Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/160

154 three to five millions of rupees; but allotted only two instead of three millions to the Gentoos, and only 700,000 instead of one million to the Armenians. But these alterations added only 700,000 rupees to the total of the sums stipulated by Mr. Watts for restitution. It was then agreed to ask a donation of 2,500,000 rupees to the squadron, and the same sum to the army. A member then proposed that it should be recommended to Mr. Watts, to ask a donation from Meer Jaffier to each of the members of the committee; and this likewise was resolved.

They then took into consideration what conduct they should hold towards Omichund; they were astonished at the enormity of his demands, and still more exasperated at the imputed atrocity of his intentions in case of disappointment; and determined that he should get nothing by the revolution more than restitution in common with the other Gentoo merchants of Calcutta; but at the same time they designed to make him believe that they intended to reward his services. The expedient was suggested by Colonel Clive. It was, to send two treaties, both signed by Admiral Watson and the members of the committee, and in the treaty which was to be delivered to Meer Jaffier, to omit any stipulation for Omichund; but, in the fictitious treaty which was to be shewn to Omichund, to insert an article stipulating for him a present of two millions of rupees. These resolutions being taken, it became necessary that some person deputed from the committee should confer with Meer Jaffier; but, as he lay encamped at Plassy, it was difficult to effect this without raising suspicions in the Nabob. It was therefore resolved that Colonel Clive should write to the Nabob, that he had sent Mr. Scrafton in order to communicate a matter of great secrecy and importance, which was the Morattoe letter brought by Govindroy. Mr. Scrafton was instructed to stop at Plassy, and to make a visit, as of ceremony, to Meer Jaffier, whom he was to inform of the purport of the treaty, and of the other requests, and to obtain his assent to them; he was likewise to explain to him the manner in which the committee were acting towards Omichund; and