This ftrengthened the Nabob in his new power, and at the fame time we imprudently gave up to his refentment Ramnarain, whofe power was the only check upon him, and whose attachment we had often experienced on the most interesting occafions. By this facrifice we alfo loft the confidence of all the country-powers. The depofing Jaffier Ally Cawn had divided the council and fettlement into two irreconcileable parties; and the new Nibeb himself, not knowing how foon he aight quarrel with his new friends, retired from his capital to a strong fort 300 les from Calcutta; where he bufied nfelf in forming an army on our model; receiving our Seapoys and their officers into his fervice, to teach his troops our difcipline; and procuring a vast quantity of firelocks, inftead of metal locks, with a good train of field-artillery.

In the mean time many difputes arofe between us, concerning fome incroachments on trade on our part; which the Nabob juft complained of, and then checked by force.

Mr Vanfittart, unwilling to use force en bis fide, went up to the Nabob to adjust their differences, and at length con t'uded a treaty; which his council refufed to ratify, because, among other articles, there was one which fubjected our fervants to the Nabob's courts. In fupport of this refufal, they called upon the chiefs of the out-factories who had feats at the hoard; and having over-ruled the Governer, they fent a deputation to the Nabob, confifting of Mr Amyat the fecond, and fame other gentlemen, to demand moré favourable terms. The Nabob, however, afferted the validity of the treaty then in being; and having a full treafuTy, and a large army, he feized fome ats near Patna, for the duties which by that treaty were his right. Mr Ellis, chief at Patna, repelled force with force, and a skirmish enfued, which endin the capture of Patna by our people, with a great flaughter of the Nabob's ople. The next day the Nabob retook the place, and all our troops were in their turn either killed or taken prifoners.

A party, alfo, overtook Mr Amyat, the other pentlemen of the deputaLan, while they were yet within the Nebob's reach, and having killed Mr A yat and Mr Wollafton, both gentlemen very amiable characters, took the reft Fifaners. The council; receiving advice a thefe tranfactions, proclaimed Jaffier

Ally Cawn, without the concurrence of the Governor; and Major Adams, the commanding officer, took the field. By the laft advices, our army, with Jaffier Ally Cawn, was in poffeffion of the capital, and troops were on their march from Fort St George. As foon as the ri vers fall, an action must decide whether Jaffier is Nabob, or the English driven out of the country.

The question then with respect to the late tranfaction at Patna, and its confequences, is not, Whether Mr Vanfittart did right or wrong in depofing Jaffier AllyCawn, and fetting up Collim? but, Whe ther Mr Ellis did right in refufing to pay duties which the Nabob claimed in right of a treaty actually fubfifting between him and the Governor? and, Whether, when the Nabob had recourfe to force, he did right, forcibly to oppofe, fo as to bring on a war between the company and the Nabob, without waiting the event of Mr Amyat's deputation, or a more legal authority than his own for what he did?

As to the revolution, it is feverely condemned in a letter from Col. Coot, Major Carnac, Mr Amyat, Mr Ellis, Mr Bate fon, and Mr Verelft, gentlemen of the council, to the fecret committee of the East-India company here, dated Fort William, March 11. 1762, fome time be fore the late troubles broke out.

The general purport of this letter is as follows. Jaffier Ally Cawn was deposed in breach of a treaty founded upon the moft folemn oaths, and in violation of the national faith, at a time when there was no appearance of a rupture or disgust between us.

As to the crimes laid to the charge of Jaffier, though in themselves they are vcry horrid, yet they are common to all Afiatic princes, or rather to their form of government; for many perfons are cut off without their knowledge, and this was the cafe of many whole deaths are imputed to Jaffier. The cruelties and ex tortions of Collim are more than those of Jaffer; fo that, in this view, nothing is got by the change, nor was there and reafon to expect there would.

