2000 Moorish troops present, whom Law says he +persuaded the Nawab to send down as soon as the English left +Calcutta. Other accounts say that Renault hired them to assist him. +The Nawab had a strong force at Murshidabad ready to march under one +of his commanders, Rai Durlabh Ram; but the latter had experienced +what even a small English force could do in the night attack on the +Nawab's camp, and was by no means inclined to match himself a second +time against Clive; accordingly, he never got further than five +leagues from Murshidabad. Urgent messages were sent from +Chandernagore as soon as the attack began. M. Law begged of the +Nawab to send reinforcements. Mr. Watts, the English Chief, and all +his party in the _Durbar_, did their utmost to prevent any orders +being issued. The Nawab gave orders which he almost immediately +countermanded. Renault ascribes this to a letter which he says +Clive wrote on the 14th of March, the very day of the attack, +promising the Nawab to leave the French alone, but it is not at all +likely that he did so. It is true Clive had written to this effect +on the 22nd of February; but since then much had happened, and he +was now acting, as he thought and said, with the Nawab's permission. +On the 16th of March he wrote to Nand Kumar, Faujdar[35] of Hugli, +as follows:-- + + "The many deceitful wicked measures that the French + have taken to endeavour to deprive me of the Nawab's + favour (tho' I thank God they have proved in vain, since + his Excellency's friendship towards me is daily increasing) + has long made me look on them as enemies to the English, + but I could no longer stifle my resentment when I found + that ... they dared to oppose the freedom of the English + trade on the Ganges by seizing a boat with an English + _dustuck_,[36] and under English colours that was passing by their + town. I am therefore come to a resolution to attack them. + I am told that some of the Government's forces have been + perswaded under promise of great rewards from the French + to join them against us; I should be sorry, at a time when + I am so happy in his Excellency's favour and friendship, that + I should do any injury to his servants; I am therefore to + desire you will send these forces an order to withdraw, and + that no other may come to their assistance."[37] + +What Clive feared was that, though the +Nawab might not interfere openly, some of his +servants might receive secret orders to do so, and +on the 22nd of March he wrote even more curtly +to Rai Durlabh himself:-- + + "I hear you are arrived within 20 miles of Hughly. + Whether you come as a friend or an enemy, I know not. If + as the latter, say so at once, and I will send some people out + to fight you immediately.... Now you know my mind."[38] + +When diplomatic correspondence was conducted in letters of this +kind, it is easy to understand that the Nawab was frightened out of +his wits, and absolutely unable to decide what course he should +take. There was little likelihood of the siege being influenced by +anything he might do. + +The outpost mentioned as the object of the first attack was a small +earthwork, erected at the meeting of three roads. It was covered by +the Moorish troops, who held the roofs of the houses around. As the +intention of the outposts was merely to prevent the town from being +surprised, and to enable the inhabitants to take shelter in the +Fort, the outpost ought to have been withdrawn as quickly as +possible, but, probably because they thought it a point of honour +to make a stout defence wherever they were first attacked, +the defenders stood to it gallantly. Renault sent repeated +reinforcements, first the company of grenadiers, then at 9 o'clock +the company of artillery, and at 10 o'clock, when the surrounding +houses were in flames, and many of the Moors had fled, a company of +volunteers. With these, and a further reinforcement of sixty +sailors, the little fort held out till 7 o'clock in the evening, +when the English, after three fruitless assaults, ceased fire and +withdrew. Street fighting is always confusing, and hence the +following vague description of the day's events from Captain Eyre +Coote's journal:-- + + "Colonel Clive ordered the picquets, with the company's + grenadiers, to march into the French bounds, which is encompassed + with an old ditch,[39] the entrance into it a gateway + with embrasures on the top but no cannons, which the + French evacuated on our people's advancing. As soon as + Captain Lynn, who commanded the party, had taken possession, + he acquainted the Colonel, who ordered Major Kilpatrick + and me, with my company of grenadiers, to join Captain + Lynn, and send him word after we had reconnoitred the + place. On our arrival there we found a party of French was + in possession of a road leading to a redoubt that they had + thrown up close under their fort, where they had a battery + of cannon, and upon our advancing down the road, they fired + some shots at us. We detached some parties through a wood, + and drove them from the road into their batteries with the + loss of some men; we then sent for the Colonel, who, as soon + as he joined us, sent to the camp for more troops. We + continued firing at each other in an irregular manner till + about noon, at which time the Colonel ordered me to continue + with my grenadier company and about 200 sepoys at the + advance post, and that he would go with the rest of our + troops to the entrance, which was about a mile back. About + 2 o'clock word was brought me that the French were making + a sortie. Soon after, I perceived the sepoys retiring from + their post, upon which I sent to the Colonel to let him know + the French were coming out. I was then obliged to divide + my company, which consisted of about 50 men, into 2 or 3 + parties (very much against my inclination) to take possession + of the ground the sepoys had quitted. We fired pretty + warmly for a quarter of an hour from the different parties + at each other, when the French retreated again into their + battery. On this occasion I had a gentleman (Mr. Tooke[40]), + who was a volunteer, killed, and 2 of my men wounded. + The enemy lost 5 or 6 Europeans and some blacks. I got + close under the battery, and was tolerably well sheltered by + an old house, where I continued firing till about 7 o'clock, + at which time I was relieved, and marched back to camp." + +The defenders were much exhausted, as well by the fighting as by the +smoke and heat from the burning houses and the heat of the weather, +for it was almost the hottest season of the year. It seemed probable +that the English would make another attack during the night, and as +the defenders already amounted to a very large portion of the +garrison, it was almost impossible to reinforce them without +leaving the Fort itself in great danger, if Clive managed to +approach it from any other quarter. Renault called a council of war, +and, after taking the opinion of his officers in writing to the +effect that the outposts must be abandoned, he withdrew the +defenders at 9 o'clock, under cover of the darkness: The French had +suffered a loss of only 10 men killed and wounded. Clive mentions +that, at the same time, all the other outposts and batteries, except +those on the river side, were withdrawn. + +Mustering his forces in the Fort, Renault found them to be composed +of 237 soldiers (of whom 117 were deserters from the British), 120 +sailors, 70 half-castes and private Europeans, 100 persons employed +by the Company, 167 Sepoys and 100 _Topasses_. Another French +account puts the total of the French garrison at 489, but this +probably excludes many of the private people.[41] + +On the 15th the English established themselves in the town, and +drove out the Moors who had been stationed on the roofs of the +houses. This gave them to some extent the command of the interior of +the Fort, but no immediate attack was made on the latter. A French +account[42] says this was because-- + + "all their soldiers were drunk with the wine they had found + in the houses. Unfortunately we did not know of this. It + would have been the moment to make a sortie, of which the + results must have been favourable to us, the enemy being + incapable of defence." + +During the night of the 15th the Fort was bombarded, and on the +morning of the 16th the British completed the occupation of the +houses deserted by the Moors. The latter not being received into the +Fort, either fled or were sent away. They betook themselves to Nand +Kumar, the Faujdar of Hugli, announcing the capture of the town. +Nand Kumar, who is said to have had an understanding with the +British, sent on the message to Rai Durlabh and the Nawab, with the +malicious addition that the Fort, if it had not already fallen, +would fall before Rai Durlabh could reach it. This put an end to all +chance of the Nawab interfering. + +The French spent the day in blocking a narrow passage formed by a +sandbank in the river, a short distance below the town. They sank-- + + "four large ships and a hulk,... and had a chain and boom + across in order to prevent our going up with the squadron. + Captain Toby sent his 2nd lieutenant, Mr. Bloomer, that night, + who cut the chain and brought off a sloop that buoyed it up."[43] + +It was apparently this rapid attack on the position that accounts +for the timidity of the pilots and boatmen, who, Renault tells us, +hurried away without staying to sink two other ships which were half +laden, and which, if sunk, would have completely blocked the +passage. Even on the ships which were sunk the masts had been left +standing, so as to point out their position to the enemy. + +Besides the ships sunk in the passage, there were at Chandernagore +the French East Indiaman the _Saint Contest_ (Captain de la Vigne +Buisson), four large ships, and several small ones. The French +needed all the sailors for the Fort, so they sank all the vessels +they could not send up the river except three, which it was supposed +they intended to use as fire-ships. + +Clive, in the meantime, was advancing cautiously, his men erecting +batteries, which seemed to be very easily silenced by the superior +gunnery of the Fort. His object was partly to weary out the garrison +by constant fighting, and partly to creep round to the river face, +so as to be in a position to take the batteries which commanded the +narrow river passage, as soon as Admiral Watson was ready to attack +the Fort. Later on, the naval officers asserted he could not have +taken the Fort without the assistance of the fleet. He said he +could, and it is certain that if he had had no fleet to assist him +his mode of attack would have been a very different one. + +Early in the siege the French were warned from Chinsurah to beware +of treachery amongst the deserters in their pay, and on the 17th of +March a number of arrows were found in the Fort with labels +attached, bearing the words:-- + + "Pardon to deserters who will rejoin their colours, and + rewards to officers who will come over to us." + +These were seized by the officers before the men could see them, but +one of the officers themselves, Charles Cossard de Terraneau, a +sub-lieutenant of the garrison, took advantage of the offer to go +over to the English. This officer had served with credit in the +South of India, and had lost an arm in his country's service. The +reason of his desertion is said to have been a quarrel with M. +Renault. M. Raymond, the translator of a native history of the time +by Gholam Husain Khan,[44] tells a story of De Terraneau which seems +improbable. It is to the effect that he betrayed the secret of the +river passage to Admiral Watson, and that a few years later he sent +home part of the reward of his treachery to his father in France. +The old man returned the money with indignant comments on his son's +conduct, and De Terraneau committed suicide in despair. As a matter +of fact, De Terraneau was a land officer,[45] and therefore not +likely to be able to advise the Admiral, who, as we shall see, +solved the riddle of the passage in a perfectly natural manner, and +the Probate Records show that De Terraneau lived till 1765, and in +his will left his property to his wife Ann, so the probability is +that he lived and died quietly in the British service. His only +trouble seems to have been to get himself received by his new +brother officers. However, he was, so Clive tells us, the only +artillery officer the French had, and his desertion was a very +serious matter. Renault writes:-- + + "The same night, by the improved direction of the + besiegers' bombs, I had no doubt but that he had done us + a bad service." + +On the 18th the French destroyed a battery which the English had +established near the river, and drove them out of a house opposite +the south-east bastion. The same day the big ships of the +squadron--the _Kent_ (Captain Speke), the _Tyger_ (Captain Latham), +and the _Salisbury_ (Captain Martin), appeared below the town. The +_Bridgewater_ and _Kingfisher_ had come up before. Admiral Watson +was on board the _Kent_, and Admiral Pocock on the _Tyger_. The +fleet anchored out of range of the Fort at the Prussian Gardens, a +mile and a half below the town, and half a mile below the narrow +passage in which the ships had been sunk. + +On the 19th Admiral Watson formally announced the declaration of +war,[46] and summoned the Fort to surrender. The Governor called a +council of war, in which there was much difference of opinion. Some +thought the Admiral would not have come so far without his being +certain of his ability to force the passage; indeed the presence of +so many deserters in the garrison rendered it probable that he had +secret sources of information. As a matter of fact, it was only when +Lieutenant Hey, the officer who had brought the summons, and, in +doing so, had rowed between the masts of the sunken vessels, +returned to the _Kent_, that Admiral Watson knew the passage was +clear. Renault and the Council were aware that the Fort could not +resist the big guns of the ships, and accordingly the more +thoughtful members of the council of war determined, if possible, to +try and avoid fighting by offering a ransom. This apparently gave +rise to the idea that they wished to surrender, and an English +officer says:-- + + "Upon the Admiral's sending them a summons ... to + surrender, they were very stout; they gave us to understand + there were two parties in the Factory, the Renaultions and + the anti-Renaultions. The former, which they called the + great-wigg'd gentry, or councillors, were for giving up the + Fort, but the others vowed they would die in the breach. To + these high and lofty expressions the Admiral could give no + other answer than that in a very few days, or hours perhaps, + he would give them a very good opportunity of testifying + their zeal for the Company and the Grand Monarque." + +The offer of ransom was made, and was refused by the Admiral. +Renault says, he-- + + "insisted on our surrendering and the troops taking possession + of the Fort, _promising, however, that every one should keep his + own property_. There was not a man amongst us who did not + prefer to run the risk of whatever might happen to surrendering + in this fashion, without the Fort having yet suffered any + material damage, and every one was willing to risk his own + interests in order to defend those of the Company. Every + one swore to do his best." + +The Admiral could not attack at once, owing to the state of the +river, but to secure his own position against any counter-attack, +such as was very likely with a man like Captain de la Vigne in the +Fort, he sent up boats the same night, and sank the vessels which it +was supposed the French intended to use as fire-ships; and the next +day Mr. John Delamotte, master of the _Kent_, under a heavy fire, +sounded and buoyed the passage for the ships. + +The army, meanwhile, continued its monotonous work ashore, the +soldiers building batteries for the French to knock to pieces, but +succeeding in Clive's object, which was "to keep the enemy +constantly awake."[47] Sometimes this work was dangerous, as, for +instance, on the 21st, when a ball from the Fort knocked down a +verandah close to one of the English batteries, "the rubbish of +which choked up one of our guns, very much bruised two artillery +officers, and buried several men in the ruins."[48] + +By the 22nd Clive had worked his way round to the river, and was +established to the north-east and south-east of the Fort so as to +assist the Admiral, and on the river the Admiral had at last got the +high tide he was waiting for. Surgeon Ives tells the story as +follows:[49]-- + + "The Admiral the same evening ordered lights to be + placed on the masts of the vessels that had been sunk, with + blinds towards the Fort, that we might see how to pass + between them a little before daylight, and without being + discovered by the enemy. + + "At length the glorious morning of the 23rd of March + arrived." Clive's men gallantly stormed the battery covering + the narrow pass,[50] "and upon the ships getting under sail the + Colonel's battery, which had been finished behind a dead + wall," to take off the fire of the Fort when the ships passed + up, began firing away, and had almost battered down the + corner of the south-east bastion before the ships arrived + within shot of the Fort. "The _Tyger_, with Admiral Pocock's + flag flying, took the lead, and about 6 o'clock in the morning + got very well into her station against the north-east bastion. + The _Kent_, with Admiral Watson's flag flying, quickly followed + her, but before she could reach her proper station, the tide of + ebb unfortunately made down the river, which occasioned her + anchor to drag, so that before she brought up she had fallen + abreast of the south-east bastion, the place where the _Salisbury_ + should have been, and from her mainmast aft she was exposed + to the flank guns of the south-west bastion also. The accident + of the _Kent's_ anchor not holding fast, and her driving down + into the _Salisbury's_ station, threw this last ship out of action, + to the great mortification of the captain, officers, and crew, + for she never had it in her power to fire a gun, unless it was + now and then, when she could sheer on the tide. The French, + during the whole time of the _Kent_ and _Tyger's_ approach + towards the Fort, kept up a terrible cannonade upon them, + without any resistance on their part; but as soon as the + ships came properly to an anchor they returned it with such + fury as astonished their adversaries. Colonel Clive's troops + at the same time got into those houses which were nearest + the Fort, and from thence greatly annoyed the enemy with + their musketry. Our ships lay so near to the Fort that the + musket balls fired from their tops, by striking against the + _chunam_[51] walls of the Governor's palace, which was in + the very centre of the Fort, were beaten as flat as a half-crown. + The fire now became general on both sides, and was + kept up with extraordinary spirit. The flank guns of the + south-west bastion galled the _Kent_ very much, and the + Admiral's aide-de-camps being all wounded, Mr. Watson went + down himself to Lieutenant William Brereton, who commanded + the lower deck battery, and ordered him particularly + to direct his fire against those guns, and they were accordingly + soon afterwards silenced. At 8 in the morning + several of the enemy's shot struck the _Kent_ at the same + time; one entered near the foremast, and set fire to two or + three 32-pound cartridges of gunpowder, as the boys held + them in their hands ready to charge the guns. By the explosion, + the wad-nets and other loose things took fire between + decks, and the whole ship was so filled with smoke that the + men, in their confusion, cried out she was on fire in the + gunner's store-room, imagining from the shock they had + felt from the balls that a shell had actually fallen into her. + This notion struck a panic into the greater part of the crew, + and 70 or 80 jumped out of the port-holes into the boats + that were alongside the ship. The French presently saw + this confusion on board the _Kent_, and, resolving to take the + advantage, kept up as hot a fire as possible upon her during + the whole time. Lieutenant Brereton, however, with the + assistance of some other brave men, soon extinguished the + fire, and then running to the ports, he begged the seamen to + come in again, upbraiding them for deserting their quarters; + but finding this had no effect upon them, he thought the + more certain method of succeeding would be to strike them + with a sense of shame, and therefore loudly exclaimed, 'Are + you Britons? You Englishmen, and fly from danger? For + shame! For shame!' This reproach had the desired effect; + to a man they immediately returned into the ship, repaired + to their quarters, and renewed a spirited fire on the enemy. + + "In about three hours from the commencement of the + attack the parapets of the north and south bastions were + almost beaten down; the guns were mostly dismounted, and + we could plainly see from the main-top of the _Kent_ that the + ruins from the parapet and merlons had entirely blocked up + those few guns which otherwise might have been fit for + service. We could easily discern, too, that there had been + a great slaughter among the enemy, who, finding that our + fire against them rather increased, hung out the white flag, + whereupon a cessation of hostilities took place, and the + Admiral sent Lieutenant Brereton (the only commissioned + officer on board the _Kent_ that was not killed or wounded) + and Captain Coote of the King's regiment with a flag of truce + to the Fort, who soon returned, accompanied by the French + Governor's son, with articles of capitulation, which being + settled by the Admiral and Colonel, we soon after took possession + of the place." + +So far then from the besiegers' side; Renault's description of the +fight is as follows:-- + + "The three largest vessels, aided by the high-water of + the equinoctial tides, which, moreover, had moved the vessels + sunk in the narrow passage, passed over the sunken ships, + which did not delay them for a moment, to within half + pistol shot of the Fort, and opened fire at 6 a.m. Then the + troops in the battery on the bank of the Ganges, who had + so far fired only one discharge, suddenly found themselves + overwhelmed with the fire from the tops of the ships, + abandoned it, and had much difficulty in gaining the Fort.... + I immediately sent the company of grenadiers, with a detachment + of the artillery company as reinforcements, to the + south-eastern bastion and the Bastion du Pavillon, which two + bastions face the Ganges; but those troops under the fire of + the ships, joined to that of the land batteries, _rebuilt the + same night_, and of more than 3000 men placed on the roofs + of houses which overlooked the Fort, almost all took flight, + leaving two of their officers behind, one dead and the other + wounded. I was obliged to send immediately all the marine + and the inhabitants from the other posts. + + "The attack was maintained with vigour from 6 a.m. to + 10.30, when all the batteries were covered with dead and + wounded, the guns dismounted, and the merlons destroyed, + in spite of their being strengthened with bales of cloth. No + one could show himself on the bastions, demolished by the + fire of more than 100 guns; the troops were terrified during + this attack by the loss of all the gunners and of nearly + 200 men; the bastions were undermined, and threatened to + crumble away and make a breach, which the exhaustion of + our people, and the smallness of the number who remained, + made it impossible for us to hope to defend successfully. + Not a soldier would put his hand to a gun; it was only the + European marine who stood to their duty, and half of these + were already killed or disabled. A body of English troops, + lying flat on the ground behind the screen which we had commenced + to erect on the bank of the Ganges, was waiting the + signal to attack. Seeing the impossibility of holding out longer, + I thought that in the state in which the Fort was I could not + in prudence expose it to an assault. Consequently I hoisted + the white flag and ordered the drums to beat a parley." + +According to an account written later by a person who was not +present at the siege, Renault lost his Fort by a quarter of an hour. +This writer says the tide was rapidly falling, and, had the eastern +defences of the Fort been able to resist a little longer, the ships +would have found their lower tiers of guns useless, and might have +been easily destroyed by the French. Suppositions of this kind +always suppose a stupidity on the part of the enemy which Renault +had no right to count upon. Admiral Watson must have known the +strength of the fortress he was about to attack before he placed +his ships in a position from which it would be impossible to +withdraw them whenever he wished to do so. + +The flag of truce being displayed, Captain Eyre Coote was sent +ashore, and returned in a quarter of an hour with the Governor's son +bearing "a letter concerning the delivery of the place." Articles +were agreed upon, and about 3 o'clock in the afternoon Captain +Coote, with a company of artillery and two companies of grenadiers, +took possession of the Fort. Before this took place there occurred +an event the consequences of which were very unfortunate for the +French. Everything was in a state of confusion, and the deserters, +who formed the majority of the garrison, expecting no mercy from the +Admiral and Clive, determined to escape. Rushing tumultuously to the +Porte Royale, their arms in their hands, they forced it to be opened +to them, and, finding the northern road to Chinsurah unguarded, made +the best of their way in that direction. They were accompanied by a +number of the military and marine, as well as by some of the +Company's servants and private persons who were determined not to +surrender. As all this took place after the hoisting of the white +flag and pending the conclusion of the capitulation, the English +considered it a breach of the laws of warfare, and when later on +the meaning of the capitulation itself was contested they absolutely +refused to listen to any of the representations of the French. In +all about 150 persons left the Fort. They had agreed to reassemble +at a place a little above Hugli. The English sent a small force +after them, who shot some and captured others, but about 80 officers +and men arrived at the rendezvous in safety. The pursuit, however, +was carried further, and Law writes:-- + + "Constantly pursued, they had to make forced marches. + Some lost their way; others, wearied out, were caught as they + stopped to rest themselves. However, when I least expected + it, I was delighted to see the officers and many of the soldiers + arrive in little bands of 5 and 6, all naked, and so worn out + that they could hardly hold themselves upright. Most of + them had lost their arms." + +This reinforcement increased Law's garrison from 10 or 12 men to 60, +and secured the safety of his person, but the condition of the +fugitives must have been an object lesson to the Nawab and his +_Durbar_ which it was not wise for the French to set before them. A +naval officer writes:-- + + "From the letters that have lately passed between the + Nawab and us, we have great reason to hope he will not + screen the French at all at Cossimbazar or Dacca. I only + wish the Colonel does not alarm him too much, by moving + with the army to the northward, I do assure you he is so + sufficiently frightened that he had rather encounter the new + Mogul[52] himself than accept our assistance, though he strenuously + begged for it about three weeks ago. He writes word + he needs no fuller assurance of our friendship for him, when + a single letter brought us so far on the road to Murshidabad + as Chandernagore."[53] + +The escape of the French from Chandernagore is of interest, as it +shows the extraordinary condition of the country. It is probable +that the peasantry and gentry were indifferent as to whether the +English or the French were victorious, whilst the local authorities +were so paralyzed by the Nawab's hesitation that they did not know +which side to assist. Later on we shall find that small parties, and +even solitary Frenchmen, wandered through the country with little or +no interference, though the English had been recognized as the +friends and allies of the new Nawab, Mir Jafar. + +To return, however, to Renault and the garrison of Chandernagore. +The capitulation proposed by Renault and the Admiral's answers were +to the following effect:-- + +1. The lives of the deserters to be spared. _Answer_. The deserters +to surrender absolutely. + +2. Officers of the garrison to be prisoners on parole, and allowed +to keep their effects. _Answer_. Agreed to. + +3. Soldiers of the garrison to be prisoners of war. _Answer_. Agreed +to, on condition that foreigners may enter the English service. + +4. Sepoys of the garrison to be set free. _Answer_. Agreed to. + +5. Officers and crew of the French Company's ship to be sent to +Pondicherry. _Answer_. These persons to be prisoners of war +according to articles 2 and 3. + +6. The Jesuit fathers to be allowed to practise their religion and +retain their property. _Answer_. No European to be allowed to remain +at Chandernagore, but the fathers to be allowed to retain their +property. + +7. All inhabitants to retain their property. _Answer_. This to be +left to the Admiral's sense of equity. + +8. The French Factories up-country to be left in the hands of their +present chiefs. _Answer_. This to be settled by the Nawab and the +Admiral. + +9. The French Company's servants to go where they please, with their +clothes and linen. _Answer_. Agreed to. + +It is evident that the capitulation was badly drawn up. Civilians +who had taken part in the defence, as had all the Company's +servants, might be justly included in the garrison, and accordingly +Admiral Watson and Clive declared they were all prisoners of war, +and that article 9 merely permitted them to reside where they +pleased on _parole_. On the other hand, Renault and the French +Council declared that, being civilians, nothing could make them part +of the garrison, and therefore under article 9 they might do what +they pleased. Accordingly, they expressed much surprise when they +were stopped at the Fort gates by one of Clive's officers, and +forced to sign, before they were allowed to pass, a paper promising +not to act against Britain directly or indirectly during the course +of the war. + +Another point of difficulty was in reference to article 7. The town +had been in the hands of the British soldiers and sepoys for days. +Much had been plundered, and both soldiers and sailors were wild for +loot. They considered that the Admiral was acting unjustly to them +in restoring their property to civilians who had been offered the +chance of retaining it if they would avoid unnecessary bloodshed by +a prompt surrender. Instead of this, the defence was so desperate +that one officer writes:-- + + "Our losses have been very great, and we have never + yet obtained a victory at so dear a rate. Perhaps you will + hear of few instances where two ships have met with heavier + damage than the _Kent_ and _Tyger_ in this engagement."