vefted the Vizier with the hereditary poffeffion of the province of Oude.

THIS prince was now feen to apply with a vigilant affiduity to the administration of his affairs. The revenue department was committed to the charge of men of ability and credit, who in the space of a few years enabled him to discharge a large debt, and to accumulate a fund for the fnpply of public exigencies.

On his arrival at Oude, after the Allahabad treaty, he called together, it is faid, his principal officers, and making known to them the engagements he had made with the English, he defired their aid in performing the obligation. Through this mode of requisition, which is often practifed by the princes of India in time of need, the Vizier obtained fome aid; though far fhort of his neceflities. His Begum, feeing the difficulties that furrounded him, and the diftreffed ftate of his mind, divefted herself of the jewels, and other valuable ornaments the poffeffed, and entreated that the amount might be applied to the arrangement of his affairs. It is mentioned, that Shujah-ud-Dowlah was fo warmly affected by this mark of the Begum's attachment, which wholly removed his embarrassment, that he folemnly swore, he would never, while he refided in the fame place, absent himself from her apartment after a certain hour of the night; and that he would thenceforth ever esteem her his faithful friend and counfellor. Nor does it appear that he deviated from the vow he made to the Begum, who be

came from that day the repofitory of his treasure, and all his fecret tranfactions.

THE defeat at Buxar, having relieved the Vizier from the maintenance of a turbulent crowd of cavalry, he began to introduce in his army, a fyftem of order and regular payment. He had feen that the excellency of the European troops consisted in discipline, the quality of their arms, and the fkilful management of artillery. He therefore made ftrenuous and unceafing efforts in forming a body of infantry, with its requifite eftablishment of cannon, after the European manner. The undertaking was arduous, and fuch as few Afiatic princes could have executed. But the genius, activity, and perfeverance of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, surmounted the various obftacles, which rooted prejudice and constitutional habit had raised to oppofe him. Under the direction of fome Frenchmen whom he had invited into his fervice, an arsenal was founded at Fyzeabad, where guns, mufquets and shot, with other military stores, were fabricated with skill and expedition.— From this new magazine, about ten battalions of infantry, and a finall train of artillery, were equipped. Though this body was formed at the expence of large fums, and much labour, fuch judicious arrangements had been adopted for the government of his country, that fufficient funds were created to defray the charge, and to produce a respectable treasury. The cavalry, which at the battle of Buxar amounted to 30,000, appears at this time to have

been

been reduced to little more than 5,000 men. The Vizier derived an effential benefit from the English garrison, that was stationed at Allahabad, which keeping that quarter in awe, relieved him from the neceffary expence of protecting a frontier country.

In the year 1768, Shujah-ud-Dowlah faw himself in the poffeflion of a well appointed army, a treafury competent to its charge, and a flourishing productive territory. This quick progrefs, in endeavouring to diffolve the fubordinate connexion into which he had been forced, and to extend his power, attracted the notice of Colonel Smith, who was ftationed at Allahabad.—This officer reprefented the conduct of Oude, as dangerous to the interest of the nation, and demanding an immediate interpofition.. The council, roufed by this information, deputed Meffrs. Cartier, Ruffell, and Colonel Smith, to the Vizier, to expoftulate on the tendency of his military preparations; which indicated, they obferved, a want of confidence in their friendship and fupport. The deputies held a conference with the Vizier at Benares, in the month of November, 1768; when after much acrimonious altercation, he confented, though with a deep mortification and reluctance, to limit the ftrength of his troops to the following. number and denomination,

Cavalry,

Irregulars, not to be clothed, difciplined, or

armed, after the manner of the English fepoys,

or Nujjeeb regiment,

9,500

35,000

THE Vizier confidered this reftriction as no lefs unjust, than it was difgraceful to him; but, incapable of avowedly oppofing the requifition of fuch powerful and jealous allies, he refolved to execute his plans with more addrefs, though without any effential deviation from the object that biaffed all his actions: and it is a well known fact, that he did not, in confequence of the treaty of Benares, difmifs one foldier from his fervice! His proceedings were conducted with caution, and he was fuccefsful in procuring, amongst the English themfelves, zealous and able advocates; but the Vizier faw that his ambition and fchemes of aggrandifement, would ever be encountered by the jealoufy of the English, whom he now beheld with mistrust and refentment; and knowing the French were the common enemy of our nation, the Vizier held out many inducements to engage their affistance.

IN

In the year 1772, a Mahratta army, commanded by the chiefs, Scindia, Halcar, and Hurry Punt, penetrating into Hindoftan, laid waste the Duab, and poffeffed themselves of the Etajoh diftricts, together with all the territory of Ahmed Khan Bungish, except the town and environs of Furruckabad. An invafion so formidable had alarmed the Rohilla chiefs, who, on the approach of the Mahrattas, folicited the Vizier to procure the aid of an English brigade; for which they offered the fum of forty lacks of rupees. The Vizier, anxious for the fafety of his own country, on the confines of which the enemy were already encamped, accepted, without hesitation, a proposal that would enable him to defray the expences of a body of troops, from which he himself would derive an effential benefit; and he, fome time in the year 1772, applied to the English Government, for a fupply of forces to defend his dominions against the threatened invasion of the Mahrattas. Conformably to this requifition, an English brigade proceeded to Benares, whence a detachment of three native battalions, joined by the forces of the Vizier, marched to the frontiers of Rohilcund; the interiour parts of which the Mahrattas were then laying waste. The commencement of the periodical rains, and the near approach of the combined army, obliged them to rapidly crofs the Ganges. The Mahrattas, in the following year,* again entered Rohilcund where they committed much devaftation; but they retreated on

* 1773.

the