acting against us. This Prince had shewed himself from the moment of his signing that treaty, very little inclined to abide by the stipulations he had made. He indeed promised abundantly, but always deferred the performance upon such frivolous pretences as evidently demonstrated his ill intentions. The English commanders understood this proceeding perfectly well; but they resolved to dissemble their sense of it until they had broken the French power in this province, which they had greater reason to dread, small as it was, than all the armies of the Nabob. When they had fully accomplished this by the taking of Chandenagore, they deliberated whether they ought not to recommence hostilities with the Indians. A resolution in the affirmative had been attended with great difficulty and danger, if a most fortunate incident had not helped to ensure success.
The Nabob Suraja Doula, the same who had the last year taken Calcutta, had shewn to his own subjects the same violent and perfidious spirit, which formerly and still distressed the English. His generals were mostly discontented, and some of them entered into a conspiracy against him. Jaffier Ali Cawn, one of his principal officers, a man of great power and interest, was at the head of this conspiracy. As soon as their designs were ripened, they communicated them to the English government in Calcutta, praying their assistance. The chiefs there did not hesitate long what party they should take; they entered into a treaty with Jaffier Ali Cawn and the conspirators; and in consequence of this treaty, our troops immediately took the field under Colonel Clive. The admiral undertook to garrison the fort of Chandenagore with his seamen, in order to leave the greater number of land forces for the expedition. A detachment of fifty seamen with their officers were added to serve as gunners. A 20 gun ship was stationed above Hugly, in order to preserve a communication between Colonel Clive and the admiral.
Their preliminary measures being thus judiciously taken, they advanced up the river, and in a few days brought the Nabob's army of about 20,000 men, exclusive of those who favoured the conspirators, to an action, which was decisive in favour of the English. June 22. Two considerable bodies commanded by Jaffier and Roy Dolub remained inactive in the engagement. The Nabob seeing himself ruined by the treachery of his officers, and the cowardice of his troops, fled with the few who continued faithful to him.
26th. Jaffier Ali Cawn now declared himself openly; and entering Muxadavat the capital of the Province with an army of his friends and victorious allies, he was placed by Colonel Clive in the ancient seat of the Nabobs, and received the homage of all ranks of people as Suba of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa. The deposed Nabob was soon after made prisoner, and put to death in his prison by the conqueror. In about thirteen days this great revolution was accomplished, and with less force and trouble than often is required to take a petty village in Germany; was transferred the government of a vast kingdom, yielding in its dimensions to few in Europe, but to none in the fertility of its soil, the number of its inhabitants, and the richness of its commerce. By the alliance with the new Nabob, and by the reduction of Chandenagore, the French were entirely driven out of
