GOVERNMENTS IN INDIA. BENGAL. THE several governments which have been formed for administering the affairs in India under the direction and authority of the East-India Company, subject to the superintendence of the Board of Commissioners, are as follow: The Supreme Government in Bengal, The Government of Madras, The Government of Bombay, The Government of Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore, and Malacca. The three first are established by Parliament; and as the Government in Bengal is the supreme British authority in India, it will be first noticed. The East-India Company obtained permission to trade to Bengal in 1633, to the port of Pipley only. In 1642, it was extended to Balasore and Cossimbuzar. In 1699, grants were made to the Company of the towns or villages of Chutanuttee (Calcutta) and Govindpore, Sir Charles Eyre being sent out as chief agent in Bengal, where a fort was ordered to be built; and, in compliment to his Majesty King William the Third, it was denominated FORT WILLIAM. Hence the designation of THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN COUNCIL OF FORT WILLIAM IN BENGAL. On the union of the London and English Companies in 1702, the instructions from home were issued in the name of THE UNITED COMPANY OF MERCHANTS OF ENGLAND TRADING TO THE EAST-INDIES. Some degree of power was esssential to the support and protection of the Company's commerce: an embassy was accordingly 2A4 BENGAL. accordingly despatched to the Emperor Ferrokshere in 1715, consisting of two of the most intelligent factors at the Presidency, who obtained a phirmaund,, or royal grant, conferring additional privileges; in consequence of which, Calcutta was declared an independent presidency, accountable only to the directors at home. Jaffir Khan, who was at that period governor of Bengal, obtained a grant of Bahar and Orissa: his conduct towards the English was tyrannical and extortionate. He died in 1725, and was succeeded by Sujah Khan, his son-in-law, who removed to Moorshedabad, accompanied by two omrahs, one of whom, named Ally Verdy Khan, was appointed in 1729, governor of Bahar; and ultimately, through intrigue and treachery, proclaimed Nabob of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa. Nizam-ul-Mulk, the soubah of the Deccan, jealous of Ally Verdy's increasing power, instigated the Mahrattas, whose rise, as a body, may be dated about the middle of the seventeenth century, to demand the chout, or tribute, which had been granted them in 1735 by the Mogul, for the three provinces above mentioned. They accordingly advanced in the two divisions of Poonah and Berar to Burdwan, under the command of Bajee Row and Ragojee Boonslah. The scourge occasioned by the irruption was dreadful. Commerce was at a stand throughout the provinces; the poor affrighted inhabitants fled in terror from their looms and their fields to the woods, where they either perished from hunger, or fell an easy prey to the wild beasts with which the forests abounded. The native inhabitants of Calcutta, dreading a repetition of the calamities, solicited and obtained permission to dig a ditch round that city, to the extent of seven miles (the Company's bounds) which was called the Mahratta Ditch. Ally Verdy succeeded the following year in obliging the Mahrattas to make a precipitate retreat: when he was confirmed by the Mogul, Soubah of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa, on condition of his remitting annually to Delhi six crore of rupees, by way of tribute. His death took place in 1756, when he was succeeded by his grandson, Seraji-ud-Dowlah, then only in his seventeenth year. He was of a cruel, vin dictive, BENGAL. dictive, and sullen disposition, of profligate habits, and with strong feelings of hostility to the English. It was during his government that the horrible massacre in the black-hole at Calcutta took place. By the tyrant's commands, one hundred and forty-six persons, including Mr. Holwell, the governor of Fort William, were incarcerated, in an intensely sultry night in the month of June, in a dungeon not twenty feet square. Of the above number, not more than twenty-three came out alive the ensuing morning. Mr. Holwell himself, being amongst the survivors who, notwithstanding the shock which his constitution received, returned to England and lived to the age of ninety! The Nabob having evacuated Calcutta, a deputation was despatched to Madras to solicit immediate and effectual succours: it reached Fort St. George on the 5th August. A detachment of nine hundred Europeans, with fifteen hundred sepoys, under the command of Colonel Clive, was immediately despatched to Bengal, accompanied by Admiral Watson with a squadron then fortunately in the roads, consisting of the Kent, sixty-four (the admiral's); the Cumberland, seventy, on which Admiral Pocock hoisted his flag; Tiger, sixty; Salisbury, fifty; Bridgwater, twenty; and a fire-ship; together with transports for the troops. On the 27th December, all the ships and vessels had arrived at Fulta, and the next afternoon anchored, ten miles below the fort of Budge-Budge, which Admiral Watson determined to attack the next morning. An ambuscade was planned to intercept