the place, which was not crowded so much, because by this time about one-third of the number had perished, and lay in little compass on the floor, while the rest still crowded to both windows. He retired to a platform at the further end of the room, and lying down on some of his dead friends recommended his soul to Heaven. Here his thirst grew insupportable, his difficulty in breathing increased, and he was seized with a strong palpitation; these violent symptoms, which he could not bear, urged him to make another effort. He forced his way back to the window and cried aloud, "Water, for God's sake." He had been supposed already dead by his wretched companions, but finding him still alive they exhibited another extraordinary proof of tenderness and regard for his person. "Give him water," they cried, nor would any of them attempt to touch it till he had drunk. He now breathed more freely, and the palpitation ceased; but finding himself still more thirsty after drinking, he abstained from water, and moistened his mouth from time to time by sucking the perspiration from his shirt sleeve. The miserable prisoners, perceiving the water rather aggravated than relieved their distress, grew clamorous for air, and repeated their insults to the guard, loading the suba and his governor with the most virulent reproaches; from railing they had recourse to prayer, beseeching Heaven to put an end to their misery. They now began to drop on all hands; but then a steam arose from the living and the dead, as pungent and volatile as spirits of hartshorn, so that all who could not approach the windows were suffocated. Mr. Holwell, being weary of life, retired once more to the platform and stretched himself by the Rev. Mr. Lewis Bellamy, who, together with his son, a lieutenant, lay dead in each other's arms. In this situation he was soon deprived of sense and lay to all appearance dead till day broke, when his body was discovered and removed by his surviving friends to one of the windows, where the air revived him and he was restored to his sight and senses. The suba at last, being informed that the greater part of the prisoners were suffocated, asked if the chief were alive, and being answered in the affirmative, sent an order for their immediate release, when no more than twenty-three survived of the 146 who had entered alive. Nor was the late deliverance even of these few owing to any sentiment of compassion in the viceroy; he had received intimation that there was a considerable treasure secreted in the fort, and that Mr. Holwell knew the place where it was deposited. That gentleman, who with his surviving companions had been seized with a putrid fever immediately on their release, was dragged in that condition before the inhuman suba, who questioned him about the treasure, which existed no where but in his own imagination, and would give no credit to his protestations, when he solemnly declared he knew of no such deposit. Mr. Holwell and three of his friends were loaded with fetters, and conveyed three miles from the Indian camp, where they lay all night exposed to a severe rain. Next morning they were brought back to town, still manacled, under the scorching beams of a sun intensely hot, and must have infallibly expired had not nature expelled the fever in large painful boils that covered almost the whole body. In this piteous condition they were embarked in an open boat for Muxadavad, the capital of Bengal, and underwent such cruel treatment and misery on their passage as would shock the humane reader should he peruse the particulars. At Muxadavad they were led through the city in chains, as a spectacle to the inhabitants, lodged in an open stable, and treated for some days as the worst of criminals. At length the suba's grandmother interposed her mediation in their behalf; and as that prince was by this time convinced that there was no treasure concealed at Calcutta, he ordered them to be set at liberty. When some of his sycophants opposed the indulgence, representing that Mr. Holwell had still enough left to pay a considerable ransom; he replied with some marks of compunction and generosity, "If he has anything left, let him keep it. His sufferings have been great; he shall have his liberty." Mr. Holwell and his friends were no sooner unfettered than they took water for the Dutch tanksall or mint in the neighbourhood of that city, where they were received with great tenderness and humanity.* * * * The suba, having destroyed Calcutta and dispersed the inhabitants, extorted large sums from the French and Dutch factories, that he might display a spirit of impartiality against all Europeans, even in his oppression, and returned to his city of Muxadavad in triumph. By the reduction of Calcutta the English East India company's affairs were so much embroiled in that part of the world, that, perhaps, nothing could have retrieved them but the interposition of a national force, and the good fortune of a Clive, whose enterprises were always crowned with success. THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY. LORD MACAULAY. The Nabob had feared and hated the English, even while he was still able to oppose to them their French rivals. The French were now vanquished; and he began to regard the English with still greater fear and still greater hatred. His weak and unprincipled mind oscillated between servility and insolence. One day He he sent a large sum to Calcutta, as part of the compensation due for the wrongs which he had committed. The next day he sent a present of jewels to Bussy exhorting that distinguished officer to hasten to protect Bengal "against Clive, the daring in war, on whom," says his highness, may all bad fortune attend." ordered his army to march against the English. He countermanded his order. He tore Clive's letters. He then sent answers in the most florid language of compliment. He ordered Watts out of his presence, and threatened to impale him. He again sent for Watts, and begged pardon for the insult. In the meantime, his wretched maladministration, his folly, his dissolute manners, and his love of the lowest