[54] + +Clive's total loss was only about 40 men killed and wounded, but +the loss on the ships was so great, that before the Fort surrendered +the besiegers had lost quite as many men as the besieged, and it was +by no means clear to the common mind what claim the French had to +leniency. Even English officers wrote:-- + + "The Messieurs themselves deserve but little mercy from + us for their mean behaviour in setting fire to so many bales + of cloth and raw silk in the Fort but a very few minutes + before we entered, and it grieves us much, to see such a + number of stout and good vessels sunk with their whole + cargoes far above the Fort, which is a great loss to us and + no profit to them. Those indeed below, to hinder our passage + were necessary, the others were _merely through mischief_. + But notwithstanding this they scarcely ask a favour from + the Admiral but it is granted." + +The result was that the soldiers on guard began to beat the coolies +who were helping the French to secure their goods, until they were +induced by gifts to leave them alone, and much plundering went on +when the soldiers could manage to escape notice. On one day three +black soldiers were executed, and on another Sergeant Nover[55] and +a private soldier of the 39th Regiment were condemned to death, for +breaking open the Treasury and stealing 3000 rupees. Another theft, +which was not traced, was the holy vessels and treasure of the +Church. + +Many individual Frenchmen were ruined. Of one of these Surgeon Ives +narrates the following pleasing incident:-- + + "It happened unfortunately ... that Monsieur Nicolas, + a man of most amiable character, and the father of a large + family, had not been so provident as the rest of his countrymen + in securing his effects within the Fort, but had left them + in the town; consequently, upon Colonel Clive's first taking + possession of the place, they had all been plundered by our + common soldiers; and the poor gentleman and his family + were to all appearance ruined. The generous and humane + Captain Speke,[56] having heard of the hard fate of Monsieur + Nicolas, took care to represent it to the two admirals in all + its affecting circumstances, who immediately advanced the + sum of 1500 rupees each. Their example was followed by + the five captains of the squadron, who subscribed 5000 + between them. Mr. Doidge added 800 more, and the same + sum was thrown in by another person who was a sincere well-wisher + to this unfortunate gentleman; so that a present of + 9600 rupees, or L1200 sterling was in a few minutes collected + towards the relief of this valuable Frenchman and his + distressed family. One of the company was presently + despatched with this money, who had orders to acquaint + Monsieur Nicolas that a few of his English friends desired + his acceptance of it, as a small testimony of the very high + esteem they had for his moral character, and of their + unfeigned sympathy with him in his misfortunes. The poor + gentleman, quite transported by such an instance of generosity + in an enemy, cried out in a sort of ecstasy, 'Good God, + they axe friends indeed!' He accepted of the present with + great thankfulness, and desired that his most grateful + acknowledgements might be made to his unknown benefactors, + for whose happiness and the happiness of their + families, not only his, but the prayers of his children's + children, he hoped, would frequently be presented to heaven. + He could add no more; the tears, which ran plentifully down + his cheeks, bespoke the feelings of his heart: and, indeed, + implied much more than even Cicero with all his powers of + oratory could possibly have expressed." + +This, however, was but a solitary instance; the state of the French +was, as a rule, wretched in the extreme, and Renault wrote:-- + + "The whole colony is dispersed, and the inhabitants are + seeking an asylum, some--the greatest part--have gone to + Chinsurah, others to the Danes and to Calcutta. This + dispersion being caused by the misery to which our countrymen + are reduced, their poverty, which I cannot relieve, + draws tears from my eyes, the more bitter that I have seen + them risk their lives so generously for the interests of the + Company, and of our nation." + +In such circumstances there was but one consolation possible to +brave men--the knowledge that, in the eyes of friend and foe, they +had done their duty. The officers of the British army and navy all +spoke warmly of the gallant behaviour of the French, and the +historian Broome, himself a soldier and the chronicler of many a +brave deed, expresses himself as follows:-- + + "The conduct of the French on this occasion was most + creditable and well worthy the acknowledged gallantry of + that nation. Monsieur Renault, the Governor, displayed + great courage and determination: but the chief merit of the + defence was due to Monsieur Devignes" (Captain de la + Vigne Buisson), "commander of the French Company's ship, + _Saint Contest_. He took charge of the bastions, and directed + their fire with great skill and judgment, and by his own + example inspired energy and courage into all those around + him." + +Renault himself found some consolation in the gallant behaviour of +his sons. + + "In my misfortune I have had the satisfaction to see my + two sons distinguish themselves in the siege with all the + courage and intrepidity which I could desire. The elder + brother was in the Company's service, and served as a + volunteer; the younger, an officer in the army, was, as has + been said above, commandant of the volunteers." + +Others who are mentioned by Renault and his companions as having +distinguished themselves on the French side, were the Councillors +MM. Caillot, Nicolas, and Picques, Captain de la Vigne Buisson and +his son and officers, M. Sinfray (secretary to the Council), the +officers De Kalli[57] and Launay, the Company's servants Matel, Le +Conte Dompierre, Boissemont and Renault de St. Germain, the private +inhabitant Renault de la Fuye, and the two supercargoes of Indiamen +Delabar and Chambon. Caillot (or Caillaud) was wounded. The +official report of the loss of Chandernagore was drawn up on the +29th of March, 1757. The original is in the French Archives, and +Caillaud's signature shows that he was still suffering from his +wound. Sinfray we shall come across again. He joined Law at +Cossimbazar and accompanied him on his first retreat to Patna. Sent +back by Law, he joined Siraj-ud-daula, and commanded the small +French contingent at Plassey. When the battle was lost he took +refuge in Birbhum, was arrested by the Raja, and handed over to the +English. + +The immediate gain to the English by the capture of Chandernagore +was immense. Clive wrote to the Select Committee at Madras:-- + + "I cannot at present give you an account to what value + has been taken;[58] the French Company had no great stock + of merchandize remaining, having sold off most of their + Imports and even their investment for Europe to pay in part + the large debts they had contracted. With respect to the + artillery and ammunition ... they were not indifferently + furnished: there is likewise a very fine marine arsenal well + stocked. In short nothing could have happened more + seasonable for the expeditious re-establishment of Calcutta + than the reduction of Charnagore" (i.e. Chandernagore). "It + was certainly a large, rich and thriving colony, and the loss + of it is an inexpressible blow to the French Company."[59] + +The French gentlemen, after having signed under protest the document +presented to them by Clive, betook themselves to Chinsurah, where +they repudiated their signatures as having been extorted by force, +subsequent to, and contrary to, the capitulation. They proceeded to +communicate with Pondicherry, their up-country Factories, and the +native Government; they also gave assistance to French soldiers who +had escaped from Chandernagore. Clive and the Calcutta Council were +equally determined to interpret the capitulation in their own way, +and sent Renault an order, through M. Bisdom, the Dutch Director, to +repair to the British camp. Renault refused, and when Clive sent a +party of sepoys for him and the other councillors, they appealed to +M. Bisdom for the protection of the Dutch flag. M. Bisdom informed +them somewhat curtly that they had come to him without his +invitation, that he had no intention of taking any part in their +quarrels, that he would not give them the protection of his flag to +enable them to intrigue against the English, and, in short, +requested them to leave Dutch territory. As it was evident that the +British were prepared to use force, Renault and the Council gave in, +and were taken to Calcutta, where, for some time, they were kept +close prisoners. It was not till the Nawab had been overthrown at +Plassey, that they were absolutely released, and even then it was +only that they might prepare for their departure from Bengal. +Renault surmises, quite correctly, that this severity was probably +due to the fear that they would assist the Nawab. + +The following incident during Renault's captivity shows how little +could be expected from the Nawab towards a friend who was no longer +able to be of use to him. After the capture of Chandernagore the +English Council called on the Nawab to surrender the French +up-country Factories to them. Siraj-ud-daula had not even yet +learned the folly of his double policy. On the 4th of April he wrote +to Clive:-- + + "I received your letter and observe what you desire in + regard to the French factories and other goods. I address + you seeing you are a man of wisdom and knowledge, and + well acquainted with the customs and trade of the world; + and you must know that the French by the permission and + _phirmaund_[60] of the King[61] have built them several factories, + and carried on their trade in this kingdom. I cannot + therefore without hurting my character and exposing + myself to trouble hereafter, deliver up their factories and + goods, unless I have a written order from them for so doing, + and I am perswaded that from your friendship for me you + would never be glad at anything whereby my fame would + suffer; as I on my part am ever desirous of promoting" [yours]. + + "Mr. Renault, the French. Governor being in your power, if + you could get from him a paper under his own hand and + seal to this purpose; 'That of his own will and pleasure, he + thereby gave up to the English Company's servants, and + empowered them to receive all the factories, money and + goods belonging to the French Company without any hindrance + from the Nawab's people;' and would send this to + me, I should be secured by that from any trouble hereafter + on this account. But it is absolutely necessary you come + to some agreement about the King's duties arising from the + French trade.... I shall then be able to answer to his + servants 'that in order to make good the duties accruing + from the French trade I had delivered up their factories + into the hands of the English.'"[62] + +Clive replied on the 8th of April:-- + + "Now that I have granted terms to Mr. Renault, and + that he is under my protection, it is contrary to our custom, + after this, to use violence; and without it how would he ever + of his own will and pleasure, write to desire you to deliver + up his master's property. Weigh the justice of this in your + own mind. Notwithstanding we have reduced the French + so low you, contrary to your own interest and the treaty + you have made with us, that my enemies should be yours, + you still support and encourage them. But should you + think it would hurt your character to deliver up the French + factories and goods, your Excellency need only signify to me + your approbation and I will march up and take them."[63] + +The more we study the records of the time, the more clearly we +realize the terrible determination of Clive's character, and we +almost feel a kind of pity for the weak creatures who found +themselves opposed to him, until we come across incidents like the +above, which show the depths of meanness to which they were prepared +to descend. + +As to Renault's further career little is known, and that little we +should be glad to forget. Placed in charge of the French Settlement +at Karical, he surrendered, on the 5th of April, 1760, to what was +undoubtedly an overwhelming British force, but after so poor a +defence that he was brought before a Court Martial and cashiered. It +speaks highly for the respect in which he had been held by both +nations that none of the various reports and accounts of the siege +mention him by name. Even Lally, who hated the French Civilians, +though he says he deserved death,[64] only refers to him indirectly +as being the same officer of the Company who had surrendered +Chandernagore to Clive. + +We shall now pass to what went on in Siraj-ud-daula's Court and +capital. + + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 12: Journal of M. d'Albert.] + +[Footnote 13: Evidently the Parish Church of St. Louis. Eyre Coote +tells us the French had four guns mounted on its roof.] + +[Footnote 14: In early accounts of India the Muhammadans are always +called _Moors_; the Hindus, _Gentoos_ or _Gentiles_. The _Topasses_ +were Portuguese half-castes, generally employed, even by native +princes, as gunners.] + +[Footnote 15: Captain Broome says there were fifty European ladies +in the Fort. The French accounts say they all retired, previous to +the siege, to Chinsurah and Serampore.] + +[Footnote 16: Captain, afterwards Sir, Eyre Coote.] + +[Footnote 17: The fullest account is one by Renault, dated October +26, 1758.] + +[Footnote 18: The only one, excepting the battle of Biderra, between +the English and Dutch.] + +[Footnote 19: Governor of Pondicherry and President of the Superior +Council.] + +[Footnote 20: Eyre Coote, in his "Journal," mentions an old ditch, +which surrounded the settlement.] + +[Footnote 21: One hundred toises, or 600 feet; but Eyre Coote says +330 yards, the difference probably due to the measurement excluding +or including the outworks.] + +[Footnote 22: Tanks, or artificial ponds, in Bengal are often of +great size. I have seen some a quarter of a mile long.] + +[Footnote 23: Letter to M. de Montorcin, Chandernagore, August 1 +1756. Signature lost.] + +[Footnote 24: The Nawab, in July, 1756, extorted three lakhs from +the French and even more from the Dutch.] + +[Footnote 25: British Museum. Additional MS. 20,914.] + +[Footnote 26: A kind of fibre used in making bags and other coarse +materials.] + +[Footnote 27: Surgeon Ives's Journal.] + +[Footnote 28: Letter to De Montorcin.] + +[Footnote 29: Both English and French use this word "inhabitant" to +signify any resident who was not official, military, or in the +seafaring way.] + +[Footnote 30: This he did through the Armenian Coja Wajid, a wealthy +merchant of Hugli, who advised the Nawab on European affairs. +_Letter from Coja Wajid to Clive, January 17, 1757_.] + +[Footnote 31: A French doctor, who has left an account of the +Revolutions in Bengal, says there were eight outposts, and that the +loss of one would have involved the loss of all the others, as they +could be immediately cut off from the Fort, from which they were too +distant to be easily reinforced. The doctor does not sign his name, +but he was probably one of the six I mentioned above. Their names +were Haillet (doctor), La Haye (surgeon-major), Du Cap (second), Du +Pre (third), Droguet (fourth), and St. Didier (assistant).] + +[Footnote 32: M. Vernet, the Dutch Chief at Cossimbazar, wrote to +the Dutch Director at Chinsurah that he could obtain a copy of this +treaty from the Nawab's secretaries, if he wished for it.] + +[Footnote 33: See page 79 (and note).] + +[Footnote 34: See note, p. 89.] + +[Footnote 35: Governor.] + +[Footnote 36: A document authorising the free transit of certain +goods, and their exemption from custom dues, in favour of English +traders.--_Wilson_.] + +[Footnote 37: Orme MSS. India XI., p. 2744, No. 71.] + +[Footnote 38: Orme MSS. India XI., p. 2750, No. 83.] + +[Footnote 39: Still visible, I believe, in parts. The gateway +certainly exists.] + +[Footnote 40: Mr. Tooke was a Company's servant. He had +distinguished himself in the defence of Calcutta in 1756, when he +was wounded, and, being taken on board the ships, escaped the +dreadful ordeal of the Black Hole.] + +[Footnote 41: Neither of these accounts agree with the Capitulation +Returns.] + +[Footnote 42: British Museum. Addl. MS. 20,914.] + +[Footnote 43: Remarks on board His Majesty's ship _Tyger_, March +15th.] + +[Footnote 44: His maternal grandfather was a cousin of Aliverdi +Khan.] + +[Footnote 45: Malleson explains this by saying that De Terraneau was +employed in the blocking up of the passage, but the story hardly +needs contradiction.] + +[Footnote 46: This announcement seems superfluous after fighting had +been going on for several days, but it simply shows the friction +between the naval and military services.] + +[Footnote 47: Clive's journal for March 16th. Fort St. George, Sel. +Com. Cons., 28th April, 1757.] + +[Footnote 48: Eyre Coote's journal.] + +[Footnote 49: The passages interpolated are on the authority of a +MS. in the Orme Papers, entitled "News from Bengal."] + +[Footnote 50: Accounts of this detail differ. One says it was +stormed on the 21st, but if so the French would have been more on +their guard, and would surely have strengthened the second battery +in front of the Fort.] + +[Footnote 51: Lime plaster made extremely hard.] + +[Footnote 52: The Emperor at Delhi, who was supposed to be about to +invade Bengal.] + +[Footnote 53: Orme MSS. O.V. 32, p. 11.] + +[Footnote 54: Orme MSS. O.V. 32, p. 10.] + +[Footnote 55: Sergeant Nover was pardoned in consideration of +previous good conduct. _Letter from Clive to Colonel Adlercron, +March_ 29, 1757.] + +[Footnote 56: Captain Speke was seriously and his son mortally +wounded in the attack on Chandernagore.] + +[Footnote 57: I cannot identify this name in the Capitulation +Returns. Possibly he was killed.] + +[Footnote 58: Surgeon Ives says the booty taken was valued at +L130,000.] + +[Footnote 59: Orme MSS. India X., p. 2390. Letter of 30th March, +1757.] + +[Footnote 60: _Firman_, or Imperial Charter.] + +[Footnote 61: The Mogul, Emperor, or King of Delhi, to whom the +Bengal Nawabs were nominally tributary.] + +[Footnote 62: Orme MSS. India XI. pp. 2766-7, No. 111.] + +[Footnote 63: Ibid., p. 2768, No. 112.] + +[Footnote 64: Memoirs of Lally. London, 1766.] + + +[Illustration: MUXADABAD, OR MURSHIDABAD. (_After Rennell_.)] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +M. LAW, CHIEF OF COSSIMBAZAR + + +A few miles out of Murshidabad, capital of the Nawabs of Bengal +since 1704, when Murshid Kuli Khan transferred his residence from +Dacca to the ancient town of Muxadabad and renamed it after himself, +lay a group of European Factories in the village or suburb of +Cossimbazar.[65] Of these, one only, the English, was fortified; the +others, i.e. the French and Dutch, were merely large houses lying in +enclosures, the walls of which might keep out cattle and wild +animals and even thieves, but were useless as fortifications. In +1756 the Chief of the English Factory, as we have already seen, was +the Worshipful Mr. William Watts; the Dutch factory was under M. +Vernet,[66] and the French under M. Jean Law. The last mentioned was +the elder son of William Law, brother of John Law the financier, +who settled in France, and placed his sons in the French service. +French writers[67] on genealogy have hopelessly mixed up +the two brothers, Jean and Jacques Francois. Both came to +India, both distinguished themselves, both rose to the rank of +colonel, one by his services to the French East India Company, and +one by the usual promotion of an officer in the King's army. The +only proof that the elder was the Chief of Cossimbazar is to be +found in a few letters, mostly copies, in which his name is given as +Jean or John. As a usual rule he signed himself in the French manner +by his surname only, or as Law of Lauriston. + +His experiences during the four years following the accession of +Siraj-ud-daula were painful and exciting, and he has recorded them +in a journal or memoir[68] which has never yet been published, but +which is of great interest to the student of Indian history. For us +it has the added charm of containing a picture of ourselves painted +by one who, though a foreigner by education, was enabled by his +birth to understand our national peculiarities. In the present +chapter I shall limit myself almost entirely to quotations from this +memoir. + +Law was by no means an admirer of Aliverdi Khan's successor,-- + + "Siraj-ud-daula, a young man of twenty-four or twenty-five,[69] + very common in appearance. Before the death of Aliverdi + Khan the character of Siraj-ud-daula was reported to be one + of the worst ever known. In fact, he had distinguished himself + not only by all sorts of debauchery, but by a revolting + cruelty. The Hindu women are accustomed to bathe on the + banks of the Ganges. Siraj-ud-daula, who was informed by + his spies which of them were beautiful, sent his satellites in + disguise in little boats to carry them off. He was often + seen, in the season when the river overflows, causing the + ferry boats to be upset or sunk in order to have the cruel + pleasure of watching the terrified confusion of a hundred + people at a time, men, women, and children, of whom many, + not being able to swim, were sure to perish. When it + became necessary to get rid of some great lord or minister, + Siraj-ud-daula alone appeared in the business, Aliverdi Khan + retiring to one of his houses or gardens outside the town, so + that he might not hear the cries of the persons whom he was + causing to be killed." + +So bad was the reputation of this young prince, that many persons, +among them Mr. Watts, imagined it impossible that the people would +ever tolerate his accession. The European nations in Bengal had no +regular representatives at the Court of the Nawab; and the Chiefs of +the Factories at Cossimbazar, though now and then admitted to the +_Durbar_, transacted their business mainly through _wakils_, or +native agents, who, of course, had the advantage of knowing the +language and, what was of much greater importance, understood all +those indirect ways in which in Eastern countries one's own business +is forwarded and that of one's rivals thwarted. Then, as now, the +difficulty of dealing with native agents was to induce these agents +to express their own opinions frankly and clearly.[70] So far from +the English Chief being corrected by his _wakil_, we find the +latter, whilst applying to other nobles for patronage and +assistance, studiously refraining from making any application to +Siraj-ud-daula when English business had to be transacted at Court. + +The English went even further:-- + + "On certain occasions they refused him admission into + their factory at Cossimbazar and their country houses, + because, in fact, this excessively blustering and impertinent + young man used to break the furniture, or, if it pleased his + fancy, take it away. But Siraj-ud-daula was not the man + to forget what he regarded as an insult. The day after the + capture of the English fort at Cossimbazar, he was heard to + say in full _Durbar_, 'Behold the English, formerly so proud + that they did not wish to receive me in their houses!' In + short, people knew, long before the death of Aliverdi Khan, + that Siraj-ud-daula was hostile to the English." + +With the French it was different:-- + + "On the other hand, he was very well disposed towards + us. It being our interest to humour him, we had received + him with a hundred times more politeness than he deserved. + By the advice of Rai Durlabh Ram and Mohan Lal, we had + recourse to him in important affairs. Consequently, we + gave him presents from time to time, and this confirmed his + friendship for us. The previous year (1755) had been a + very good one for him, owing to the business connected with + the settlement of the Danes in Bengal. In fact, it was by + his influence that I was enabled to conclude this affair, and + Aliverdi Khan allowed him to retain all the profit from it, + so I can say that I had no bad place in the heart of Siraj-ud-daula. + It is true he was a profligate, but a profligate who + was to be feared, who could be useful to us, _and who might + some day be a good man_. Nawajis Muhammad Khan[71] had + been at least as vicious as Siraj-ud-daula, and yet he had + become the idol of the people." + +Law, therefore, had cultivated the young Nawab. Mr. Watts, on the +other hand, was not only foolish enough to neglect him, but carried +his folly to extremes. He was not in a position to prevent his +accession, and ought therefore to have been careful by the +correctness of his behaviour to show no signs of being opposed to +it. So far from this, he is strongly suspected of having entered +into correspondence with the widow of Nawajis Khan, who had adopted +Siraj-ud-daula's younger brother[72] and was supporting his +candidature for the throne, and also with Saukat Jang, Nawab of +Purneah and cousin of Siraj-ud-daula, who was trying to obtain the +throne for himself. Still further, he advised Mr. Drake, Governor of +Calcutta, to give shelter to Kissendas, son of Raj Balav (Nawajis +Khan's _Diwan_), who had fled with the treasures in his charge when +his father was called to account for his master's property. + +Contrary to Mr. Watts's expectations, Aliverdi Khan's last acts so +smoothed the way for Siraj-ud-daula, and the latter acted with such +decision and promptitude on his grandfather's death, that in an +incredibly short time he had all his enemies at his feet, and was at +leisure to attend to state business, and especially the affairs +of the foreign Settlements. Aliverdi Khan had always been +extremely jealous of allowing the European nations to erect any +fortifications, but, during his last illness, all of them, expecting +a contested succession, during which, owing to complications in +Europe, they might find themselves at war with each other in India, +began to repair their old walls or to erect new ones. This was +exactly what Siraj-ud-daula wanted. His first care on his accession +had been to make himself master of his grandfather's and uncle's +treasures. To these he had added those of such of his grandfather's +servants as he could readily lay hands on. Other wealthy nobles and +officers had fled to the English, or were suspected of having +secretly sent their treasures to Calcutta. It was also supposed that +the European Settlements, and especially Calcutta, were filled with +the riches accumulated by the foreigners. Whilst, therefore, the +Nawab was determined to make all the European nations contribute +largely in honour of his accession, and in atonement for their +insolence in fortifying themselves without his permission, he had +special reasons for beginning with the English. In the mean time, +however, he had first to settle with his cousin, Saukat Jang, the +Nawab of Purneah, so he contented himself with sending orders to the +Chiefs of the Factories to pull down their new fortifications. Law +acted wisely and promptly. + + "I immediately drew up an _Arzi_, or Petition, and had one + brought from the Council in Chandernagore of the same + tenour as my own. These two papers were sent to Siraj-ud-daula, + who appeared satisfied with them. He even wrote + me in reply that he did not forbid our repairing old works, + but merely our making new ones. Besides, the spies who + had been sent to Chandernagore, being well received and + satisfied with the presents made them, submitted a report + favourable to us, so that our business was hushed up." + +The English behaved very differently, and their answer, which was +bold if not insolent in tone,[73] reached the Nawab at the very +moment when he had received the submission of the Nawab of Purneah. +Law adds:-- + + "I was assured that the Nawab of Purneah showed him + some letters which he had received from the English. This + is difficult to believe, but this is how the match took fire. + + "Accordingly, no sooner had the Nawab heard the contents + of the answer from the English, than he jumped up in + anger, and, pulling out his sword, swore he would go and + exterminate all the Feringhees.[74] At the same time he gave + orders for the march of his army, and appointed several + Jemadars[75] to command the advance guard. As in his first + burst of rage he had used the general word Feringhees, + which is applied to all Europeans, some friends whom I had + in the army, and who did not know how our business had + ended, sent to warn me to be on my guard, as our Factory + would be besieged. The alarm was great with us, and with + the English, at Cossimbazar. I spent more than twenty-four + hours in much anxiety; carrying wood, provisions, etc., into + the Factory, but I soon knew what to expect. I saw horsemen + arrive and surround the English fort, and at the same + time I received an official letter from the Nawab, telling me + not to be anxious, and that he was as well pleased with us + as he was ill pleased with the English." + +Cossimbazar surrendered without firing a shot, owing to the +treacherous advice of the Nawab's generals, and Siraj-ud-daula +advanced on Calcutta. It was with the greatest difficulty that Law +escaped being forced to march in his train. + + "The remains of the respect which he had formerly felt + for Europeans made him afraid of failure in his attack + on Calcutta, which had been represented to him as a very + strong place, defended by three or four thousand men. He + wrote to me in the strongest terms to engage the Director of + Chandernagore to give him what assistance he could in men + and ammunition. 