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16 Suráj-ud-daulá, his grandson and successor, bad many of the vices without the redeeming virtues of an Asiatic despot. The failure of the Calcutta Council to acknowledge him formally as Súbahdár gave the pampered young Nawáb a new incentive for plundering the intrusive foreigners of the wealth he coveted for himself. Early in June the fortified factory at Kásimbázár surrendered without a blow to an overwhelming force; and Watts himself was carried off a prisoner to the Súbahdár's camp, already forming for a march southwards. Hastings was among the prisoners taken to Murshidábád. But the Súbahdár or his ministers were merciful for their own ends; and Hastings was set free on bail furnished by the friendly chief of a neighbouring Dutch factory.

Suráj-ud-daulá next turned his arms against Calcutta, whose governor, Roger Drake, had declined to surrender a native refugee of rank, or to cease from strengthening the weak defences of Fort William against the outbreak of another war between France and England. Drake's efforts to turn the crafty Nawáb from his settled purpose were answered by the quick march of an army, which closed round Calcutta on the 18th June, 1756. One or two outposts were bravely defended, but our people had no leaders equal to the need. Before nightfall the Nawáb was master of the town. A general panic, due not less perhaps to physical than to moral causes, soon filled the shipping on the river with fugitives of both sexes and of every age. Next morning Drake himself, with