company, had disgusted all classes of his subjects, soldiers, traders, civil functionaries, the proud and ostentatious Mahommedans, the timid, supple, and parsimonious Hindoos. A formidable confederacy was formed against him, in which were included Roydullub, the minister of finance, Meer Jaffier, the principal conmander of the troops, and Jugget Seit, the richest banker in India. The plot was confided to the English agents, and a communication was opened between the malcontents at Moorshedabad and the committee at Calcutta. In the committee there was much hesitation; but Clive's voice was given in favour of the conspirators, and his vigour and firmness bore down all opposition. It was determined that the English should lend their powerful assistance to depor Surajah Dowlah, and to place Meer Jaffier on the throne of Bengal. In return, Meer Jaffier promised ample compensation to the company and its servants, and a libersl donative to the army, the navy, and the committee. The odious vices of Surajah Dowlah, the wrongs which the English had suffered at his hands, the dangers to which our trade must have been exposed had he continued to reign, appear to us fully to justify the resolution of deposing him. But nothing can justify the dissimulation which Clive stooped to practise. He wrote to Surajah Dowlah in terms so affectionate that they for a time lulled that weak prince into perfect security. The same courier who carried this "soothing letter," as Clive calls it, to the nabob, carried to Mr. Watts a letter in the following terms: "Tell Meer Jafficr to fear nothing. I will join him with five thousand men who never turned their Surajah Dowlah. backs. Assure him I will march night and day to his assistance, and stand by him as long as I have a man left." It was impossible that a plot which had so many ramifications should long remain entirely concealed. Enough reached the ears of the nabob to arouse his suspicions. But he was soon quieted by the fictions and artifices which the inventive genius of Omichund produced with miraculous readiness. All was going well; the plot was nearly ripe; when Clive learned that Omichund was likely to play false. The artful Bengalee had been promised a liberal compensation for all that he had lost at Calcutta. But this would not satisfy him. His services had been great. He held the thread of the whole intrigue. By one word breathed in the ear of Surajah Dowlah, he could undo all that he had done. The lives of Watts, of Meer Jaffier, of all the conspirators, were at his mercy; and he determined to take advantage of his situation, and to make his own terms. He demanded three hundred thousand pounds sterling as the price of his secrecy and of his assistance. The committee, incensed by the treachery and appalled by the danger, knew not what course to take. But Clive was more than Omichund's match in Omichund's own arts. The man, he said, was a villain. Any artifice which would defeat such knavery was justifiable. The best course would be to promise what was asked. Omichund would soon be at their mercy; and then they might punish him by withholding from him, not only the bribe which he now demanded, but also the compensation which all the other sufferers of Calcutta were to receive. His advice was taken. But how was the wary and sagacious Hindoo to be deceived? He had demanded that an article touching his claims should be inserted in the treaty between Meer Jaffier and the English, and he would not be satisfied unless he saw it with his own eyes. Clive had an expedient ready. Two treaties were drawn up, one on white paper, the other on red, the former real, the latter fiictitious. In the former Omichund's name was not mentioned; the latter, which was to be shown to him, contained a stipulation in his favour. But another difficulty arose. Admiral Watson had scruples about signing the red treaty. Omichund's vigilance and acuteness were such that the absence of so important a name would probably awaken his suspicions. But Clive was not a man to do any thing by halves. We almost blush to write it. He forged admiral Watson's name. All was now ready for action. Mr. Watts fled secretly from Moorshedabad. Clive put his troops in motion, and wrote to the nabob in a tone very different from that of his previous letters. He set forth all the wrongs which the British had suffered, offered to submit the points in dispute to the arbitration of Meer Jaffier, and concluded by announcing that, as the rains were about to set in, he and his men would do themselves the honour of waiting on his highness for an answer. Surajah Dowlah instantly assembled his whole force, and marched to encounter the English. It had been agreed that Meer Jaffier should separate himself from the nabob, and carry over his division to Clive. But, as the decisive moment approached, the fears of the conspirator overpowered his ambition. Clive had advanced to Cossimbuzar; the nabob lay with a mighty power a few miles off at Plassey; and still Meer Jaffier delayed to fulfil his engagements, and returned evasive answers to the earnest remonstrances of the English general. Clive was in a painfully anxious situation. He could place no confidence in the sincerity or in the courage of his confederate: and, whatever confidence he might place in his own military talents, and in the valour and discipline of his troops, it was no light thing to engage an army twenty times as numerous as his own. Before him lay a river over which it was easy to advance, but over which, if things went ill, not one of his little band would ever return. On this occasion, for the been great; he shall have his liberty." Mr. Holwell and his friends were no soone unfettered than they took water for the Dutch tanksall or mint in the neighbourhoo of that city, where they were received with great tenderness and humanity.