The scarcity of provifions, and want of money, were not the effect of the mal-adminiftration of Jaffer's favourites. Grain has been more fcarce at Calcutta fince than before; and the want of money proceeded from the diftrasted ftate of the country ever fince Lord Clive's departure; fo that fearce any money came in, or

could

could come in to his treafury. The Burdwan and Naddea counties were affigned over to the company, for the payment of the Nabob's debt. Midnapor, the frontier to the S. W. was over-run by the Marattas; Burboon, and other governments, with the province of Pucca, were affected towards the Shah Zada, who had the whole province of Bahar under contribution, except the city of Patna, and a fmall district round it; Chittagong, the eaftern barrier, did little more than defend itself against the incurfions of the Mugs, inhabitants of Aracan, who come every year into Bengal for plunder; fo that there remained only the province of Decca, the diftricts round Morfhedabad, with the countries of Radfhy, and Danagepoor, to fupply the immenfe expence of the war. With one fourth of the accustomed revenues, he was obliged to maintain a great er army than any Nabob maintained before him.

The people in general were dissatisfied with the revolution, notwithstanding Mr Vanfittart's memorial afferts the contrary; and Coflim Cawn was, before his exaltation, univerfally defpifed and detefted, for the mof flagitious tyranny and oppreflion. The apparent perfidy and breach of faith by which the revolution was effected, have left an indelible ftain upon our national character, and injured us in the epinion of the natives.

Jaffier was unwilling to part with his power, and uneafy under the lofs of it, though the contrary has been afferted; and this appears incontestably from his letters to the company, and to Col. Clive.

Though the company have obtained confiderable advantages by the revolution, yet greater ought to have been obtained by more honourable means; and the prefent tranquil ftate of the country is not the effect of the revolution, but of the victory obtained over Shah Zada, which would have taken place if the revolution had never happened. This would at once have removed the difficulties complained of under Jaffer; and, but for this, the fame difficulties would have remained under Coffim, To what then must this revolution be imputed? To want of knowledge, and an error in judgment? This might perhaps have been the cafe, if Mr Vanfittart, and the rest of the proprietors, had not acknowledged that a prefent was promifed them by Coffim of 20 lack [about 250,ccol. xx. 38.], to be delivered after the company's debts were paid, and the army

fatisfied. The letter writers had also ve ry confiderable fums offered them, to joi in Coffin's measures, which they conftant ly made public, and refused.

As Coffim has bought his power, it reasonable to expect he will make the no of his purchase; and as the fate of Jath has convinced him how little confidence to be placed in our friendship, he will na turally endeavour to establish himself on more permanent and stable foundation which he is doing already, by increafin and difciplining his troops after our mat ner, and making his place of residence be yond our reach.

The Shah Zada, who fucceeded to th throne of Delhi before he left Benga and who, after his defeat, put himself u der our protection, offered us the Dewat ny of Bengal. This poft is the collecti of all the revenues, and would have pr duced near 15 lack yearly, exclufive the lands of Burdwan, Midnapoor, at Chittagong, which his Majetty alfo offe ed to confirm to the company.

It is hard to conceive why fo honourab and advantageous an offer fhould be t jected; and what renders the refufal mo extraordinary, is, that it is well know application was made to the King, for after Mr Vanfittart's arrival, in Jaffi Ally Cawn's time, for the funads or gran of the province of Bengal, which were a tually drawn out to be fent to us ; b the revolution in favour of Colim Al Cawn, taking place in the interim, an e tire ftop was put to the negotiation.

This letter concludes with the follo ing important address to the company.

"The King has applied for your allil ance, to fettle him on the throne, and recover fuch parts of his territories as a ftill in the hands of rebels. It is our pinion, that we have troops enough form an army for the enterprise; mat confiderable powers, friends to the King from different parts, would flock to th royal standard, should we ever take ti field; and our army most probably (as t King himself has frequently declared would march to the gates of Delhi with out oppofition. We most humbly fubm to you, whether fo glorious an opportuni ty of aggrandizing the company in Indo ftan fhould not be embraced; and leave to yourselves to judge the reputation an advantages which would refult to them if through the means of the British arm his Majefly fhould be eftablished on b throne.