'Calcutta is yours,' he said to our agent + in full _Durbar_; 'I give you that place and its dependencies + as the price of the services you will render me. I know, + besides, that the English are your enemies; you are always + at war with them either in Europe or on the Coromandel + Coast, so I can interpret your refusal only as a sign of the + little interest you take in what concerns me. I am resolved + to do you as much good as Salabat Jang[76] has done you in + the Deccan, but if you refuse my friendship and the offers I + make you, you will soon see me fall on you and cause you + to experience the same treatment that I am now preparing + for others in your favour.' He wished us to send down at + once to Calcutta all the ships and other vessels which were + at Chandernagore. After having thanked him for his + favourable disposition towards us, I represented to him + that we were not at war with the English, that what had + happened on the Coromandel Coast was a particular affair + which we had settled amicably, and that the English, in + Bengal having given us no cause of offence, it was impossible + for us, without orders either from Europe or Pondicherry, to + give him the assistance he asked for. Such reasons could + only excite irritation in the mind of a man of Siraj-ud-daula's + character. He swore he would have what he wanted + whether we wished it or not, and that, as we lived in his + country, his will ought to be law to us. I did my best to + appease him, but uselessly. At the moment of his departure + his sent us word by one of his uncles that he still counted + on our assistance, and he sent me a letter for the Governor of + Pondicherry, in which he begged him to give us the necessary + orders. I thought to myself this was so much time gained." + +The Nawab captured Calcutta without any open assistance from the +French, and, though he set free most of the prisoners who survived +the Black Hole, he sent Holwell and three others before him to +Murshidabad. Law, who had already sheltered Mrs. Watts and her +family, and such of the English of Cossimbazar as had been able to +escape to him, now showed similar kindness to Holwell and his +companions. Of this he says modestly:-- + + "The gratitude Mr. Holwell expresses for a few little + services which I was able to render him makes me regret + my inability to do as much to deserve his gratitude as I + should have liked to do."[77] + +He also, apparently with some difficulty, obtained consent to M. +Courtin's request for the release of the English prisoners at Dacca; +for-- + + "Siraj-ud-daula, being informed that there were two or + three very charming English ladies at Dacca, was strongly + tempted to adorn his harem with them." + +Law's success in these matters is a striking instance of his +personal influence, for Siraj-ud-daula was by no means any longer +well disposed towards the French and Dutch. + + "The fear of drawing on his back all the European + nations at once had made him politic. At first he pretended + to be satisfied with the reply sent by the Governor + of Chandernagore, and assured him that he would always + treat us with the greatest kindness. He said the same to + the Dutch, but when Calcutta was taken the mask fell. He + had nothing more to fear. Scarcely had he arrived at Hugli + when he sent detachments to Chandernagore and Chinsurah + to summon the commandants to pay contributions, or to + resolve to see their flags taken away and their forts + demolished. In short, we were forced to yield what the + Nawab demanded; whilst he, as he said, was content with + having punished a nation which had offended him, and with + having put the others to ransom to pay for the expenses of + the expedition. We saw the tyrant reappear in triumph at + Murshidabad, little thinking of the punishment which Providence + was preparing for his crimes, and to make which still + more striking, he was yet to have some further successes." + +It may be here pointed out that, not only did the Nawab not insist +on the destruction of the French and Dutch fortifications, but he +did not destroy the fortifications of Calcutta. This proves that if +the English had shown the humility and readiness to contribute which +he desired, he would have left them in peace at the first, or, after +the capture of Calcutta, have permitted them to resettle there +without farther disturbance. In short, the real necessity of making +the European nations respect his authority, instead of guiding him +in a settled course, merely provided a pretext for satisfying his +greed. This is the opinion, not only of the French and English who +were at Murshidabad when the troubles began, but of the English +officials who went there later on and made careful inquiries amongst +all classes of people in order to ascertain the real reason of +Siraj-ud-daula's attack upon the English. + +His avarice was to prove the Nawab's ruin. + + "Siraj-ud-daula was one of the richest Nawabs that had + ever reigned. Without mentioning his revenues, of which + he gave no account at the Court of Delhi, he possessed + immense wealth, both in gold and silver coin, and in jewels + and precious stones, which had been left by the preceding + three Nawabs. In spite of this he thought only of increasing + his wealth. If any extraordinary expense had to be met + he ordered contributions, and levied them with extreme + rigour. Having never known himself what it was to want + money, he supposed that, in due proportion, money was as + common with other people as with himself, and that the + Europeans especially were inexhaustible. His violence + towards them was partly due to this. In fact, from his + behaviour, one would have said his object was to ruin everybody. + He spared no one, not even his relatives, from whom + he took all the pensions and all the offices which they + had held in the time of Aliverdi Khan. Was it possible for + such a man to keep his throne? Those who did not know + him intimately, when they saw him victorious over his + enemies and confirmed as Nawab by a _firman_[78]from the + Great Mogul, were forced to suppose that there was in his + character some great virtue which balanced his vices and + counteracted their effects. However, this young giddy-pate + had no talent for government except that of making himself + feared, and, at the same time, passed for the most cowardly + of men. At first he had shown some regard for the officers of + the army, because, until he was recognized as Nawab, he felt + his need of them. He had even shown generosity, but this + quality, which was quite opposed to his real character, soon disappeared, + to make place for violence and greed, which decided + against him all those who had favoured his accession in the + hope that he would behave discreetly when he became Nawab." + +Owing to the general disgust felt at Murshidabad for the Nawab, his +cousin, Saukat Jang, Nawab of Purneah, thought the opportunity +favourable for reviving his claims, and, early in October, +Siraj-ud-daula, hearing of his contemplated rebellion, invaded his +country. + + "Every one longed for a change, and many flattered + themselves it would take place. In fact, it was the most + favourable opportunity to procure it. The result would have + been happiness and tranquillity for Bengal. Whilst contributing + to the general good--which even the Dutch might + have interested themselves in--we could have prevented + the misfortunes which have since happened to us. Three or + four hundred Europeans and a few sepoys would have done + the business. If we could have joined this force to the + enemies of Siraj-ud-daula we should have placed on the + throne another Nawab--not, indeed, one wholly to our taste, + but, not to worry about trifles, one to the liking of the house + of Jagat Seth,[79] and the chief Moors and Rajas. I am sure + such a Nawab would have kept his throne. The English + would have been re-established peaceably, they would certainly + have received some compensation, and would have had + to be satisfied whether they liked it or not. The neutrality of + the Ganges assured, at least to the same extent as in the time + of Aliverdi Khan, the English would have been prevented + from invading Bengal, and from sending thither the reinforcements + which had contributed so much to their success + on the Madras Coast. All this depended on us, but how + could we foresee the succession of events which has been as + contrary to us as it has been favourable to the English? As + it was, we remained quiet, and the rash valour of the young + Nawab of Purneah, whilst it delivered Siraj-ud-daula from + the only enemy he had to fear in the country, made it clear + to the whole of Bengal that the change so much desired + could be effected only by the English." + +Mir Jafar and other leaders of the Nawab's army were about to +declare in favour of Saukat Jang when Ramnarain,[80] Naib of Patna, +arrived to support Siraj-ud-daula. Whilst the malcontents were +hesitating what to do, Saukat Jang made a rash attack on the Nawab's +army, and was shot dead in the fight. + + "Behold him then, freed by this event from all his + inquietudes; detested, it is true, but feared even by those + who only knew him by name. In a country where predestination + has so much power over the mind, the star of + Siraj-ud-daula was, people said, predominant. Nothing could + resist him. He was himself persuaded of this. Sure of the + good fortune which protected him, he abandoned himself + more than ever to those passions which urged him to the + commission of every imaginable form of violence. + + "It can be guessed what we had to suffer, we and the + Dutch, at Cossimbazar. Demand followed demand, and insult + followed insult, on the part of the native officers and soldiers; + for they, forming their behaviour on that of their master, + thought they could not sufficiently show their contempt for + everything European. We could not go outside of our Factories + without being exposed to annoyance of one kind or another." + +Every one in the land turned wistful eyes towards the English, but +they lay inactive at Fulta, and it seemed as if help from Madras +would never come. The English, therefore, tried to bring about a +revolution favourable to themselves at Murshidabad, and began to +look for persons who might be induced to undertake it; but this was +not easy, as the Moor nobles had little acquaintance with the +Europeans. Of the Hindus in Bengal-- + + "the best informed were the bankers and merchants, who + by their commercial correspondence had been in a position + to learn many things. The house of Jagat Seth, for instance, + was likely to help the English all the more because to its + knowledge of them it joined several causes of complaint + against Siraj-ud-daula. Up to the death of Aliverdi Khan + it had always enjoyed the greatest respect. It was this + family which had conducted almost all his financial business, + and it may be said that it had long been the chief cause of + all the revolutions in Bengal. But now things were much + changed. Siraj-ud-daula, the most inconsiderate of men, + never supposing that he would need the assistance of mere + bankers, or that he could ever have any reason to fear them, + never showed them the slightest politeness. He wanted + their wealth, and some day or other it was certain he would + seize it. These bankers, then, were the persons to serve the + English. They could by themselves have formed a party, + and, even without the assistance of any Europeans, have + put another Nawab upon the throne and re-established the + English, but this would have required much time. Business + moves very slowly amongst Indians, and this would not have + suited the English. The bankers also were Hindus, and of + a race which does not like to risk danger. To stimulate + them to action it was necessary for the English to commence + operations and achieve some initial successes, and as yet + there seemed no likelihood of their doing so. To negotiate + with Siraj-ud-daula for a peaceful re-establishment was quite + as difficult, unless they were inclined to accept the very + hardest conditions, for the Nawab had now the most extravagant + contempt for all Europeans; a pair of slippers, he + said, is all that is needed to govern them." + +Just as it seemed likely that the English would have to stoop to the +Nawab's terms, they received news of the despatch of reinforcements +from Madras. About the same time, it became known to both French and +English that France and England had declared war against each other +in the preceding May.[81] The English naturally said nothing about +it, and the French were too eager to see the Nawab well beaten to +put any unnecessary obstacles in their way. The negotiations with +the friends of the Europeans at Murshidabad were quietly continued +until Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive arrived. A rapid advance was +then made on Calcutta, which was captured with hardly any +resistance. + +Siraj-ud-daula was so little disturbed by the recapture of Calcutta +that the French thought everything would terminate amicably, but, +possibly owing to the reputation of Watson and Clive, who had so +long fought against the French,[82] they thought it likely that, if +the English demanded compensation for their losses, the Nawab would +allow them to recoup themselves by seizing the French Settlements. +M. Renault, therefore, wrote to Law to make sure that, in any treaty +between the Nawab and the English, an article should be inserted +providing for the neutrality of the Ganges; but the French, at +present, were needlessly alarmed. The English had no intention of +creeping quietly back into the country. Watson and Clive addressed +haughty letters to the Nawab, demanding reparation for the wrongs +inflicted on the English; and the Admiral and the Council declared +war in the name of the King and the Company. This possibly amused +the Nawab, who took no notice of their letters; but it was a +different matter when a small English force sailed up the Hugli, +passed Chandernagore unopposed by the French, captured the fort of +Hugli, burnt Hugli[83] and Bandel towns, and ravaged both banks of +the river down to Calcutta. The French were in an awkward position. +The English had passed Chandernagore without a salute, which was an +unfriendly, if not a hostile act; whilst the Nawab thought that, as +the French had not fired on them, they must be in alliance with +them. Law had to bear the brunt of this suspicion. His common sense +told him that the English would never consent to a neutrality, and +he wrote to Renault that it was absolutely necessary to join the +Moors. + + "The neutrality was by no means obligatory, as no treaty + existed. In fact, what confidence could we have in a forced + neutrality, which had been observed so long only out of + fear of the Nawab, who for the general good of the country + was unwilling to allow any act of hostility to be committed + by the Europeans? Much more so when the English were + at war with the Nawab himself. If they managed to get + the better of him, what would become of this fear, the sole + foundation of the neutrality?" + +So Law wrote to Renault, begging him, if he could not persuade the +English to sign a treaty of neutrality at once, to make up his mind +and join the Nawab. We have seen why Renault could do neither, and +Law, writing after the event says, generously enough:-- + + "I am bound to respect the reasons which determined + M. Renault as well as the gentlemen of the Council, who + were all much too good citizens not to have kept constantly + in their minds the welfare of our nation and the Company. + People always do see things differently, and the event does + not always prove the correctness or incorrectness of the + reasons which have decided us to take one or the other course." + +As soon as the Nawab heard of the plundering of Hugli he set out for +Calcutta, but to blind the English he requested M. Renault to +mediate between them. The English refusal to treat through the +French had the effect of clearing up matters between the latter and +the Nawab; but he could not understand why the French would not +actively assist him. Certain, at any rate, that he had only the +English to deal with, he foolishly played into their hands by +marching to fight them on their own ground, whereas, if he had +remained idle at a little distance, merely forbidding supplies to be +sent them, he could have starved them out of Calcutta in a few +months. As I have said before, Clive attacked his camp on the 5th of +February, and so terrified him that he consented to a shameful +peace, in which he forgot all mention of the neutrality of the +Ganges. Law tells a curious story to the effect that what frightened +the Nawab most of all was a letter from Admiral Watson, threatening +to make him a prisoner and carry him to England. Watson's letter is +extant, and contains no such threat, but it is quite possible that +it was so interpreted to the Nawab. + +Though the Nawab had assured the English that he would have the same +friends and enemies as they, and had omitted to mention the French +in the treaty, he now, of his own accord, gave the French all that +the English had extorted from him. This act could not be kept +secret. + + "A great fault at present, and which has always existed, + in the management of affairs in India, especially in Bengal, + is that nothing is secret. Scarcely had the Nawab formed + any project when it was known to the lowest of his slaves. + The English, who were suspicious, and who had for friends + every one who was an enemy of Siraj-ud-daula, whom all + detested, were soon informed of his proposals to M. Renault + and of the letters written on both sides." + +Yet Law thinks it was only the European war and the fear that +Renault intended an alliance with the Nawab that induced the English +to proceed to extremities:-- + + "The dethronement of the Nawab had become an absolute + necessity. To drive us out of Bengal was only a preliminary + piece of work. A squadron of ours with considerable forces + might arrive. Siraj-ud-daula might join his forces to it. + What, then, would become of the English? They needed + for Nawab a man attached to their interests. Besides, this + revolution was not so difficult to carry out as one might + imagine. With Chandernagore destroyed, nothing could be + more easy; but even if we were left alone the revolution + could have been effected by the junction of the English with + the forces which would have been produced against Siraj-ud-daula + by the crowd of enemies whom he had, and amongst + whom were to be counted the most respectable persons in + the three provinces.[84] This statement demands an explanation. + I have already spoken of the house of Jagat Seth, or + rather of its chiefs, who are named Seth Mahtab Rai and Seth + Sarup Chand, bankers of the Mogul, the richest and most + powerful merchants who have ever lived. They are, I can + say, the _movers_ of the revolution. Without them the English + would never have carried out what they have. I have + already said they were not pleased with Siraj-ud-daula, who + did not show them the same respect as the old Nawab + Aliverdi Khan had done; but the arrival of the English + forces, the capture of the Moorish forts, and the fright of + the Nawab before Calcutta, had made a change which was + apparently in their favour. The Nawab began to perceive + that the bankers were necessary to him. The English + would have no one except them as mediators, and so they + had become, as it were, responsible for the behaviour of + both the Nawab and the English. Accordingly after the + Peace there was nothing but kindness and politeness from + the Nawab towards them, and he consulted them in everything. + At the bottom this behaviour of his was sheer + trickery. The Seths were persuaded that the Nawab who + hated the English must also dislike the persons whom the + English employed. Profiting by the hatred which the + Nawab had drawn on himself by his violence, and distributing + money judiciously, they had long since gained over + those who were nearest to the Nawab, whose imprudence + always enabled them to know what he had in his heart. + From what came to the knowledge of the Seths it was easy + to guess what he intended, and this made them tremble, for + it was nothing less than their destruction, which could be + averted only by his own. The cause of the English had + become that of the Seths; their interests were identical. Can + one be surprised to see them acting in concert? Further, + when one remembers that it was this same house of bankers + that overthrew Sarfaraz Khan[85] to enthrone Aliverdi Khan, + and who, during the reign of the latter, had the management + of all important business, one must confess that it ought not + to be difficult for persons of so much influence to execute a + project in which, the English were taking a share."[86] + +Law could not persuade Renault to act, and without his doing so the +game was nearly hopeless. Still, he worked at forming a French party +in the Court. By means of Coja Wajid, an Armenian merchant of +Hugli, whose property had been plundered by the English, he obtained +an interview with the Nawab, and persuaded him to send the 2000 +soldiers who were with Renault at the beginning of the siege. More +would have been despatched but for the apparent certainty that the +treaty of neutrality would be signed. In fact, Renault was so +worried that, on the complaint of Watson and Clive that Law was +exciting the Nawab against the English, he wrote Law a letter which +caused the latter to ask to be recalled from Cossimbazar, and it was +only at Renault's earnest request that he consented to remain at his +post. Law continued forming his party. + + "It would appear from the English memoirs that we + corrupted the whole _Durbar_ at Murshidabad to our side by + presents and lies. I might with justice retort this reproach. + As a matter of fact, except Siraj-ud-daula himself, one may + say the English had the whole _Durbar_ always in their + favour. Without insisting on this point, let us honestly + agree, since the English themselves confess it, that we were, + like them, much engaged in opposing corruption to corruption + in order to gain the friendship of scoundrels so as to + place ourselves on equal terms with our enemies. This has + always happened, and ought not to cause surprise in a Court + where right counts for nothing and, every other motive apart, + one can never be successful except by the weight of what + one puts in the balance of iniquity. For the rest, right + or wrong, it is certain that the English were always in a + position to put in more than we could. + + "Fear and greed are the two chief motives of Indian + minds. Everything depends on one or the other. Often + they are combined towards the same object, but, when they + are opposed, fear always conquers. A proof of this is easily + to be seen in all the events connected with, the revolution + in Bengal. When, in 1756, Siraj-ud-daula determined to + expel the English, fear and greed combined to make him + act. As soon as he had himself proved the superiority of + the English troops, fear took the upper hand in his mind, + grew stronger day by day, and soon put him in a condition + in which he was unable to follow, and often even to see, his + true interests. + + "I mention the Nawab first. His hatred for the English + certainly indicated friendship for us. I think so myself, but + we have seen what was his character and his state of mind + in general. I ask, in all good faith, whether we could expect + any advantage from his friendship? This person, cowed by + fear, irresolute and imprudent, could he alone be of any use + to us? It was necessary for him to be supported by some + one who had his confidence and was capable by his own + firmness of fixing the irresolution of the Prince. + + "Mohan Lal, chief _Diwan_ of Siraj-ud-daula, was this + man, the greatest scoundrel the earth has ever borne, worthy + minister of such a master, and yet, in truth, the only person + who was really attached to him. He had firmness and also + sufficient judgment to understand that the ruin of Siraj-ud-daula + must necessarily bring on his own. He was as much, + detested as his master. The sworn enemy of the Seths, and + capable of holding his own against them, I think those + bankers would not have succeeded so easily in their project + if he had been free to act, but, unfortunately for us, he had + been for some time, and was at this most critical moment + dangerously ill. He could not leave his house. I went to + see him twice with Siraj-ud-daula, but it was not possible to + get a word from him. There is strong reason to believe he + had been poisoned. Owing to this, Siraj-ud-daula saw himself + deprived of his only support. + + "Coja Wajid, who had introduced me to the Nawab, and + who, it would be natural to suppose, was our patron, was a + great merchant of Hugli. He was consulted by the Nawab + only because, as he had frequented the Europeans and especially + the English, the Nawab imagined he knew them perfectly. + He was one of the most timid of men, who wanted + to be polite to everybody, and who, had he seen the dagger + raised, would have thought he might offend Siraj-ud-daula + by warning him that some one intended to assassinate him.[87] + Possibly he did not love the Seths, but he feared them, + which was sufficient to make him useless to us. + + "Rai Durlabh Ram, the other _Diwan_ of the Nawab, was + the man to whom I was bound to trust most. Before the + arrival of Clive he might have been thought the enemy of + the English. It was he who pretended to have beaten them + and to have taken Calcutta. He wished, he said, to maintain + his reputation; but after the affair of the 5th of February, + in which the only part he took was to share in the flight, he + was not the same man; he feared nothing so much as to + have to fight the English. This fear disposed him to gradually + come to terms with the Seths, of whose greatness he + was very jealous. He also hated the Nawab, by whom he + had been ill-used on many occasions. In short, I could never + get him to say a single word in our favour in the _Durbar_. + The fear of compromising himself made him decide to remain + neutral for the present, though firmly resolved to join finally + the side which appeared to him to be the strongest." + +This, then, was the French party, whose sole bond was dislike to the +Seths, and the members of which, by timidity or ill-health, were +unable to act. It was different with their enemies. + + "The English had on their side in the _Durbar_ the terror + of their arms, the faults of Siraj-ud-daula, the ruling influence + and the refined policy of the Seths, who, to conceal their game + more completely, and knowing that it pleased the Nawab, + often spoke all the ill they could think of about the English, + so as to excite him against them and at the same time gain + his confidence. The Nawab fell readily into the snare, and + said everything that came into his mind, thus enabling his + enemies to guard against all the evil which otherwise he + might have managed to do them. The English had also on + their side all the chief officers in the Nawab's army--Jafar + All Khan, Khodadad Khan Latty, and a number of others + who were attached to them by their presents or the influence + of the Seths, all the ministers of the old Court whom + Siraj-ud-daula had disgraced, nearly all the secretaries,[88] the + writers[89] of the _Durbar_, and even the eunuchs of the harem. + What might they not expect to achieve by the union of all + these forces when guided by so skilful a man as Mr. Watts?" + +With such enemies to combat in the Court itself, Law heard that the +English were marching on Chandernagore. By the most painful efforts +he obtained orders for reinforcements to be sent to the French. +They-- + + "were ready to start, the soldiers had been paid, the Commandant[90] + waited only for final orders. I went to see him + and promised him a large sum if he succeeded in raising the + siege of Chandernagore. I also visited several of the chief + officers, to whom I promised rewards proportionate to their + rank. I represented to the Nawab that Chandernagore must + be certainly captured if the reinforcements did not set out + at once, and I tried to persuade him to give his orders to + the Commandant in my presence. 'All is ready,' replied the + Nawab, 'but before resorting to arms it is proper to try all + possible means to avoid a rupture, and all the more so as the + English have just promised to obey the orders I shall send + them.'