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078 HISTORY OF INDIA. [Book III.
AD. 17C4. formed a junction with the Emperor Shah Ahjm and Sujali Dowlah, the Nabob
of Oude, who, as has been already mentioned, had been appointed Ijis vizier.
lunctionof When he crossed the river they were both at AUahaVjad preparing for an
sim with expedition against Bundelcund. They received liim with all the respect due to
peroTmi.i i^ rank as nabob, and promised him their assistance to recover the provinces
Nabob of fj-oni which lie represented himself as most unjustly expelled. To show that he
was not undeserving of their assistance, he volunteered to head the expedition
against Bundelcund with his own troops, and was so successful that his new
confederates were impressed with a favourable opinion of his cause, and
declared their determination to unite as soon as the season would admit in a
common invasion of Bengal.
The presidency, notwithstanding the successes which had attended their arms, were by no means free from apprehension. Meer Jaffier's name carried no weight with it, and they found themselves involved in a war which mere distance made difficult and expensive, and which, if permitted to spread, might soon extend over the greater part of Northern India. They were therefore extremely urgent that Major Carnac, who had again been appointed to the chief command, should at once assume the aggressive, or at all events maintain the advanced position which had been taken up. Unfortunately, it seemed to him impracticable to do either. His troops were disaffected. They thought that Mutinous their previous services had not been sufficiently rewarded, and had been worked Smpany's^ upou by cmissarics of the enemy, who succeeded in convincing not a few that ™^' the most effectual way of bettering their circumstances would be by changing masters. Desertion, accordingly, became alarmingly frequent; and when the enemy began to advance, Carnac, afraid to risk the encounter, retired upon Patna. The enemy followed, in hope of interposing between him and the toAvn ; and when they failed, came up boldly in front of the walls under which he was encamped, and offered him battle. However unwilling he might be, it was scarcely in his power to decline it. On the morning of the 13th of May, the enemy commenced with a cannonade, and under cover of it made a general attack, wlilch was kept up with great spirit, and was not finally repulsed till evening began to close. The British, thus far victorious, were unable to derive any advan- tage from their victory ; while the enemj', instead of retiring, kept hovering about, watching an opportunity to repeat their attack.
Durino- the continuance of this unsatisfactory state of matters, negotiations were repeatedly attempted. Carnac. as a preliminary, demanded the delivery of Meer Cossim and Sumroo. The vizier not only refused, but demanded the Attempted ccssion of the whole province of Behar. Between parties entertaining such nego la ions, ^^^^^^gj^g vicws, there could be no agreement, and yet the semblance of nego- tiating was kept up for several weeks. The only thing gained was time, and this was of considerable importance, for in the interval the difficulty of maintain- ing an army in the field had greatly increased ; and the emperor and his vizier
