G;jG HLSTOilY OF ISI>IA. [Book III,
AD. 1759. that Sujah Dowlali, Nal)ob of Oude, though he kept artfully in the back«:^-ound, was disposed to join hira as soon as he saw any proljability of success, and would bring with him an important auxiliary, in the person of M. Lmw 'ith his French party.
Designs of The objcct of the siiazada was not concealed. Bengal, Behar. and Ori.ssa
oIiyeiTgTi. "^ belonged to him as viceroy, and he was coming to claim his rights. It thus apjieared that Meer Jaffier was about to be treated as an iisurj>er, and could only maintain po.ssession by defying the heir apparent of the Mogul empire. How durst he engage in such a warfare, which appeared to him almost .sacri- legious? How could he hoj^e to succeed in it with troops which were con.stantly mutinying, and would in all probability be no sooner brought in sight of the enemy than they would desert to him? In this emergency, everything depended upon Clive, who immediately saw the part he had to act, and entered into it with his accustomed ardour and decision. In a letter to Hastings, directing him to give confidence to the com-t of Moorshedabad, he says: — "The dis.sen.sions between the nabob and his people give me much more concern than the news of the shazada's motions, as there would be little fear from the latter, did the former take the proper measures to secure his being well served." The nabob, in his perplexity, had thoughts of purchasing the shazada's retreat. Clive, hear- ing of it, wrote as follows: — "I have just heard a piece of intelligence which I can scarce give credit to ; it is, that your excellency is going to offer a sum of money to the king's son. If you do this, you will have Sujah Dowlah, the Mahrattas, and many more, come from all parts to the confines of your countr-, who will bully you out of money till you have none left in your treasury. If your excellenc}'^ should pursue this method, it wiU be furnishing the king's son with the means to raise forces, which, indeed, ma}- endanger the loss of yom" country. What will be said if the gi'eat Jaffier Ali Khan, soubah of this pro- vince, who commands an army of 60,000 men, should offer money to a boy who has scarcely a soldier with him? I beg your excellency wiU rely on the fidehty of the English, and of those troops which are attached to you."
His letter to Clivc, wliilc til US pledging himself to Meer Jaffier, was well aware that lie might have made most advantageous terms with the opposite party. The shazada sent agents to him, who made him, to use his own language, " offers of provinces upon provinces, with whatever my heart could desire:" and delivered him a letter from their master, who addressed him as " The Most High and Mighty, Protector of the Great, Colonel Sabut Jung* Bahadm-," and concluded thus: — "In this happy time, -with a ^'iew of making the tour of Patna and Bengal, I have erected my standard of glory at this place. It is my pure inten- tion to bestow favour upon you, the high and mighty, and all faithful servants,
' The title "Sabut Jung," by which Clive ia still his defence of Arcot. Though Mahomed Ali had no known in India, means "firm or daring in war," and right to grant titles, Clive was pleased with it, and ■was first given him by Mahomed Ali, in allusion to had it engraved on his Persian seal.
CUve.
