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
"The Nabob, upon my representation of the great expense of such an
army as will be necessary to support him in his government, the large
sums due for restitution, and to the navy, together with an annual
tribute, which he will be under a necessity of paying to the King,
hath consented, and I have agreed, provided it should obtain your
approbation, that all the revenues of the country shall be appropriated
to those purposes, 50 lacs of rupees excepted. Out of this sum is to be
defrayed all his expenses of every nature and denomination. Mahommed
Reza Khan, however, being of a disposition extremely timorous, is
desirous of having the payment of the cavalry and sepoys pass through
his hands, though included in the said 50 lacs. This, I think, will be
complied with.
"I am of opinion also, that certain stipends, out of the above
mentioned sum, should be fixed for the Begum, for the Chuta Nabob,
and for the rest of the Nabob's brothers and nephews, Miriam's son
included; or else we must be subject to frequent complaints from those
quarters; for I am persuaded that the dependents and parasites of the
present Nabob will always keep him in distress, be his income what
it may. Although the sum proposed to be stipulated for the Nabob,
considering the present great expenses and demands, may appear large,
yet, by what I now learn, his expense exceeds the sum to be allowed;
and although it is certain that neither his education nor abilities
will enable him to appear to any advantage at the head of these great
and rich provinces, yet, I think, we are bound in honour to support the
dignity of his station, so far as is consistent with the true interest
of the Company.
"The particulars of this matter may be farther adjusted in my absence
by Mr. Sykes, to whom I have communicated my ideas, if the plan be
approved of by the Select Committee; and the whole may be finally
concluded to our satisfaction, upon the Company's being appointed the
King's Duan, who will be empowered, by the nature of their office, as
well as by the King's consent, to settle every point."
Writing the same day to Mr. Verelst, Lord Clive sufficiently
characterises the Nabob by a single trait. "He received the proposal
of having a sum of money for himself and household at his will with
infinite pleasure; and the only reflection he made, upon leaving me,
was, 'Thank God! I shall now have as many dancing girls as I please.'"
It is not to be supposed that the Select Committee would object to a
plan which threw the greater part of the revenue of Bengal into the
hands of the Company, and the treaty was finally concluded in the
course of the same month. The allowance made to the Nabob was raised to
something more than 53 lacs of rupees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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