Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/279

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Book VIII
Meer Jaffier.
273

and both he and his son avowed that the intelligence from Delhi was communicated by the Seats. The Seats positively denied the assertion; on which a new reconciliation was proposed with Roydoolub, who, accompanied by Scrafton, visited Meerum on the 17th, and oaths of friendship and confidence were again renewed; and Roydoolub sent the greatest part of his troops to the camp. The, Nabob, receiving no reproaches from Scrafton, thought all resentments sufficiently quieted, at least for a while, and marched away from the plains of Gheria on the 17th, in order to oblige the detachment loitering at Rajahmahal to cross the Ganges, and attack the rebels in Purneah.

The rainy season in the lower parts of the country had this year been less unhealthy than usual, and only 40 men had died of the English troops quartered at Chandernagore and Calcutta; but the intemperance produced by the distribution of the prize-money of Plassy, had spread such sickness, after the rains ceased in September, that two thirds of the rank and file were in the hospital at the end of October. Their recovery retarded the departure of the whole until the 17th of November, when they embarked and proceeded from Chandernagore.

In this interval Colonel Clive had prevailed upon Ramramsing to come to him from Midnapore. To avoid the Nabob's troops with Cojah Haddee, who, at Olive's request, were halting at Burdawan he embarked at Pipley with a party of European soldiers, which had been sent thither to escort him to Chandernagore, from whence he proceeded with the army to Muxadavad. The Rajah of Berboin, on hearing that the English troops were preparing to take the field, sent parties to surround and seize the Frenchmen with Sinfray; but they got warning of his intentions, and of sixty, thirty-six escaped. The other twenty-four were made prisoners, and conducted to Cossimbuzar, and from thence sent to Calcutta. Four of them were agents of the French company, who had been taken and had given their parole at Chandernagore.