supporter, Clive, who speedily dissipated the storm, and freed his territories from the threatened invasion.
But, notwithstanding the important services he had received from the English, Meer Jaffier not only evinced reluctance to fulfil the pecuniary stipulations by which he had bound himself, but he also intrigued with the Dutch to bring a force into Bengal to counterbalance that of his old friends, of whose supremacy he had begun to get weary. Accordingly a powerful armament was fitted out at Batavia; and, before many months had elapsed, seven Dutch ships arrived in the Hooghly, in the words of Clive, "crammed with soldiers."
Though England and Holland were at this time in profound peace, an event like this was calculated to excite suspicion and alarm at Calcutta, coupled as it was with the extraordinary conduct of Meer Jaffier, who declared one day that he would chastise the insolence of the Dutch, and the next received the Dutch authorities at his Durbar with all the grace and benignity that royal condescension could show to the most favoured friends.
When the Dutch at length felt confident of the Soubahdar's support, they addressed a remonstrance to the English authorities on the subject of certain alleged grievances, concluding with denunciations of vengeance if redress were withheld. "In this situation," says Clive, "we anxiously wished that the next hour would bring us news of a declaration of war with Holland." None arrived, however; but the Dutch relieved Clive and his Council from part of their anxiety, by committing various acts of violence, which could not be expected to pass without reprisal.
Hostilities seemed now so unavoidable that the only doubt the English entertained was whether the Dutch intended to bring their ships past the English batteries, or whether they would land their troops below, and march them through the country. Clive prepared as far as he had the means against both. Colonel Forde, who