[91] I recognized the hand of the Seths in these details. + + They encouraged the Nawab in a false impression about this + affair. On the one hand, they assured him that the march + of the English, was only to frighten us into subscribing to + a treaty of neutrality, and on the other hand they increased + his natural timidity by exaggerating the force of the English + and by representing the risk he ran in assisting us with + reinforcements which would probably not prevent the capture + of Chandernagore if the English were determined to take it, + but would serve as a reason for the English to attack the + Nawab himself. They managed so well that they destroyed + in the evening all the effect I had produced in the morning. + + "I resolved to visit the bankers. They immediately + commenced talking about our debts, and called my attention + to the want of punctuality in our payments. I said that + this was not the question just now, and that I came to them + upon a much more interesting matter, which, however, concerned + them as well as us with respect to those very debts + for which they were asking payment and security. I asked + why they supported the English against us. They denied it, + and, after much explanation, they promised to make any + suggestions I wished to the Nawab. They added that they + were quite sure the English would not attack us, and that + I might remain tranquil. Knowing that they were well + acquainted with the designs of the English, I told them I + knew as well as they did what these were, and that I saw + no way of preventing them from attacking Chandernagore + except by hastening the despatch of the reinforcements which + the Nawab had promised, and that as they were disposed to + serve me, I begged them to make the Nawab understand the + same. They replied that the Nawab wished to avoid any + rupture with the English, and they said many other things + which only showed me that, in spite of their good will, they + would do nothing for us. Ranjit Rai, who was their man + of business as well as the agent of the English, said to me + in a mocking tone, 'You are a Frenchman; are you afraid of + the English? If they attack you, defend yourselves! No + one is ignorant of what your nation has done on the Madras + Coast, and we are curious to see how you will come off in + this business here.' I told him I did not expect to find such + a warlike person in a Bengali merchant, and that sometimes + people repented of their curiosity. That was enough for such + a fellow, but I saw clearly that the laugh would not be on + my side. However, every one was very polite, and I left + the house." + +Law thinks the Seths honestly believed that the English march on +Chandernagore was merely intended to frighten the French, and, as a +proof of their friendliness, narrates a further incident of this +visit:-- + + "The conversation having turned on Siraj-ud-daula, on + the reasons he had given the Seths to fear him, and on his + violent character, I said I understood clearly enough what + they meant, and that they certainly wanted to set up another + Nawab. The Seths, instead of denying this, contented themselves + with saying in a low voice that this was a subject + which should not be talked about. Omichand, the English + agent[92] (who, by the way, cried 'Away with them!' wherever + he went), was present. If the fact had been false, the Seths + would certainly have denied it, and would have reproached + me for talking in such a way. If they had even thought + I intended to thwart them, they would also have denied + it, but considering all that had happened, the vexations + caused us by the Nawab and our obstinate refusals to help + him, they imagined that we should be just as content as they + were to see him deposed, provided only the English would + leave us in peace. In fact, they did not as yet regard us as + enemies." + +Law was, however, ignorant that Clive had already promised, or did +so soon after, to give the property of the French Company to the +Seths in payment of the money the French owed them; but he now for +the first time fully realized the gravity of the situation. The +indiscretion of the Seths showed him the whole extent of the plot, +and the same evening he told the Nawab, but-- + + "the poor young man began to laugh, not being able to + imagine I could be so foolish as to indulge in such ideas." + +And yet, whilst he refused to believe in the treason of his +officers, the Nawab indulged at times in the most violent outbreaks +of temper against them. + + "Siraj-ud-daula was not master of himself.[93] It would + have needed as much firmness in his character as there was + deceitfulness to make the latter quality of use to him. At + certain times his natural disposition overmastered him, + especially when in his harem surrounded by his wives and + servants, when he was accustomed to say openly all that + was in his heart. Sometimes this happened to him in full + _Durbar_." + +The same evening, also, Mr. Watts came to the _Durbar_, and the +matter of the neutrality was talked over. The Nawab wished the two +gentlemen to pledge their respective nations to keep the peace, but +Mr. Watts skilfully avoided giving any promise, and suggested the +Nawab should write to the Admiral. Law, seeing that further delay +was aimed at, exclaimed that the Admiral would pay as little respect +to this letter as to the Nawab's previous ones. + + "'How?' said the Nawab, looking angrily at me instead + of at Mr. Watts: 'who am I then?' All the members of his + Court cried out together that his orders would certainly be + attended to." + +As Law expected, Chandernagore was attacked before the Admiral's +reply was received. Law received the news on the 15th, and hurried +to the Nawab. Reinforcements were ordered and counter-ordered. At +midnight the Nawab's eunuch came to inform Law that the English had +been repulsed with loss, and on the morning of the 16th the Nawab's +troops were ordered to advance, but when the same day news came that +the French had withdrawn into the Fort, every one cried out that the +Fort must fall, and that it was mere folly to incense the English by +sending down troops. They were immediately recalled. Then news +arrived that the Fort was holding out, and Rai Durlabh Ram was +ordered to advance. Again there came a false report that the Fort +had fallen. Law knew Rai Durlabh was a coward, and his whole +reliance was on the second in command, Mir Madan:-- + + "a capable officer, and one who would have attacked the + enemy with pleasure." + +This Mir Madan is said to have been a Hindu convert to +Muhammadanism. Native poems still tell of the gallantry with which +he commanded the Hindu soldiers of the Nawab. He was one of the +first to fall at Plassey, and though it cannot be said that his +death caused the loss of the battle, it is certain that it put an +end to all chance of the victory being contested. + +Law was at his wits' end. It was no time to stick at trifles, and, +that he might know the worst at once, he intercepted Mr. Watts's +letters. From them he gathered that the English intended to march +straight upon Murshidabad. He set about fortifying the enclosure +round the French Factory, and, as he had only 10 or 12 men, he +induced the Nawab to send him a native officer with 100 musketeers. +He soon learned that the reported English advance was merely the +pursuit of the fugitives from Chandernagore, who were mentioned in +the last chapter. By the end of March he had 60 Europeans:-- + + "of whom the half, in truth, were not fit to serve; but what + did that matter? The number was worth 120 to me outside + the fort, since rumour always delights in exaggeration." + +Of the sepoys also, whom the English set free, some 30 found their +way to Law, and so far was he now from being afraid of Mr. Watts, +that it was the latter who had to ask the Nawab's protection. + +The vacillation which had marked the Nawab's conduct previous to the +fall of Chandernagore still continued. He protected Law, but would +not help him with money. + + "Further, at the solicitation of my enemies, the Nawab + sent people to pull down the earthworks I had erected. He + even wished the native agent of the English to be present. + In my life I have never suffered what I did that day. To + the orders of the Nawab I replied that so long as I was in + the Factory no foreigner should touch my fortifications, but + that to keep my agreement with him I was ready to withdraw + and to make over the Factory to him, with which he + could afterwards do as he liked, and for which I should hold + him responsible. At the same time, I made my whole troop + arm themselves, and, having had my munitions loaded on + carts for several days previous, I prepared to depart with + the small amount of money which belonged to me and to + a few other individuals. The Nawab's officer, seeing my + resolution, and fearing to do anything which, might not be + approved, postponed the execution of his orders, and informed + the Nawab of what was happening. He replied that he + absolutely forbade my leaving the Factory, and ordered the + pioneers to be sent away; but at the same time he informed + me that it was absolutely necessary for me to pull down the + earthworks, that under the present circumstances he had + himself to do many things contrary to his own wishes, that + by refusing to obey I should draw the English upon him + and upon us, that we could not defend ourselves and must + therefore submit, that I should not be troubled any more, + and that, finally, he would give me money enough to build + in brick what I had wished to make in earth. I knew well + the value of his promises, but I was forced to humour him. + It did not suit me to abandon the Factory altogether, so I set + my workmen to pull down what I had built, and the same + night the work was finished." + +The English now tried to win over the French soldiers, and had some +success, for many of them were deserters from the British forces, +and they quickly saw how precarious was the shelter which Law could +afford them; but the Nawab could not be persuaded to force Law to +surrender, and, though he agreed to leave the country, Law declared +he would not do even that unless he received passports and money. On +the 8th of April he received passports, and was promised that if he +would go to Phulbari, near Patna, he should there receive all he +wanted. He was allowed four or five days to make his preparations. + + "I profited by this interval to persuade the only man + who dared speak for us to got to action. This was the Nazir + Dalal, a man of no importance, but at the same time a man + in whom the Nawab appeared to have some confidence. As + he was constantly at the Factory, I had opportunities of telling + him many things of particular interest to the Nawab, and I + believed that by politeness and presents I had brought him + over to our interests. A little later, however, I learned that + he received quite as much from the English as from us. He + told the Nawab all that he learned from me, _viz._ the views + of the English and of the Seths, and the risk he himself was + running, and he brought to his notice that the English were + steadily increasing their garrison at Cossimbazar by bringing + up soldiers who pretended they were deserters and wished to + pass over to the Trench. By this trick, indeed, many soldiers + had passed through the Moorish camp without being stopped. + There was also talk of an English fleet preparing to come up + and waiting only for the Nawab's permission. The Nazir + Dalal represented to him that the trading boats might be + loaded with ammunition, and that they ought to be strictly + searched, and the casks and barrels opened, as guns and + mortars might be found in them. The Nawab opened his + eyes at information of this kind, and promptly sent the Nazir + Dalal to tell me not to leave. This order came on the 10th + of April. I accordingly passed my garrison in review before + the Nawab's agent, and a statement showing the monthly + pay of each officer and soldier was sent to the Nawab, who + promised to pay them accordingly." + +On the 12th of April Law received a sudden summons to attend the +_Durbar_ the next day. + + "After some reflection, I determined to obey. I thought + that by taking presents I could avoid the inconveniences I + feared, so I arranged to start early on the morning of the 13th + with five or six persons well armed. A slight rain detained + us till 10 o'clock. On leaving I told my people that M. + Sinfray was their commandant, and ordered him, if I did not + return by 2 o'clock, to send a detachment of forty men to + meet me. We arrived at the Nawab's palace about midday. + He had retired to his harem. We were taken into the + Audience Hall, where they brought us a very bad dinner. + The Nawab, they said, would soon come. However, 5 o'clock + had struck and he had not yet dressed. During this wearisome + interval I was visited by some of the _Diwans_, among + others by the _Arzbegi._[94] I asked him why the Nawab had + called me. He replied with an appearance of sincerity that + as the Nawab was constantly receiving complaints from the + English, about the numerous garrison we had in our Factory, + he had judged it proper to summon both Mr. Watts and + myself in order to reconcile us, and that he hoped to arrange + matters so that the English should have nothing to fear from + us nor we from them. He added that the Nawab was quite + satisfied with my behaviour, and wished me much good. At + last the _Durbar_ hour arrives. I am warned. I pass into a + hall, where I find Mr. Watts and a number of _Diwans_. The + agent of the Seths is present Compliments having passed, + one of the _Diwans_ asks me if I have anything particular to + say to Mr. Watts. I answer that I have not. Thereupon + Mr. Watts addresses me in English: 'The question is, sir, + whether you are prepared to surrender your Factory to me + and to go down to Calcutta with all your people. You will + be well treated, and will be granted the same conditions as + the gentlemen of Chandernagore. This is the Nawab's wish.' + I reply I will do nothing of the kind, that I and all those + with me are free, that if I am forced to leave Cossimbazar + I will surrender the Factory to the Nawab, and to no one else. + Mr. Watts, turning round to the _Diwans_, says excitedly, that + it is impossible to do anything with me, and repeats to them + word for word all that has passed between us. + + "From that moment I saw clearly that the air of the + Court was not healthy for us. It was, however, necessary to + put a good face on matters. The _Arzbegi_ and some others, + taking me aside, begged me to consider what I was doing in + refusing Mr. Watts's propositions, and said that as the Nawab + was determined to have a good understanding with the + English, he would force me to accept them. They then + asked what I intended to do. I said I intended to stay at + Cossimbazar and to oppose, to the utmost of my power, the + ambitious designs of the English. 'Well, well, what can + you do?' they replied. 'You are about a hundred Europeans; + the Nawab has no need of you; you will certainly be forced + to leave this place. It would be much better to accept the + terms offered you by Mr. Watts.' The same persons who had + begged me to do this then took Mr. Watts aside. I do not + know what they said to each other, but a quarter of an hour + after they went into the hall where the Nawab was. + + "I was in the utmost impatience to know the result of + all these parleyings, so much the more as from some words + that had escaped them I had reason to think they intended + to arrest me. + + "Fire or six minutes after Mr. Watts had gone to the + Nawab, the _Arzbegi_, accompanied by some officers and the + agents of the Seths and the English, came and told me aloud, + in the presence of some fifty persons of rank, that the Nawab + ordered me to submit myself entirely to what Mr. Watts + demanded. I told him I would not, and that it was + impossible for the Nawab to have given such an order. + I demanded to be presented to him. 'The Nawab,' they + said, 'does not wish to see you.' I replied, 'It was he who + summoned me; I will not go away till I have seen him.' + The _Arzbegi_ saw I had no intention of giving way, and that + I was well supported, for at this very moment word was + brought of the arrival of our grenadiers, who had been + ordered to come and meet me. Disappointed at not seeing + me appear, they had advanced to the very gates of the palace. + The _Arzbegi_, not knowing what would be the result of this + affair, and wishing to get out of the scrape and to throw the + burden of it on to the Seths' agent, said to him, 'Do you + speak, then; this affair concerns you more than us.' The + Seths' agent wished to speak, but I did not give him time. + I said I would not listen to him, that I did not recognize + him as having any authority, and that I had no business + at all with him. Thereupon the _Arzbegi_ went back to the + Nawab and told him I would not listen to reason, and that + I demanded to speak to him. 'Well, let him come,' said + the Nawab, 'but he must come alone.' At the same time + he asked Mr. Watts to withdraw and wait for him in a + cabinet. The order to appear being given me, I wish to + go--another difficulty! The officers with me do not wish to + let me go alone! A great debate between them and the + Nawab's officers! At last, giving way to my entreaties, + and on my assuring them that I have no fears, I persuade + them to be quiet and to let me go. + + "I presented myself before the Nawab, who returned my + salute in a kindly manner. As soon as I was seated, he told + me, in a shamefaced way, that I must either accept Mr. + Watts's proposals, or must certainly leave his territories. + _Your nation is the cause_, he said, _of all the importunities I + now suffer from the English. I do not wish to put the whole country + in trouble for your sake. You are not strong enough to defend + yourselves; you must give way. You ought to remember that when I had + need of your assistance you always refused it. You ought not to + expect assistance from me now_. + + "It must be confessed that, after all our behaviour to + him, I had not much to reply. I noticed, however, that the + Nawab kept his eyes cast down, and that it was, as it were, + against his will that he paid me this compliment. I told + him I should be dishonoured if I accepted Mr. Watts's proposals, + but that as he was absolutely determined to expel us + from his country, I was ready to withdraw, and that as soon + as I had the necessary passports I would go towards Patna. + At this every one in concert, except the Nawab and Coja + Wajid, cried out that I could not take that road, that the + Nawab would not consent to it. I asked what road they + wished me to take. They said I must go towards Midnapur + or Cuttack. I answered that the English might at any + moment march in that direction and fall upon me. They + replied I must get out of the difficulty as best I could. The + Nawab, meanwhile, kept his face bent down, listening + attentively, but saying nothing. Wishing to force him to + speak, I asked if it was his intention to cause me to fall into + the hands of my enemies? 'No, no,' replied the Nawab, + 'take what road you please, and may God conduct you.' I + stood up and thanked him, received the betel,[95] and went out." + +Gholam Husain Khan says that the Nawab was much affected at parting +with Law, as he now believed in the truth of his warnings against +the English and the English party,-- + + "but as he did not dare to keep him in his service for fear + of offending the English, he told him that at present it was + fit that he should depart; but that if anything new should + happen he would send for him again. '_Send for me again?_' + answered Law. '_Rest assured, my Lord Nawab, that this is + the last time we shall see each other. Remember my words: we + shall never meet again. It is nearly impossible_." + +Law hurried back to his Factory, and by the evening of the 15th of +April he was ready to depart. The same day the Nawab wrote to +Clive:-- + + "Mr. Law I have put out of the city, and have wrote + expressly to my Naib[96] at Patna to turn him and his attendants + out of the bounds of his Subaship, and that he shall not + suffer them to stay in any place within it."[97] + +At the end of April the Nawab wrote to Abdulla Khan, the Afghan +general at Delhi, that he had supplied Law with Rs.10,000. Clive was +quickly informed of this. + +On the morning of the 16th the French marched through Murshidabad +with colours flying and drums beating, prepared against any surprise +in the narrow streets of the city. Mr. Watts wrote to Clive:-- + + "They had 100 Europeans, 60 Tellingees, 30 _hackerys_" + (i.e. bullock-waggons) "and 4 elephants with them."[98] + +Close on their track followed two spies, sent by Mr. Watts to try +and seduce the French soldiers and sepoys. Law left a M. Bugros +behind in charge of the French Factory. + +Shortly after leaving Cossimbazar, Law was reinforced by a party of +45 men, mostly sailors of the _Saint Contest_, who had managed to +escape from the English. On the 2nd of May the French arrived at +Bhagulpur, the Nawab writing to them to move on whenever he heard +they were halting, and not to go so fast when he heard they were on +the march. + + "To satisfy him we should have been always in motion + and yet not advancing; this did not suit us. It was of the + utmost importance to arrive at some place where I could + find means for the equipment of my troop. We were + destitute of everything." + +These contradictory orders, and even letters of recall, reached Law +on his march, but though he sent back M. Sinfray with letters to M. +Bugros and Coja Wajid--which the latter afterwards made over to +Clive--he continued his march to Patna, where he arrived on the 3rd +of June, and was well received by Raja Ramnarain, and where he was +within four or five days' march or sail from Sooty, the mouth of the +Murshidabad or Cossimbazar river, and therefore in a position to +join the Nawab whenever it might be necessary. + +In the mean time fate had avenged Law on one of his lesser enemies. +This was that Ranjit Rai, who had insulted him during his interview +with the Seths. The latter had pursued their old policy of inciting +the English to make extravagant demands which they at the same time +urged the Nawab to refuse. To justify one such demand, the English +produced a letter in the handwriting of Ranjit Rai, purporting to be +written at the dictation of the Seths under instructions from the +Nawab. The latter denied the instructions, and the Seths promptly +asserted that the whole letter was a forgery of their agent's. + + "The notorious Ranjit Rai was driven in disgrace from + the _Durbar_, banished, and assassinated on the road. It was + said he had received 2 lakhs from the English to apply his + masters' seal unknown to them. I can hardly believe this. + This agent was attached to the English only because he knew + the Seths were devoted to them." + +This incident warned the Seths to be more cautious, but still the +plot against the Nawab was well known in the country. Renault, who +had been at this time a prisoner in Calcutta, says:-- + + "Never was a conspiracy conducted as publicly and with + such indiscretion as this was, both by the Moors and the + English. Nothing else was talked about in all the English + settlements, and whilst every place echoed with the noise of + it, the Nawab, who had a number of spies, was ignorant of + everything. Nothing can prove more clearly the general + hatred which was felt towards him."[99] + +M. Sinfray had returned to Murshidabad, but could not obtain an +interview with the Nawab till the 8th of June, when he found him +still absolutely tranquil; and even on the 10th the Nawab wrote to +Law to have no fears on his account; but this letter did not reach +Law till the 19th. + + "I complained of the delay in the strongest terms to + Ramnarain, who received the packets from the Nawab, but it + was quite useless. The Nawab was betrayed by those whom + he thought most attached to him. The Faujdar of Rajmehal + used to stop all his messengers and detain them as long as + he thought fit." + +This officer was a brother of Mir Jafar.[100] The Seths and the +English had long found the chief difficulty in their way to be the +choice of a man of sufficient distinction to replace Siraj-ud-daula +on the throne. At this moment the Nawab himself gave them as a +leader Mir Jafar Ali Khan, who had married the sister of Aliverdi +Khan, and was therefore a relative of his. Mir Jafar was _Bukshi_, +or Paymaster and Generalissimo of the Army, and his influence had +greatly contributed to Siraj-ud-daula's peaceful accession. He was a +man of good reputation, and a brave and skilful soldier. It was such +a person as this that the Nawab, after a long course of petty +insults, saw fit to abuse in the vilest terms in full _Durbar_ and +to dismiss summarily from his post. He now listened to the +proposals of the Seths, and towards the end of April terms were +settled between him and the English.[101] The actual conclusion of +the Treaty took place early in June, and on the 13th of that month +Mr. Watts and the other English gentlemen at Cossimbazar escaped +under the pretence of a hunting expedition and joined Clive in +safety. As soon as he heard of this, the Nawab knew that war was +inevitable, and it had come at a moment when he had disbanded half +his army unpaid, and the other half was grumbling for arrears. Not +only had he insulted Mir Jafar, but he had also managed to quarrel +with Rai Durlabh. Instead of trying to postpone the conflict until +he had crushed these two dangerous enemies, he begged them to be +reconciled to him, and put himself in their hands. Letter after +letter was sent to recall Law, but even the first, despatched on the +13th, did not reach Law till the 22nd, owing to the treachery of the +Faujdar of Rajmehal. Law's letter entreating the Nawab to await his +arrival certainly never reached him, and though Law had started at +the first rumour of danger, before getting the Nawab's letter, he +did not reach Rajmehal till the 1st of July. The Nawab had been +captured in the neighbourhood a few hours before the arrival of his +advance-guard. Gholam Husain Khan says that Law would have been in +time had the Nawab's last remittance been a bill of exchange and not +an order on the Treasury, for-- + + "as slowness of motion seems to be of etiquette with the + people of Hindustan, the disbursing of the money took up + so much time that when M. Law was come down as far + Rajmehal, he found that all was over." + +Law, who was nothing if not philosophical, remarked on this +disappointment:-- + + "In saving Siraj-ud-daula we should have scored a great + success, but possibly he would have been saved for a short + time only. He would have found enemies and traitors + wherever he might have presented himself in the countries + supposed to be subject to him. No one would have acknowledged + him. Forced by Mir Jafar and the English to flee to + a foreign country, he would have been a burden to us rather + than an assistance. + + "In India no one knows what it is to stand by an + unfortunate man. The first idea which suggests itself is to + plunder him of the little[102] which remains to him. Besides, + a character like that of Siraj-ud-daula could nowhere find a + real friend." + +Siraj-ud-daula, defeated by Clive at Plassey on the 23rd of June, +was, says Scrafton,-- + + "himself one of the first that carried the news of his defeat + to the capital, which he reached that night." + +His wisest councillors urged him to surrender to Clive, but he +thought this advice treacherous, and determined to flee towards +Rajmehal. When nearly there he was recognized by a Fakir,[103] whose +ears he had, some time before, ordered to be cut off. The Fakir +informed the Faujdar, who seized him and sent him to Murshidabad, +where Miran, Mir Jafar's son, put him to death on the 4th of July. + +It was necessary for Law to withdraw as quickly as possible if he +was to preserve his liberty. Clive and Mir Jafar wrote urgent +letters to Ramnarain at Patna to stop him, but Ramnarain was no +lover of Mir Jafar, and he was not yet acquainted with Clive, so he +allowed him to pass. Law says:-- + + "On the 16th of July we arrived at Dinapur, eight miles + above Patna, where I soon saw we had no time to lose. + The Raja of Patna himself would not have troubled us much. + By means of our boats we could have avoided him as we + pleased, for though our fleet was in a very bad condition, + still it could have held its own against the naval forces + of Bengal, i.e. the Indian forces, but the English were advancing, + commanded by Major Coote. As the English call + themselves the masters of the aquatic element, it became us + the less to wait for them, when we knew they had stronger + and more numerous boats than we had. Possibly we could + have outsailed them, but we did not wish to give them the + pleasure of seeing us flee. On the 18th instant an order + from the Raja instructed me in the name of Mir Jafar to + halt--no doubt to wait for the English--whilst another on his + own part advised me to hurry off. Some small detachments + of horsemen appeared along the bank, apparently to hinder + us from getting provisions or to lay violent hands on the + boatmen. On this we set sail, resolved to quit all the + dependencies of Bengal. In spite of ourselves we had to + halt at Chupra, twenty-two miles higher up, because our + rowers refused to go further: prayers and threats all seemed + useless. I thought the English had found some means to + gain them over. The boats did not belong to us, but we + should have had little scruple in seizing them had our + Europeans known how to manage them. Unfortunately, + they knew nothing about it. The boats in Bengal have no + keel, and consequently do not carry sail well. So we lost + two days in discussion with the boatmen, but at last, by + doubling their pay, terms were made, and five days after, on + the 25th of July, we arrived at Ghazipur, the first place of + importance in the provinces of Suja-ud-daula, Viceroy of the + Subahs of Oudh, Lucknow, and Allahabad." + +Before Law left Rajmehal on his return to Patna, the Faujdar tried +to stop him on pretence that Mir Jafar wished to reconcile him to +the English. Law thought this unlikely, yet knowing the native +proclivity for underhand intrigue, he wrote him a letter, but the +answer which he received at Chupra was merely an order to +surrender. Law says:-- + + "I had an idea that he might write to me in a quite + different style, _unknown to the English_. I knew the new + Nawab, whom I met at the time I was soliciting reinforcements + to raise the siege of Chandernagore. He had not then + taken up the idea of making himself Nawab. He appeared + to me a very intelligent man, and much inclined to do us + service, pitying us greatly for having to work with a man so + cowardly and undecided as Siraj-ud-daula." + +Law thought his communication-- + + "was well calculated to excite in his mind sentiments + favourable to us, but if it did, Mir Jafar let none of them + appear. The Revolution was too recent and the influence of + the English too great for him to risk the least correspondence + with us." + +From Clive, on the other hand, he received a letter,-- + + "such as became a general who, though an enemy, interested + himself in our fate out of humanity, knowing by his own + experience into what perils and fatigues we were going to + throw ourselves when we left the European Settlements." + +This letter, dated Murshidabad, July 9th, was as follows:-- + + "As the country people are now all become your enemies, + and orders are gone everywhere to intercept your passage, + and I myself have sent parties in quest of you, and orders + are gone to Ramnarain, the Naib of Patna, to seize you if + you pursue that road, you must be sensible if you fall into + their hands you cannot expect to find them a generous + enemy. If, therefore, you have any regard for the men + under your command, I would recommend you to treat with + us, from whom you may expect the most favourable terms in + my power to grant."