B

could come in to his treafury. The Burdwan and Naddea counties were affigned over to the company, for the payment of the Nabob's debt. Midnapor, the frontier to the S. W. was over-run by the Marattas; Burboon, and other governments, with the province of Pucca, were affected towards the Shah Zada, who bad the whole province of Bahar under contribution, except the city of Patna, and a Small diftrict round it; Chittagong, the eaftern barrier, did little more than defend itself against the incurfions of the Mugs, inhabitants of Aracan, who come every year into Bengal for plunder; so that there remained only the province of Decca, the diftricts round Morfhedabad, with the countries of Radfhy, and Danagepoor, to fupply the immenfe expence of the war. With one fourth of the accustomed revenues, he was obliged to maintain a great er army than any Nabob maintained be

fore him.

The people in general were dissatisfied with the revolution, notwithstanding Mr Vanfittart's memorial afferts the contrary; and Coflim Cawn was, before his exaltation, univerfally defpifed and detefted, for the mofl flagitious tyranny and oppreflion. The apparent perfidy and breach of faith by which the revolution was effected, have left an indelible ftain upon our national character, and injured us in the epinion of the natives.

Jaffier was unwilling to part with his power, and uneafy under the lofs of it, though the contrary has been afferted; and this appears inconteftably from his letters to the company, and to Col. Clive.

Though the company have obtained confiderable advantages by the revolution, yet greater ought to have been obtained by more honourable means; and the prefent tranquil state of the country is not the effect of the revolution, but of the victory obtained over Shah Zada, which would have taken place if the revolution had never happened. This would at once have removed the difficulties complained of under Jaffer; and, but for this, the fame difficulties would have remained under Coffim. To what then must this revolution be imputed? To want of knowledge, and an error in judgment? This might perhaps have been the cafe, if Mr Vanfittart, and the rest of the proprietors, had not acknowledged that a prefent was promifed them by Coffim of 20 lack [about 250,ccol. xx. 38.], to be delivered after the company's debts were paid, and the army

fatisfied. The letter writers had also ve ry confiderable fums offered them, to joi in Coffim's measures, which they conftant ly made public, and refused.

As Coffim has bought his power, it reafonable to expect he will make the mo of his purchase; and as the fate of Jath has convinced him how little confidence to be placed in our friendship, he will na turally endeavour to establish himself on more permanent and stable foundation which he is doing already, by in reafin and difciplining his troops after our mat ner, and making his place of residence b yond our reach.

The Shah Zada, who fucceeded to th throne of Delhi before he left Beng and who, after his defeat, put himself u der our protection, offered us the Dewai ny of Bengal. This poft is the collecti of all the revenues, and would have pr duced near 15 lack yearly, exclufive the lands of Burdwan, Midnapoor, a Chittagong, which his Majesty alfo offe ed to confirm to the company.

It is hard to conceive why fo honoura! and advantageous an offer fhould be jected; and what renders the refufal me extraordinary, is, that it is well know application was made to the King, fo after Mr Vanfittart's arrival, in Jaff Ally Cawn's time, for the funads or gra of the province of Bengal, which were tually drawn out to be fent to us ; the revolution in favour of Collim Cawn, taking place in the interim, an tire ftop was put to the negotiation.

This letter concludes with the follo ing important address to the company.

"The King has applied for your alli ance, to fettle him on the throne, and recover fuch parts of his territories as a ftill in the hands of rebels. It is our pinion, that we have troops enough form an army for the enterprise; mai confiderable powers, friends to the Kin from different parts, would flock to t royal standard, fhould we ever take t field; and our army most probably (as King himself has frequently declare would march to the gates of Delhi wit out oppofition. We moft humbly fub to you, whether fo glorious an opportun ty of aggrandizing the company in Ind ftan fhould not be embraced; and leave to yourselves to judge the reputation at advantages which would refult to the if through the means of the British arm his Majefly fhould be eftablished on h throne.

