marched in the following January, and in the short space of about three months, the Rohillas were completely defeated in a pitched battle that was fought in the centre of their country. Near five thoufand of them were killed and wounded; but the lofs became irretrievable by the death of their chief, who was flain in the action. Hafiz Rhamut, though he bled in an honourable cause, merited a milder fate. He had never been the enemy of the English, and he had protected Shujah-ud-Dowlah at the lowest ebb of his fortunes.

AFTER the engagement, Fyze-ullah Khan retreated with a large party of the routed army to Lall Dong, where he took post on the fide of a steep hill. The Vizier, accompanied by the English brigade, invested the intrenchments of the Rohillas, who being reduced to various diftrefs, from a confined unhealthy fituation, and ferving under a leader of no military talents, they proposed earnest terms of accommodation to the English commanding officer; who urged, and prevailed on the Vizier, after a long struggle, to liberate Fyze-ullah, and cede to him a certain territory in Rohilcund. This chief, before the war, held the Jaguir of Rampour, rated at five lacks of rupees; but this con

* The battle was fought on the 23d of April, 1774, near the village of Teffunah. -For the fituation, Vide Rennell's map.

+ Shujah-ud-Dowlah, with his family, took refuge in Rohilcund after the battle of Buxar.

The northern boundary of Rohilcund.

vention*

vention* invested him with a revenue of fifteen lacks, and the moft fertile quarter of Rohilcund.

FYZE-ULLAH KHAN, having concluded the negotiation, which was wholly effected by the English officer, with whom a counterpart of the treaty was executed that the fanction of the Company might be obtained, he paid, according to a previous stipulation, a gratuity of fifteen lacks of rupees to the Vizier. The change of

"Whereas friendship is established between me and Fyze-ullah Khan.-I give "unto him Rampour, and some other districts dependent thereon, altogether amount❝ing to 14 lacks and 75,600 rupees yearly; and I direct that the said Fyze-ullah "Khan do on no account take into his pay above 5000 foldiers. I engage, at all times "and on all occafions, to preserve the honor of the said Fyze-ullah Khan, and to act "for his good and advantage, on the condition, that he shall look to no other power "but mine for fupport; that he engages to correspond with no other state than the "English. Our enemies and friends are mutual. Fyze-ullah Khan shall affift me "with 2 or 3000 troops according to his ability. If I go in perfon on any expedition, "or to any part of my dominions, Fyze-ullah Khan fhall attend me; and as the num "ber of 5000 troops which Fyze-ullah Khan is allowed at all times to keep up, is "fmall, and he may be unable to bring them all into the field with him, in fuch cafe, "I will place from 2 to 4000 men under his command, that he may join me with be"coming dignity: the pay of these additional troops to be found by me. It is upon "the abovementioned confiderations that I consent to fettle upon Fyze-ullah Khan "the faid country, and engage to fupport his interefts. If he continue firm in the "performance of this treaty, by the grace of God, I never will be backward in con"fulting his advantage and good. He is to caufe all the Rohillas to crofs the river "Ganges. Sworn by the Holy Koran, calling God and his Prophets to witness to "the performance of these articles."

the fytem of the Bengal Government which began to operate at this time, and was hoftile to the councils of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, might also have impelled him to a fpeedy conclusion of the Rohilla treaty.

In the year 1783, Fyze ullah was liberated from all military vaffalage to the Vizier, on the payment of a sum of money to the English resident at Lucknow, which was applied to the service of the Bengal Government.

BUT had Shujah-ud-Dowlah been permitted to pursue the fyftem of policy which had been obferved to the other Rohilia chiefs, Fyze-ullah would at this day have languished in poverty and dependance. Happily for this chief and the refidue of his nation who have now fertilized and made populous a large tract of country, a powerful advocate came forth in their behalf, who though the leader of a subsidiary body, affumed in an honourable cause, the efficient power of protection. The Vizier,, in an acrimonious complaint preferred against this officer, obferves, " that "as it had been his abfolute determination to extirpate the Rohillas, and for that purpose requested the affiftance of the Eng"lish troops, was it not highly improper in the commanding officer, to enter into fuch a correfpondence without his per"miffion?" The Vizier had in truth refolved to destroy the Rohillas, or expel them; and this refolution shaped the whole form of his conduct during the campaign in Rohilcund. He enter

tained

tained fo rooted a dread of this people from their valour and haughty fpirit, or perhaps a confcioufnefs of the injuries he had already committed, that he would not permit those that were subjected to remain in any part of his dominions.

Ar the close of this general description of the progress of the English arms in Rohilcund, [for the aids afforded by the Vizier can fcarcely claim a notice,] I will infert fome obfervations on the tendency and effects of our engagements with the Vizier in the reduction of that territory. It is manifeftly feen, that the Government of Bengal were either unacquainted with the virtue and extent of their compact with the Vizier, or that they avowedly affifted him in stripping one of their allies of his hereditary poffeffion. It was roundly agreed to inveft the Vizier with the dominion of Rohilcund, the limits of which were carried to the mountains on the north, and to the river Ganges on the weft. Yet a large tract of the northern divifion of Rohilcund, was held by Zabitah Khan,* with whom the English were at this time in alliance, and bound by a treaty" to confirm to him his ancient dominions, to confider "him as a dependant on their favor, and that their friends and "enemies fhould be mutual."

THE Vizier, previously to the invasion of Rohilcund, had brought over to his interests Zabitah Khan; who though of the Rohilla fect, and of near affinity to many of the chiefs, united

The fon of Najeb-ud-Dowlah.

*...

with

with the Vizier against the cause of his nation. But he was feverely punished for his treachery, and the dishonorable connec tion he had formed; for the Vizier, after the completion of the conqueft, afferting that Zabitah Khan had during the war maintained a correspondence with the enemy, feized on all his territory east of the Ganges; and it remains at this day annexed to the Government of Oude.

THE Conduct of the Vizier also to the family of Mohubullah Khan,* evinces that every fentiment of honour and faith fell before the impulfe of his ambition. This chief, who held the town and districts of Biffouly, either from having been involved in a domestic conteft with those Rohilla ftates who appeared in arms against the Vizier, or from other motives, did not engage in the war. Before the army moved into Rohilcund, he fued the Vizier for protection in behalf of his family and property, which the prince, in ftrong and unequivocal terms, pledged to preserve in safety and honour. On this faith, Mohubullah Khan remained during the campaign at Biffouly; but on the Vizier's arrival at that place, he was, with his family, thrown into a rigorous confinement, pillaged of every article of value, and his women were treated with a disgraceful severity. In an address of Mohubullah to the English commanding officer, in which were alfo inclosed the original letters of the Vizier, granting an unre

* The son of Dhoondy Khan, who has been already noticed in the Rohilla sketches.

ferved