Memoirs of the Revolution in Bengal, Anno Dom. 1757Watts, William, active 1737-1758
History
Memoirs of the Revolution in Bengal, Anno Dom. 1757
Watts, William, active 1737-1758
East India Company -- History; India -- History -- 1526-1765; Plassey, Battle of, Palashi, India, 1757
The Nabob of _Patna_, whose Name was _Ramnaram_, against whom this
Expedition was made, upon the Approach of the Suba's Army, offered to
submit, and to pay his Tribute regularly, if he was continued in his
Government, and the Suba's Promise was guarantied by Colonel _Clive_.
The Suba requested this as a Favour of the Colonel, and desired that he
would write a Letter to the Nabob, which he accordingly did; and upon
the Faith of that Letter, he came and made his Submission. The great
Product of _Patna_ is Salt-petre, about which there had been formerly
continual Disputes between us and the _Dutch_. At present, it was in the
Hands of neither; but was still a Monopoly under a Lease. Colonel
_Clive_ and Mr. _Watts_, who knew the Consequence of such an Acquisition
to the _English_, proposed the giving it in Lease to them, at the same
Rate, which would be no Prejudice to the Suba; and the Juncture being
favourable, this Proposition was complied with likewise, by which the
Company are annually Gainers of about Two Lack and a half of Rupees, or
something more than Thirty thousand Pounds Sterling. It is evident,
therefore, from these Instances, that no favourable Opportunity was let
slip, no single Occasion lost, that could be turned to the Company's
Advantage.
This Expedition, as it effectually fixed the new Suba in that Dignity,
naturally brings the Memoirs of this Revolution to their Period. We
cannot, however, conclude without observing, that as there could not be
any thing more melancholy than the Situation of the Company's Affairs,
when the Settlement of _Calcutta_ was overwhelmed and destroyed, so
nothing can be more satisfactory than to contemplate the Advantages that
have resulted from this Alteration to the _East India_ Company, the
private and particular Sufferers, and the _British_ Subjects who either
reside in, or may hereafter go and reside in, _Bengal_. In reference to
the Company, the Treaty with the present Suba procured them an ample
Indemnity, without tying them down to a Specification of Losses, which
would have been not more impossible than improper. The Sum was such as
became the Rank and Grandeur of him who gave, and was admirably tinted
to the Situation and Services of those who received. The Point of
Security is likewise fully provided for; the Settlement may be fortified
in such a Manner as to remove all Apprehensions; at the same time that
these mighty Concessions are made, they are made in a Method that
renders them doubly valuable, not through Fear or Compulsion, but with
all possible Marks of Confidence and Esteem. The Interests of the
Company, and the Country Government, are declared to be the same; and to
prevent any Suspicion of Alteration, they are allowed an unrivalled
Superiority, and the Enemies of the one are to be of Course the Enemies
of the other. There is a Provision, as far as such a Provision can be
made, that this Conjunction of Interests shall not be temporary, but
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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