B

But fhould you be unwilling to extend our connections further up the country, and inftead of accepting the dewanny of Bengal, chufe to confine your views to var new acquifitions, and to the trade of sengal alone, we beg leave to offer it as opinion, that we ought to maintain an interest in the country, independent of Nabob, by fupporting in power fuch nas have proved themselves our friends. The will ferve as a balance against him, dhe entertain evil defigns against 1 Gent. Mag.

Co our banks and paper-currency. Have, with a good deal of attention, read the feveral effays, and refolutions e diferent counties, concerning banks edpper-money, that have lately been hed; in every one of which it feems the agreed, that the multiplicity of the per-currency of this country is become pallic nuisance, and the inconveniency danger of it severely felt in all corof the country. For this fome have bed one reafon, and fome another; all have been confulting how to ta ftop to the growing evil, and ree the country of the diftreffes it has thereby fallen into. The first refolutions the counties feemed to bid fair for this end. They refolved to take no notes in arment after a certain time, but those of the two banks [xxv. 522, 80.] of Edin gh. This certainly would have done the bonefs effectually, if it had been Titly adhered to: and it was believed, the different counties where fuch refo⚫ ons had been taken, and even in the ser counties, that none of the notes the upftart banks would, after that ed, have any currency; and people *were poffeffed of them were at fome to get rid of them. The adhering ich a refolution, would at least have verted all our paper-currency into notes the Royal Bank and Bank of Scotland, which would have been much fafer elmore convenient for the lieges. One good reason why thefe refolutions ed abortive was, that the trading et of the world were glad to accept of notes in payment, rather than lie out their money, and run the risk of lofing altogether. It was eafy for the coungentleman, in payment of his rents, refufe taking any notes but Edinburgh es; but the man of bufinefs found he wald foon lofe his cuftomers, if he did at take whatever notes were offered him.

VOL. XXVI,

But there feems to me to have been another cause why the first refolutions never took place: About the time when they ought to have taken place, the gentlemen of Renfrewshire found out, that the diftrefs into which the country was thrown, was not owing to the multiplicity of banks, but to the optional clause in the notes [xxv. 588.]. This diverted the people's attention: and they did not care what notes they took, if the optional claufe was to be taken away; and upon thefe two words, optional claufe, the gentlemen of Aberdeenshire have just now laid the foundation of all our calamities, viz. the great and daily increase, and boundless extent of paper-money, the fcarcity of gold and filver coin, the high exchange between Scotland and England, &c. [20.]. For my part, I cannot conceive how a thing fo evidently calculated to keep the fpecie among us, fhould have met with fuch general dislike at present. I think it is pretty plain, that the more obftacles lie in the way of getting specie for notes at the bank, the less fpecie will be carried out of the country; and, on the other hand, if the banks pay always readily in gold, or without taking the benefit of the option, the more fpecie will be carried away to England; for I will venture to affirm, that nine tenths of all the fpecie given out at the banks, goes to the country of England. If the fpecie given out at the banks were to circulate in Scotland, and go from hand to hand amongst traders and manufacturers, things would foon wear a new face. Let us fuppofe that the banks were to send 500 or 1000l. in fpecie to every little trading town in Scotland; would it circulate a fortnight among them before it was in the hands of the English? Is there at prefent in Scotland a dealer in English goods (and how few dealers are there in any thing elfe?) that is not daily taking every opportunity of feizing all the fpecie he can get, to fend to pay his English merchant? Thofe indeed that send riders to this country to receive their money, their riders accept of bank-notes from their customers, and they again demand the fpecie of the banks: fo that in both cafes the lofs falls upon the banks. If any one will take the trouble to look into the Newcastle waggon going from Edinburgh, or any of the Leith trading ships going for London, they will fee fuch vaft fums of fpecie going up as muft furprise the most inattentive, and give every lover

N

of