[104] + +Law does not say much about the hardships of his flight; but Eyre +Coote, who commanded the detachment which followed him, had the +utmost difficulty in persuading his men to advance, and wrote to +Clive that he had never known soldiers exposed to greater hardships. +At Patna Eyre Coote seized the French Factory, where the Chief, M. +de la Bretesche, was lying ill. The military and other Company's +servants had gone on with Law, leaving in charge a person variously +called M. Innocent and Innocent Jesus. He was not a Frenchman, but +nevertheless he was sent down to Calcutta. From Patna Eyre Coote got +as far as Chupra, only to find Law safe beyond the frontier at +Ghazipur, and nothing left for him to do but to return. + +From now on to January, 1761, Law was out of the reach of the +English, living precariously on supplies sent from Bussy in the +south, from his wife at Chinsurah, and from a secret store which M. +de la Bretesche had established at Patna unknown to the English, and +upon loans raised from wealthy natives, such as the Raja of +Bettiah. He believed all along that the French would soon make an +effort to invade Bengal, where there was a large native party in +their favour, and where he could assist them by creating a diversion +in the north. I shall touch on his adventures very briefly. + +His first halt was at Benares, which he reached on the 2nd of +August, and where the Raja Bulwant Singh tried to wheedle and +frighten him into surrendering his guns. He escaped out of his hands +by sheer bluff, and went on to Chunargarh, where he received letters +from Suja-ud-daula, Nawab of Oudh, a friend of Siraj-ud-daula's, +whom he hoped to persuade into invading Bengal. On the 3rd of +September he reached Allahabad, and here left his troop under the +command of M. le Comte de Carryon, whilst he went on to Lucknow, the +capital of Oudh. + +It is only at this moment that Law bethinks him of describing his +troop. It consisted of 175 Europeans and 100 sepoys drilled in +European fashion. The officers were D'Hurvilliers, le Comte de +Carryon (who had brought a detachment from Dacca before Law left +Cossimbazar), Ensign Brayer (who had commanded the military at +Patna), Ensign Jobard (who had escaped from Chandernagore), and +Ensign Martin de la Case. He also entertained as officers MM. +Debelleme (Captain of a French East Indiaman), Boissemont, and La +Ville Martere, Company's servants (these three had all escaped from +Chandernagore), Dangereux and Dubois (Company's servants stationed +at Cossimbazar), Beinges (a Company's servant stationed at Patna), +and two private gentlemen, Kerdizien and Gourbin. Besides these, MM. +Anquetil du Perron,[105] La Rue, Desjoux, Villequain, Desbrosses, +and Calve, served as volunteers. His chaplain was the Reverend +Father Onofre, and he had two surgeons, Dubois and Le Page. The last +two were probably the surgeons of Cossimbazar and Patna. He had also +with him M. Lenoir, second of Patna, whose acquaintance with the +language and the people was invaluable. Law seems to have been +always able to recruit his sepoys, but he had no great opinion of +them. + + "In fact it may be said that the sepoy is a singular + animal, especially until he has had time to acquire a + proper sense of discipline. As soon as he has received his + red jacket and his gun he thinks he is a different man. He + looks upon himself as a European, and having a very high + estimation of this qualification, he thinks he has the right to + despise all the country people, whom he treats as Kaffirs + and wretched negroes, though he is often just as black as they + are. In every place I have been I have remarked that the + inhabitants have less fear of the European soldier, who in + his disorderly behaviour sometimes shows an amount of + generosity which they would expect in vain from a sepoy." + +Law has left the following description of Lucknow:-- + + "Lucknow, capital of the Subah[106] so called, is 160 miles + north of Allahabad, on the other side of the Ganges, and + about 44 miles from that river. The country is beautiful + and of great fertility, but what can one expect from the best + land without cultivation? It was particularly the fate of + this province and of a large portion of Oudh to have been + exhausted by the wars of Mansur Ali Khan.[107] That prince + at his death left the Treasury empty and a quantity of + debts. Suja-ud-daula, his successor, thought he could + satisfy his creditors, all of them officers of the army, by + giving them orders upon several of the large estates. This + method was too slow for these military gentlemen. In a + short time every officer had become the Farmer,[108] or rather the + Tyrant, of the villages abandoned to him. Forcible executions + quickly reimbursed him to an extent greater than his claim, + but the country suffered. The ill-used inhabitants left it, + and the land remained uncultivated. This might have + been repaired. The good order established by Suja-ud-daula + commenced to bring the inhabitants back when an + evil, against which human prudence was powerless, achieved + their total destruction. For two whole years clouds of + locusts traversed the country regularly with the Monsoon,[109] + and reduced the hopes of the cultivator to nothing. When + two days from Lucknow, we ourselves saw the ravages committed + by this insect. It was perfect weather; suddenly we + saw the sky overcast; a darkness like that of a total eclipse + spread itself abroad and lasted a good hour. In less than no + time we saw the trees under which we were camped stripped + of their leaves. The next day as we journeyed we saw that + the same devastation had been produced for a distance of ten + miles. The grass on the roads and every green thing in the + fields were eaten away down to the roots. This recurrent + plague had driven away the inhabitants, even those who had + survived the exactions of the military. Towns and villages + were abandoned; the small number of people who remained--I + am speaking without exaggeration--only served to + augment the horror of this solitude. We saw nothing but + spectres. + + "The state of the people of Lucknow city, the residence + of the Nawab, was hardly better. The evil was perhaps less + evident owing to the variety of objects, but from what one + could see from time to time nature did not suffer less. The + environs of the palace were covered with poor sick people + lying in the middle of the roads, so that it was impossible + for the Nawab to go out without causing his elephant to + tread on the bodies of several of them, except when he had + the patience to wait and have them cleared out of the way--an + act which would not accord with Oriental ideas of + grandeur. In spite of this there were few accidents. The + animal used to guide its footsteps so as to show it was + more friendly to human beings than men themselves + were." + +At Lucknow Suja-ud-daula greeted him with a sympathetic interest, +which Law quaintly likens to that shown by Dido for Aeneas, but +money was not forthcoming, and Law soon found that Suja-ud-daula was +not on sufficiently good terms with the Mogul's[110] Vizir[111] at +Delhi to risk an attack on Bengal. On the 18th of October he +returned to Allahabad, with the intention of going to Delhi to see +what he could do with the Vizir, but as it might have been dangerous +to disclose his object, he pretended he was going to march south to +Bussy in the Deccan, and obtained a passport from the Maratha +general, Holkar. This took some time, and it was not till March, +1758, that he started for Delhi. He reached Farukhabad without +difficulty, and on the 21st entered the country of the Jats. On the +evening of the 23rd a barber, who came into their camp, warned the +French they would be attacked. The next day the Jats, to the number +of 20,000, attacked them on the march. The fight lasted the whole +day, and the French fired 6000 musket shots and 800 cannon. The +cannon-balls were made of clay moulded round a pebble, and were +found sufficiently effective in the level country. + +Soon after they arrived at Delhi, only to find the Marathas masters +of the situation and in actual possession of the person of the +Shahzada, or Crown Prince.[112] The Prince was friendly, gave Law +money, and eagerly welcomed the idea of attacking Bengal, but he was +himself practically a prisoner. The Vizir, too, could do nothing, +and would give no money. The Marathas amused him with promises, and +tried to trap him into fighting their battles. No one seemed to know +anything about what had happened in Bengal. He spoke to several of +the chief men about the English. + + "I felt sure that, after the Revolution in Bengal, they + would be the only subject of conversation in the capital. The + Revolution had made much noise, but it was ascribed entirely + to the Seths and to Rai Durlabh Ram. Clive's name was + well known. He was, they said, a great captain whom the + Seths had brought from very far at a great expense, to + deliver Bengal from the tyranny of Siraj-ud-daula, as Salabat + Jang had engaged M. Bussy to keep the Marathas in + order. Many of the principal persons even asked me what + country he came from. Others, mixing up all Europeans + together, thought that I was a deputy from Clive. It was + useless for me to say we were enemies, that it was the + English who had done everything in Bengal, that it was + they who governed and not Jafar Ali Khan, who was only + Nawab in name. No one would believe me. In fact, how + could one persuade people who had never seen a race of + men different from their own, that a body of two or three + thousand Europeans at the most was able to dictate the law + in a country as large as Bengal?" + +Law could do nothing at Delhi, and it was only by bribing the +Maratha general that he obtained an escort through the Jat country +to Agra. Most of his soldiers were glad to be off, but about 60 +Europeans deserted with their arms to Delhi, where the Vizir offered +them pay as high as 50 rupees a month. M. Jobard was nearly killed +by some of them when he tried to persuade them to return to duty, +but, a few months after, more than half rejoined Law. + +From Agra, Law went to Chatrapur in Bundelkand, where apparently, +though he does not say so, he was in the service of the Raja +Indrapat. His stay lasted from the 10th of June, 1758, to February, +1759. In order to keep on good terms with the inhabitants, who were +almost all Hindus, Law forbade his men to kill cattle or any of the +sacred birds, or to borrow anything without his permission, and at +the same time severely punished all disorderly behaviour. The people +having never heard of Christians, thought the French must be a kind +of Muhammadans, but they could not make out from what country they +came. Seeing them drink a red wine of which they had a few bottles, +they thought they were drinking blood, and were horrified, but the +good behaviour of the men soon put them on friendly terms. + +Early in 1759 the Shahzada at last invaded Bengal, and on the 5th +of February Law marched to join him; but the invasion was badly +managed, and was an absolute failure. On the 28th of May Law was +back at Chatrapur. The only result of the invasion was that the +lands of a number of Rajas in Bihar were plundered by Miran, son of +Mir Jafar, and the English. These Rajas were all Hindus. + + "They had an understanding with Ramnarain. All these + Rajas, of whom there is a great number in the dependencies + of Bengal, united to each other by the same religion, mutually + support each other as much as they can. They detest the + Muhammadan Government, and if it had not been for the + Seths, the famous bankers, with whom they have close + connections, it is probable that after the Revolution in which + Siraj-ud-daula was the victim, they would all have risen + together to establish a Hindu Government, from which the + English would not have obtained all the advantages they + did from the Muhammadan." + +In 1759 the Dutch risked a quarrel with the English. They refused, +however, any assistance from Law, who, far away as he was, heard all +about it. They were defeated at Biderra on the 25th of November. The +effect of this was to reduce Bengal to such tranquillity that Clive +considered it safe to visit England. The Shahzada, however, thought +the opportunity a favourable one for another invasion, and on the +28th of February, 1760, Law again started to join him. Patna was +besieged, and, according to Broome, was very nearly captured, owing +to Law's skill and the courage of his Frenchmen. In fact, the French +were on the ramparts, when Dr. Fullerton and the English sepoys +arrived just in time to drive them back.[113] + +The siege was raised, and the Prince's general, Kamgar Khan, led the +army about the country with apparently no object but that of +plunder. This suited the Marathas, but did not suit Law. On one +occasion he was ordered with his own troops and a body of Marathas +to capture the little fort of Soupy. The French stormed it at three +o'clock in the morning, but found that the Marathas, who had +carefully avoided the breach, had swarmed the walls, where there was +no one to oppose them, and were carrying off the plunder. + + "My chief occupation and that of the officers, for more + than five hours during which we stayed in Soupy, was to + keep our soldiers and sepoys from bayoneting the Marathas, + who, without having incurred the least danger, had, by their + cleverness and lightness, carried off more than twenty times + as much as our own men, observing among themselves a + kind of order in their plundering, very like that of monkeys + when they strip a field." + +In fact, Law had a personal altercation with the Maratha commander +about a young and beautiful Hindu woman, whom the Maratha wished to +seize, but whom Law was determined to restore unhurt to her +relations, who lived in a village close by. + +For the capture of the fort, Law received from the Shahzada various +high-sounding titles and the right to have the royal music played +before him; but as he could not afford to entertain the native +musicians, he allowed the privilege to sleep. + +In 1760 Mr. Vansittart assumed the Governorship of Bengal, and his +first act was to complete the project begun by his predecessor, Mr. +Holwell, namely, the dethronement of Mir Jafar. This was effected on +the 20th of October, 1760; the ex-Nawab went quietly to Calcutta, +and Mir Kasim reigned in his stead. The Shahzada had now become +Emperor by the death of his father, and had assumed the title of +Shah Alam. He was still hanging with his army round Patna, and Mir +Kasim and the English determined to bring him to book. Kamgar Khan +continued to lead the Imperial army aimlessly about the country, and +in January, 1761, found himself near the town of Bihar. He had 35 to +40 thousand cavalry, maintained chiefly by plunder, but his only +musketeers and artillery were those commanded by Law, i.e. 125 +Europeans and 200 sepoys, with 18 guns of small calibre. The +British commander, Major Carnac, had 650 Europeans and 5 to 6 +thousand sepoys, with 12 guns. Mir Kasim had some 20,000 cavalry, +and the same number of musketeers, all good troops, for "everybody +was paid in the army of Kasim Ali Khan."[114] + +On the 14th of January, scouts brought word of the approach of the +English. The Emperor consulted Law, who advised a retreat, but he +was not deficient in courage, and determined to fight. The next day +was fought the battle of Suan.[115] + + "At the dawn of day we heard that the enemy were on + the march, and that they would quickly appear. No disposition + of our army had yet been made by Kamgar Khan, + who, in fact, troubled himself very little about the matter. + It was at first decided to re-enter the camp, so I put my + men as much as possible under shelter behind a bank, along + which I placed my guns in what I thought the most useful + positions. About 6 or 7 o'clock the enemy were seen + advancing in good order, crossing a canal[116] full of mud and + water, the passage of which might have been easily contested + had we been ready soon enough; but everything was neglected. + For some time we thought the enemy were going + to encamp by the canal, but, seeing that they were still + advancing, the order was given to go and meet them. The + whole army was quickly out of the camp, divided into + several bodies of cavalry, at the head of which were, on their + elephants, the Emperor, the Generalissimo Kamgar Khan, + and other principal chiefs. Scarcely were we out of the camp + when we were halted to await the enemy, everything in the + greatest confusion; one could see no distinction between + right, left, and centre, nothing that had the appearance of + an army intending to attack or even to defend itself. + + "An aide-de-camp brought me an order to march ahead + with all my troop, and to place myself in a position which + he pointed out, a good cannon-shot away. Abandoned to + ourselves we should have been exposed to all the fire of the + English, artillery and even to be outflanked by the enemy + and captured at the first attack. We advanced a few paces + in obedience to the order, but, seeing no one move to support + us, I suspected they wanted to get rid of us. I therefore + brought back my men to where I had first placed them, on + a line about 200 paces in front of the army. + + "The enemy advanced steadily. The English at their + head with all their artillery were already within range of + our guns. They quickly placed their pieces in two batteries + to the right and left, and kept up a very lively cross fire. + In a very short time, having killed many men, elephants, + and horses--amongst others one of mine--they caused the + whole of the Prince's army to turn tail. Kamgar Khan, at + their head, fled as fast as he could, without leaving a single + person to support us. The enemy's fire, opposed to which + ours was but feeble, continued steadily. We were forced to + retire, and did so in good order, having had some soldiers + and sepoys killed and one gun dismounted, which we left on + the field of battle. We regained the village, which sheltered + us for a time. The enemy started in pursuit. Unluckily, + as we issued from the village, our guns traversing a hollow + road, we were stopped by ditches and channels full of mud, + in which the guns stuck fast. As I was trying to disengage + them the English reached us, and surrounded us so as to + cut off all retreat. Then I surrendered with 3 or 4 officers + and about 40 soldiers who were with me, and the guns. It + was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th of January, + 1761, a moment whose malign influence it was as it were + impossible to resist, since it was that of the surrender of + Pondicherry,[117] a place 300 leagues away from us." + +Gholam Husain Khan has left a graphic description of this incident. + + "Monsieur Law, with the small force and the artillery + which he could muster, bravely fought the English themselves, + and for some time he made a shift to withstand their + superiority. Their auxiliaries consisted of large bodies of + natives, commanded by Ramnarain and Raj Balav, but the + engagement was decided by the English, who fell with so + much effect upon the enemy that their onset could not be + withstood by either the Emperor or Kamgar Khan. The + latter, finding he could not resist, turned about and fled. + The Emperor, obliged to follow him, quitted the field of + battle, and the handful of troops that followed M. Law, + discouraged by this flight and tired of the wandering life + which they had hitherto led in his service, turned about + likewise and followed the Emperor. M. Law, finding himself + abandoned and alone, resolved not to turn his back. He + bestrode one of his guns and remained firm in that posture, + waiting the moment for his death. This being reported to + Major Carnac, he detached himself from his main body with + Captain Knox and some other officers, and he advanced to + the man on the gun, without taking with him either a guard + or any Telingas[118] at all. Being arrived near, this troop + alighted from their horses, and, pulling their caps from their + heads, they swept the air with them, as if to make him a + _salam_; and this salute being returned by M. Law in the + same manner, some parley followed in their own language. + The Major, after paying high encomiums to M. Law for his + perseverance, conduct, and bravery, added these words: 'You + have done everything that could be expected from a brave + man; and your name shall be undoubtedly transmitted to + posterity by the pen of history; now loosen your sword from + your loins, come amongst us, and abandon all thoughts of + contending with the English.' The other answered that, if + they would accept of his surrendering himself just as he was + he had no objection, but that as to surrendering himself with + the disgrace of being without his sword, it was a shame he + would never submit to, and that they might take his life if + they were not satisfied with that condition. The English + commanders, admiring his firmness, consented to his surrendering + himself in the manner he wished; after which + the Major, with his officers, shook hands with him in their + European manner, and every sentiment of enmity was instantly + dismissed on both sides. At the same time that + commander sent for his own _palky_, made him sit in it, and + he was sent to the camp. M. Law, unwilling to see or to be + seen, in that condition, shut up the curtains of the _palky_ for + fear of being recognized by any of his friends at camp, but + yet some of his acquaintances, hearing of his having arrived, + went to him; these were Mir Abdulla and Mustapha Ali + Khan. The Major, who had excused him from appearing in + public, informed them that they could not see him for some + days, as he was too much vexed to receive any company. + Ahmed Khan Koreishi, who was an impertinent talker, + having come to look at him, thought to pay his court to + the English by joking on this man's defeat--a behaviour that + has nothing strange [in it] if we consider the times in which + we live and the company he was accustomed to frequent; and + it was in that notion of his, doubtless, that with much pertness + of voice and air he asked him this question: '_And Bibi + Lass,[119] where is she_?' The Major and the officers present, + shocked at the impropriety of the question, reprimanded him + with a severe look and very severe expressions. 'This man,' + they said, 'has fought bravely, and deserves the attention + of all brave men; the impertinences which you have been + offering him may be customary amongst your friends and + your nation, but cannot be suffered in ours, who has it for + a standing rule never to offer an injury to a vanquished foe.' + Ahmed Khan, checked by this reprimand, held his tongue, + and did not answer a word. He tarried about one hour + more in his visit, and then went away much abashed; and + although he was a commander of importance, and one to + whom much honour had always been paid, no one did speak + to him any more, or made a show of standing up at his + departure. This reprimand did much honour to the English; + and it must be acknowledged, to the honour of those + strangers, that as their conduct in war and battle is worthy + of admiration, so, on the other hand, nothing is more modest + and more becoming than their behaviour to an enemy, + whether in the heat of action or in the pride of success and + victory. These people seem to act entirely according to the + rules observed by our ancient commanders and our men of + genius." + +Gholam Husain Khan says the victory was decided by the English; the +following quotation from Major Carnac's Letter to the Select +Committee at Calcutta, dated the 17th of January, 1761, shows how +the courage of the British forces saved them from a great disaster. + + "It gives me particular pleasure to inform you that we + have not lost a man in the action, but a few of the Nawab's + troops who had got up near our rear suffered considerably + from the explosion of one of the French tumbrils. It seems + the enemy had lain a train to it in hopes of it's catching + while our Europeans were storming the battery, but fortunately + we were advanced two or three hundred yards in + the pursuit before it had effect, and the whole shock was + sustained by the foremost of the Nawab's troops who were + blown up to the number of near four hundred, whereof + seventy or eighty died on the spot."[120] + +Law continues:-- + + "The next morning, as the English army started in + pursuit of the Emperor Shah Alam, Major Carnac, from + whom, I must mention in passing, I received all possible + marks of attention and politeness, sent me to Patna, where + in the English Chief, Mr. McGwire, I found an old friend, + who treated me as I should certainly have treated him in + like circumstances. I was in need of everything, and he let + me want for nothing." + +Thus ended Law's attempt to maintain the French party in Bengal. All +hopes of a French attack in force on Calcutta had long since +disappeared, and, under the circumstances, his capture was fortunate +for himself and his comrades. Most of the latter were gradually +picked up by the English. Law was sent to Calcutta, and left Bengal +in 1762. He was now only forty-two years of age. On his arrival in +France he found his services much appreciated by his countrymen, and +was made a Chevalier of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, +and a Colonel of Infantry. Later on he was appointed Commissary for +the King, Commandant of the French Nation in the East Indies, and +Governor of Pondicherry. Law's account of his adventures was +commenced at Paris in 1763.[121] There exist letters written by him +to the historian Robert Orme, dated as late as 1785, which show the +strong interest he always retained in the affairs of Bengal, where +with adequate resources he might have played a much more +distinguished part. + +We have seen a town besieged by a foreign army; we have seen the +Court of a great Prince distracted by internal dissensions and +trembling at the approach of a too-powerful enemy, and now we shall +pass to the quiet retreats of rural Bengal, which even their +remoteness could not save from some share in the troubles of the +time. In those days, even more than at present, the rivers were the +great highways of the country, but it needs personal acquaintance +with them to enable us to realize the effect they produce upon the +mind of a European. As a rule comparatively shallow, in the dry +weather they pursue a narrow winding course in the middle of a sandy +waste, but in the Rains they fill their beds from side to side, +overtop the banks, and make the country for miles around a series of +great lakes, studded with heavily wooded islands. Amidst these one +can wander for days hardly seeing a single human being, and hearing +nothing but the rushing of the current and the weird cries of +water-birds; at other times the prow of one's boat will suddenly +push itself through overhanging branches into the very midst of a +populous village. At first all is strange and beautiful, but after a +short time the feeling grows that every scene is a repetition; the +banks, the trees, the villages, seem as if we have been looking at +them for a thousand years, and the monotony presses wearily on mind +and heart. It was in a country of this kind that Courtin and his +little band of Frenchmen and natives evaded capture for nearly nine +months, and it adds to our admiration for his character to see how +his French gaiety of heart unites with his tenderness for his absent +wife, not only to conceal the deadly monotony of his life in the +river districts during the Rains, and the depressing and +disheartening effect of the noxious climate in which he and his +companions had to dwell, but also to make light of the imminent +danger in which he stood from the unscrupulous human enemies by whom +he was surrounded. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 65: From certain letters it appears that, strictly +speaking, the English Factory alone was at Cossimbazar, the French +being at Saidabad, and the Dutch at Calcapur. Both Saidabad and +Calcapur were evidently close to Cossimbazar, if not parts of it.] + +[Footnote 66: George Lodewijk Vernet, Senior Merchant.] + +[Footnote 67: The historian Malleson also confuses the two +brothers.] + +[Footnote 68: The best copy I have seen is that in the Manuscript +Department of the British Museum.] + +[Footnote 69: Gholam Husain Khan says that Siraj-ud-daula was born +in the year in which Aliverdi Khan obtained from the Emperor the +_firman_ for Bihar. This, according to Scrafton, was 1736, and the +connection of his birth with this auspicious event was the prime +cause of his grandfather's great reference for him.] + +[Footnote 70: See note, p. 88.] + +[Footnote 71: Uncle of Siraj-ud-daula, who died so shortly before +the death of Aliverdi Khan, that it was supposed he was poisoned to +ensure Siraj-ud-daula's accession.] + +[Footnote 72: Fazl-Kuli-Khan. _Scrafton_.] + +[Footnote 73: Law says; "The rumour ran that M. Drake replied to the +messengers that, since the Nawab wished to fill up the Ditch, he +agreed to it provided it was done with the heads of Moors. I do not +believe he said so, but possibly some thoughtless young Englishman +let slip those words, which, being heard by the messengers, were +reported to the Nawab."] + +[Footnote 74: Europeans. Properly, Franks or Frenchmen. This term +was generally applied by Europeans to the half-caste descendants of +the Portuguese.] + +[Footnote 75: Captains or generals: a term of somewhat indefinite +meaning.] + +[Footnote 76: In alliance with Salabat Jang, Bussy temporarily +acquired a large territory for the French.] + +[Footnote 77: "After Mr. Law had given us a supply of clothes, +linen, provisions, liquors, and cash, we left his Factory with +grateful hearts and compliments." _Holwell_. Letter to Mr. Davis, +February 28, 1757.] + +[Footnote 78: Imperial Charter.] + +[Footnote 79: For an explanation of the influence of the Seths, see +pp. 84, 85, and note.] + +[Footnote 80: Ramnarain is an interesting character. He appears to +have been one of the most faithful of the adherents of the house of +Aliverdi Khan and on its extinction of the English connection. His +gallantry in battle is referred to by Colonel Ironside. _Asiatic +Annual Register_, 1800.] + +[Footnote 81: The official intimation reached Admiral Watson in +January, 1757, but apparently not the formal orders from the +Admiralty. See page 30.] + +[Footnote 82: In a letter to the Secret Committee, London, dated +October 11, 1756, Clive writes: "I hope we shall be able to +dispossess the French of Chandernagore." So it is evident that he +came with this intention to Bengal.] + +[Footnote 83: Clive describes Hugli as "the second city in the +kingdom." _Letter to Lord Hardwicke, Feb_. 