rend or enemy to bring one fingle in tance of my being influenced by interestd motives to the Company's disadvanaze, or to do any act that could reflect jihonour to my country or the Comany in any one action of my administraon, either as Governor or Commanding }socer. I little expected ever to have ad my conduct impeached, or to have eceived such treatment from the Court f Directors, especially after the many ubiic and honourable testimonies of aprobation I had received. opy of the Company's letter to Col. Clive, the thanks of the General Court, have been hitherto conveyed through the channel of our general letters; but the late extraordinary and unexpected revolution in Bengal, in which you have had so great a share of action both in the cabinet and in the field, merits our more particular regard; and we do accordingly embrace this opportunity of returning you our most sincere and hearty thanks for the zeal, good conduct, and intrepidity, which you have so eminently exerted on this glorious occasion, as well as for the great and solid advantages resuiting therefrom to the East-India Company. We earnestly wish your health may permit your continuance in India for such further term as will give you an opportunity of securing the foundation you have laid, as likewise to give your affistance in putting the Company's mercantile and civil affairs on a proper and advantageous footing, upon the plans now transmitted. For this purpose, as well as in confideration of your eminent services, we have appointed you Governor and President of Fort William in Bengal, and its dependencies, in the manner mentioned in the general letter by this conveyance, to which we have annexed an additional allowance of Iooo!. a-year, as a testimony of our great regard for you.” India Company. After about twentyfour hours mature confideration, I took upon myself to break through this opinion of the council, and ordered the army to cross the river. I don't recollect any memorial from Capt. Coote on that occasion, nor was he of rank sufficient at this time to have any influence upon my conduct; whatever I did upon that occafion, I did without receiving advice from any one. Adjourned. - Martis, 280 die Aprilis, 1772. Mr Moreton (pursuant to order) presented several books and papers. Lord Clive. Calcutta was taken by Seraiah Dowla in June 1756, upon the pretence of a black merchant being protected by the English. Mr Watts was abrut two or three months employed in the negotiation of the revolution. The correspondence was carried on entirely between myself and Mr Watts: do not know exactly the amount of the treasure of Serajah Dowla, but believe about three or four millions. The final terms of the agreement between Meer Jaffier and Mr Watts, were not agreed upon till a few days before the march of the army. Mr Lushington was the person who signed Admiral Watson's name to the fićtitious treaty by my order. Mr Wilsh. Myself and Mr Lushington went together to Calcutta with the treaty. There is a letter from Colonel Clive, which was carried by me and Mr Lushington from the French gardens, where the army then lay, to the committee. Returned with the treaties figned in the evening. Cannot recollect whether I went to Admiral Watson. Do not now recolle&t the whole transaction. Only recolle&t that the treaties were sent, and brought back again. My idea has always been, that Mr Watson refused to sign the fictitious treaty, but permitted Mr Lushington to do it for him. The fictitious treaty was called Lol Coggedge, from being wrote on red paper. I remember Omichund was very earnest in his inquiry after that particular paper, after the Nabob was put upon the Mufnut. Dord Clive. All the letters in cipher that passed between Mr Watts and myself, are not entered in the country-correspondence, or any where else. I have got some of the letters, but do not know whether I have the letter where mention is made of Omichund's demand of five per cent. on the treasures, and thirty lacks. The fictitious treaty, to the best Vol. XXXIV. |