ly fell upon the guards, and cut off them to a man and as thofe a-plundering returned by two and three at a time, they cut them off moftly alfo. The remainder abandoned the city, and went into the factory. The 2000 men before mentioned arrived in the mean time. After standing two or three days fiege in the factory, our people took boats, and croffed the river; where the Jemodars, on the other fide, fell upon them immediately, and, with the affiftance of 400 of the Nabob's Seapoys, who were detached over, either cut to pieces or took prifoners every man that croffed the river. Carstairs himself was the firft that fell, by a cannon-fhot taking him about the groin. Here ended the fate of one of the fineft detachments ever an officer need defire to command in thefe parts.

The inftant the Nabob had news that we had taken posellion of Patna, he sent express to Muxadavad, to stop Amyatt, and fend him back to him. This order was effectually complied with: for in a few days they fent him the heads of Amyatt, Woolafton, Dr Crooke, and another gentleman. The Nabob at the fame time fent orders to his Naibs at Maxadavad and Dacca to level our factories at Çaflumbazar and this place, with the ground, and fend him all the English that were in them pritoners. Thele orders were pretty well complied with: Caffim bazar factory was foon taken, and all the gentlemen in it fent to Mungeer, the Nabob's place of refidence. Lieut. Brown was at that time here [at Dacca], with five companies of my battalion. The factory was attacked according to the Nabob's orders; but the Seapoys behaved extremely well, and beat off the enemy. But the gentlemen in the factory (Melf. Senior and Leynfter), with the concurrence of Mr Brown, expecting another attack, which they thought they were not able to withitand, left the factory in the greatest confufion, without taking along with them fo much as the treasure or ammunition; and both of them, with Lieut. Brown, arrived at Luckypoor in a little fishing boat, without fhoe or flocking.

The inftant they arrived, Middleton wrote accounts of what had happened to Chittygore, where we were then fo fituated, that we could not fend them a fingle Seapoy to their fupport; but as I faw the place was lott, owing to Brown's being unable to att, as he was then much out

of order, 'I fet out for Luckypoor felf, and gathered all the Seapoys I co together, with which I was proceed to Dacca, but on the way was joined Lieut. Swinton (coming down from Si with his battalion, two guns and a h itzer. With this force I made no do of fuccefs, notwithstanding I heard t were confiderably reinforced. I acco ingly proceeded on, and took both and Killah, without much loss on our f This was on the morning of the 17th ly, where I still continue. This was firft ftop put to the enemy's progress, of no fmall confequence to our affairs, it was here Meer Jaffier was first claimed, and from hence we had all fupply of money, the province paying nually 40 lacks of rupees, [a lack 12,500l. Sterling], without which neit the Nabob nor we had cash to carry the war.

Now to return to Calcutta: U their hearing Mr Amyatt was cut off, was declared against Coffim Ally Cav and Meer Jattier proclaimed Nabob the three provinces. He has agreed pay the company 30 lacks for their loff to make reftitution for all private lof which is very confiderable; and gives t army 25 lacks for giving up to him public property taken in courfe of t war. The articles agreed upon, the my was put in motion: and you'll fay was high time; for there was not a i then belonging to us, out of Calcut excepting at Chittygore and Dacca, were prisoners. They arrived near Pl fey, the 18th, and the day following h an engagement near the old ground Plaffey. Our troops then in the fie under the command of Major Adar confifted of about 1000 Europeans ra and file, and about 1200 European hor half as many artillery, with ten guns a two hauitzers. This part of Coflim's a my confifted of about 10.000 horse, w fix brafs field-pieces, mounted as ou After behaving very well, and losing abo 1000 of their best men, they were oblig to walk off without their guns. troops proceeded to Muxadavad; ne which place they found the enemy i trenched, attacked them the 21ft in t morning, and foon got poffeflion of the intrenchments, with 30 pieces of cann mounted thereon.

