Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/706

 694 OLIVE (January, 1757), when the nabob thought it best to come to terms, which Clive was un- willing to allow, but was overruled by a com- mittee of the company's servants. The ne- gotiations between Surajah Dowlah and the English were conducted chiefly through two agents, Mr. Watts, an Englishman, and Omi- chund, a treacherous Bengalee. From the na- bob's cruelties and insignificance, a plot was formed against him, and Clive lent all his in- fluence to the conspirators in aid of their plan of deposing him and placing Meer JaflBer, the principal commander of the nabob's troops, on the throne of Bengal. In return for this aid Meer Jaffier was to make the most ample re- wards to the English. Omichund, who had the entire confidence of Surajah Dowlah, by systematic deceit lulled all his suspicions. Clive knew Omichund to be a villain, and was resolved to outdo him in deceit if necessary. Meanwhile he was writing the nabob the most friendly letters, and at the same time plotting with his general, Meer JaflBer, who was to de- sert his master at a critical moment with large bodies of troops. Just as the plot was ripe, Omichund played false to the English, and de- manded as the price of good faith 300,000, or he would divulge the whole scheme to Surajah Dowlah. Clive, in order to punish Omichund for his treachery, resolved himself to act the part of a traitor. He promised what was asked. The wily Bengalee insisted that his claims should be mentioned in the treaty be- tween Meer Jaffier and the English. Clive had two treaties drawn up, the real one on white paper, and a spurious one on red. The white contained no mention of him. To the red one, which Omichund insisted should bear Admiral Watson's signature, that officer refused to affix his name, and Clive was actually accused of having forged it, although he afterward denied the charge. All was now ready. Watts fled secretly from Moorshedabad, and Clive put his troops in motion. The battle which followed proved of immense importance for the power of Britain in India, dive's army consisted of 3,000 men, only 900 of whom were Eu- ropeans. He met the Indian forces within a mUe of Plassey, June 23. The latter consisted of 40,000 infantry, armed with firelocks, pikes, bows and arrows, and swords, with 50 pieces of huge cannon drawn into the field by ele- phants and oxen, supported by 15,000 cavalry from the northern provinces, far superior to those of the Carnatic. The nabob's ordnance opened fire with little execution, while the well trained English artillery was served with deadly effect. The nabob ordered a retreat, upon which Clive advanced, and the enemy fled in utter rout ; only 500 were killed, but they lost all their ordnance and equipage. The English loss was 22 killed and 50 wounded. Meer Jaffier had given no aid during the action, but, drawing off his forces when it was decided, was shortly installed by Clive as nabob of Ben- gal, Behar, and Orissa ; while Surajah Dowlah fled, but was captured a few days afterward, and executed by the orders of his late general. Meer Jaffier was now called upon to reward his allies, and Omichund came among the rest ; but on being told how he had been overreached by Clive, he sank into idiocy, and died a few months afterward. Immense wealth now fell upon the company, and Clive was conducted by Meer Jaffier into the great treasury of Ben- gal at Moorshedabad, with full leave to help himself, and he took about 250,000. Later in life, when his conduct was impeached in the house of commons, he vigorously defended him- self before the committee, and, alluding to the wealth showered upon him, described the glit- tering heaps on which he had gazed, and exclaim- ed, " By God, Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation." dive's great victory over Surajah Dowlah was soon followed by the defeat of the army of the Great Mogul, sent against Meer Jaffier, which he overcame at Patna; and in 1759 by his victory over the troops sent by the governor of Batavia under pretence of assisting the Dutch colonies, but really to disturb the British in their possessions. New honors and wealth were showered upon him, and Meer JaflBer granted him an annual revenue of 28,000. In 1760 he returned to England, where he was raised to the Irish peerage with the title of Ba- ron Clive of Plassey, and was elected to parlia- ment as one of the members for Shrewsbury. He remained in England about four years, ap- plying himself chiefly to Indian affairs, while his immense fortune enabled him to live in mag- nificence. During his absence from Bengal the affairs of the company fell into utter confusion ; it was not enriched, while crowds of adven- turers returned from India with splendid for- tunes, acquired in a short time from systematic oppression and plunder of the hapless natives. At length these evils reached such a pitch that the speedy ruin of the Anglo-Indian empire was prophesied unless some strong hand should interpose, and Clive was looked to as the only man who could save it from destruction. After much solicitation he consented to go back to India, and was appointed governor and com- mander-in-chief of the British possessions in Bengal ; and in May, 1765, for the third time he reached Hindostan. At Calcutta he found everything fearfully disorganized, far more than he had anticipated. But he proceeded at once to the reformation of all abuses in spite of great opposition. On one occasion 200 officers of the army, who had been engaged in commer- cial speculations, combined and resigned their commissions, thinking to terrify him into sub- mission by the spectacle of an army without leaders. Clive instantly issued commissions for new officers, even to mercantile agents who were disposed to aid him ; the sepoys he had himself trained in battle stood firm in their devotion to him, and he ordered that every officer who resigned should at once be brought to Calcutta. The insubordination was quelled,