Page:The Musnud of Murshidabad (1704 - 1904).djvu/70

[ 30 ] the news of the English reverses at Cossimbazar reached Clive at Madras. Secret conferences were held at Jag-at Sett's house and the deposition of Serajuddowla was decided upon. A mental division of the treasury was made, in which the share of Omi- chand, one of the confederates, was put down at thirty lacs. The plan of the white and the red treaty was then devised.

The Nawab, apprehensive of the designs of the English had located his army at Plassey. This greatly offended Clive who sent Scrafton with a request that Serajuddowla should no longer keep his army at Plassey, the whole of which under Meer Jaffer was recalled to Murshidabad. Foolishly secure of his position, the Nawab insulted Meer Jaffer in open durbar and replaced him by appointing Khaja Hadi as Commander-in-chief. Subsequently when the de- signs of the English began to ooze out, he effected a reconciliation with Meer Jaffer. On the 21st of June, 1757, the Nawab's army took up their former positions at Plassey. On the 22nd, the English army crossed the river and advanced towards it. The battle that decided the fate of India was then fought and won by the English. Serajuddowla mounting his camel and escorted by two thousand horsemen, left the field for Murshidabad, which was reached before midnight of the 24th23rd [sic] With his favorite wife, Lutfunnissa, he left the deserted palace. Meer Jaffer reached Mur- shidabad on the 25th24th [sic] of June and Clive on the 29th.