Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/60

54 a letter to the president of Calcutta, ordering him to deliver up Kissendass, with his treasures. The bearer of the letter was brother of Ramramsing, the head of the spies: he came in a small boat, and landed in the disguise of a common pedlar on the 14th of April, and immediately proceeded to Omichund's, who, as the governor was absent at his country house, introduced him to Mr. Holwell, a member of the council, who superintended the police of the town. The next day it was deliberated what resolution should be taken concerning this messenger.

The governor returning the next day summoned a council, of which the majority being prepossessed against Omichund, concluded that the messenger was an engine prepared by himself to alarm them, and restore his own importance; and as the last advices received from Cossimbuzar described the event between Surajah Dowlah and the widow of Nowagis to be dubious, the council resolved that both the messenger and his letter were too suspicious to be received: and the servants, who were ordered to bid him depart, turned him out of the factory and off the shore with insolence and derision: but letters were dispatched to Mr. Watts, instructing him to guard against any evil consequence from this proceeding.

It is probable that the report of the spy, supported by the representations of his brother, renewed the same ideas which had induced Surajah Dowlah to accuse the English some days before to Allaverdy. He, however, concealed his resentment; for when the vaqueel, or Gentoo agent employed by Mr. Watts represented at the Durbar, the suspicions which had induced the English government to treat the messenger as an impostor, Surajah Dowlah scarcely shewed any emotion or displeasure; and neither Mr. Watts nor the president received any farther injunctions from him concerning Kissendass.

In the beginning of April letters had been received from England, informing the presidency that war with France was inevitable, and ordering them to put the settlement in a state of defence; but to do this was impossible without building the fort anew. However, a great number of labourers were sent to repair a line of guns which