Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/601

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nvaaion,

izes.

Chap. X.] DUPLICITY OF SURAJAH DOWLATT. 567

calm and serene." Captain Speke never perfectly recovered from his wound, a.d. 1757. and died at the early age of forty-three. He lived long enough, however, to distinguish himself in the naval victory gained by Sir Edward Hawke off Belleisle. In that action he commanded the Resolution of seventy, and obliged the Formidable, though much superior in force, to strike to him.

Though the nabob had not disguised his displeasure at the expedition against Tiie iiai..,i),


 * = . 10 alarmclat

Chandernagore, rumours of the approach of the Afghans were so prevalent, that an Afghan in his anxiety to secure the assistance of the British troops, he not only refrained tempori from expressing any indignation at its capture, but congi-atulated the com- manders on their success, and made an offer of the whole temtory to the Com- pany on the same terms on which the French had held it. His sincerity was more than questionable ; for he still retained a large body of men at an inter- mediate spot between Hooghly and his capital, apparently to embrace any favourable opportunity of resuming hostilities ; and, so far from withdrawing his protection from the other French factories in Bengal, gave an asylum in Cossim- bazar to a body of their troops, consisting partly of some who had escaped from Chandernagore before it fell, and partly of others who, after they had become prisoners of war, had broken their parole. There can be little doubt — indeed it was fully established by letters afterwards discovered — that he was at this time in correspondence with Bussy, and in hopes that that distinguished officer would appear in Bengal at the head of a formidable force. In one letter to him, written before Chandernagore was taken, the nabob says, " These disturbers of my country, the admu-al and Colonel Clive (Sabut Jung'), whom bad fortune attend! without any reason whatever are warring against Zubal-ul- Toojar'-' (M. Renault), the governor of Chandernagore. This you will learn from his letter. I, who in all things seek the good of mankind, assist him in every respect, and have sent him the best of my troops, that he may join with them and fight the English ; and if it become necessary I will join him myself [ hope in God these English will be punished for the disturbances they have raised. Be confident; look on my forces as your own. I wrote you before for 2000 soldiers and musketeers, under the command of two trusty chiefs. 1 persuade myself you have already sent them as I desired; should you not, I desire you will do me the pleasure to send them immediately." In another letter, written the week after Chandernagore was taken, he says, " I am advised that you have arrived at Echapore. This news gives me pleasure. The sooner you come here, the greater pleasure 1 shall have in meeting with you. What can I write of the perfidy of the English i They have without ground picked a quai-rel with M. Kenault, and taken by force his factory. They want now to quarrel with M. Law, your chief at Cossimbazar; but I will take care to oppose and overthrow all their proceedings. When you come to Balasore I will

' Or " The Daring iu War," the title by which Clivc is still known among the Datives in India- ' Or "The Essence of Merchants."