Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/696

 G62

iilSTOKV (JF INDIA.

[Hook J II

Hostilities conimencerl

AD. 1759. at Tanna, where the passage of the river could ha best disputed ; wliile the other, under Colonel Forde, now returned from the Circars, proceeded northward to intercept the Dutch troop.s should any attempt be made to march thern U) Chin- surah by land.

Amid these preparations, what (Jive's feelings were will he Vjest explaine*! in his own words. " We found our sentiments a good deal embarrassed, doubt- ing whether we should stand justified to our country and employers in com- mencing hostilities against an ally of England, supposing they should persist in passing the batteries below with their ships and troops. In this situation, we anxiously wished the next hour would bring us news of a declaration of war with Holland; which we had indeed some reason to expect by our last advices from England."' Fortunately, the Dutch themselves removed all .scruples by being the first to commence hostilities. Having .seized a number of the grain boats and other vessels belonging to the Company, they tore down their colours, transferred the stores to their own ships, and treated their crews a.s prisoners. Hostilities being thus openly declared, they proceeded up the river,

while the three Britisii vessels, under command of Commodore Wilson, fol- lowed at a short distance in their wake. The orders given to the commodore were to pass the Dutch and anchor above the batteries. Before he had time to exe- cute them, the commence- ment of hostilities had changed the position of affairs and caused the transmission of a new order, " to demand immediate restitution of our ships, subjects, and property, or to fight, sink, burn, and destroy the Dutch ships on their refusal." On the 23d of November, when this order was sent, the Dutch landed 700 European and about 800 native troops ; the very next day Commodore Wilson obe3'ed the order, and after an engagement of two hours gained a complete victory. All the vessels of the Dutcli squadron struck their flag except one, which endea- voured to escape, and was also taken. On hearing of the landing of the Dutch troops, the detachment stationed at Tanna under Captain Knox quitted it, and marched to reinforce that under Colonel Forde, who had previou.sly repulsed an attack made upon him at Chandernagore, and pursued the fugitives with some slaughter to the very barriers of Chinsurah. Having been joined by Captain Knox, he was preparing to invest it, when he learned that the Dutch troops which had been landed from the ships had arrived on the plain of Bedarra, and been there joined by part of the Chinsurah garrison, which had eluded his

'I'lic Dutcli defeated.

WoLACKS, Grain Boats of Calcutta. — From Soh-yn's Les llindous.