Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/274

268 50 being men of better condition, were not confined. The party which served with Sinfray at the battle of Plassy, had escaped into the districts of Berbohin, were the timidity of the natives suffered them to remain without molestation; and other stragglers from va- rious parts had increased the number to sixty Europeans. Thirty had gone away in boats from the French factory at Dacca, under the conduct of the chief, Mr. Courtin, and proceeding along the rivers, had entrenched themselves near the mountains in the northern part of the district of Rungpore, which adjoins on the west to Purneah. It was suspected that some of the prisoners, who were at large, were corresponding, not only with both these parties, but also with Mr. Law's in, Oude, and with the army of Mr. Bussy in Chicacole. It was therefore resolved to send away all the higher sort to Pondi- cherry; and in the beginning of October, thirty-four, of whom two were Jesuits, were embarked in a ship hired for the purpose, and call- ed the Restitution. From reliance on their parole the ship was man- ned, as usual, by lascars, or mariners of the country, with only three Englishmen to command them. As soon as they were at sea, the Frenchmen, as they easily might overpowered the crew, and carried the ship to Masulipatam, where they declared themselves free, and the ship a lawful prize.

Before Colonel Clive left Muxadavad, the Nabob had summoned Ramramsing, the Rajah of Midnapore, who was head of the spies, to come there, in order to settle the accounts of his districts, on which, as usual, a considerable balance stood due from him in the books of the Treasury. Ramramsing had always been in close con- nexion with Roydoolub, who, to remove suspicions, advised him, at least openly, to obey; but Ramramsing sent his brother and nephew, whom the Nabob immediately put into prison; and pre- vented the disapprobation of Clive, by representing, what was true, that Ramramsing had been the enemy of the English, having car- ried on for Surajah Dowlah the Correspondence with Mr. Bussy and Mr. Law; and that he had forwarded whatsoever Frenchmen had escaped to the south, through Orixa to Chicacole. Roydoolub had no doubt that this proceeding of the Nabob's was a preparation for