The Life of Robert, Lord Clive, Vol. 3 (of 3): Collected from the Family Papers Communicated by the Earl of PowisMalcolm, John
History
The Life of Robert, Lord Clive, Vol. 3 (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
Our attention has hitherto been too exclusively directed to Lord
Clive's civil and military reforms, to admit of any connected view of
the very important treaties which he negotiated with the native powers,
and which really changed the face of India. We have seen that one of
his first objects, after his arrival in Bengal, was to conclude a
peace with Sujah-u-Dowlah, the Vizier, Nabob of Oude, and to make some
arrangement with our ally, the King. The war, though successful, had
long been carried on at an expense ruinous to the Company's finances.
With these objects he resolved to combine a settlement with the young
Nabob of Bengal (whose finances were in disorder), so as to place
his and the Company's affairs on a definite and solid basis. Clive
had left Calcutta on the afternoon of the 25th of June, 1765, and on
the 9th of July writes to the Select Committee, that the business of
Nujm-u-Dowlah's durbar was perfectly finished. By the arrangement
then entered into, provision was made for the management of public
affairs at the Nabob's court, and in the three provinces, the immediate
administration of which was committed to Mahommed Reza Khan, Doolubram,
and Jugget Seit, and regulations were signed by them and the Nabob for
that purpose. A barrier was thus provided against the shifting policy
and intrigues of a corrupt court, and a weak and ignorant prince. At
the same time Lord Clive procured from the Nabob a sunnud for the
reversion in perpetuity of his jaghire to the Company. But he now
plainly saw that things could not stop where they were. The truth is,
that it was now clear enough, that two independent governments could
not exist in the country at the same time. The one must swallow up the
other; and the Company having the sword in their hand, and not being
disposed to recede, it was necessary to reduce the Nabob to a cipher.
Two days afterwards[91] Clive writes to the Select Committee;--"We have
often lamented that the gentlemen of the Council, by precipitating the
late treaty, had lost the most glorious opportunity that could ever
happen of settling matters upon that solid and advantageous footing for
the Company, which no temporary invasion could endanger. The true and
only security for our commerce and territorial possessions in this
country is, in a manner, always to have it in our power to overawe
the very Nabob we are bound by treaty to support. A maxim contrary to
this has of late been much adopted; and from that fundamental error,
as I may call it, have sprung the innumerable evils, or at least
deficiencies, in our government, which, I have now the pleasure to
inform you, are in a fair way of being perfectly removed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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