Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/683

 Chap. XII. j

CLIVE'S EXPEDITION TO PATNA.

649

Part op the City of Moorshedabad. — From Col. Forrest's Views on the Ganges.

)>tiliu.lf of Uiimuaraiu.

Burdwan and Kislmugiu", for the other half Other nineteen lacs, payable in ad. 1757 April, were secured by other tuncaws on the same districts. Patents were also executed, empower- ing the Company to take possession (if the ceded lands south of Calcutta, with the authority of zemindary, but subject to a reserved annual payment to the nabob of 222, 958 rupees. The revenue of these lands, like that of many others in the province, was

allowed by the Mogul government to the actual nabob as jaghire, or a pension for his expenses. We shall hear of it again.

Clive was now ready to accompany the naboli to Patna, l)ut naturally cuves inter required to be informed, before starting, as to the precise object of the expedition. The nabob, seeing it useless to dissemble, avowed his intention to remove Ram- narain, and give the government to some one of his more immediate dependants. The nabob, in forming this resolution, had overlooked the difficulties which might be anticipated in executing it. Clive was more discerning ; and after pointing out tiie possible alliances which Ramnarain might form, and then raise the standard of independence, suggested that it would be better to conciliate thiin to oiist him. This suggestion must have been made under a conviction that Ramnarain did not entertain the treasonable designs imputed to him ; but nothing could be more distasteful to the nabob, as it both interfered with his design of giving the government of Behar to his own brother, and would con- tribute to strengthen, whereas he was now intent on diminishinjx. British influence. An opinion of Clive, distinctly stated and enforced b}' sound argu- ment, could not, however, be lightly set aside; and it was therefore arranged, after much irresolution and tergiversation on the part of the nabob and his counsellors, that Clive should write a letter to Ramnarain, inviting an inter^^ew and assuring him of safety and favour. Meantime the army continued its march on Patna in three divisions, Clive with his troops leading the van, Roydullub with his force of 10,000 men following, and the nabob with the main bod}- bringing up the rear. By the way letters arrived from Delhi, advising that patents, confirming Meer Jaffier in the nabobship, had been made out. They had been delayed merely because the exhausted treasury at Mooi-shedabad could not furnish the money expected at the Mogul court, where all things had become

Vol. I. 82

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