Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/596

 562 JIISTOKV OF IN1>L. (Rkjk III.

A.D. 17^7. the first aware of the defect of powers which they now pretended to have discovered, or that they had ever intended to do more than amase the French, r.itii., wiiile they were employing all kinds of influence U) overcome the nabob's negotiate leluctancc to the proposed attack. In this intrigue the principal parts were French. performed by Mr. Watis, who had become the Company's representative at Moor- shedabad, and Omichund, who, having succeeded in effacing the suspicions under which he suffered so severely at Calcutta, was now become one of the Company's most active and confidential agents. So zealous was Omichund, that when the nabob — suspecting an intention of attacking Chandemagore, notwithstanding his express prohibition — indignantly asked him to answer stric-tly whether tljey intended to maintain or to break the treaty, he answered, that the English were famous throughout the world for their good faith, insomuch, " that a man in England who on any occasion told a lie was utterly disgraced, and never after admitted to the socid:.y of his former friends and acquaintance." After this rather apocryphal declaration, he called in a Brahmin, and took what was re- garded as a most solemn oath, by putting his hand imder the Brahmin's foot, and swearing that the English would never break the treaty. Admiral Xhc prcssure brought to bear upon the nabob by intrigues with his ministers

letters to and favourites was much increased by an alarm which reached him from a different quarter. Ahmed Shah Abdalee, haA-ing again invaded Hindoostan. had entered Delhi, and was understood to contemplate an incursion into the eastern pro^dnces. The nabob was, in consequence, more anxious than ever to secure the British alliance, from which he anticipated important aid, in the event of an Afghan invasion, and became less and less decided in his refusals to sanction the attack of the French settlements. Taking advantage of this feeling, Admiral Watson thus addressed him : — " You are going to Patna. You ask our assistance. Can we, with the least degree of prudence, march with you and leave our enemies behind us? You will then be too far off to support us, and we shall be unable to defend ourselves. Think what can be done in this situation. I see but one way. Let us take Chandemagore and secm-e ourselves from any apprehensions from that quarter, and then we will assist you with every man in oui- power, and go with you even to Delhi, if you will. Have we not sworn reciprocally that the friends and enemies of the one should be regarded as such by the other? And will not God, the avenger of perjurj', pimish us if we do not fulfil our oaths? What can I say more? Let me request the favour of yom- speedy answer." The answer was not speedy; and proof having been obtained that the nabob was intriguing with the French, the admiral assumed a harsher tone, and sent a letter concluding with the following menace: — "I now acquaint you that the remainder of the troops, which should have been here long ago, and which I hear the colonel told you he expected, win be at Calcutta in a few days ; that in a few days more I shall despatch a vessel for more ships and more troops ; and that I will kindle such a flame in