demanded attention. It was part of Clive's instructions to attack the settlement of Chandernagore, if, during his command in Bengal, news should arrive of war having been declared between England and France. This had now occurred; but Clive could not attack Chandernagore without an actual breach with the Soubahdar, whose interests and feelings inclined him even more towards the French than the English. It was decided, however, amongst the British authorities to incur this risk; and on the 23rd of March, 1757, Chandernagore was taken by the forces under Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, after a most obstinate resistance, and with great slaughter on board the ships engaged. "Few naval engagements," says Sir John Malcolm, "have excited more admiration; and even at the present day, when the river is so much better known, the success with which the largest vessels of this fleet were navigated to Chandernagore, and laid alongside the batteries of that settlement, is a subject of wonder."[1]
Alarmed by the success of the English at Chandernagore, and by a report that the Affghans, who had invaded Delhi, were in full march to Bahar, the Soubahdar thought it necessary to assume an appearance of cordiality towards the victors. His suspicious conduct with respect to the French, however, made the British authorities more than distrust his friendship; and as at this period a plot was carrying on against him by his own subjects to deprive him of the musnud in favour of Meer Jaffier, they the more readily listened to a proposal for embracing the cause of the latter, who was a distinguished commander in the service of Suraja Dowlah, and related to him by marriage.
The Soubahdar having been relieved from his apprehensions of an invasion of the Affghans, who had retreated from Delhi, had now no other anxiety than what was occasioned by the English; and to keep them in check, he
- ↑ "Life of Clive."
