the utmost consternation amongst the natives, who had never seen such an armament in their waters before.

Dowlah was revelling in fancied security at Moorshedabad, so profoundly ignorant of the state of foreign countries, that he was wont to say there were only ten thousand men in all Europe, and it never occurred to him that the English would dare to invade his dominions, when he received the news of the English armament having appeared off the Hooghly. He instantly ordered all his troops to assemble at Moorshedabad, and marched towards Calcutta.

Clive had commenced operations with his usual vigour. He attacked the fort of Buj-Buj, narrowly escaping with his life from over-confidence; but broadsides from the fleet destroyed the fortifications, and a large force under the native Governor of Calcutta fled in dismay. He then stormed the garrison of Fort William, recovered Calcutta, and replaced the surviving members of the Council in their posts, which they had with such cowardice abandoned. Suráj-ood-Dowlah, already disposed to make some concessions to the English, was confirmed in his pacific disposition by these evident proofs of their power. He accordingly made overtures to the chiefs of the invading armament, and offered to restore the factory, and to give compensation to those whom he had despoiled.

Clive's profession was war, and he felt there was something vastly discreditable in making any terms or having any intercourse with such a monster of wickedness as he who had been guilty of the crime

Negotiations with the Nabob.

7I

committed in the Black Hole of Calcutta. But his power was limited. The timid civilians, who had fled so ingloriously from their posts, had the principal direction of affairs, and these were only too eager to be compensated for their losses. Between them and Clive serious dissensions had already arisen: they protested against his independent exercise of power, and he flatly refused to obey them; while the Government of Madras, having learnt that war had broken out in Europe between England and France, were anxious for the return of the army which they had sent to Calcutta. The promises of Dowlah were large, the chances of a contest with the Nabob, on account of his enormous superiority in numbers, were doubtful; and as Clive was reminded by the Madras Government that he must return by the time allotted to him, viz., the month of April, he at length consented, though with great reluctance, to treat with his cruel and unworthy foe.

With this negotiation commences a new chapter in the life of the founder of the British Empire in India. Hitherto he had been a soldier, carrying into effect with eminent ability and valour the plans of others; and though his crowning victory of Plassey was yet in the future, henceforth he is to be regarded rather as a statesman than a general, whose military movements are to be considered as subordinate to his political designs.

The negotiations between the English and the Nabob Suráj-ood-Dowlah were carried on by two agents, Mr. Watts, a civilian in the service of the Company, and a native Bengalee of the name of Omichund, one of the wealthiest merchants residing

at Calcutta, who had suffered great losses by Dowlah's expedition against that place. The Nabob behaved with all the faithlessness of an Indian statesman and all the levity of a youth whose mind had been enfeebled by the exercise of uncontrolled power. He promised, retracted, hesitated, evaded. At one time he advanced his army on Calcutta; but no sooner did he see how well the English were prepared to resist him, than he fell back in alarm, and consented to make peace with them on their own terms; but no sooner was the treaty concluded, than he formed new plans for counteracting its effects.

Dowlah commenced his intrigues with the French authorities at Chándernagore, and invited Bussy, the commander of the French forces in India, to march from the Deccan to the Hooghly, and co-operate with him in driving the English out of Bengal. In the beginning of February he made a second attempt on Calcutta, the outposts of his army being quartered within the Mahratta ditch. Clive determined to attack his camp in the morning, but a thick fog intervening prevented the success which he anticipated. Nevertheless he inflicted sufficient injury on the enemy to compel the Nabob to withdraw his army to a distance of three miles, and he again opened negotiations with the English. The result was a treaty highly favourable to the Company; all their possessions were to be restored, all their previous privileges confirmed, and they were to be allowed to fortify Calcutta as much as they pleased. Many, however, thought, as Admiral Watson with a sailor's frankness expressed it, that "until the Nabob