Cumberland, which bore the flag of Admiral Pocock, the second in command, was the largest in the squadron, and had on board two hundred and fifty of the European troops; the other, a Company's ship, named the Marlborough, contained the greater part of the field-artillery. The detachment under Major Kilpatrick, which had been despatched from Madras, on the arrival of the news of the fall of Cossimbazar, was at Fulta; but, having suffered dreadfully from the effects of long encampment upon swampy ground, was not in a condition to add materially to the strength of the British force. Of two hundred and thirty men who had originally composed it, one half had perished; and of those who survived only thirty were fit for duty. Reinforcements were expected from Bombay; but Clive determined to wait neither for them nor for the arrival of the two ships which had been separated from the rest of the fleet, but to advance at once upon Calcutta.
The reduction of that place had been regarded by Suraja Dowlah as the most glorious achievement performed in India since the days of Timour.[1] The conquest was announced at Delhi by letters magnifying its importance, and sounding the praises and glory of the conqueror. In other respects, however, the Soubahdar was grievously disappointed, for he had anticipated immense wealth from the plunder of Calcutta; but, from a variety of causes, he obtained comparatively little. He consoled himself, however, for his disappointment by levying heavy contributions on the French and Dutch, who had neither of them much reason to rejoice in the policy which had restrained them from affording aid to the English.
Suraja Dowlah, who had left a garrison of three thousand men in Calcutta, never contemplated the probability of any attempt on the part of the English to recover that place. He was much astonished, therefore, to find that they were advancing in great force upon their old settle-
- ↑ Orme.
