Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/611

 Chap. X.]

CLIVE HOLDS A COUNCIL OF VA1{.

■U i

Sir Eyre Coote. — From a print after H. Morlaiid.

power?" Tlie council consisted of sixteen members, of whom nine voted the iitfirmative, and seven the negative. The former was thus carried, Clive not only vothig with the majority, but lending liis influence to secure it by violating the ordinary routine, and giving his own opinion first, instead of beginning with the youngest officer. Eyre Coote, who had already given proofs of the military genius which afterwards made him famous in Indian warfare, stood at the head of the minority. To all appearance, Surajah Dowlah was now safe, at least from the conspiracy which was to have discardeil him, in order to make way for Meer Jaffier, and Bengal was not to be revolutionized till one of its own petty rajahs could usm-p the government ; or one of the most worthless viziers who had ever held office at the covu't of Lelhi could be bribed to mingle in the plot ; or the Company, in despair of accomplishing their object by other means, should resort to the miserable alternative of leao-uing with the Mahrattas. But though the majority of the council of war had voted as Clive had in a manner dictated, by anticipating instead of waiting to receive tiieir opinion, he was not himself satisfied. The arguments of Coote had not been lost upon him, and within an hour after the council broke uj), the army received orders to be in readiness to start next morning. This change of opinion in Clive is said, by Orme, to have been }>roduced after an interval of deep and solitary meditation in an adjoining grove. It must, indeed, have been an anxious moment ; for, even after the absurdity of stopping where he was had become apparent, he could not act in opposition to his own previousl}' declared con- viction and the decision of the council of war, without feeling how immensely he had added to his responsibility.

The hazards which the army was now about to run were of the most formidable description. It was occupjdng the town of Cutwah, and could not reach the nabob's army without passing into a large flat which, from being nearly inclosed by two arms of the Ganges, was known by the name of the island of Cossimbazai". Between it and the army ran a deej) and rapid river, the passage of which, had the enemy known how to use his advantages, might have been successfully disputed, or, at all events, could not have been effected without serious loss. This obstacle overcome, the peril of the position wa.s indefinitely increased Retreat was impossible. A body of troops not exceeding 3000 was about to encounter an army of not less than 50.000 infantry and 18,000 cavalry, in a position where, if a reverse was sustained, not a man would

A.D. 1757.

Olive litfter- miiies to praceeil.

Fonniiliible ilirtiiultie.s.

Vol. I.

73