Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/153

Book VII. 60 Coronundel Sepoys, with 30 small carriages, and four elephants, passed through the city in military array on the 16th of April, and having crossed the river, proceeded towards Behar. This evasion however deceived nobody. And Colonel Clive prepared to send a detachment in pursuit of them.

The report of the detachment renewed the indignation of the Nabob; he immediately ordered the English Vacqueel to quit his presence, and to appear no more at the palace, and sent two of his officers to Mr. Watts, proposing this alternative; "either that he should immediately return to Calcutta; or give an assurance under his hand, that the English should make no further attempts to molest the French." Mr. Watts refused either to retire, or to give the assurance, and obtained leave to consult the presidency, who ordered him to send what treasure and effects he had collected to Calcutta, as opportunities might offer, but without seeming either to fear or to intend mischief: Colonel Clive also detached 40 Europeans to protect the factory, and sent in several boats a supply of ammunition concealed under rice.

By this time the mutual suspicions between the Nabob and the English were so much increased, that Colonel Clive thought a rupture inevitable, and even necessary. He therefore persisted in his resolution of sending a detachment in pursuit of Mr. Law; and having received information that Meer Jaffier, the general of the army, was offended against the Nabob, he advised Mr. Watts to cultivate his friendship. The spirit of rebellion had for some time been lurking in the court of Surajah Dowlah; he had imprisoned Monickchund, and upon releasing, had obliged him to pay a million of rupees as a fine for the effects he had plundered in Calcutta. The Duan Roydoolub, although the first civil officer in the state, found his conduct subject to the controul of the favourite Moonlol. To the Seats, the Nabob behaved with civility; but they, accustomed to the confidence and good sense of Allaverdy, trembled for their wealth, under the caprices of his successor; and they had long been connected with