Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/158

152 answer, and Omichund was contented by the promise of referring his claim to the select committee.

On the 14th he sent the articles of the treaty, as finally settled by himself, and accepted by Meer Jaffier, and communicated two other instances of Omichund's improbity. The one was, "that soothed by the seeming acquiescence of Mr. Watts to his claim of commission and a share of the jewels, he had been led to declare that he intended to secrete as much as he could of the Nabob's treasures from the knowledge of Meer Jaffier, and to divide this booty with Roydoolub." The other accusation came from Rungeet Roy, the agent of the Seats. "When the Nabob concluded the treaty of the 6th of February, he empowered Omichund and Rungeet Roy to offer 30 thousand gold mohurs, a coin equivalent to 29 shillings, as a present to the English commanders, and promised moreover 200,000 rupees to be disposed of as Omichund should think proper; who advised Rungeet Roy to make no mention of the present at that time, and promised to divide the 200,000 rupees with him. Rungeet Roy, impatient to receive his share, had frequently pressed the Nabob to send the present to the English commanders, and to issue the other money to Omichund. But the Nabob irritated by the late proceedings of the English, and safe in his capital, was no longer inclined to confer so costly a favour, in every respect to his own detriment. Omichund observed this repugnance, and turned it to his own advantage, by telling the Nabob, that he would be obliged to make the present, if he suffered Rungeet Roy to interfere any longer in the English affairs; but that he might save it, by disgracing him. The Nabob accordingly withheld himself from any farther communication with Rungeet Roy, but rewarded Omichund, with orders for the delivery of many of his confiscated effects. Mr. Watts, desirous to put the truth of these informations to the test, asked Omichund if he should demand the 30,000 gold rupees from the Nabob; to which Omichund replied, that such a request would be very improper at this time, but that he would himself consider of means to get it."