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Ohap. X] conspiracy AGAINST THE NABOB. 569
observed, that "if anything new should happen, he would send for him again." a.d. usr. "Be assured," was the reply, "that this is the last time we shall see each other; remember my words — we shall never meet again ; it is nearly impossible."
A conspiracy had indeed been formed ; and it is painful to add that Clive and Con8i»'-a«y the Company were not merely implicated, but had engaged to take a leading against ti.e part in the execution of it. Admitting the fact that Surajah Dowhih was a despicable tyrant, and the con-sequent probability that his government, if not his Ufe, must ere long have been terminated by violence, what right had those who had courted his alliance, obtained it, and profited by it, to league with his sub- jects for the purpose of dethroning him? Even had the treaty never been con- cluded, or had open hostilities been again formally declared, it would have been impossible to reconcile such a proceeding with any of the recognized rules of honourable warfare. What then must be thought of allies, who, availing:; them- selves of the influence which they derived from this character, employed it in lulling the nabob into a fatal security, while measiu-es were being concocted for effecting his ruin? According to the accoimt of Clive himself the nabob "per- formed almost every article of the treaty, paid Mr. Watts the three lacs of rupees, delivered up Cossimbazar and all the other factories, with the money and goods tlierein taken. Tlie gentlemen write from thence that little or nothing is wanting." Tt is true that he soon found reason to write in a very diff'erent spirit. A month later he says, in a letter to Mr. Pigott, "The most of the articles of peace are complied with ; yet from the tyranny, cowardice, and suspicion of the nabob, no dependence can be had upon him. No consideration could induce him to deliver up the French ; it is true he has ordered them out of his dominions, and they are at some distance from the capital ; but he has retained them in his pay, and has certainly wi'itten to Deleyrit and Bussy to send men to his assistance. One day he tears my letters, and turns out our vakeel, and orders his army to march ; he next countermands it, sends for the vakeel, and begs his pardon for what he has done. Twice a- week he threatens to impale Mr. Watts ; in short, he is a compound of everything that is bad ; keeps com- pany with none but his menial servants, and is univer.sally hated and despised by the great men. This induces me to acquaint you there is a conspiracy going on against him." The very mention of such a thing might have awakened Clive's sense of honour, and reminded him that it must necessarily be a nefarious transaction, with which it would be pollution to intermeddle. No idea of this kind, however, occurs to him ; and he simply adds, " I have been applied to for assistance, and every advantage promised the Company can wish. The com- mittee are of opinion it should be given as soon as the nabob is secured. For my own part, I am persuaded there can be neither peace nor security while such a monster reigns."
From the concluding part of this extract it may be inferred that the Com- pany were not yet prepared for the kind of co-operation which Clive was Vol. I. 72