23, 1757.] + +[Footnote 84: Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.] + +[Footnote 85: Hearing that Seth Mahtab Rai was to marry a +wonderfully beautiful woman, he forced the Seths to let him see the +young lady. _Scrafton_.] + +[Footnote 86: "If one is to believe certain English writers, the +Seths were an apparently insurmountable obstacle to the project +because of the money we owed them, as if in their perilous position +these bankers would not be inclined to sacrifice something to save +the greater part. Besides, we shall see by what follows that they +sacrificed nothing." _Law_. The extraordinary influence of these +people was due not so much to their dealings with the head of the +State as to the fact that native princes generally make payments, +not in cash, but in bonds. It therefore depends on the bankers what +any man shall get for his bonds. In this way an official, even when +paid by the State, may be ruined by the bankers, who are merely +private persons.] + +[Footnote 87: "In India it is thought disrespectful to tell a great +man distinctly the evil which is said of him. If an inferior knows +that designs are formed against the life of his superior, he must +use circumlocutions, and suggest the subject in vague terms and +speak in enigmas. It is for the great man to divine what is meant. +If he has not the wit, so much the worse for him. As a foreigner, I +was naturally more bold and said what I thought to Siraj-ud-daula. +Coja Wajid did not hesitate to blame me, so that for a long time I +did not know what to think of him. This man finally fell a victim to +his diplomacies, perhaps also to his imprudences. One gets tired of +continual diplomacy, and what is good in the beginning of a business +becomes in the end imprudence." _Law_.] + +[Footnote 88: "Witness the letter written to the English Admiral +Watson, by which it is pretended the Nawab authorized him to +undertake the siege of Chandernagore. The English memoir" (by _Luke +Scrafton_) "confesses it was a surprise, and that the Secretary must +have been bribed to write it in a way suitable to the views of Mr. +Watts. The Nawab never read the letters which he ordered to be +written; besides, the Moors never sign their names; the envelope +being closed and well fastened, the Secretary asks the Nawab for his +seal, and seals it in his presence. Often there is a counterfeit +seal." _Law_. From this it may be seen that the Nawab could always +assert that his Secretary had exceeded his instructions, whilst it +was open to his correspondent to assert the contrary.] + +[Footnote 89: The clerks.] + +[Footnote 90: "This was the boaster Rai Durlabh Ram, who had already +received much from me, but all the treasures of the Universe could +not have freed him from the fear he felt at having to fight the +English. He had with him as his second in command a good officer, +Mir Madan, the only man I counted upon." _Law_.] + +[Footnote 91: Referring to Clive's letter of the 7th of March, +saying he wished to attack Chandernagore, but would await the +Nawab's orders at that place.] + +[Footnote 92: By "agent" Law must mean simply an agent in the plot.] + +[Footnote 93: Scrafton, in his "Reflections" (_pp. 40 and 50_), +says, Siraj-ud-daula indulged in all sorts of debauchery; but his +grandfather, in his last illness, made him swear on the Koran to +give up drinking. He kept his oath, but probably his mind was +affected by his previous excesses.] + +[Footnote 94: Arzbegi, i.e. the officer who receives petitions.] + +[Footnote 95: A preparation of betel-nut (areca-nut) is used by the +natives of Hindustan as a digestive. When offered to a guest, it is +a sign of welcome or dismissal. When sent by a messenger, it is an +assurance of friendship and safe conduct.] + +[Footnote 96: The Governor of Patna was Raja Ramnarain, a Hindu, +with the rank of Naib only. It was considered unsafe to entrust so +important a post to a Muhammadan, or an officer with the rank of +Nawab.] + +[Footnote 97: Orme MSS. India XI., p. 2779, No. 120.] + +[Footnote 98: Ibid., India IX., p. 2294.] + +[Footnote 99: Letter from Renault to Dupleix. Dated Chandernagore, +Sept. 4, 1757.] + +[Footnote 100: Broome (p. 154) gives his name as Mir Daood.] + +[Footnote 101: The Council signed the Treaty with Mir Jafar on the +19th of May, but Mr. Watts's first intimation of his readiness to +join the English is, I believe, in a letter dated the 26th of April. +Mir Jafar signed the Treaty early in June.] + +[Footnote 102: So Suja-ud-daula, Nawab of Oudh, plundered the Nawab +Mir Kasim, when the English drove him from Bengal in 1763.] + +[Footnote 103: Broome (p. 154) says "a fakier, named Dana Shah, +whose nose and ears he had ordered to be cut off thirteen months +before, when on his march against the Nawaub of Purneah."] + +[Footnote 104: Orme MSS., India Office, and Clive correspondence at +Walcot, vol. iv.] + +[Footnote 105: The celebrated traveller. He quickly quarrelled with +and left them.] + +[Footnote 106: Province.] + +[Footnote 107: Nawab of Oudh and father of Suja-ud-daula.] + +[Footnote 108: I.e. the receiver of the rent or revenue.] + +[Footnote 109: The regular winds of the various seasons are called +monsoons, and are named after the point of the compass from which +they blow.] + +[Footnote 110: Alamgir II.] + +[Footnote 111: Imad-ul-mulk, Ghazi-ud-din Khan.] + +[Footnote 112: Ali Gauhar, born 1728. On the death of his father, +November 29, 1759, he assumed the name or title of Shah Alam.] + +[Footnote 113: The old English Factory at Patna was re-opened by Mr. +Pearkes, in July, 1757. See his letters to Council, dated 12th and +14th July, 1757.] + +[Footnote 114: Kasim Ali had a much better army than any of his +predecessors. Though it was not trained in the European manner, +several of the chief officers were Armenians, who effected great +reforms in discipline. Three years later it made a really good fight +against the English.] + +[Footnote 115: The battle is generally known as that of Gaya, but +was fought at Suan. The site is marked in Rennell's map of South +Bihar. It lies about six miles west of the town of Bihar, on the +river Banowra.] + +[Footnote 116: The Banowra River.] + +[Footnote 117: The French capital on the Madras coast. Surrendered +to Eyre Coote.] + +[Footnote 118: Sepoys, so called from the Telingana district in +Madras, where they were first recruited.] + +[Footnote 119: Mrs. Law. _Bibi_ is the equivalent of mistress or +lady. _Lass_ was the native version of Law. Mrs. Law's maiden name +was Jeanne Carvalho.] + +[Footnote 120: Bengal Select Com. Consultations, 28th January, +1761.] + +[Footnote 121: "A part of these Memoirs was written at Paris in +1703, and part at sea in 1764, during my second voyage to India, but +several of the notes were added later." _Law_.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +M. COURTIN, CHIEF OF DACCA + + +Jacques Ignace, son of Francois Courtin, Chevalier, Seigneur de +Nanteuil, and of Catherine Colin, is, I believe, the correct +designation of the gentleman who appears in all the records of the +French and English East India Companies as M. Courtin, Chief of the +French Factory at Dacca. + +In June 1756, when Siraj-ud-daula marched on Calcutta, he sent word +to his representative, the Nawab Jusserat Khan at Dacca, to seize +the English Factory, and make prisoners of the Company's servants +and soldiers. The English Factory on the site of the present +Government College, was-- + + "little better than a common house, surrounded with a thin + brick wall, one half of it not above nine foot high." The + garrison consisted "of a lieutenant" (Lieutenant John Cudmore), + "4 serjeants, 3 corporals, and 19 European soldiers, + besides 34 black Christians[122] and 60 _Buxerries_."[123] + +[Illustration: DACCA, OR JEHANGIR NAGAR. (_After Rennell_.)] + +On the 27th of June Jusserat Khan sent on the Nawab's order by the +English _wakil_, or agent, to Mr. Becher, the English Chief, and +informed him of the capture of Fort William and the flight of Mr. +Drake. Thinking this was merely a trick to frighten them into +surrender, the Dacca Council requested Mr. Scrafton, third in +Council, to write to M. Courtin, chief of the French Factory, for +information. In reply M. Courtin sent them a number of letters which +he had received from Chandernagore, confirming the bad news from +Calcutta. Taking into consideration the unfortified condition of the +Factory, and that Dacca was only four days by river from Murshidabad +whilst it was fourteen from Calcutta, it seemed idle to hope to +defend it even when assistance could be expected from the latter +place, and, now that it was certain that Calcutta itself had fallen, +any attempt at defence appeared rather "an act of rashness than of +bravery." It was therefore resolved to obtain the best terms they +could through the French. + +The next day M. Fleurin, second of the French Factory--M. +Courtin[124] was not well acquainted with the English language--came +to inform them that the Nawab of Dacca agreed that the ladies and +gentlemen should be allowed to retire to the French Factory on M. +Courtin giving his word that they would there await the orders of +Siraj-ud-daula as to their future fate. The soldiers were to lay +down their arms, and be prisoners to the Nawab. This amicable +arrangement was entirely due to M. Courtin's good offices, and he +was much congratulated on the tact he had shown in preventing the +Nawab from using violent measures, as he seemed inclined to do at +first. As the Nawab would not allow the English to take away any of +their property, except the clothes they were wearing, they were +entirely dependent upon the French for everything, and were treated +with the greatest kindness. The Council wrote:-- + + "The French have behaved with the greatest humanity + to such as have taken refuge at their Factory, and the tenour + of their conduct everywhere to us on this melancholy occasion + has been such as to merit the grateful acknowledgment of + our nation." + +For some two months the English remained in the French Factory, M. +Law, at Cossimbazar, warmly soliciting their release from +Siraj-ud-daula. This he obtained with difficulty, and at last Mr. +Becher and his companions sailed in a sloop provided by M. Courtin +for Fulta, where they arrived safely on the 26th of August. When +Calcutta had been recaptured by the English, M. Courtin, like a good +business man, sent in a bill for the costs of the sloop to the +Council at Calcutta, and the Consultations of the 16th of May, 1757, +duly notify its payment. + +The English did not regain possession of the Factory at Dacca till +the 8th of March, by which time the declaration of War between +France and England was known, and the likelihood of troubles in +Bengal was very apparent. As we have seen, the English were +successful in their attack on Chandernagore, but the whole country +was aware that the Nawab was only the more enraged with them, and +his local officers might at any moment be instructed to take +vengeance on Englishmen found defenceless up country. On the 23rd of +March, Messrs. Sumner and Waller wrote from Dacca that Jusserat Khan +had refused to restore the Factory cannon, and to pass their goods +without a new _parwana_[125] from Murshidabad. It was therefore +still very doubtful whether he would assist the English or the +French at Dacca, and though the English obtained the _parwana_ they +wanted early in May, on the 9th the Council at Calcutta sent them +orders to do the best they could for their own security, and +informed them they had sent an armed sloop to Luckipore to cover +their retreat. They immediately sent down all the goods they could, +but as matters became quieter again they soon resumed business, and +appear to have had no further trouble. + +It may be imagined that M. Courtin and his friends, knowing that the +English had demanded the surrender of the French Factories, had a +very uncomfortable experience all this time.[126] Unfortunately no +Records of the French Factories in Bengal are now to be found, and I +had despaired of obtaining any information about the expulsion from +Dacca, when, in the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris, I came on a MS. +entitled, "_Copy of a letter from M. Courtin from India, written to +his wife, in which are given in detail the different affairs which +he had with the Moors from the 22nd of June, 1757, the day of his +evacuation of Dacca, to the 9th of March, 1758_."[127] + +M. Courtin had married a Madame Direy, widow of a French Company's +servant, and the letter shows she was fortunately in France at the +time of her husband's troubles. As was natural, but inconveniently +enough for us, Courtin does not think it necessary to trouble her +with unintelligible and unpronounceable Indian names. Where +possible, I shall fill them in from the English Records, otherwise I +shall interrupt the course of the letter as little as possible. It +runs as follows:-- + + "Calcapur,[128] April 20, 1758. + + "Word must have reached thee in France of the loss of + Chandernagore, which was taken from us by the English on + the 23rd of March, 1757, after eleven days' siege. I was + then at Dacca, and expecting every day to see M. + Chevalier return from his journey to the King of Assam. + Judge, my dear wife, of the chagrin and embarrassment into + which I was thrown by this deplorable event. The English + had had no idea of attacking Chandernagore until they had + recovered Calcutta from the Moors, taken the Moorish village + at Hugli, and forced the Moors to agree to a most shameful + peace. This was not, as thou wilt see, sufficient for them, + for Siraj-ud-daula had offended them too deeply for them to + stop when once they found themselves on a good road; but + unfortunately we were an obstacle in the way of their + vengeance, otherwise I believe they would have observed + the neutrality which had been always so carefully maintained + by the European nations in the country of the Ganges, in + spite of all the wars which took place in Europe. Many of + the French from Chandernagore--officers, Company's servants, + and others--had taken refuge at Cossimbazar with M. Law, + who formed there a party which opposed the English in + various ways. The English, however, forced Siraj-ud-daula, + against his true interest and in spite of his promise to + protect us, to abandon us, and to make M. Law leave his + Factory and go to Patna. This imprudent act was the ruin + of the Prince and put the final touch to our misfortunes, + whilst it has made the English masters of Bengal, and has + filled their coffers with wealth. + + "I held on at Dacca till the 22nd of June. I was troubled + as little as was possible in such circumstances, owing, I + think, to the gratitude which the English felt for the services + I had rendered them in Dacca the year before. I had all + the more reason to think this was so because, after the + misfortune which befell Chandernagore, they had often + offered to secure to me all my effects and merchandise in + Murshidabad [?]--they were worth a million--provided I + made over to them the French Factory and all that belonged + to the Company, and would myself leave for Pondicherry + in the following October. They said I should not be considered + a prisoner of war, and should not require to be + exchanged. + + "These were, no doubt, very good terms, and most + advantageous to me; but should I not have been dishonoured + for ever if I had had a soul so servile and base as to accept + them? I would have been covered with ignominy in my + own eyes, and without doubt in those of all the world. I + therefore thought it my duty to reject them. + + "Things were on this footing when, at the beginning + of June, I learned that the English, having got rid of M. + Law, were marching upon Murshidabad with all their forces + to achieve the destruction of a Prince who was already half + ruined by his own timidity and cowardice, and still further + weakened by the factions formed against him by the chief + members of his own family--a Prince detested by every one + for his pride and tyranny, and for a thousand dreadful crimes + with which he had already soiled his reputation though he + was barely twenty-five years old. + + "I knew only too well what was preparing against him, + and I was also most eager to find some honourable means of + escape for myself. M. Chevalier's absence troubled me + greatly, and I did not like to leave him behind me. At last + he arrived on the 16th or 17th. I had taken the precaution + to provide myself with a _parwana_, or passport, signed by + Siraj-ud-daula, allowing me to go where I pleased. That + Prince had recalled M. Law to him, but too late, for I felt + certain he could not rejoin him in time to save him or to + check the progress of his enemies. I was in a hurry therefore + to go and help to save him if that were possible, taking + care, however, to choose a route by which I could escape if, + as I thought probable, he should have succumbed beforehand + to the efforts of the English, and the treason of his subjects. + + "It was then the 22nd of June when I started with + about 35 boats,[129] MM. Chevalier, Brayer [possibly a relation + of the M. Brayer who commanded at Patna], Gourlade, the + surgeon, and an Augustine Father, Chaplain of the Factory, + 8 European soldiers, of whom several were old and past + service, 17 topass gunners, 4 or 5 of the Company's servants, + and about 25 or 30 peons.[130] There, my dear wife, is the + troop with which thou seest me start upon my adventures.[131] + To these, however, should be added my Christian clerks, my + domestics, and even my cook, all of whom I dressed and + armed as soldiers to assist me in what I expected to be a + losing game, and which, in fact, had results the most disastrous + in the world for my personal interests. + + "It was not till seven or eight days after I had set out + with this fine troop that I learned there had been a battle at + Plassey between the English and the Nawab, in which the + latter had been defeated and forced to flee, and that Jafar + Ali Khan, his maternal uncle,[132] had been enthroned in his + place. This report, though likely enough as far as I could + judge, did not come from a source so trustworthy that I could + rely on it with entire faith. Accordingly I did not yet + abandon the route which I had proposed to myself; in fact, + I followed it for some days more, and almost as far as the + mouth of the Patna River.[133] There I learned, beyond possibility + of doubt, that Siraj-ud-daula had been captured, conducted + to Murshidabad, and there massacred; that he had + just missed being rejoined by M. Law, who was coming to + meet him, and could easily have done so if he had followed + the instructions given him and had been willing to march + only three hours longer; and that the English had sent a + body of troops towards Patna to capture or destroy M. Law + if possible." + +We have seen in a previous chapter the real reasons why Law was +unable to rejoin Siraj-ud-daula in time for the battle. + + "I now saw that a junction with him had become impossible, + unless I determined to run the most evident risk of + losing my liberty and all I had." + +It appears that Courtin had the Company's effects, as well as his +own private property and that of his companions, on board his little +fleet. + + "This made me change my route immediately. The + mountains of Tibet[134] appeared to me a safe and eminently + suitable asylum until the arrival in the Ganges of the forces + which we flattered ourselves were coming. I therefore directed + my route in this direction, but found myself suddenly and + unexpectedly so close to Murshidabad that for two days + together we heard the sound of the guns fired in honour of + the revolution which had taken place. It is easy to judge + into what alarm this unexpected and disagreeable proximity + threw me. However, we arrived safely, on the 10th of July, + at the capital of the Raja of Dinajpur, who wished to oppose + our passage." + +This was the Raja Ram Nath, whom Orme describes as "a Raja, who with +much timidity, was a good man." + + "We made it in spite of him, threatening to attack him + if he showed any further intention of opposing us. I do not + know what would have happened if he had had a little firmness, + for we learned afterwards that he had always in his + service a body of 5000 infantry and cavalry. The persons + whom he sent to us had at first suggested that I should pretend + I was English, assuring me that by that means all difficulties + would be removed; but I thought this trick too much + beneath a man of honour for me to make use of it, and, in + fact, I objected to pass for anything but what I really was. + + "I found here a French soldier, who had been at the + battle of Plassey, where the brave Sinfray,[135] at the head of + 38 Frenchmen, had fought like a hero for a long time, and + had retreated only at the order of Siraj-ud-daula, who, seeing + himself betrayed and the battle lost, sent him word to cease + fighting. This worthy gentleman afterwards took refuge in + Birbhum, the Raja of which country betrayed him, and disgracefully + handed him over to the English in October last." + +Courtin is somewhat unfair to the Raja (apparently a Muhammadan, as +he was called Assaduzama Muhammad),[136] for this Prince was an ally +of the English, and had offered Clive the assistance of his forces +before the battle of Plassey. It could be no treachery on his part +to pick up fugitives from the battle, like Sinfray, and hand them +over to his allies. I may as well quote one of the Raja's letters to +Clive, received 28th October, 1757:-- + + "Before your letter arrived the French were going + through, some woods in my country. I knew they were your + enemies, therefore I ordered my people to surround them. The + French being afraid, some said they were English, and some + Dutch. In the meantime I received your letter that if I + could apprehend them I should send them to you, therefore + I have sent them. Surajah Dowlat has plundered my + country so much, that there is hardly anything left in it."[137] + +Courtin continues:-- + + "To return to my journey and my adventures. I now + found myself outside of Bengal and in sight of the mountains + of Tibet, a month having elapsed since my departure from + Dacca. I was only two or three days distant from these + mountains, and my intention, as thou hast seen above, was to + go there; but I was prevented by the murmurs of my people, + especially the boatmen, who already began to desert in small + parties. Accordingly I accepted an offer made me on the + part of the Raja of Sahibgunj, to give me a site for a fort, + and to aid me with everything I might want. I descended + the river again for a little, and near this site, which was on + the river bank, I commenced a fort, but the thickness of the + forest forced me to abandon it, and I entered a little river + close by, which conducted me to a marsh, on the borders of + which I found an elevated site admirably situated and in a + very agreeable neighbourhood.[138] This belonged to the same + Raja, and with his consent I again set to work, and that + with such promptitude that in less than a month my fortress + commenced to take form, and visibly progressed owing to + the extraordinary efforts I made to complete it. It was + triangular, with a bastion at each angle. At two of the + angles I had found superb trees with very heavy foliage, and + on the third I erected the mast of my boat and hoisted our + flag. All three bastions had four embrasures, a fine entrance + gate opening on the marsh, and a little open turret above, + A small entrance gate led to the open country. The curtains + were carefully pierced for musketry, and strengthened outside + with a trellis work of bamboo, and finished off with banquettes + on the ramparts. An excellent powder magazine + was built in the same way, and, being situated in the interior + of the fort, was quite safe from any accident. + + "As I had brought workmen of all kinds with me, the + work went on well, especially as the care of our health made + us all industrious. I was not without cannon, and I mounted + on our ramparts two Swedish guns, which afterwards proved + our safety and preservation.[139] Also being provided with the + requisites for making gunpowder, I very soon had nearly + 3000 lbs. weight of very good quality. + + "Hardly anything remained to complete my fortress, + which I had named 'Bourgogne,' except to provide it with + a glacis. It was already furnished with a market which was + sufficiently flourishing, when to my misfortune I received + the false information that our forces, which were said to be + considerable, were ready to enter the Ganges, and that there + was certain news of the arrival of a very strong squadron at + Pondicherry.[140] On the 8th September there broke out at + Purneah, and in the province of that name, a Evolution + headed by a person named Hazir Ali Khan,[141] who, having + seized the capital, at once wrote to me to join him, and assist + him against the English and Jafar Ali Khan.[142] + + "These two events made me stop everything else and + devote myself entirely to getting my boats out of the little + river by which I had entered the marsh, and which was now + almost quite dried up. I succeeded in doing so after some + time, by means of ditches which I cut from the marsh, but + this took me more than a month and considerable labour, as + I was about two leagues from the great river. To complete + my misfortunes, my troop was attacked by sickness, which + raged with a violence such as I had scarcely ever seen. It + cost me nine soldiers, of whom three were Europeans. The + latter were luckily replaced some days after by the same + number who joined me.