HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE
British Conquest of Bengal.
Difficulties of the early Settlements-Reign of Aliverdi Khan-Succeeded by Surajah Dowlah-His Jealousy of the English-Captures Cossimbuzar-Advances upon Calcutta-Plans of Defence-Proceedings of the Enemy-Garrison deserted by the Ships and the Governor -Surrender-Confinement in the Black Hole--Dreadful SufferingsConduct of the Nabob-Armament from Madras under Clive and Watson-Their Landing and first Encounter with the Enemy-Calcutta surrenders-Surajah Dowlah attempts to retake it-Treaty-Capture of Chandernagore--Plan of dethroning the Nabob-Intrigues-Treachery of Meer Jaffier--Advance of Clive-Battle of Plassey-Elevation of Meer Jaffier-Capture and Death of Surajah Dowlah-Invasion by the Shazada--Defeat of the Mogul and the Nabob of Oude-Bad Conduct of the new Nabob-Succeeded by Meer Cossim-His Disputes with the Company-Rupture-Patna taken and retaken-Victory gained by Major Adams-Massacre of English Prisoners-Meer Cossim's Flight into Oude-Repeated Defeats of Sujah Dowlah-The Mogul joins the English-Death of Meer Jaffier-Clive returns to India-Restores Sujah Dowlah-Obtains for the Company the Dewannee of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa.
THE British establishments in Bengal had, during a long period, held only a secondary place, and been subservient to those formed on the coast of Coromandel. But the time was now arrived when they were to become the theatre of the most interesting events, and finally the centre and chief seat of our Indian dominion. The manner in which the factory at Calcutta was first founded has been already menVOL. II.-B