was determined to commit himself to the justice of the illustrious English chiefs, constant and unchangeable in their friendship. In the conclusion, written by himself, he says,

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"I re

gard not wealth, nor the rule of dominion; your friendship and favour are all I desire. "I will, please God, soon be with you; when

you may do that for me, which you may "think best." Lord Clive, who at this time had arrived in Bengal, was empowered by the Government, in conjunction with General Carnac, to negociate with the Vizier: and having met him at Allahabad, in the month of August, 1765, a treaty of peace was finally concluded. The substance was,-That there should be a perpetual treaty of peace between the contracting parties. That in the event of the dominions of either being invaded, a military aid should be furnished by the other.-That the Vizier is not to receive Cassum Ali, Sombro, or any English deserters into his service. -That Corah and Allahabad be ceded to the King.-That Bulwunt Sing be continued in the zemindary of Benares, which is to be considered a fief of the Subahdary of Oude:-And that Chunar-Ghur, a fort in the province, be given up to the English. That no duties be collected on the merchandize of the Company, in any part of the country of the Vizier. That all such subjects,

or relations of the Vizier, who may have assisted the English during the late war, be pardoned;and, That this treaty remain in force with the descendants of the Vizier.

THUS was Shujah-ud-Dowlah restored to the possession of his dominions by the victorious English, after having been reduced by their arms to the verge of ruin. The terms granted to him, breathe a liberal heroic spirit, and conspicuously distinguished the mind from which they sprang. The memory of the Indian hero, ill merits the stain impressed on it by Mr. Dow, who says, 66 Shujah-ud-Dowlah, was still pos"sessed of wealth, and the virtue of the con

querors, was by no means proof against temp"tation."-But it is a fact supported by the purest authority, that Lord Clive obstinately rejected every offer of gratuity, made to him by the Vizier. Exclusive of the articles of the

*

*The act of re-instating the Vizier in his dominion, not only contributed to exalt the character of the British nation, but was strictly consonant to the principles of sound policy. It evinces also a foresight which is grievously verified in the events of succeeding times. Lord Clive, in his letter to the Company, says, "Our re

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storing to Shujah-ud-Dowlah, the whole of his dominions, pro"ceeds more from the desire of not extending the Company's" "territorial possessions, than the generous policy of attaching him "for ever to our interests by gratitude; though this has been the apparent, and is by many thought to be the real motive. Had we ambitiously attempted to retain the conquered country, experience would soon have proved the impracticability of such a "plan. The establishment of an increased army must have been

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treaty, a private agreement, entered into by the contracting parties, stipulated, on the part of the Vizier, a payment of fifty lacks of rupees to the English Government, for defraying the expences of the war; as the English at this period, did not ostensibly interfere in the administration of the Bengal provincial affairs; which on the death of Meer Jaffier had devolved on his son Nuzzum-ud-Dowlah.

THE treaty entered into with Shujah-ud-Dowlah, was executed by this prince, on one part, and on the other by the Subahdar of Bengal, in conjunction with Lord Clive: but that all

"added to your list, and more chiefships appointed. Acts of op. "pression and innumerable abuses would have been committed, "which, at such a distance from the presidency, could neither "have been prevented, or remedied; and must infallibly have laid "the foundation of another war. Our old privileges and possessions "would have been endangered by every supply we might have "been tempted to afford in support of the new, and the natives *must have finally triumphed in our inability to sustain the weight "of our own ambition."-In India, it is to be noted, donations are presented to men of power, or those who are supposed to influence them, for personal protection, and for the security or acquisition of property. A rejected offer is the established signal of displeasure, and either indicates its insufficiency, or that some more adequate reward has been already preferred. Shujah-ud-Dowlah was at first alarmed at the conduct of Lord Clive, whose refusal of any gift was construed into a disposition inimical to his interests. But this prince beheld the soldier's magnanimity with admiration, when at the conclusion of the treaty, he received, in token of friendship, a ring of moderate value.

future embarrassments might be obviated, a delegated power, authorizing the English India Company to manage and controul the revenues of the provinces, was obtained from the king. It was also stipulated, that in consideration of the appointment of Nuzzum-ud-Dowlah to the military and executive government of the provinces, and his grant* of the civil jurisdiction to the English, the sum of twenty-six lacks of rupeest should be annually paid to the king, out of the revenues of Bengal. The districts of Allahabad and Corah were at the same time dismembered from the Vizier's territory, and ceded to Shah Alum, that he might be enabled to maintain, without a restraint, the dignity of his station.

THOUGH he amply experienced the liberality of the English, the Vizier had suffered important injuries during the war. From the revenue of Oude, which with certain districts of Allahabad, was computed at one hundred and sixty lacks of rupees, the cession of Corah and Allababad, had deducted thirty-six lacks; and the ravages of his own army, with the incursions of

*It is termed the Dewany.

+ From this amount, a pension of two lacks of rupees was bestowed, at the intercession of the English, on Nudjef Khan, who was thought to have rendered them service during the latter part of the Oude war.

our troops, who had proceeded as far as Lucknow, caused a farther decrease of the general produce of his country. In acknowledgement for the cession which had been made, Shah Ullum invested the Vizier with the hereditary possession of the province of Oude.

THIS prince was now seen to apply with a vigilant assiduity 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 supply of public exigencies.

On his arrival at Oude, after the Allahabad treaty, he called together, it is said, his princi. pal officers, and making known to them the engagements he had made with the English, he desired their aid in performing the obligation. Through this mode of requisition, which is often practised by the princes of India in time of need, the Vizier obtained some aid; though far short of his necessities. His Begum, seeing the difficulties that surrounded him, and the distressed state of his mind, divested herself of the jewels, and other valuable ornaments she possessed, and entreated that the amount might be applied to the arrangement of his affairs. It is mentioned, that Shujah-ud-Dowlah was so warmly affected by this mark of the Begum's