[143] Poor M. Brayer and M. Gourlade + had been during almost the whole campaign in the most + pitiable condition, especially the former, who I thought a + thousand times must have died. As for me, the powders + _d'Aillot_ preserved me from the pestilential air, and cured + me from the effects of a fall in my _bajarow_,[144] caused by the + clumsiness of my boatmen. I narrowly escaped breaking + my ribs and back. + + "Before quitting Fort Bourgogne I must tell thee, my + dear wife, that I often played there a very grand role. I + was called the 'Fringuey Raja,' or 'King of the Christians.' + I was often chosen as arbiter amongst the little princes in + my neighbourhood, who sent me ambassadors. My reputation + spread so wide, and the respect that I gained was so + great, that the King of Tibet did not disdain to honour me + with an embassy of nearly eight hundred persons, whom I + entertained for nine whole days, and whose chiefs I dismissed + with presents suitable to their rank, their king, our + nation, and the idea which I wished to leave behind me in + this country of the European name. The presents which + were made me consisted of five horses, some bags of scent, + three or four pieces of china, pieces of gilt paper, and a sabre + like those used by the Bhutiyas, or people of Tibet, who are + men as strong and robust as those of Bengal are feeble. + Though pagans like the latter, they eat all kinds of things, + and live almost like the Tartars, from whom they are descended. + They have no beards, and are clothed in a fashion + which is good enough, but which looks singular. They are + very dirty. The complexion of those whom I saw was very + dark, but I know it is not the same in the interior of the + country and in the mountains, where all are as fair as the + Chinese, who are said to be their neighbours. I took some + trouble to form an alliance and to make a party amongst + them. They appeared very willing, but I soon had occasion + to convince myself that not only were they not fitting persons + for my designs, but also that they were playing with me. + It is not that they do not make raids upon the lower country, + but they make these only in the cold weather, always withdrawing + at the commencement of the hot, without trying to + make any permanent conquests. + + "There, then, my reign is finished, or nearly so, for the + good news that I continued to receive (though always without + foundation, as I learned afterwards), joined to the entreaties + of Hazir All Khan and to the unhealthy air which continued + to decimate my poor little troop, induced me at last to + abandon my fort, to embark again upon my boats, and to + reapproach Bengal, from which I had hitherto been travelling + away. The second day after my departure was marked by + a very annoying accident, namely the loss of one of my + largest boats, on which was my library and a quantity of my + effects. These were quickly drawn out of the water, but + were none the less ruined for the Company and for me. + From that moment commence my misfortunes. The sixth + day--I had passed three in the salvage of the effects on my + boat--I received a _pattamar_ (messenger), who informed me + that the English and the troops of Jafar Ali Khan were at + Purneah, from which they had chased Hazir Ali Khan and + wholly destroyed his faction." + +From Broome we see that this was in the middle of December, 1757. It +was now that Clive first heard what Courtin was attempting. He +immediately sent orders direct, and also through the Nawab, to Kasim +Ali Khan, Faujdar of Rungpore, and to Raja Ram Nath of Dinajpur, to +seize the French. + + "It was almost impossible for me to reascend the river + because of the dry banks and the strong currents which + would have put my boats in danger. However, I found + myself in the country of Rungpore, which was a dependency + of Bengal. I determined nevertheless to remain where I + was, flattering myself the English would not come to look + for me, nor the Nawab or the ruler of the province think of + disturbing themselves about me, as I was doing no harm in + the country, and as I was very strict in observing proper + order and discipline. I was so confident on this latter head + that I did not think of throwing up now entrenchments, and + occupied myself only with hunting and walking whilst I + awaited the arrival of the French forces. However, one day, + towards the middle of January, a secret rumour came to me + that Kasim Ali Khan, Faujdar of Rungpore, was coming to + attack me. I sent out scouts, who reported that all was + tranquil in his town, and that, far from wishing to come and + look for a quarrel, he was in fear lest I should march against + his town, which was three days' journey from where I was. + Doubtless my men deceived me or did not take the trouble + to go to Rungpore, for on the 15th of the same month, at + 3 p.m., on the opposite side of the river to that on which + we were, there appeared a body of soldiers, cavalry and + infantry, about 600 in number, who approached so near my + fleet that I no longer doubted the correctness of the first + advice which had been given me. I ordered a discharge + of three guns on this troop, which was so well directed that + the enemy were forced to take themselves off and to encamp + a little further from me. Next day the commander sent me + a present of some fruit, and an intimation that he only + wished to see me quit his country. He knew I could not + do this without risk, and, according to the custom of the + infidels, he gave me the strongest possible assurances of my + safety and tranquillity. I took care not to trust to them; + I was then, as I said above, without entrenchments and + without defence, so in the evening I set to work at surrounding + myself with a ditch, the mud taken out of which would + serve me for embrasures. I was short of provisions, which + made me very anxious, and I was still more so when + I learned that the enemy were trying to cut me off from + provisions on all sides, and that their intention was to + capture me by famine or treachery. Their number quickly + increased to 3000 men, of whom a part came over to my + side of the river, and harassed my people whenever they + went out for provisions. This forced me to detach. MM. + Chevalier and Gourlade, with about 10 men, some peons + and boatmen, against one of their little camps, where there + were about 150 men, foot and horse. Our men received + their fire, stormed the camp, and destroyed it after having + put every one to flight. There was not a single person + wounded on our side. This little advantage gave me time to + make a good provision of rice and other things in the villages + near my entrenchments. I cleared out these villages and + drove out the inhabitants, but I was still in need of a + quantity of things necessary to life. To procure these, I + tried to frighten the enemy by cannonading their chief camp + on the other side of the river. This only resulted in making + them withdraw altogether beyond the reach of my guns, not + with the idea of going away, but of starving me out, and, as + I learned later, to give time for a reinforcement of artillery + which they were expecting to arrive. They had already 4 + or 5 guns, but their calibre was small compared with mine, + as I was able to see from the balls which fell in my camp + when it was entrenched only on the land side. + + "The 19th of January, early in the morning, I sent across + the river a number of workmen, supported by a little detachment + under M. Gourlade, to cut down a grove of bamboos + which masked my guns, and to burn down some houses which + were also in their way. I forbade them to engage the enemy, + and all went well until some topasses and peons advanced + too far towards the enemy's camp, and I heard discharges + so loud and frequent on both sides, that I ordered a retreat + to be beaten in my entrenchments, to make my people recross + the river. I fired my guns continually to facilitate this and to + cover the movement. In this skirmish I had only one soldier + wounded, and I do not know whether the enemy had any + losses. This day more than 1500 shots were fired on both + sides. Some of the guns which the enemy brought up + troubled us greatly, as we were not entrenched on the water + side. Several balls fell at my side or passed over my head. + This determined me to set all my people at work the next + night with torches, to put us under cover on this side + also." + +[It was apparently this fight which Kasim Ali reported to Clive on +the 24th of January:-- + + "I wrote expressly to my people to go and take them" + (the French) "and they went immediately and found them + ready to fight. On both sides there were cannon and + _jenjalls_.[145] A _nulla_[146] was between them, which the French + crost, and advancing upon my people, fought with great + intrepidity: but luckily, three or four of them being killed, + they retired into their fort."[147]] + + "The Moors saw, from my manoeuvre, how important it + was for them to seize the ground which I had intended to + clear, and, contrary to my expectation, established themselves + on it the same evening without my being able to hinder + them, keeping themselves always well hidden behind the + bamboos, where they had nothing to fear from my artillery, + and still less from my musketry. Like me they worked at + night, and, having as many prisoners or other workmen at + their command as they wanted, I saw, with regret, next + morning the progress which they had made opposite me. I + could not dislodge them without risking everything. Weak + as I was, I thought it wiser not to hazard anything more in + sorties, but to hold myself always on the defensive. + + "Sheikh Faiz Ulla (that was the name of the Moorish + general) sent me one of his men next day with a present and + proposals of peace, the first condition of which was, of course, + that I should quit his country, and as, since the dry weather + had set in, a very large and dangerous bank had formed in + the river seven or eight leagues below me, he offered me one + or two thousand workmen to assist in making a passage for + my boats. The shocking treachery used by the Moors being + well known to me, I refused to accept his offers except on + his furnishing me with hostages for his good faith. He first + proposed himself, but with such a strong escort that it was + not difficult to see that it was a trap which he was setting + for me, so as to seize and massacre us. After many debates + between our emissaries, he consented to come to my _bajarow_, + he and his servants, and that all of them should serve as + hostages until I was quite out of the domains of his master. + + "I loyally agreed to this arrangement and made preparations + in consequence, but at 7 in the morning on the + 23rd of January, the day I expected the hostages, I was + awakened by a cannon-shot quickly followed by a second, the + ball of which pierced the _rezai_[148] at the foot of my bed from + side to side, and made a great noise. For a long time I had + been accustomed to sleep fully dressed, so I was able to go out + quickly and give orders in the entrenchments. The treachery + and perfidy of the enemy were too manifest; nevertheless, I + forbade a single shot to be fired with musket or cannon, and + simply recommended my people to be on their guard on + the land side. The enemy kept up a continuous and very + lively fire until 4 o'clock in the evening. I considered that + it would be useless for me to reply, and wished to see how far + they would push their insolence. That day we picked up 40 + cannon-balls, and our whole loss was one boatman slightly + wounded in the leg. From 4 o'clock till night the enemy's + fire was continued, but at long intervals. It began again + the next morning. I suffered this as on the previous day + for a couple of hours, at the end of which. I fired several + shots and silenced it. My firing seemed to trouble the + enemy more than I expected it would. One of my boats was + sunk by a cannon-ball, several were pierced through, and + my _rezai_, which used to serve me as a coat, was much + damaged. + + "The succeeding days passed much in the same manner + until the 3rd of February, when, on the same bank and to + the north above my fleet, I saw a new entrenchment, which + had been thrown up during the preceding night. Its batteries + enfiladed mine along their whole length. It was necessary + either to risk everything by making a sortie in order to + destroy it, or to arrange terms. I determined on the latter, + which appeared to me all the more necessary, as I was + beginning to be in want of everything, and as I had just + received letters which deprived me of all hope of the arrival + of our forces in Bengal until April or May. I therefore + informed Sheikh Faiz Ulla that I was ready to enter upon + negotiations, and the same day he sent me some of his people, + with whom I agreed to leave my entrenchments and go + down the river. I consented to do this without hostages, + but, that it might be done in security, I promised them a + sum of money for themselves as well as for their general. + This arrangement being agreed to by Sheikh Faiz Ulla, he + sent me word that, in order that he might not appear to + betray his master, it would be necessary for me next morning + to open the fiercest fire possible on his camp; that he would + reply; that on both sides it should be with the intention of + doing as little hurt as possible; that I should pretend it was + to force him to give me a passport, which he would send me + in the evening; and that I should then send him the + money I had promised. All these precautions were only + to assist his rascality, and they appeared to me all the more + surprising, as he had already repeatedly informed me that + he had his master's permission to give me a passport, and to + let me go where I pleased. But of what are these Moors not + capable? Without being blind to the continuance of his perfidy, + I flattered myself that it might happen that he would not + trouble me on my march when he had received my money. + + "However this might be, my cannon fired from 10 in + the morning till 3 in the evening. Our people, perceiving + that the enemy were firing in earnest, did not spare them + any more than they spared us, and that which was at first, + on our side, only a pretence, finally became serious. At 4 + o'clock I received an envoy, who brought me the passport, + and to whom I paid the money. He assured me that I + might embark my artillery the next morning, and set out the + day after without the slightest apprehension of being interfered + with, I took my precautions, and, in fear of treachery, kept + on shore my two Swedish guns. At last, at seven in the + morning, my boats started, having on board only the sick + and helpless, and I set out by land with my two guns and + the rest of my troop, at the head of which I put myself." + +This triumph of time and treachery was reported by Sheikh Faiz +Ulla's master, Kasim Ali, to Clive, on the 14th of February:[149]-- + + "I before wrote you that I had sent forces to fight the + French, that they had a fort and strong intrenchments, and + that we had a battle with them.... ever since I wrote + you last we have been fighting, my people have behaved well, + and I make no doubt but you have heard it from other people. + God knows what pains and trouble I have taken in this + affair. The French being shut up in their fort and undergoing + much fatigue by always fighting, and likewise being + in want of provisions were obliged to run away in their + boats by night, and went towards the Dinajpur country. + + My people being always ready to fight followed them.... + They can go no other way but through the Dinajpur country. + I have therefore wrote expressly to the Rajah to stop the + passage." + +About this time, though Courtin does not mention it till later, he +began to see what the inevitable end must be. He could not cut his +way through to join Law, and with the whole country in arms against +him he was too weak to hold out for any length of time. Accordingly +he sent messengers secretly to Mr. Luke Scrafton, at Murshidabad. It +was Scrafton, as I have said above, who wrote to Courtin for +assistance when the Nawab of Dacca wanted to take their Factory and +imprison the English. Courtin now wrote to him to save him from +falling into the hands of the natives, and, on the 18th of February, +Scrafton wrote to the Select Committee at Calcutta for the necessary +permission.[150] + +We now rejoin Courtin:-- + + "What was my surprise, at the end of an hour and a + half, to see that we were followed by a body of four or five + hundred men, with two guns drawn by oxen. I pretended + not to notice, and continued my march, but at 3 o'clock + in the afternoon, seeing this troop approach, within range of + my pieces, I pointed them at the Moors, and put my force + in a position of defence. Their rascality followed its usual + course, and they sent me word that I had nothing to fear, + that they would not march so close to me any more, and + that they followed me only to preserve the peace and to + hinder my people, especially the stragglers, from committing + any disorder. I received this excuse for what it was worth, + and pretended to be content with, it, seeing clearly that they + were looking for an opportunity to surprise and destroy us. + + "Several accidents happening to the boats of the rearguard + prevented my troop and myself from rejoining the + main body of the fleet till far on in the night. I found it + anchored in the most disadvantageous position possible, and + in the morning I saw at a distance of one-eighth of a league + the same body of troops, that had followed me the day before, + establishing and settling itself. A moment later I learned + that Sheikh Faiz Ulla was on the opposite bank with his + army and his artillery, that he intended to wait for me in a + narrow place called Choquova,[151] at the foot of which my boats + must pass, and that he was diligently making entrenchments + there. My embarrassment was then extreme. I found + myself surrounded on all sides; I was without any provisions, + destitute of the most necessary articles of life. In + this perplexity I saw only the most cruel alternatives, either + to surrender or to fight to the death so as to perish with our + arms in our hands. The latter appeared to be less dreadful + than the former. + + "After repeated consultations, we determined it would + be best to risk the passage of the fleet by Choquova. We + thought that possibly we should find provisions there, and + that certainly the position could not be worse (for defence) + than that in which we then found ourselves. The passage + was carried out in three hours' time without confusion or + disorder, by means of my Swedish guns on the boat which + led the van. What was our delight to find, not only a better + position than that which we had quitted, but one that was + almost completely entrenched by nature, and had villages + full of rice to the right and left of it. + + "Next day I collected provisions in abundance, cleared + the country round for a quarter of a league, and did my best + to ameliorate my condition. The enemy were disconcerted by + my boldness. They pretended as usual, in order to deceive + me the more easily, that they were not surprised at my march. + They feared rightly that if I commenced new entrenchments + all their trouble would begin again. Besides, I had completely + protected myself from the possibility of surprise. _Pourparlers_ + for an accommodation were renewed and lasted three + days, at the end of which it was agreed that I should + continue my march, that two hostages should be given me + for my safety, and that the army with its guns should retire + from Choquova, and should be sent a long way ahead across + country, and as, at half a league from this place, the river + was no longer navigable because of the bank which had + formed in it, I should be supplied with people to facilitate + my passage. Thou wilt notice, my dear wife, that in all the + negotiations I had for various reasons and on several occasions + proposed to suspend all hostilities until an answer + could be received from Jafar All Khan and the English, to + whom I said I would write to come to some accommodation + with them, offering to send my letter open. This was repeatedly + refused, but the refusal did not prevent my asking + for the honours of war. My letters were despatched secretly + by my own messengers. + + "At last, on the 23rd, I quitted, though with regret + (always expecting treachery), my new position, and approached + the shallow or bank mentioned. It was night when I + arrived. In spite of this I could understand, from the + dreadful noise made by the waters, that I should have + difficulty in traversing this dangerous passage even with the + assistance promised me. I was only too well convinced of + the truth of this when day broke, and I saw that I had + again been betrayed. There was nothing to be seen of the + work which the Moors had engaged to do to lessen the + difficulty of the passage. However, I did not hesitate to + put out with my lighter boats, firmly resolved, if they arrived + safely, to sacrifice the larger, with all that was upon them, + to my safety, and thus to effect my retreat during the night. + With the exception of two, which were lost, they all arrived + safely. During this piece of work, which took up the whole + day, I dissimulated my intentions in the presence of my hostages, + merely letting them see I was somewhat surprised to + find that, contrary to the promise given, there were no workmen, + but that the army, which ought to have been withdrawn, + was still close to us. Their excuses were vague and unsatisfactory. + One of them, who, no doubt, knew the enemy's plans, + asked permission to go to their camp, promising to come + back the next day. Though his demand accorded with my + designs, I agreed to it only after much persuasion, warning + him not to break his _parole_ to return the next morning very + early. This he swore to do. As a rule these people think + nothing of an oath. I did not intend to wait for him, which + his comrade clearly perceived, for, seeing that he himself + had been sacrificed by his master's perfidy, he approved of + the resolution I had taken to set out by night, and swore + that he had acted in good faith, and was ignorant of the + treachery that had been concocted. 'You can,' he said to me, + 'have my throat cut. You would be justified in doing so; + but I will not quit you, even if you give me permission. + If I went to my own people, they would say that I had + disclosed to you the trick which you have yourself discovered, + and would certainly show me less mercy than I + have experienced from you.' After this I contented myself + with having him closely watched. + + "Orders being given to the remaining boats to start by + night, I mounted on horseback to carry certain necessaries + to my detachment on land, which was already a little in + advance and had crossed a small river with the guns. I + had only three blacks with me, and none of us knew the + way. The night was dark, and we wandered from it. I + narrowly escaped being drowned with my horse, and at last + we lost ourselves entirely. If we had been met by any + horsemen, nothing would have been easier than for them to + capture me, our arms and cartridges being all soaked with + water. Luckily I heard our drums beating, and this told us + in what direction we could safely go. + + "My intention was to march by land with my troops and + guns. They objected to this, as I was wet to the skin and + had a cold on the chest, which hardly allowed me to speak; + so I went back to the boats, though with much regret, and + resolved to manage so as not to lose sight of my detachment. + I was in constant anxiety about the latter till 8 o'clock the + next day, when we all came together, except one soldier + topass, who, by his own fault, had remained on a big boat + which we had abandoned, and a _manjhi_,[152] who was drowned + in one of the two little ones which had sunk. + + "Finding myself in the territory of the Raja of Dinajpur, + I imagined I had nothing to do with any one except him, and + that Sheikh Faiz Ulla and his army would not think of + following me through a country which, though tributary to + the Nawab of Bengal, still in no way belonged to Faiz Ulla's + master. The hostage who remained with me, and to whom + I spoke about the matter,[153] did not altogether dissuade me + from this idea, but counselled me to continue my march + and to get farther away, which I did till 6 o'clock in the + evening. What was my surprise when, at 9 o'clock, my + scouts reported that the enemy were pursuing me, and were + not more than a league away at the most. I could not + advance during the night for fear of running on the banks + or shallows with which the river was filled, and which might + cause the loss of my boats and of my people. Accordingly, + I did not set out till the morning, and always remained + myself in the rear (of the fleet). I had stopped to wait for + my land detachment and the guns, and was at some distance + from the rest of my little fleet, when, about half-past nine, + I heard several musket shots fired. In an instant I was + surrounded by the enemy. M. Chevalier, who conducted the + land detachment, fortunately perceived my situation, and, + seeing my danger, brought up the two guns and fired about + 20 shots, which disengaged me, and gave me time to regain + my boats by swift rowing. I had with me only Pedro and + the Moorish hostage mentioned before. Then I landed with + MM. Brayer, Gourlade, and in general every one who was + strong enough to defend himself. At the same time I ordered + the boats to go on. In this skirmish our loss was only one + man slightly wounded in the ear by a musket-ball. + + "My little fleet _en route_, we marched by land on the + bank opposite to that on which was, the main body of the + enemy, who had only cavalry, which we did not trouble + ourselves about It was not the same, however, with the + boats. At the end of an hour the boatmen abandoned them + in a sudden panic, and hurried tumultuously to join me. + When my people were collected, I would have tried to go + and recapture my boats, which the enemy had not delayed + to seize; but not only would this have been a rash undertaking + with so small a force against 3000 men, but also + there was a little river which formed an island between my + boats and me, and so prevented the passage of my guns + This determined me to abandon the boats, and to retreat to + Dinajpur, where I hoped to find an asylum with the Raja + whilst I waited for a reply to my letters to Jafar All Khan + and the English. We marched till 1 o'clock in the afternoon + without being harassed or disquieted--no doubt because + during this time Sheikh Faiz Ulla and his people were + occupied in plundering the boats. We were now not very + far from Dinajpur, when we met a body of the Raja's cavalry, + the commander of which begged me to take another road so + as not to pass through his town. Accordingly he gave me + a guide, with whom we marched till half-past five, when we + arrived at a great _gunge_ (market place) at the extremity of + Dinajpur. There they lodged us in a great thatched building. + The want of provisions had caused us to suffer very much in + this retreat." + +This was the battle of Cantanagar. Kasim Ali described it as follows +to Clive:-- + + "My people and the French had a battle, and the latter + finding themselves much, beat, they run away, and left their + boats. They went to Oppoor" "and begged protection of + the Kajah's people.... Bahadur Sing came and told my + people to go a little further off, and they would deliver + them up, but they put us off from day to day."[154] + +About the time he was writing this, Clive was writing to say that he +had received Courtin's offer of surrender, and that Kasim Ali was to +cease hostilities and allow the French to come to him with their +boats and necessaries. Kasim Ali had received orders to the same +effect from Mr. Scrafton, who informed him he was sending an officer +to accept their surrender. This did not however prevent Kasim Ali +from trying to get hold of them, which accounts for the following +letter from Raja Ram Nath to Clive:[155]-- + + "The French are now coming from another country by + boats to go towards Muxadavad, and Kasim Ali Khan's + people have followed them, out of his own country into + mine. They have left their boats among Kasim Ali Khan's + people and are now travelling to Jangepors" (? Tangepur). + + "When I heard this I sent people with all expedition to look + after them, and I now hear that they have surrounded them. + The French want the Nawab's and your orders and _call for justice_[156] + from you. They have hoisted the Nawab's[157] and + your colours, have put on your cloaths (?) and want to go + to Muxadavad. Kasim Ali Khan's people want to carry + them to Rungpore but they refuse to go, and say that if one + of us is taken they will destroy themselves.[158] I am a poor + Zemindar who pays revenues[159] and ready to obey your + orders. If the Rungpore people should take them by force, + and they should kill themselves, it would be a troublesome + affair." + +To return to Courtin's letter. + + "The Raja of Dinajpur did not fail to be embarrassed by + the favour which he had shown to us. Fear was the only + motive which influenced him. He sent word to me to + depart by night under an escort of 200 of his people, who + would conduct me to Murshidabad. I was very nearly + accepting his suggestion, but the hunger and thirst, from + which we suffered greatly, prevented me. So I postponed + giving him a final answer till the next morning, and + then, after full reflection, decided not to move from the + place to which. I had been conducted until I received an + answer to the letters sent to Murshidabad. I thought this + all the wiser, as I was informed that nothing would induce + my enemies to approach or attack me in my asylum.[160] The + place was so retired and so well provided with storehouses, + that I found there a greater appearance of security than in + the open country or the escort offered by the Raja, as his + men were subordinate to the same Prince as the people who + composed the army of Sheikh Faiz Ulla, and were likely + enough to abandon me or to join my enemies in overwhelming + me. My conjectures were well founded, as, several days + after, this same Raja, prompted by Sheikh Faiz Ulla, sent + me word that he could not answer for what might happen to + me if I were attacked; that his troops, being subject to + Murshidabad like those of Kasim All Khan, could not + support me, nor fire on the latter. Finally he sent a certain + priest of his faith, a grave man, who came to suggest to us + that our best course was to leave Dinajpur and gain the + open country, otherwise we were lost. He said that he + knew for certain that if I were so obstinate as to persist in + wishing to remain there, orders had been given to attack us, + cut our throats, and send our heads to Murshidabad. This + person wished to terrify us so as to rid the Raja of us, as he + was dying with fright lest war should be made in the very + heart of his town. I replied that I was resolved to defend + myself against any one who attacked me, to set fire to + everything I found within my reach, to kill as many people + as I could, and to die on my guns when I had used up all + my ammunition; that this was also the intention of my companions, + who preferred to die thus, like brave men, rather than + to be exposed to the ignominies and indignities that we should + undergo if we allowed ourselves to be made prisoners by the + people of Kasim All Khan. The timid Raja, threatened by + both parties, found himself in the utmost embarrassment, for + Sheikh Faiz Ulla, at the gates of his town, put, as it were, + his country under contribution, and demanded from him, + with all imaginable insolence, that he should deliver us up + to him, a thing which the Raja found difficult to do. + + "Some days passed in this way, during which we had + frequent alarms, but the letters I received from Murshidabad + filled every one with perplexity. The English sent me + people on their own account. One of my private friends,[161] + whom I had been so fortunate as to oblige on a similar + occasion, wrote me not to trouble myself about my boats or + my effects, but to come at once to him, and he would see + that they restored or paid for my property, and that they + gave me all that I might need. The orders received by + Sheikh Faiz Ulla and the Raja at the same time, ordered the + one to leave me in peace and the other to furnish me with + everything I wanted. This put my mind in a condition of + serenity to which it had long been a stranger, and threw my + enemies into much confusion. They proposed that I should + resume possession of my boats. I knew, with absolute + certainty, that they had been half looted, still I accepted + them on condition they were brought to Dinajpur. They + did not wish, to do this; but next morning after reflection + they consented, when, in my turn, I declined, and asked only + for provisions and other things necessary for my journey. + This they had the harshness to refuse, doubtless because they + thought that I, being destitute of everything, would have to + go down by whatever route they pleased. I would not + trust them in anything, fearing treachery. + + "At last, without linen, without clothes, except what we + had on our bodies, on the 1st of March, the seventeenth day + after our retreat[162] we set out with our arms and our two + Swedish guns to go to Murshidabad to the English, from + whom I had demanded the honours of war." + + We learn from the correspondence between + Mr. Scrafton and Clive, that Drake, the cowardly + Governor of Calcutta, very naturally could not + understand what was meant by this claim to the + honours of war.