Before I go farther, I must acqua you with a very noble action of Lie Glen's; who, on his way from Burdw

join our army, with one gun, a lack bath, and 700 Seapoys, was attacked about 7000 of the enemy, who took gun and lack from him five or fix difrent times, but he still rallied his people, and retook them, and after about five ours engagement, beat them off, and ned the army at Plafley. Major Adams was fo well convinced of his good behaviour, that he immediately appointed him His zid de camp, and gave him a battaLon of Seapoys.

Upon the enemy's being beat from Muadavad, they retreated to Sootie, near tremouth of the Coflimbazar river. The Nabob Jaffier was with the Major at this tine; and after he had fettled fome afcars at the city, they marched on, and came up with the enemy at Sootie on the ad of Auguft. They found they had been reinforced the preceding night with 12.000 horse and 8000 foot; not the comrabble they used to have, but wellciplined, cloathed, and armed Seapoys; and 20 fine brafs field-pieces, mounted, marked, and ferved as ours. This was by far the most formidable force ever brought to the field by any power belongg to the empire. They engaged about ght in the morning, and continued it the time with fmall arms and guns till welve at noon, when the enemy, with at reluctance, left the field and all eir guns. Their lofs was computed at 300 at leaft; and our lofs, officers, eats Glen, Turlong, and Killer, killed; Capt Stibbers and Galliege wounded, and Lent. Chaigneau of the regiment Vanded; the lofs of private Europeans ut 40, and as many wounded; the er of Seapoys killed, about 300, d about ICO wounded. By this you fee it was no trifling affair. The ewere fo confident of success, that ey had about 200 boats with their arms, rich they were to proceed to Calcutwith all difpatch pofiible, after they ad beat our army.

After fending his wounded to Caflimba the Major marched on towards Ruffa d; but found the enemy had intrenchthemselves at Auda Nulla, clofe by Maul, if you remember. At this they were fo ftrongly intrenched, there was no coming at them, but ular approaches; which were begun the 12th of Auguft, and they carthe place by form the 5th of Sep, before day-light. There was a gins carnage enfued, being 50,ccp

armed men within the trenches, and all of them, with their horfes and fervants, obliged, in their retreat, to cross a bridge within musket-fhot of our troops; by which you may judge what a prodigious flaughter must follow, two hours conftant firing from 500 firelocks into fuch a croud. I am told our Seapoys killed feveral at laft, with their bayonets. 1200 horfemen gave themfelves up prifoners: they were defired to alight, take their faddles off their horses, and go and get more from Coflim, or where elfe they pleased. In this affair Capt. Broadbrook was killed, and Lieut. Hampton fhot through the body, but recovered, 18 Europeans killed, three Seapoy commandants, and a few Seapoys. I believe the enemy's lofs must exceed 5000 men in this morning's work. This being the height of the rains, our army were much fatigued with the bad roads, and proceeded but flowly: I think they did not arrive at Mungeer till the 1ft of October, and after making a breach in the walls, it furrendered; and old Campbell commands there now with his own battalion of Seapoys.

Upon Coflim's being informed of the defeat of his army at Auda Nulla, he wrote Major Adams a threatening letter, that he would cut off all our gentlemen he had in his power, if we proceeded any further. The Major fent this letter to the board; and after fome confultations upon it, the Governor wrote Coffin, that the cutting off of prifoners was an unprece dented thing, and what was never practifed by any civilized nation; and he could not believe he would ever think of it: as to our army, that it must proceed to the Cafumnaffifa without fail. Upon receipt of this letter (it appears) he gave the fatal order for cutting off every European belonging to us, that was in his power. He could get no body to put this his orders in execution, but one Sumroo, an European in his fervice, who went in that evening with 50 Seapoys for the execution of our gentlemen. Upon his arrival at the place of their confinement, Mr Ellis, thinking he had come upon fome private scheme for their releasement, called to the fervants to bring a chair for Mr Sumroo: but instead of going in where they were, he went to the cook-room,. where the fervants were getting fupper ready, ordered them all out, and fent for Meff. Ellis, Hay, Chambers, and Lushington, to come and fpeak to him. They thinking, without doubt, that he was up

