Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/277

Book VIII. the troops of the districts were, as usual, a rabble fit only to distrain upon the unarmed and timorous inhabitants; this weakness of the government, and the attachment of a few friends, encouraged Ammannee Chan to tamper with a part of the garrison in the fort, and they agreed to seize the governor, when Ammannee Chan was to declare himself; the day fixed for the execution was the 22d of October; but two day before, one of the conspirators revealed the secret to the governor, who immediately seized Ammannee Chan with several of his adherents; and, asked assistance of the English factory, who sent 60 Buxeries, which was half their force, and wrote to Calcutta for a company of Sepoys, which were immediately detached, and marched across the country. This conspiracy could not be imputed to Roydoolub, but it increased the perplexities of Jaffier.

Of the troops which were ordered to march with Coddum Hussein, only 3000 had moved, who were waiting at Rajahmahal for the rest, and their arrears. Three months pay were due to the whole army, of which not less than 10,000 men, horse and foot, were under the immediate command of Roydoolub, who had influence with the commanders of many more and notwithstanding the late oaths of reconciliation, kept his house under pretence of sickness, nor would suffer any of his troops to march from the city. These examples, and perhaps his instigation, encouraged the Nabob's troops to refuse likewise, unless they were paid in full. The Nabob distributed some money, and, as another means to recall their obedience, pitched his tent and displayed his standard in the camp, and went to reside there on the 7th of November, waiting for the main body with Clive. He left his son Meerum to command in the city.

Meerum, as soon as his father was gone, spread the report of advices he pretended to have received from Patna and Delhi. The Nabob's relations at Patna gave information, that Ramnarain the governor had encamped to the west of the city with his whole force, 12000 men; that Sujah Doulah, the subah of Oude, had likewise taken the field with his army from Lucknow, together with Mr.