[163] + +"My guns were conducted by land by a small detachment, the command +of which I gave to M. Chevalier, and we embarked on some small +boats belonging to the Raja, in which we had hardly room to move. + +"I was not yet at the end of my troubles, for on the 3rd of March, +after dinner, as I was getting back into my boat, one of the +boatmen, wishing to put down a gun, managed to let it off, and sent +a bullet through my left shoulder. It passed through the clavicle +between the sinew and the bone. Luckily the blow was broken by a +button which the bullet first struck; still it passed almost +completely through the shoulder and lodged under the skin, which had +to be opened behind the shoulder to extract it and also the wad. +However unfortunate this wound was, I ought to be very thankful to +God that it was so safely directed, and for the further good fortune +of finding with one of my people sufficient ointment for the +surgeon, who was quite destitute of all necessaries, to dress +my shoulder until the ninth day after, when we arrived at +Murshidabad.[164] This wound caused me much suffering for the first +few days, but, thanks to the Lord, in thirty-two or thirty-three +days it was quite healed and without any bad effects. + +"We rested ourselves from our fatigue till the 20th at my friend's +house, when, with his concurrence and in response to their offers, I +went to the Dutch gentlemen at Cossimbazar, where M. Vernet, their +chief and an old friend of mine, received us with the greatest +kindness. It is from their Settlement that I write to thee, my dear +wife. Until the ships sail for England I shall continue to write +daily, and tell thee everything that is of interest.[165] + +"August 10, 1758. + +"My dear wife, I resume my narrative to tell thee that my boats have +been restored by the English, as well as all the goods that had not +been plundered by Sheikh Faiz Ulla and his people, except the +munitions of war. Still, so much of the merchandise, goods and +silver, has disappeared that I am ruined for ever, unless the +English, who have promised to cause everything to be restored, are +able to make the Moors give them up. The English have at length +decided on our fate in a way altogether honourable to us. We are not +prisoners of war, and so we are not subject to exchange; but we are +bound by certain conditions, which they think necessary to their +security, and which only do me honour. What has flattered me even +more is that the two Swedish guns which I had with me on my campaign +have actually been given to me as a present by the commander of the +English troops, who is also Governor of Calcutta, with the most +complimentary expressions." + +Courtin had written to Clive, asking permission to go down to +Pondicherry. Clive replied on the 15th of July, 1758, granting +permission. His letter concludes:-- + + "I am at this moment sending an order to the Captain + Commandant of our troops to restore to you your two guns. + I am charmed at this opportunity of showing you my + appreciation of the way in which you have always behaved + to the English, and my own regard for your merit."[166] + +Courtin continues:-- + + "Saved from so many perils and sufficiently fortunate + to have won such sensible marks of distinction from our + enemies, ought not this, my dear wife, to make me hope that + the gentlemen of the French Company will do their utmost + to procure me some military honour, in order to prove to the + English that my nation is as ready as theirs to recognize my + services?[167] + + "Now, my dear wife, I must end this letter so that it + may be ready for despatch. For fear of its being lost I will + send in the packet another letter for thee. + + "Do not disquiet thyself regarding my health. Thanks + to God I am now actually pretty well. I dare not talk to + thee of the possibility of our meeting. Circumstances are + not favourable for thee to make another voyage to the Indies. + That must depend upon events, thy health, peace, and + wishes, which, in spite of my tender longing for thee, will + always be my guide. + + "If the event of war has not been doubly disastrous to + me, thou shouldst have received some small remittances, + which I have sent, and of which I have advised thee in + duplicate and triplicate. If the decrees of the Lord, after + my having endured so many misfortunes and sufferings, have + also ordained my death before I am in a position to provide + what concerns thee, have I not a right to hope that all my + friends will use their influence to induce the Company not + to abandon one who will be the widow of two men who have + served it well, and with all imaginable disinterestedness? + + "For the rest I repeat that, thanks to God, I am fairly well. + + "I kiss thee, etc., etc." + +One would be glad to be assured that Courtin re-established his +fortune. If he is, as I suppose, the Jacques Ignace Courtin, who was +afterwards _Conseiller au Conseil des Indes_, we may be satisfied he +did so; but French East India Company Records are a hopeless chaos +at the present moment, and all that one can extract from the English +Records is evidence of still further suffering. + +From Murshidabad or Cossimbazar, Courtin went down to Chandernagore, +whence the majority of the French inhabitants had already been sent +to the Madras Coast. The Fort had been blown up, and the private +houses were under sentence of destruction, for the English had +determined to destroy the town, partly in revenge for the behaviour +of Lally, who, acting under instructions from the French East India +Company, had shown great severity to the English in Southern India, +partly because they did not think themselves strong enough to +garrison Chandernagore as well as Calcutta, and feared the Moors +would occupy it if they did not place troops there, and partly +because they dreaded its restoration to France--which actually +happened--when peace was made. At any rate Courtin found the +remnants of his countrymen in despair, and in 1759 he wrote a +letter[168] to Clive and the Council of Calcutta, from which I +quote one or two paragraphs:-- + + "With the most bitter grief I have received advice of + the sentence you have passed on the French Settlement + at Chandernagore, by which all the buildings, as well of + the Company as of private persons, are to be utterly + demolished. + + "Humane and compassionate as you are, Sirs, you would + be sensibly affected--were your eyes witnesses to it as mine + have been--by the distress to which this order has reduced + the hearts of those unhappy inhabitants who remain in that + unfortunate place, particularly if you knew that there is + nothing left to the majority of them beyond these houses, on + whose destruction you have resolved. If I may believe + what I hear, the motive which incites you is that of reprisal + for what has happened at Cuddalore and Madras: it does + not become me to criticize either the conduct of M. Lally, + our general, who, by all accounts, is a man very much to be + respected by me, or your reasons, which you suppose sufficient. + Granting the latter to be so, permit me, Sirs, to + address myself to your generosity and humanity, and those + admirable qualities, so universally esteemed by mankind, + will encourage me to take the liberty to make certain representations. + + "All upbraidings are odious, and nothing is more just + than the French proverb which says, to remind a person of + favours done him cancels the obligation. God forbid, Sirs, + I should be guilty of this to you or your nation by reminding + you for a moment, that these houses, now condemned by + you, served you as an asylum in 1756, and that the owners, + whom you are now reducing to the greatest distress and are + plunging into despair, assisted you to the utmost of their + power, and alleviated your misfortunes as much as they were + able. But what am I saying? Your nation is too polished to + need reminding of what is just. Therefore excuse my saying + that this reason alone is sufficient to cancel the law of + retaliation which you have resolved to execute, and to make + you revoke an order which, I am sure, you could not have + given without much uneasiness of mind. I cast myself at + your feet, imploring, with the most ardent prayers, that + compassion, which I flatter myself I perceive in your hearts, + for these poor creatures, whom you cannot without remorse + render miserable. If you really, Sirs, think I too have had + the happiness to be of some use to you and your nation, + whilst Chief at Dacca, and that I have rendered you some + services, I only beg that you would recollect them for one + moment, and let them induce you to grant the favour I + request for my poor countrymen. I shall then regard it as + the most happy incident in my life, and shall think myself + ten thousand times more indebted to you. + + "If, Sirs, you have absolutely imperative reasons for + reprisal, change, if you please, the object of them. I offer + myself a willing victim, if there must be one, and, if blood + were necessary, I should think myself too happy to offer + mine a sacrifice. But as these barbarous methods are not + made use of in nations so civilized as ours, I have one last + offer to make, which is to ransom and buy all the private + houses at Chandernagore, for which I will enter into whatever + engagements you please, and will give you the best + security in my power." + +The last words seem to imply that Courtin had recovered his +property, at least to a great extent; but his pathetic appeal was +useless in face of national necessities, and so far was +Chandernagore desolated that, in November of the same year, we read +that the English army, under Colonel Forde, was ambushed by the +Dutch garrison of Chinsurah "amongst the buildings and ruins of +Chandernagore." + +From Chandernagore Courtin went to Pondicherry, where he became a +member of the Superior Council. He was one of the chiefs of the +faction opposed to Lally, who contemptuously mentions a printed +"Memorial" of his adventures which Courtin prepared, probably for +presentation to the Directors of the French East India Company.[169] +When, in January, 1761, Lally determined to capitulate, Courtin was +sent to the English commander on the part of the Council. Still +later we find his name attached to a petition, dated August 3, 1762, +presented to the King against Lally.[170] This shows that Courtin +had arrived in France, so that his elevation to the Council of the +Company is by no means improbable. + +To any one who has lived long in India it seems unnatural that in +old days the small colonies of Europeans settled there should have +been incited to mutual conflict and mutual ruin, owing to quarrels +which originated in far-off Europe, and _which were decided without +any reference to the wishes or interests of Europeans living in the +colonies_. The British Settlements alone have successfully survived +the struggle. The least we can do is to acknowledge the merits, +whilst we commiserate the sufferings, of those other gallant men who +strove their best to win the great prize for their own countrymen. +Of the French especially it would appear that their writers have +noticed only those like Dupleix, Bussy, and Lally, who commanded +armies in glorious campaigns that somehow always ended to the +advantage of the British, and have utterly forgotten the civilians +who really kept the game going, and who would have been twice as +formidable to their enemies if the military had been subordinate to +them. The curse of the French East India Company was Militarism, +whilst fortunately for the English our greatest military hero in +India, Lord Clive, was so clear-minded that he could write:-- + + "I have the liberty of an Englishman so strongly implanted + in my nature, that I would have the Civil all in all, + in all times and in all places, cases of immediate danger + excepted." + +How much might have been achieved by men like Renault, Law, and +Courtin, if they had had an adequate military force at their +disposal! They saw, as clearly as did the English, that Bengal was +the heart of India, and they saw the English denude Madras of troops +to defend Bengal, whilst they themselves were left by the French +commanders in a state of hopeless impotence. On the other hand, +owing to the English Company's insistence that military domination +should be the exception and not the rule, British civilians and +British soldiers have, almost always, worked together harmoniously. +It was this union of force which gave us Bengal in the time of which +I have been writing, and to the same source of power we owe the +gradual building up of the great Empire which now dominates the +whole of India. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 122: Probably Portuguese half-castes.] + +[Footnote 123: Matchlock men. Consultations of the Dacca Council, +27th June, 1756. Madras Select Committee Proceedings, 9th November, +1756.] + +[Footnote 124: When Courtin was sent by Count Lally with the +proposals for the surrender of Pondicherry he had to take an +interpreter with him. _Memoirs of Lally_, p. 105.] + +[Footnote 125: I.e. official order.] + +[Footnote 126: I cannot ascertain where M. Fleurin was at this +moment. If at Dacca, then Courtin must have left him behind.] + +[Footnote 127: MSS. Francais, Nouvelles Acquisitions, No. 9361. This +is unfortunately only a copy, and the dates are somewhat confused. +Where possible I have corrected them.] + +[Footnote 128: Calcapur, the site of the Dutch Factory. See note, p. +64.] + +[Footnote 129: From a map by Rennell of the neighbourhood of Dacca +it appears that the French Factory was on the River Bourigunga. +There are still several plots of ground in Dacca town belonging to +the French. One of them, popularly known as Frashdanga, is situated +at the mouth of the old bed of the river which forms an island of +the southern portion of the town; but I do not think this is the +site of the French Factory, as the latter appears to have been +situated to the west of the present Nawab's palace.] + +[Footnote 130: Now used in the sense of messengers or office +attendants.] + +[Footnote 131: Orme says (bk. viii. p. 285) that Courtin started +with 30 Europeans and 100 sepoys. From Law's "Memoir" we see that M. +de Carryon took 20 men to Cossimbazar before Law himself left. This +accounts for the smallness of Courtin's force.] + +[Footnote 132: Jafar Ali Khan married the sister of Aliverdi Khan, +Siraj-ud-daula's grandfather.] + +[Footnote 133: I think he must mean the mouth of the Murshidabad +River.] + +[Footnote 134: Courtin means the lower ranges of the Himalayas, +inhabited by the Nepaulese, Bhutiyas, etc. His wanderings therefore +were in the districts of Rungpore and Dinajpur.] + +[Footnote 135: Sinfray, Secretary to the Council at Chandernagore, +was one of the fugitives who, as mentioned above, joined Law at +Cossimbazar.] + +[Footnote 136: Assaduzama Muhammad was nephew to Kamgar Khan, the +general of Shah Alam. _Holwell. Memorial to the Select Committee_, +1760.] + +[Footnote 137: Orme MSS. India XI., p. 2859, No. 246.] + +[Footnote 138: Orme says the Fort was on the River Teesta, but +Rennell marks it more correctly a little away from the river and +about fifteen miles south of Jalpaiguri.] + +[Footnote 139: These guns Courtin calls "pieces a la minute." The +proper name should be "canon a la suedoise" or "canon a la minute." +They were invented by the Swedes, who used 3-pounders with improved +methods for loading and firing, so as to be able to fire as many as +ten shots in a minute. The French adopted a 4-pounder gun of this +kind in 1743. The above information was given me by Lieut.-Colonel +Ottley Perry, on the authority of Colonel Colin, an artillery +officer on the French Headquarters Staff.] + +[Footnote 140: This squadron, under the command of Mons. Bouvet, +actually did arrive.] + +[Footnote 141: This rebellion was really conducted by Ukil Singh, +the Hindoo _Diwan_ of Hazir Ali.] + +[Footnote 142: Mir Jafar, Jafar Ali, Mir Jafar Ali Khan, are all +variations of the name of the Nawab whom the English placed on the +throne after the death of Siraj-ud-daula.] + +[Footnote 143: Law says that the French soldiers who wandered the +country in this way were accustomed to disguise themselves as +natives and even as Brahmins, when they wished to avoid notice.] + +[Footnote 144: A kind of native house-boat.] + +[Footnote 145: A heavy gun fired from a rest or stand.] + +[Footnote 146: A ditch or ravine.] + +[Footnote 147: Orme MSS. India XI., p. 2901, No. 374.] + +[Footnote 148: A thick quilt used as a covering when in bed, or +sometimes like a blanket to wrap oneself in.] + +[Footnote 149: Orme MSS. India XL, p. 2915, No. 417.] + +[Footnote 150: Bengal Select Com. Consultations, 22nd February, +1758.] + +[Footnote 151: I have not been able to identify this place.] + +[Footnote 152: A boatman.] + +[Footnote 153: See note, p. 88.] + +[Footnote 154: Orme MSS. India XI., p. 2923, No. 432.] + +[Footnote 155: Orme MSS. India XL, p. 2926, No. 438.] + +[Footnote 156: This expression is characteristically Indian, and is +used when any one, finding himself oppressed, appeals to some great +personage for protection.] + +[Footnote 157: The Nawab's flag was the usual Turkish crescent.] + +[Footnote 158: Another Indian expression. The last resource against +oppression or injustice in India is to commit suicide by starvation +or some violent means, and to lay the blame on the oppressor. This +is supposed to bring the curse of murder upon him.] + +[Footnote 159: This means simply that the Raja was not an +independent ruler. The sovereign owning all land, _land revenue_ and +_rent_ meant the same thing.] + +[Footnote 160: This seems to want explanation. Probably Courtin had +got into some sort of house used for religious ceremonies, such as +are often found in or close to the market-places of great +landowners.] + +[Footnote 161: He probably refers to Mr. Luke Scrafton.] + +[Footnote 162: I.e. from his entrenchments.] + +[Footnote 163: "Courtin and his party arrived here the 10th. They +are 6 soldiers, Dutch, German and Swede, such as took service with +the French when our Factory at Dacca fell into the hands of Surajeh +Dowleit, 4 gentlemen, some Chitagon (_sic_) fellows and about 20 +peons. Courtin, on his way hither, has, by mischance, received a +ball through his shoulder. They demanded _honneurs de la guerre_, +which Drake has not understood" (_Scrafton to Clive, March_ 12, +1758).] + +[Footnote 164: According to Orme, Courtin's force was reduct from 30 +to 11 Europeans, and from 100 to 30 sepoys.] + +[Footnote 165: The manuscript I translate from contains only the +postscript of the 10th of August.] + +[Footnote 166: A translation. Clive generally wrote to French +officers in their own language.] + +[Footnote 167: Such honours were not uncommonly granted. Law was +made a Colonel, so was another French partisan named Madec. On the +other hand, when a French gentleman had the choice, he often put his +elder son in the Company's service and the younger in the army. +Law's younger brother was in the army. Renault's elder son was in +the Company and the younger in the army.] + +[Footnote 168: Appended to "Bengal Public Proceedings," May 31, +1759.] + +[Footnote 169: I do not know whether this "Memorial" still exists, +but see "Memoirs of Count Lally," p. 53.] + +[Footnote 170: "Memoirs of Count Lally," p. 367.] + + + + + INDEX + + Abdulla Khan + Admiralty, the English + Aeneas + Afghan General, the + _See_ Abdulla Khan + Agra + Ahmed Khan Koreishi + Alamgir II., Emperor, assassinated November 29, 1759 + Ali Gauhar + _See_ Shah Alam + Aliverdi Khan + his opinion of Europeans + sister of + Allahabad + Amina Begum, mother of Siraj-ud-daula + Anquetil du Perron, M. + Anti-Renaultions + "Arabian Nights" + Archives, French + _Areca-nut_ + Armenian officers + Armenians + _Arz-begi_ (Gholam Ali Khan) + _Arzi_ + _Asiatic Annual Register_ + Assaduzama Muhammad, Raja of Birbhum + Assam, King of + Audience Hall, the + Augustine Father + Aurengzebe + + Bahadur Singh + Bahar + _See_ Bihar + _Bajarow_ + Balasore + Bandel + Bankers, influence of Indian + Banowra River + Barber, a native + Battle of the 5th of February + Becher, Mr. Richard + Beinges, M. + Benares + Bengal + Nawabs of + records + revolution in + rivers of + Bengali merchant + Berhampur + _Betel_ + Bettiah, Raja of + Bhagulpur + Bhutiyas + Bibi Lass + _See_ Mrs. Law + Bibliotheque Nationale + Biderra, battle of + Bihar, Hindu Rajas of + map of south + province of + town of + Birbhum + Raja of _See_ Assaduzama Muhammad + Bisdom, Adrian, Director of the Dutch in Bengal + Black Hole, the + Bloomer, Lieut. + Boissemont, M. + Bombay + Bourigunga River + Bouvet, M. + Brahmins + Brayer, Ensign + M., one of Courtin's companions + Brereton, Lieut. William + _Bridgewater_, H.M.S. (Captain Smith) + British. _See_ English + civilians + Museum, MS. Department + Broome, Captain A., Author of the "Rise and Progress of the + Bengal Army" (Calcutta, 1850) + Budge Budge, battle of + Bugros, M. + _Bukshi_ + Bulwant Singh, Raja of Benares + Bundelkand or Bundelcund + Bussy, M. + _Buxerries_ + + Caillot, or Caillaud + Calcapur + Calcutta + English Council at + Calve, M. + Cannon balls of clay + Cantanagar, battle of + Capitulation of Chandernagore, dispute as to terms of + Capucins, church of + Carnac, Major John + Carryon, M. le Comte de + Carvalho, Jeanne. _See_ Mrs. Law + Cause of Siraj-ud-daula's attack on the English + Chambon, M + Chandernagore + booty taken at + cemetery at + council at + deserters from + garrison of + possibility of its capture by English land forces alone + terms of capitulation of + Chatrapur + _Chauth_ + Chevalier, M. + Chinese + Chinsurah + Chittagong + Choquova + Christian clerks + Christians + Chunargarh + _Chunam_ + Chupra or Chapra. + Cicero + Civil Power, the + Clive, Lieut.-Colonel Robert (Lord Clive) + Coja Wajid + Colbert, M. + Colin, Catherine + Colonel + Coote, Captain (Sir) Eyre + Coromandel, Coast of, _See_ Madras Coast + Cossimbazar + Cossimbazar River + Courtin, Francois, + Jacques Ignace + Courtin, Mrs. + _See_ Madame Direy + Courtin's Memorial + Cuddalore + Cudmore, Lieut. John + Cuttack + + Dacca; + Council at; + Government College at; + Nawab of; + Palace of present Nawab + _D'Aillot_, powders + D'Albert, M. le Chevalier + Dana Shah + Danes + Dangereux, M. + Davis, Mr. + Debelleme, M. le Capitaine + De Carryon, M. le Comte + Deccan + De Kalli, M. + Delabar, M. + De la Bretesche, M. + Delamotte, Mr. John + De la Vigne Buisson; + M. le Capitaine; + jun. + De Leyrit, M. + Delhi + De Montorcin, M. + Desbrosses, M. + Deserters, English; + French + Desjoux, M. + De Terraneau, Ann.; + Lieut. Charles Cossard; + senior + De Tury; + M., Commandant of Chandernagore + D'Hurvilliers, M. + Dido + Dinajpur; + Raja of + Dinapur + Direy, Madame, _See_ Mrs. Courtin + _Diwan_ + Doctor, French + Doidge, Mr. + Drake, Roger, jun.; + President of the Council at Calcutta + Droguet, M. + Dubois; + M., French Company's servant; + M., Sturgeon Major + Du Cap, M. + Dupleix, Marquis + Du Pre, M. + Durbar, The + _Dustuck_ + Dutch; + Director. _See_ M. Bisdom; + Octagon, the + + East India Company, English; + Forces + East India Company, French + Elephants, gentleness of + Engineers, want of + England + English; + _See_ British; + agent of; + ladies at Dacca; + Records; + trade privileges of + Eunuchs + Europe + Europeans + Europeans, generosity and courage of, + + Fakir, _See_ Dana Shah + Farmers of estates, + Farukhabad, + _Faujdar_, + Fazl-kuli-khan, + Feringhees, + _Firman_, + Fleurin, M., + Forde, Colonel, + Fort Bourgogne, + d'Orleans, + William, + Fournier, M., + France, + King of, + Frashdanga, + French, + civilians, + ladies, + mistaken for Muhammadans, + proverb, + soldiers, + up-country factories, + Fringuey Raja, + Fullerton, Dr. William, + Fulta, + + Ganges river, _See_ Hugli River + Gaya, + Gentiles, or Gentoos, + Germans, + Ghazipur, + Gholam Husain Khan, + Gourbin, M. + Gourlade, M., + Grand Monarque, the, + Great Britain, + King of, + _Gunge_, + _Gunny_, + + _Hackerys_, + Haillet, M., + Hardwicke, Lord, + Hazir Ali Khan, + Hey, Lieut., + Himalayas, + Hindu advisers of the Nawab, + Hindu Rajas, + women, ill-treatment of--by Siraj-ud-daula, + Hindus, the, + Hindustan, + Holkar, + Holwell, John Zephaniah, Governor, + Honours of war, + Hugli, Faujdar of, _See_ Nand Kumar + fort, + River, + town, + + Imad-al-Muluk, Ghazi-ud-din Khan, + India, + Southern, + Indian expressions, characteristic, + minds, motives of, + ways of business, + Indies, The, + Indrapat, Raja of Bundelkand, + _Inhabitants_, + Innocent, or Innocent Jesus, + Ironside, Colonel Gilbert, + Ives, Surgeon Edward, author of "A + Voyage from England to India in + 1754, with, a narrative of the operations + of the squadron and army in + India, under Watson and Clive, + 1755-1757; Also a Journey from Persia to England," (London, 1799) + + Jafar Ali Khan. + _See_ Mir Jafar Ali Khan + Jagat Seth, family of + _See_ Seths + Jalpaiguri + Jats, the + _Jemadars_ + Jesuit Church, the + Fathers, the + Jobard, M. + Jugdea + _See_ Luckipore + Jusserat Khan, Nawab of Dacca + + Kaffirs + Kamgar Khan + Karical + Kasim Ali Khan, Nawab of Bengal + _See_ Mir Kasim + Kasim Ali Khan, Faujdar of Rungpore + _Kent_, H.M.S. + Kerdizien, M. + Khodadad Khan Latty + Kilpatrick, Major James + King + _See_ Mogul + _Kingfisher_, H.M.S. + Kissendas, son of Raj Balav + Knox, Captain Ranfurlie + Kooti Ghat + Koran, the + + La Haye, M. + Lal Dighi + Lally, Count + Memoirs of + Laporterie, M. + La Rue, M. + Latham, Captain + Launay, M. + La Ville Martere, M. + Law, Jacques Francois + Jean, of Lauriston + Madame Jeanne + John, of Lauriston, the Financier + William + Law's Memoir + Le Conte Dompierre + Lee, Corporal + Le Noir, M. + Le Page, M., Second Surgeon + Locusts + Luckipore + _See_ Jugdea + Lucknow + Lynn, Captain + + McGwire, Mr. William + Madec, Colonel + Madras + Coast + _See_ Coromandel + Malleson, Colonel G.B., Author of "History of the French in India + from the Founding of Pondicherry in 1674 to the Capture of that + Place in 1761" (London, 1868) + Manik Chand, Raja + _Manjhi_ + Maratha Commander + Law's altercation with + General, the + Marathas + Martin, Captain + Martin de la Case, Ensign + Matel, M. + Midnapur + Militarism + Minchin, Captain George, Captain-Commandant of Calcutta + Mir Abdulla + Miran, son of Mir Jafar + Mir Daood, brother of Mir Jafar, and Faujdar of Rajmehal + Mir Jafar Ali Khan, made Nawab by the English after Plassey + Mir Kasim, or Kasim Ali Khan, son-in-law and successor of Mir Jafar + army of + Mir Madan + Mogul + _See_ King + Mohan Lal, favourite of the Nawab + Monsoon + Moor hostages + nobles + Moorish colours + forts + soldiers + treachery + Moors + Muhammadhans + Murshidabad + _See_ Muxadabad + or Cossimbazar River + Murshid Kuli Khan + Mustapha Ali Khan + Mutinies + Muxadabad + _See_ Murshidabad + + _Naib_ + Nand Kumar, Faujdar of Hugli + Native indifference to the quarrels of the Europeans + _Nautch_ + Naval officer, an English + Nawab, the + _See_ Siraj-ud-daula + Hindu advisers and servants of + Nawajis Muhammad Khan, uncle of Siraj-ud-daula + Nawajis Muhammad Khan's widow + Nazir Dalal, the + Negroes + Nepaulese + Neutrality in the Ganges + News from Bengal + Nicolas, M.F. + Nover, Sergeant + Nullah + + Omichand + Onofre, Reverend Father + Oppoor + Orissa + Orme Papers or MSS. + Orme, Robert, historian + Oudh + Nawab of. _See_ Suja-ud-daula + + Pagodas or Hindu Temples + Paris + _Parwana_ + Pathans + Patna + Naib of + River + _Pattamar_ + Pavilion, Bastion du + Pearkes, Mr. Paul Richard + Pedro + _Peons_ + Perry, Lieut.-Colonel Ottley + Phulbari + Picques, M. + Pilots, French + Plassey, battle of + Pocock, Admiral (Sir) George + Pondicherry + Superior Council of + Porte Royale, the + Portuguese half-castes + Predestination + Priest, Hindu + Probate Records (Mayor's Court, Calcutta) + Prussian Gardens + Purneah + Nawab of. _See_ Saukat Jang + + Raj Durlabh Ram, Raja + Rains, the + Raj Balav, Raja + Rajas, Hindu + Rajmehal + Faujdar of. + _See_ Mir Daood + Ramnarain, Raja, Naib or Deputy Governor of Patua + Ram Nath, Raja of Dinajpur + Ranjit Rai, agent of the Seths + Raymond, M. + Renault, Pierre, Director of Chandernagore (Malleson calls him + Renault de St. Germain, but he never signs himself as such) + Renault, de St. Germain, eldest son of Pierre Renault + Renault, Lieut., second son of Pierre Renault + Renault, de la Fuye, M. + Renaultions, the + Rennell, Major James, geographer + _Rezai_, + Royal Music, the + Rungpore + Raja of. _See_ Kasizn All Khan + + Sahibgunj, Raja of + Saidabad. + _Saint Contest_, the + St. Didier, M. + St. Louis, Order of + Parish Church of + Salabat Jang + _Salisbury_, H.M.S. + Sarfaraz Khan, Nawab of Bengal, defeated and killed in battle + by Aliverdi Khan in 1742 + Saukat Jang, Nawab of Purneah and cousin of Siraj-ud-daula + Scrafton, Mr. Luke, Author of "Reflections on the Government + of Indostan" (London, 1770) + Scrafton's "Reflections" + Select Committee at Calcutta + at Madras + Sepoys, 10. _See_ Telingas + French + Law's opinion of + Serampore, Danish Settlement + Seth Mahtab Rai, grandson of Jagat Seth + Seth Sarup Chand, grandson of Jagat Seth + Seths, agent of + _See_ Ranjit Rai + Seths: the family of Jagat Seth + Shah, Alam + _See_ Ali Gauhar + Shahzada or Crown Prince + _See_ Shah Alam + Sheikh Faiz Ulla + Sinfray, M. + Siraj-ud-daula + _See_ Nawab + cause of his attack on the English + his aunt, widow of Nawajia Khan + his mother + _See_ Amina Begum + his younger brother + _See_ Fazl-kuli-khan + Slippers, a pair of + Sooty + Soupy, fort of + Speke, Captain + Spies employed by the English, + by the Nawab + Suan, battle of + Subah + Suja-ud-daula, Nawabof Oudh + Summer, Mr. William Brightwell + Surgeons, French + Swedes + Swedish guns + Swiss + + Tangepur, or Tanjipur, + Tanks used for military purposes + Tartars + Teesta River + Telingas or Tellingees + Tibet + king of, + Toby, Captain--of the _Kingfisher_ + Tooke, Mr. William + Topasses + Treaty between the English and Mir Jafar + between the English and Siraj-ud-daula + between the French and Siraj-ud-daula + Turkish Crescent, the + _Tyger_, H.M.S. + + Ukil Singh + + Vansittart, Governor Henry + Vernet, M. George, Lodewjk + Villequain, M. + Vizir, The + Volunteers, English + French + + _Wakils_ + Walcot, Clive Correspondence at + Waller, Mr. Samuel + War, Declaration of, between England and France + Water Gate, the + Watson, Admiral Charles + Watts, Mrs. Amelia + the Worshipful Mr. William + + Zemindar, collector of revenue + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Frenchmen in Bengal, by S.C. 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