The Life of Robert, Lord Clive, Vol. 1 (of 3): Collected from the Family Papers Communicated by the Earl of PowisMalcolm, John
History
The Life of Robert, Lord Clive, Vol. 1 (of 3): Collected from the Family Papers Communicated by the Earl of Powis
Malcolm, John
Clive, Robert Clive, Baron, 1725-1774; India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947
"Your acceptable letter I have received: the purport of it I have
duly attended to. You write that the sepoys are all unanimous in this
affair, which I am very glad of. At present, it is your business to
put in immediate execution the affair in which you are engaged. I will
be with you in time: with regard to the expenses, I have wrote to Meer
Allee, who will supply you.
"I have talked with Sayeed Cossim Ali Khan as far as necessary, and
half engaged his consent. As you judge most effectual, do you bring
him entirely over to our design. What was agreed upon between us, you
may be assured shall be fully complied with: of this you may rest
perfectly satisfied. By the means of Mr. Watts and Mr. Scrafton I
have communicated the whole affair to Sabut Jung, and have gained his
concurrence in it. Sabut Jung's tunkaw money, and the sepoys' arrears,
I have taken upon myself.
"Let these particulars entirely satisfy you in this affair, which I
desire you will bring to a speedy conclusion."
Mr. Hastings, in the letter to Clive which accompanies this document,
observes, "Whether the letter is genuine or forged, I shall leave to
yourself to judge, and time to determine. I own I cannot help making
one obvious remark,--that if Roy Dullub was really the author of the
letter, it will be a matter of some difficulty to find out what his
intent could have been in writing it; as it appears of very little
consequence towards the design in hand, and rather calculated to
discover the whole affair, and put himself entirely in Cajah Haddee's
power, than to answer any other purpose, at least that I can discover."
[232] To the Council of Fort William, 5th December, 1758.
[233] Private letter to Mr. Drake, sen., 30th December, 1758.
[234] Shah Zada means "King's son;" but, in India, has latterly been
always applied, by way of distinction, to the princes of the family of
Delhi. Indeed, before the assumption of the title of Sultan by Tippoo,
and of that of Shah by the present Vizier of Oude, no Indian Mahommedan
prince or chief, in recent times, ever styled himself Sovereign.
[235] Mr. Hastings, in his letter to Clive of the 8th July, 1759,
observes, "The Nabob suspects Ram Narrain to have taken the part of
the King's son; which I do not wonder at, as the Nabob has never been
thoroughly reconciled to Ram Narrain."
[236] Aurungzebe died at Ahmednagar, in the Deckan, on the 21st
February, 1707.
[237] The name of this chief was Meer Shah-u-Deen. He took the title of
his father, Ghazee-u-Deen, or, "The Champion of the Faith."
[238] This prince is often called Ali Gohur; but the title of Shah Alum
(or, "King of the World") is that by which he designates himself in
all his letters written at this period. The Vizier, in his letters to
Clive, gives the Prince this title; and it is also that by which he has
since become so well known, as titular Emperor of Delhi, throughout a
long life of vicissitude and misfortune.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account