GA

en fome good fcheme, went to him. Upon their entering the cook-room, one of the Seapoys took Ellis by the hair, while another cut his throat. Luthington, feeing this, wrefted the fword out of the murderer's hand, killed him, and wounded feveral more before he fell. Thefe four being butchered without much noife, he fent in for Hewitt, Lyon, Amphlett, and Smith. The first three were instantly dispatched; but Smith, after receiving a large cut in the shoulder, ran into the houfe where the reft were confined, and gave the alarm. Upon which they drove out the Seapoys that followed Smith, with plates and dishes, and every thing they could find. The Seapoys, then loaded, fired in at the doors and windows, till every man fell. Capt. Tobby wrefted the itons off his hands (for all the officers were in irons), and refifted for a long time; but at laft received two or three cuts in his head, and fell with the rest.

Think, my friend, what a fhocking fight this must have been, to fee forty-eight gentlemen in this condition, fhot at like dogs, and more than half of them in irons, without any power to defend themfelves. When they fo disabled them as not to be able to make any more refiftance, they went in, and put an end to such as had any life in them, with their bayonets; and then threw them all into a well in the compound. Capt. Jacquer, who was in the little-house when the maffacre began, was not found out for two days; but the inftant he was, they cut him to pieces: they even killed a child a year old of Ellis's. Befides these forty-eight gentlemen that were with Mr Ellis, there were eight or ten more gentlemen in another part of the city, with about forty privates, who were all cut off the night following. A letter from Dr Anderfon to Dr Davidson I inclose to you [xxvi. 628.], by which you will fee a fingular fortitude upon fuch an occafion. You'll fee by the date of this letter, that the maffacre was upon the evening of the 5th and 6th of October.

Our army, as before mentioned, was then befieging Mungeer; which they took the 11th, and immediately marched for Patna; where they arrived the 28th; and after the practicable breach, they took the city by form the morning of the 6th of November, after a moit obftinate refiftance. The place was garrifoned by 20,000 men, of which I am toid near 1000 fell in and near the breach. The flaughter

in the streets was incredible, they thro ed fo much to the gateway, that t could not open it for a confiderable ti and our grenadier Europeans and Seap firing upon them all the time within f yards. I have not heard their lofs co puted, but it must be very confideral Our lofs was about 300 Seapoys, and bout 20 private Europeans. Capt. Irv of Coot's grenadiers killed. He wa noble officer, and had been appointed jor to the 2d battalion of Europeans the company's fervice a few days bef he was killed; but not being out in ders, ftill did duty in the regiment a captain. Capts Champier, Stibbert, a Gailiege wounded, the last through body, Lieut Swinton and Scotland wour ed. The former obje&ed to have his rig arm cut off.

Our army is now on the other fide river Soan, and Callim has croffed Caffumnafifa, and given Sujahdow twenty-feven lacks for his protection; a I fuppofe, when he has him in his pos he will make free with the rest of his tr fure, which is very considerable, for he 200 elephants to carry it from Mungeer.

Thefe are all the particulars I can collect at prefent, by which you'll see have lost the flower of both civil and i litary; and though our army has socce ed in driving Collim out of the proving I think it has coft us very dear inde But after cutting off Amyatt, war co not be avoided. I am, &c. Cal. M

The accounts of thofe events gave mi uneasiness to the proprietors of East-In ftock; especially as it was known t Coflim Ally, befide his rich treafury, got many European officers to difcipl his ftill numerous army. After warm bates, a refolution was at length tal by a majority of the court of directo That in order to restore peace and tra quillity in Bengal, full powers fhould given to Lord Clive, Mr Summer, Bri Gen. Carnac, Mr Varelst, and Mr Sy to purlue whatever means they the think most proper to attain that end. Lordship accepted of the commithion; a accordingly went in the fhips which, the 4th of June last year, failed fr Portsmouth for the East Indies, with veral officers whom he had pitched to attend him. About 1500 recruits been fent off in the fhips which failed long before, that it was fuppofed would arrive at Bengal in the months July and August that fame year.

