Before, however, the war in this part of India, of which our limits have obliged us to give this rapid and brief sketch, was thus happily terminated, the English were obliged to detach a force to the succour of their interests in Bengal. The causes and circumstances of their mis fortunes there it may be proper to trace with all possible brevity.
In the year 1741, Alivedi, as we have already seen, usurp-, ed the nabobship of Bengal. He died in 1756, leaving for his successor Surajah Dowlah. This prince was strong ly prepossessed against the English. Understanding that the governor of Calcutta was building a wall and digging a moat round that city, he took offence, and at last march ed at the head of his army to attack it, with its dependent settlements. The town was gallantly, though not very skilfully, defended for three days, but then was obliged to surrender. Surajah Dowlah had promised the prisoners their lives, but on the same night in which he entered the place he ordered the massacre, (for it deserves no other appellation,), which has rendered proverbial the black hole of Calcutta. The Europeans, co the number of 146 per sons, were, in the most sultry season even of the Bengal year, confined for twelve hours within a cube of 18 feet, having no outlets except two small whitlows, strongly bar red. All perished except twenty-three ; and some of these afterwards experienced from the nabob fresh cruelties. As soon as intelligence of these events reached the English on the coast, they detached to Bengal 900 Europeans, and 1500 sepoys, under the command of Colonel Clive. In a few days after their arrival before Calcutta, the city was retaken, and the nabob being attacked in his camp, ac quiesced in a pacification highly honourable and advan tageous to the English. On him little reliance could be placed, especially as by the breaking out of the war be tween the English and French, lie might naturally expect the assistance of the latter, who had, at their settlement of Chandenagore, contiguous to Calcutta, a force of 300 Europeans, and 300 sepoys. Under these circumstances, Colonel Clive resolved to attack the French settlement, which he accordingly did, with success. Still, however, the nabob was justly suspected ; and as it was soon after wards proved that he was in correspondence with the French, the English listened to the overtures of the dis contented grandees at his court, and at length resolved to suppout Meer Jaffier in his pretensions to the nabobship. This arrangement led immediately to the famous battle of Plasscy, by the issue of which Meer Jailer gained the nabobship, and his English allies a large treasure, a por tion of territory adjoining to Calcutta, and a considerable influence with the new nabob. The British forces engag
ed in this battle were commanded by Colonel Clive, and consisted of 900 Europeans, 100 topasses, and 2000 se poys, with eight six pounders, and two howitzers. The nabob's army was estimated at 50,000 foot, and 50 pieces of cannon, besides about 40 Frenchmen. According to one account, the fortune of the day was decided by Veer Jailer, who commanded part of the nabob's army, remain ing neuter during the engagement ; but by other ac counts, it would appear, that even if his forces had taken an active part, the issue would have been equally lavoura ble to the British.
By the treaty between the English and the new nabob, the latter agreed to pay a large sum into the treasury of Calcutta ; and the English guaranteed his dominions. Jaf fier, however, after he had acquired his power, seems to have been unwilling to pay the stipulated sum ; and on be ing pressed by Colonel Clive to fulfil his engagement, he meditated the reduction of the British influence. 'Phis, and the non-payment of the money, were sufficient pretexts for stripping him of his newly acquired dominions; and to this object the British directed their plans, so as to accomplish it with the least appearance of injustice.
Before, however, we narrate these plans, it will be pro per to attend to the affairs of India in another quarter. In the year 1759, the son and heir apparent of the Mogul ap peared in a hostile position on the frontier of the provinces; and he afterwards invaded Bahar with a view of possessing himself of the soubhadarship of Meer Jaffier. As the English were bound to support him, Clive, who was now governor of Bengal, joined his army to that of the nabob's, and the allies drove the enemy beyond the Carumnasa. In the same year, and soon after the close of this campaign, the Dutch projected the overthrow of the English establish ments and influence in Bengal. An expedition for that purpose was fitted out at Batavia, which in the month of August entered the river of Bengal, with the profession of proceeding to the Dutch settlement at Chinsurah. As Clive was apprehensive that the nabob might take advan tage of this circumstance, he resolved to call upon that prince to insist on the departure of the Dutch, as they were within his territories. This, however, he did not do; and the Dutch landed their whole Force near Calcutta. In this emergency, Clive was at a loss in what manner to act ; for the English and Dutch were at peace. As, however, some decisive steps were necessary, he ordered Colonel Ford to intercept the march of the Dutch; this was accordingly done with most complete success.