Page:A Brief History of the Indian Peoples.djvu/188

184 name. In 1761, it was found expedient and profitable to dethrone Mír Jáfar, our Nawáb of Murshidabad, and to substitute his son-in-law, Mír Kásim, in his place. On this occasion, besides private donations, the English received 'a grant of the three Districts of Bardwán, Midnapur, and Chittagong, estimated to yield a net revenue of half a million sterling a year.

Revolt of Mir Kasim, 1763.—But the freshly appointed Nawáb of Bengal, Mír Kásim, soon began to show a will of his own, and to cherish dreams of independence. He retired from Murshidábád to Monghyr, a strong position on the Ganges which commanded the line of communication with the northwest. There he proceeded to organize an army, drilled and equipped after European models, and to carry on intrigues with the Nawáb Wazír of Oudh. He was resolved to try his strength with the English, and he found a good pretext. The Company's servants claimed the privilege of carrying on their private trade throughout Bengal, free from the Nawáb's inland imposts. The assertion of this claim caused affrays between the customs officers of the Nawáb and the native traders, who, whether truly or not, represented that they were acting on behalf of the servants of the Company. The Nawáb alleged that his civil authority was everywhere set at nought. The majority of the Council at Calcutta would not listen to his complaints. The Governor, Mr. Vansittart, and Warren Hastings, then a junior member of Council, attempted to effect some compromise. But the controversy had become too hot. The Nawáb's officers fired upon an English boat, and a general rising against the English took place. Two thousand of our sepoys were cut to pieces at Patná; about 200 Englishmen, who there and in other various parts of Bengal fell into the hands of the Muhammadans, were massacred.

Re-conquest of Bengal, 1764.—But as soon as regular warfare commenced, Mir Kásim met with no more successes. His trained regiments were defeated in two pitched battles by Major Adams, at Gheriá and at Udhunálá; and he himself took refuge with the Nawáb Wazír of Oudh, who refused to deliver him up to us. This led to a prolongation of the war. Sháh Alam, who had now succeeded his father as emperor, and Shujá-ud-daulá, the Nawáb Wazír of Oudh, united their forces,