the retreat of the garrison. It was directed by Colonel Clive in person, but proved the prelude to more serious operations. The Mogul general having marched from Calcutta to aid the garrison at Budge-Budge, with fifteen hundred horse and two thousand foot, a general engagement took place. Monick Chund was however obliged to retreat with his troops to Hooghly, and from thence to the Nabob of Moorshedabad. On the 2d January 1757, at nine in the morning, the Kent and Tiger anchored before the gates of Fort William; the batteries of which were silenced by eleven; the fort evacuated, of which a detachment under Captain Coote took possession, with loud accla mations; BENGAL, mations; the British colours being once more hoisted on the ramparts. Mr. Drake and the former members of council were the following day solemnly reinstated by Admiral Watson. The orders which had been given to the Admiral and Colonel Clive were, to obtain full reparation of all injuries, and eventually to attack the tyrant in his capital. The expedition proceeded to Hooghly, which place they captured, and destroyed the resources of the enemy. The Nabob, on learning the fate of Hooghly, was highly exasperated. He left his capital at the head of all his forces. The English encamped a mile northward of Calcutta, where they awaited his approach. A partial action took place, in which he lost twenty-two officers of distinction, six hundred men, and five hundred horses. At this juncture, intelligence reached Calcutta that war had broken out between France and England. The French were strong at Chandernagore. Colonel Clive, apprehensive that they might join the Nabob, entered into a treaty with the latter, by which the English procured a restitution of all plundered effects; a permission to fortify Calcutta as they might think proper; liberty to coin gold and silver in a mint of their own; exemption of merchandize from taxes, &c, The sincerity of the Nabob was justly suspected: it shortly appeared that he secretly abetted the French, and had in fact sent a lac of rupees to their aid at Chaudernagore. Colonel Clive at once resolved on war; and accordingly determined to attack the French and Mogul forces united. The English army having reached Plassey, they took immediate possession of a grove of mango trees of considerable extent; they had scarcely done this before their ears were assailed with the sound of martial music, such as generally accompanies the night-watches of an Indian camp: it proved to be the army of the Nabob; who, on finding the English slower in their progress than his startled imagination had suggested, advanced towards Plassey. The result of the memorable battle of Plassey, which was to decide the fate of the English in Bengal, is too well-known to need recapitulation. The most decisive victory was obtained by the wisdom, prudence, and valour of Colonel Clive, over the Nabob, whose army was dispersed, and himself obliged to BENGAL. to seek safety in flight from Moorshedabad. Meer Jaffier was in waiting at that city to receive Colonel Clive; who, after the first salutations were over, led Meer Jaffier towards the musnud; and, placing him upon it, made obeisance to him as lord of the three provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa, presenting a plate of gold coin. All the omrahs then present likewise paid their homage, and presented gold. Meer Jaffier was afterwards publicly proclaimed as Nabob. Nothing could exceed the transport into which the whole city of Calcutta was thrown by this great change. The praises of Clive and Watson were resounded. The latter unfortunately fell a victim on the 16th of August to a malignant fever. Colonel Clive, having settled all affairs at Moorshedabad, returned with his army to Calcutta on the 14th of September, where he was received with all the merited honours due to so distinguished an officer; and in 1758, at the united wish of the Council, took upon himself the office of president. Colonel Clive sailed for Europe in 1760, and was succeeded by Mr. Holwell, the oldest in council, who shortly after resigned to Mr. Vansittart, who had been appointed successor to Colonel Clive. The internal administration of Bengal had been most wretchedly conducted by Jaffier Khan. Guilty of a series of crimes and exactions, he was removed from the musnud, and succeeded by Cossim Ally Cawn, his son-in-law, in whom, however, his supporters were grievously disappointed. He not only reversed all the immunities granted by his predecessor, and confirmed by himself, but imposed heavy duties on the transport of goods throughout the provinces. An embassy was despatched from the Presidency to the Nabob, with the view of promoting a good understanding between him and the English: the result was not only unsuccessful, but the deputation, passing through Moorshedabad on their return to Calcutta, were fired upon by orders from the Nabob. Mr. Amyatt, who had been at the head of the deputation, with many others, were killed, and the rest taken prisoners. Previously to this catastrophe, intelligence had reached Mr. Ellis, the chief at Patna, that the Nabob was determined on hostilities: that gentleman immediately planned an attack upon |