576
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book ill.
AD. 1767.
S lupifiiouR ( oiiduct of .MeurJiiflitr.
Clive holds a council 'if war.
of course declared that the whole was, on his part, a trick, by which he lioped to lure the nabob more easily t<^ his ruin; but when, on the 19th, another lett<ir arrived, in which he gave only the vague intelligence that hi.s tent would be either on the left or the right of the army, and excased himself for not being more explicit, because guards were stationed on all the roads t^) intercept all messages, Olive's suspicions were thoroughly roased. Meer Jaffier either meant to deceive him, or had miscalculated his strength. On either supposition further advance was perilous in the extreme.
The light in which matters now appeared to Olive is evidenced by a letter written to the secret committee, on the same day on which that of Meer Jaffier was received: — " The party I sent has taken Outwah town and fort. Both are strong. Notwithstanding which, I feel the greatest anxiety at the little intel- ligence I receive from Meer Jaffier; and if he is not treacherou.s, his so/ag froid, or want of strength, will, I fear, overset the expedition. I am trying a last effort, by means of a Brahmin, to prevail upon him to m.arch out and join us
1 have appointed Plassey the place of rendezvous, and have told him at the .same time, unless he gives this or some other sufficient proof of the sincerity of his inten- tions, I will not cross the river; this, I hope, will meet with yoir approbation. 1 shall act with such caution as not to risk the loss of our forces ; and whUst we have them, we may always have it in our power to bring about a revolution, should the present not succeed. They say there is a considerable quantity of grain in and about this place. If we can collect eight or ten thousand maimds, we may maintain our situation diu-ing the rains, which will greatly distress the nabob ; and either reduce him to terms which may be depended upon, or give us time to bring in the Beer Bhoom Rajah, Mahrattas, or Ghazi-u-din. I desire you will give your sentiments freely, how you think I should act, if Meer Jaffier can give us no assistance."
The dubiety and indecision thus expressed, were not produced by a mo- mentary fit of despondency, for on the 21st of June, two days after despjatching the above letter, Olive, unable to satisfy himself as to the course which it was expedient to pursue, or decide it on his own responsibilit}-, held a coimcil of war, and submitted to it the following question: — "Whether, in our present situation, without assistance, and on om* own bottom, it woidd be prudent to attack the nabob ; or, whether we should wait tUl joined by some coimtry
Uhait at Cutwah, uu me Ganges.— From LieuteaautColonel Forrest's
Tour ou thu GangtB.