PF

69

THE next money-bill presented to the houfe, was that for granting to his Majefty a certain fum of money out of the feking fund, for the fervice of the year 1764; and for preventing, in certain cafra, the obtaining of allowances in refpect the leakage of wines imported into the kingdom. Upon occafion of this 4, the reader is defired to recollect the and refolution of March 10. and the 4th of March 13. of the ways-and-means mittee, and the orders made in conSequence of them [xxvi. 589. xxvii. 13.]. da obedience to these orders, the bill was prefented March 21. was read a firft time then, and a fecond time on the 23d, and committed for the 26th; on which y the committee were inftructed to receive a claufe of credit, and alfo a claufe for making forth duplicates of exchequer bik, lottery-tickets, certificates, annuity. erders, and other orders, loft, burnt, or otherwife deftroyed. Several amendments were made by the committee, and the bill having paffed both houses, received the roval aflent on the 5th of April.

By this law it is enacted, That there fould be iffued and applied by the treatry out of the monies of the finking fund 4after paying, or referving fufficient to gay, all fuch fums as had been directed any former act to be paid thereout) towards making good the supply granted for the fervice of the year 1764, a fum set exceeding 2,000,000 l.; the treafury are impowered to raife the faid fums by s or exchequer-bills, at an intereft thout limitation; and it is made lawful for any perfons, natives or foreigners, and for the bank, by a particular claufe, to lend any fum, or fums, not exceeding Ate fald fum of 2,000,000 i. and to represe fuch intereft for the fame as the Strafory thall allow; which loans fhall not be rated or affeffed to any tax or af Meinent what loever. Then in purfuance the refolution of March 13. there is Padded a claute for preventing any allow ce in refpect of the leakage of wines ater May 1. 1764, upon wines not imported direly from the place of their owth, or ufual place of their firft fhipg. And, laftly, in pursuance of the econd instruction above mentioned, there claufe added, and in confequence tereof an addition made to the title, for making forth duplicates of exchequer VOL. XXVII.

lills, &c. upon proof made before one of the barons of exchequer, of its being deftroyed, and upon giving fecurity to the officer who makes forth the duplicate, to fave him harmlefs, in cafe the exchequerbill, or other public fecurity, faid to have been destroyed, fhould afterwards ap. pear, and payment be demanded.

From this abftract the reader must see, that by the act it is not fo much as prefumed, that the annual furplus of the finking-fund will amount to 2,000,000 l.; nor does it feem to have been defigned that no more than one year's clear pro duce of that fund fhould be iffued and applied to the fupply of 1764; because, if it had, it would have been faid, that there fhall be iffed and applied by the treafury, out of the monies of the finking-fund, arifen, or to arife before the day of

1765, (after paying or referving, &c.). From the act itself therefore no difpute could have arifen about the amount of the annual furplus of the finking fund; but on the 20th of March there was published in our newspapers a panegyrick upon the conduct of our administration. [xxvi. 419.]

This panegyrick of courfe raised the indignation of all thofe who have lifted them felves in the oppofition, and confequently occafioned many debates without doors, and feveral pamphlets: but before I give any account of them, I must explain what is meant by the furplus of the finking fund, as it is a term that did not originally be long to that fund, which at first confift ed only of furpluffes or exceffes, and was wholly appropriated to the payment of our debts contracted before 1716. But befide thefe furpluffes, a great many funds or taxes have fince been transferred to the finking fund, and it has been charged with the payment of the intereft growing due yearly upon the debts with which thofe funds or taxes were originally charged; after the payment of which, what↓ ever remains is called the furplus of the tinking fund; an account of which is ufually made out at the end of the year, or once a year, and laid before parliament; confequently, when we speak in general of the furplus of the finking fund, it is always fuppofed that we mean the annual furplus; and therefore we must fuppofe, that by the furplus of the finking fund, ftated in this panegyrick at 2,000,000 L is meant the annual furplus. La

Every