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30 But the main purpose of Hastings' journey was not to deal with this particular grievance. Vansittart had sent him to act as peacemaker in the disputes then simmering between Mír Kásim and the English at Patná. The Nawáb had lately transferred his capital from Murshidábád higher up the river to Monghyr. With the help of a few European adventurers he had begun to remodel his army after the European fashion. He had also made overtures of some kind to the Nawáb Wazír of Oudh. Within the new defences of Monghyr he set up an arsenal for the casting of guns and the manufacture of muskets, equal to any then made in Europe. Meanwhile Ellis himself indulged in acts of high-handed violence, which could only fan the flame of Kásim's growing resentment. His attempt to seize and punish one of the Nawáb's officers, for refusing to pass the private goods of a Company's servant duty-free, was followed by the arrest of another, who was sent down in irons to Calcutta, for daring to buy saltpetre on his master's account without the Company's leave. Early in 1762, he despatched troops from the Patná garrison to search for deserters in Monghyr. The native governor refused to admit the troops, but invited two of their officers to accompany him round the fort.

To Ellis this seemed only a fresh provocation. The troops were ordered to stand fast before Monghyr. Both parties appealed to Calcutta, whence Hastings at Vansittart's request started up country to see if he could bring matters to a peaceful issue. At Sásserám