* **· The suba, having destroyed Calcutta and dispersed the inhabitants, extorted larg sums from the French and Dutch factories, that he might display a spirit of imper tiality against all Europeans, even in his oppression, and returned to his city di Muxadavad in triumph. By the reduction of Calcutta the English East India company's affairs were so much embroiled in that part of the world, that, perhaps, nothing could have retrieved them but the interposition of a national force, and th good fortune of a Clive, whose enterprises were always crowned with success. THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY. LORD MACAULAY. One day The Nabob* had feared and hated the English, even while he was still able to oppose to them their French rivals. The French were now vanquished; and l began to regard the English with still greater fear and still greater hatred. H weak and unprincipled mind oscillated between servility and insolence. he sent a large sum to Calcutta, as part of the compensation due for the wro which he had committed. The next day he sent a present of jewels to Bus exhorting that distinguished officer to hasten to protect Bengal "against Clive, the daring in war, on whom," says his highness," may all bad fortune attend." H ordered his army to march against the English. He countermanded his orders He tore Clive's letters. He then sent answers in the most florid language of con pliment. He ordered Watts out of his presence, and threatened to impale hin He again sent for Watts, and begged pardon for the insult. In the meantime, his a wretched maladministration, his folly, his dissolute manners, and his love of the lowest company, had disgusted all classes of his subjects, soldiers, traders, civ functionaries, the proud and ostentatious Mahommedans, the timid, supple, parsimonious Hindoos. A formidable confederacy was formed against him, in whic were included Roydullub, the minister of finance, Meer Jaffier, the principal co mander of the troops, and Jugget Seit, the richest banker in India. The plot Wa confided to the English agents, and a communication was opened between the malcontents at Moorshedabad and the committee at Calcutta. In the committee there was much hesitation; but Clive's voice was given in favour of the conspirators, and his vigour and firmness bore down all opposition. was determined that the English should lend their powerful assistance to depose Surajah Dowlah, and to place Meer Jaffier on the throne of Bengal. In return, Meer Jaffier promised ample compensation to the company and its servants, and a libersl donative to the army, the navy, and the committee. The odious vices of Surajah Dowlah, the wrongs which the English had suffered at his hands, the dangers to which our trade must have been exposed had he continued to reign, appear to us fully to justify the resolution of deposing him. But nothing can justify the dissimulation which Clive stooped to practise. He wrote to Surajah Dowlah in terms so affectionate that they for a time lulled that weak prince into perfect security. The same courier who carried this "soothing letter," as Clive calls it, t the nabob, carried to Mr. Watts a letter in the following terms: "Tell Meer Jafier to fear nothing. I will join him with five thousand men who never turned their *Surajah Dowlah. backs. Assure him I will march night and day to his at a as long as I have a man left." It was impossible that a plot which had so many ramificat entirely concealed. Enough reached the ears of the nabob to Calcutta. He hell But he was soon quieted by the fictions and artifices which the invedure Omichund produced with miraculous readiness. All was going well; the puss whe nearly ripe; when Clive learned that Omichund was likely to play false. Th artful Bengalee had been promised a liberal compensation for all that he had lost at the thread of the whole intrigue. By one word breathed in the ear of Surajah But this would not satisfy him. His services had been great. Dowlah, he could undo all that he had done. The lives of Watts, of Meer Jaffier, of his situation, and to make his own terms. He demanded three hundred thousand of all the conspirators, were at his mercy; and he determined to take advantage pounds sterling as the price of his secrecy and of his assistance. The committee, incensed by the treachery and appalled by the danger, knew not what course to take. But Clive was more than Omichund's match in Omichund's own arts. man, he said, was a villain. Any artifice which would defeat such knavery was justifiable. The best course would be to promise what was asked. which all the other sufferers of Calcutta were to receive. The Omichund would soon be at their mercy; and then they might punish him by withholding from him, not only the bribe which he now demanded, but also the compensation deceived? He had demanded that an article touching his claims should be inserted His advice was taken. But how was the wary and sagacious Hindoo to be in the treaty between Meer Jaffier and the English, and he would not be satisfied unless he saw it with his own eyes. Clive had an expedient ready. Two treaties were drawn up, one on white paper, the other on red, the former real, the latter In the former Omichund's name was not mentioned; the latter, which fiictitious. was to be shown to him, contained a stipulation in his favour. But another difficulty arose. Admiral Watson had scruples about signing the red treaty. Omichund's vigilance and acutenes were such that the absence of so important a name would probably awaken his suspicions. But Clive was not a man to do any thing by halves. We almost blash to write it. He forged admiral Watson's name. All was now ready for action. Mr. Watts fled secretly from Clive put his troops in motion, and rate to the nabob in a tone ver that of his previous letters. Het farth all the suffered, offered to submit the pot dispute to the arbitration and concluded by announcing the rains were about to men would do themselves the waiting on his highness Surajah Dowlah instantia 2 his whole force, and 1 acqui the English. It had been Meer Jaffier should s nabob, and carry overre. But, as the decis the fears of the con Cossimbuzar; the still Meer Jaffier d the earnest remons Clive was in y sincerity or in place in his was no l Before him went ill, ered his ambition. mighty power a English general. h it was easy |