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G80
llLSTUliV OF INDIA
[Book III.
Monro's victory cat Huxar.
AD. iMi. estimated variously from 10,000 to 00,000 men. "Their po.sitioii, having the Ganges on tlie left and Buxar in the rear, was strong, but wnfident in their numbers they disdained to act on the defensive, and on the morning of the 2.Sd were seen advancing to the attack. Monro's intention to surprise the camj) during the previous niglit had been frustrated by tlie failure of the spies whom he had sent out to return with the necessary information, and he had now no option but to fight in open day on ground which the enemy had chosen. The battle lasted three hours, and appears to have been stoutly contested, for even after the enemy saw themselves defeated they retired slowly in.stead of breaking into a tumultuous flight. Their greatest loss was sustained at the crossing of a stream, over which there was a bridge of boats. The vizier seeing the British in close pursuit ordered the bridge to be broken down. About 2000 of his troops thus left behind were drowned or slain. This order to destroy the bridge was, in the opinion of Major Monro, the best piece of generalship which Sujah Dowlah showed that day. But for it, he said, " I would either have taken or drowned his whole army in the Caramnassa, and come up with his treasure and jewels, and Cossim Ali Khan's jewels, which, I was informed, amounted to be- tween £2,000,000 and £3,000,000." Besides the 2000 who perished at the bridge, the enemy lost other 2000 in the field of battle, together with 130 pieces of cannon. The British loss was also severe, amounting in killed and wounded to 847, or rather more than a ninth of their whole force.
The victory of Buxar was immediately followed by overtures of peace both from the emperor and Sujah Dowlah. The former, indeed, was so far reduced in his fortunes that he scarcely ventured to assume the character of an inde- pendent prince, and offered to submit to any terms that might be dictated to him. The only return he asked was protection against his own vizier, who, he complained, was treating him as a state prisoner. The British commander having no authority to treat, wrote to Calcutta for instructions, but so deter- mined was the emperor to escape from the thraldom in wdiich he was held, that in the interval before the instmctions arrived he kept close to the British army, and every night encamped for safety as near them as he could. At last, when a favourable answer arrived from Calcutta, the protection which he had previ- ously enjoyed on mere sufferance was regularly granted, and he was recognized as no longer the enemy but the ally of the Company.
Sujah Dowlah was equally anxious for the cessation of hostilities, and offered to purchase it by paying twenty-five lacs of rupees as the expenses of the war, twenty-five lacs to the army, and eight lacs to the commander. One indis- pensable requisite was still wanting — the delivery of Meer Cossim and Sumroo. To this Sujah Dowlah still refused his assent. He seemed to be influenced in his refusal by a feehng of honour, and yet this could hardly be, for at this very time, Meer Cossim, so far from being treated with the hospitality due to a guest, was suffering the greatest indignity, and had almost been reduced to beggary
Submission of the emperor.
The Nabob of Oude offers to treat.
