Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/282

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276
The War of Bengal.
Book VIII.

to accompany the Nabob to Patna, before all that remained to be paid and settled of his agreements with the English should be discharged and fulfilled. In aggravation of this dilemma, it was impossible to satisfy the English claims immediately, without the assistance of Roydoolub, through whose office, as duan, all money, bills, and patents, must pass; and on this ground Clive represented to the Nabob the absurdity of their variance, and proposed a serious reconciliation, of which he himself would be the guarantee. The necessity of marching to Patna prevailed, and the Nabob, at least in appearance, acquiesced; and on the notice, Roydoolub recovered, left the city, and arrived in the camp on the 23d of the month. He was the next day introduced by Mr. Watts to the Nabob, who received him with every demonstration of cordiality. On the 30th, the Nabob, Roydoolub, and Omarbeg, came to the tent of Clive, and Mr. Watts assisted at the conference. Before other business, the Nabob, and Roydoolub made a solemn renunciation of all their former suspicions and animosity. On the state of the account of the treaty monies, there was now due near twenty-three lacks of rupees. Orders on the treasury at Muxadavad were signed for the immediate payment of twelve and a half lacks, and rescripts given on Omarbeg, as Phousdar of Hughly, and on the Rajahs of Burdwan and Kisnagur, for the remaining half of the 23 lacks. These rescripts are called tuncaws, and entitle the holder to receive to the amount from the treasuries of the districts on which they are given, as the revenues come in. Tuncaws were likewise given on the same districts for the next payment, amounting to 19 lacks, which would fall due in the ensuing April. The Nabob ordered Roydoolub to issue under the seals of the Nabobship and Duanny the patents empowering the company to take possession of the ceded lands south of Calcutta, with the authority of Zemindarry; which, being feudal lordship of land, does not extend to life; but to imprisonment on any occasion, and to the scourge, even for the evasion of debt, especially to the government: but the Nabob reserved to himself the annual sum of 222,958 rupees arising on these lands, and allowed by the Mogul government, as on many