Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/121

Rh of Suraja Dowlah was decreed, it was necessary that his place should be supplied by some one; and Meer Jaffier, as a man of high rank, and a member of the royal house, had claims which probably could not be surpassed by those of any other candidate. The conspiracy of which that person was the head was, moreover, formed without reference to Clive, The discontented servants of the Soubahdar sought his assistance; and their views coinciding with the interests of his country, he gave it.

"Thus far Clive incurs no blame; but the wretched hypocrisy subsequently practised towards the unhappy Prince reflects disgrace upon all the confederated parties; and the deepest stain cleaves to those who, trained in European habits, feelings, and modes of thought, seem altogether to have forgotten them in the climate of Asia. Nothing can be more clear than that Clive violated a great and important principle of morals, by continuing to profess friendly feelings towards the Soubahdar, and to express a desire for the peaceful adjustment of all differences, long after the train was laid for the destruction of that Prince, and even, up to the very moment when the explosion was about to take place. Clive broke up his camp and removed his troops into garrison, with a view to obviate suspicion as to his entertaining hostile intentions; and to this step in itself no reasonable objection can be taken. He had a right to make this disposition of his troops, and he was not bound to explain why he made it. He might, without reproach, have left the movement to receive any interpretation which the Soubahdar might put upon it; and if he erred, Clive was under no obligation to undeceive him. But he did not so leave it. He addressed the Soubahdar in what he calls 'a soothing letter;' and it was followed by others of like character; while in the same communication which apprised Mr. Watts of these 'soothing' epistles, he says, 'Tell Meer Jaffier to fear nothing; that I will join him with five thousand men who never turned their backs; and that, if he fails in seizing him (the Sou-