The Vizier acquiefced in this measure with reluctance, and marks of extreme disgust. Not that he wished to deprive this chief of his poffeffions, but he was averfe to a foreign interference in behalf of a person whom he confidered his immediate vassal, and who, by obtaining fo ftrong a fupport, would naturally deviate from that ftate of fubordination in which fuch landholders are placed under an 'effective Mahometan government. Shujah-udDowlah, though accomplished in his manners, and endowed with an address that distinguished him among the politest of his countrymen, could not suppress the indignation he felt at the English Governor's defire, to have Cheyt Sing feated in his prefence. But the Vizier was then preparing a fuit* of fuch an importance to "that the expences of a brigade fhall be computed at two lacks and ten thousand (2,10,000) cicca rupees per month, according to the currency of the province of Oude, Ly a brigade, is meant as follows ་ "Two battalions of Europeans, "The expence of the faid troops fhall be defrayed by the Vizier, from the time they shall have pafed the border of the province; and exclufive of the above men"tioned fem, no more on any account fhall be demanded from hin Should the Company and the English chiefs have occafion to fend for the troops of the Vizier, the "Company, and the English chiefs, fhall alfo pay their expence in the like manner.-❝ Signed, faled, and folemnly fworn to, by the contracting parties, September the "7th, 1773." A fupply of troops for the conque of Rohilcund. his his fchemes, that had his refentments been keener, they would have been facrificed to its accomplishment. THAT he might the more effectually prevent English merchants or their agents from refiding or negociating in his country, the Vizier obtained permiffion at this time to impofe large duties on the importation of Bengal, and European merchandize. He had witnessed the rapacious monopoly which the fervants of the Company had exercised in Bengal, and knew that many of the calamities which had befallen that country, might be justly ascribed to the European affumption of its commerce, which had been conducted on terms so partial to themselves, that almost every other trader was obliged to purchase an European name to cover his property. It is faid, that when Shujah-ud-Dowlah has been folicited to receive an English merchant into his country, he has offered him an immediate fum of money, rather than risk the admiffion of a system that appeared wholly deftructive of the true principles of trade. On the conclufion of the Benares treaty, the Vizier carried his arms against the Mahrattah garrifons in the Duab, which he feverally expelled; and extended his conquests as far to the westward as the Fort of Jaunfy.* The main body of the Mahrattah army having moved into the Decan, without leaving a fufficient force to Jaunfy ftands on the western extremity of the Kalpy territory. See Rennell's map. maintain maintain their Duab poffeffions, they fell to the Vizier without refistance. A large divifion of the country which he acquired in this campaign, had pertained to Ahmed Khan Bungufh, the late chief of Furruckabad, who was fucceeded by his adopted fon, Muzzuffer Jung; a youth, whom the Mahrattas foon stripped of his most valuable districts. The Vizier, to induce the neutrality of the Patans of Furruckabad, during his Duab expedition, promised in the event of the Mahrattah expulsion, to restore to Muzzuffer Jung all the territory that had been poffeffed by Ahmed Khan.' That the conduct of an Indian prince, in pursuit of a favourite object, or in the gratification of his ambition, may be specifically viewed, I will infert the Vizier's treaty with Muzzuffer Jung, in which is feen a folemn protestation made to God, the most endearing terms of friendship and affection pledged to man, boldly used as the inftruments of treachery and dishonour. The ceremony of an oath is esteemed amongst the prefent race of Mahometans, a fhallow trite artifice, and is only adopted by those, who, from a want of stronger refource, are driven to the neceffity of adopting fecondary aids. THE treaty fets forth, "That in confequence of the friend"ship, that has for a long time subsisted between Muzzuffer Jung, " and my ancestors, and me, I have adopted him for my child. "By the grace of God, I will do whatever may be for his good "or advantage, I will confider his business, his friends, and his "enemies, as mine; and until our last breath, we engage for our"felves, - "felves, and for our defcendants and fucceffors, that we will re"main united.--I swear, by the Almighty God, by his Prophet, " and the Holy Koran, never to vary or depart from this treaty, upon condition that my beloved fon Muzzuffer Jung do adhere "to it also on his part. In witness whereof, these lines are writ"ten in the ftyle of a treaty. By the grace of God, whenever "the Mahrattas are conquered, and driven out of the country,' "and mine enemies expelled, I will deliver up to my dearly beloved fon, Muzzuffer Jung, the territories he formerly poffeffed, and " which he has loft in the war, to the Mahrattas. Dated accord"ing to the Christian æra, January, 1774." SHUJAH-UD-DOWLAH did expel the Mahrattas from the Bunguh territory; but he did not fulfil the tenor of his treaty with Muzzuffer Jung, to whom, on the success of the Mahratta campaign, he gave a small sum of money, but no part of the country which had been so folemnly promised. THE grand object of the Vizier's ambition had ripened into maturity, and was now publicly avowed: he applied to the English Government for a body of troops, to affift in the conquest of Rohilcund, the chiefs of which, he reprefented, had refused to perform their engagements with him, and had ever been the inveterate enemies of his houfe. The Government appear to have been deeply embarrassed by the Vizier's requifition: they saw the danger of carrying their arms against a remote and warlike people, and they felt a difficulty in framing the cause of a war against a nation from from whom they had received no injury. After an indecifive deliberation of fome days, they confented to commit the unreserved management of the Oude negotiation to the Governor. He also expreffed an averfion to extend the military operations of the English to so distant a quarter, and proposed, that a demand of fuch magnitude should be made for the aid required, that the Vizier would neceffarily be induced to withdraw the application. Conformably to this counfel, an English brigade was tendered to the Vizier, for the purpose of promoting the conqueft of Rohilcund ; on the condition of four lacks of rupees being paid to the Company on the completion of the fervice, and the monthly fubfidy of two lacks and ten thousand rupees, during the refidence of the troops in his dominions. The conduct of Government does not authorize an inference that the Vizier would ultimately refuse his affent to these terms; for an order was dispatched to the factory at Patna, directing that the motions of a brigade stationed in that quarter, fhould, without further communication with the Prefidency, be directed by the future instructions of the Vizier, who was at the fame time advised of the measure that had been adopted. -The Vizier, thus powerfully aided in the prosecution of his favorite scheme, conducted his operations with celerity. The Governor had not informed the Council of the Vizier's designs on Rohilcund until the latter end of November,* yet the brigade VOL. I. * 1773. Y marched |