Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/169

Book VII. Cawa Bahadar with our whole utmost force, to obtain the Subahship of the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa, and further that we will assist him to the utmost against all his enemies whatever, whensoever he calls upon us for that purpose, provided that when he becomes the Nabob, he fulfils the above articles." This treaty was signed by Admiral Watson, Mr. Drake, the governor, of Calcutta, Colonel Clive, Mr. Watts, Major Kilpatrick, and Mr. Becher. The donations to the army, squadron, and committee, were written, in another treaty.

Omarbeg with the treaties arrived at Calcutta on the 10th, and explained the intentions of Jaffier to the select committee, in the same manner as Jaffier had explained them to Mr. Watts. The troops of Jaffier, without the assistance of others who might join him, were deemed fully sufficient to assure the success of the enterprize, provided they acted with vigour. But he had hitherto behaved with so much irresolution, that Clive began to suspect he would fail still more in the hour of danger. However, it was necessary either to proceed to immediate action, or entirely relinquish the confederacy; for the secret had inadvertently been revealed, and began to be the public talk even of the common soldiers at Calcutta and Chandernagore. It was therefore determined to commence hostilities without delay. Omichund was on the watch to learn the resolutions of this council, and the real purport of the treaties; but the governor having entertained some suspicions of the scribe whom Omichund had bribed, only entrusted him with the fictitious treaty, in which the stipulation in favour of Omichund was inserted; who being satisfied with the report of the scribe, resolved to proceed with the army to Muxadavad. On the 12th, the troops which were at Calcutta, with 150 sailors from the squadron, proceeded and joined that part of the army which was quartered at Chandernagore. All the necessary preparations had been made, and the whole army began their march from Chandernagore on tho next day, leaving 100 of the sailors to garrison this fort, that every soldier might serve in the field. The Europeans with the field pieces, stores and ammunition, proceeded in 200 boats,