Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/134

128 of the attack upon Hugliley arriving at the same time, exasperated the Nabob and all his officers so much, that he immediately began his march, and the Seats were afraid to appear as friends to the English; they however deputed their ablest agent Rungeet Roy to attend the Nabob, and ordered him to correspond with Colonel Clive. The merchant Omichund likewise accompanied the Nabob's army. This man, anxious to recover his shattered fortunes, had followed him from Calcutta to Muxadavad, where ingratiating himself with Moonloll, who although no public minister, had more influence than all of them together, he soon acquired a degree of confidence and intimacy with the Nabob himself; who nevertheless restored with a very sparing hand his effects which had been seized in the general plunder and confiscation of the English property. Omichund being likewise proprietor of most of the best houses, and having many other interests in Calcutta, was solicitous to regain his former influence amongst the English, by promoting the pacification.

In the mean time the English had not been negligent in making prepartions to oppose the Nabob's approach to Calcutta, for they had fortified a camp with several outposts around it about a mile to the northward of the town, and half a mile from the bank of the river. The situation was well chosen; for a large lake, which commenceth about two miles to the eastward of the Morattoe ditch, and adjoins to marshes which extend to the sea, rendered it impossible for an enemy coming from the northward to enter the company's territory without passing in sight of the camp; and at the end of the month the field artillery of the army was completed by the arrival of the Marlborough, which had the greatest part on board. On the 30th, the Nabob's army began to cross the river, about 10 miles above Hughley. Their approach immediately deterred the villagers from bringing any more provisions either to the town or camp, and all the natives who had been hired for the services of the army, deserted. The want of bullocks still continued, and there was but one horse either in the camp or town, and this had been brought from Madrass. However, the apprehensions of the French joining the Nabob, were in a great measure removed; for they, instead of this resolution,