These forces were foot, and eighteen thousand horse. protected by fifty pieces of cannon, planted in the openings between the columns, into which the Indian army was divided, and partly directed by forty Frenchmen. Clive, however, though surprised at the enemy's numbers, as well as at their formidable array, resolved to give them battle. He accordingly drew up his little army, consisting of about one thousand Europeans, and two thousand sepoys under cover of eight field-pieces. The cannonade was brisk on both sides, from eight o'clock in the morning till near noon; when a heavy shower damaged the enemy's powder, and their fire began gradually to flag. Nor was this the only circumstance in favour of the English army. Surajah Dowlah, who had hitherto remained in his tent beyond the reach of danger, and been flattered every moment with assurances of victory, was now informed that Meer Murdeen, the only general on whose fidelity he could rely, was mortally wounded. Overwhelmed by so weighty a misfortune, he sent for Meer Jaffier, and throwing his turban on the ground, "Jaffer!" exclaimed he, "that turban you must defend." The traitor bowed, and with his hand on his breast, promised his best services. But no sooner did he join his troops, than he sent a letter to colonel Clive, acquainting him with what had passed; and requesting him either instantly to push on to victory, or to storm. the nabob's camp, during the following night. The letter, however, was not delivered till the fortune of the day was decided; so that Clive was still held in some degree of suspense with respect to the ultimate intentions of Jaffier. Meanwhile the nabob, understanding that his general continued inactive, suddenly ordered a retreat. Mounting a camel, soon after, he fled toward Muxadavad, accompanied by two thousand horsemenAnd the English army, having surmounted every difficulty, entered his camp about five in the afternoon, with out out any other obstruction than what was occasioned by baggage and stores it being utterly abandoned by his troops, which were seen flying on all sides in the utmost confusion'. He Having at length received Meer Jaffier's letter, Clive pressed on with his victorious army to Doudpore, regardless of the rich plunder of the enemy's camp. arrived there about eight o'clock in the evening, and next morning saluted the traitor, nabob (though more properly subah) of Bengal, Behar, and Orixa. The new nabob hastened with his troops to Muxadavad, whither he was followed by the English commander. From that city, Surajah Dowlah had made his escape in disguise, the day after his defeat; accompanied only by his favourite women, and by the eunuch who governed his seraglio, having lost all confidence in his army, and in his officers, both civil and military. He was taken; brought back to his capital; imprisoned, and put to death by order of Meerum, the son of Jaffier; an ambitious and cruel youth, who was unwilling to leave any thing in the power of fortune that violence could secure. Nor can his conduct be blamed on the maxims of Asiatic policy. His father's sway, which otherwise might have been disputed, was instantly acknowledged over all the three provinces that compose the viceroyalty of Subahship. It now only remained for colonel Clive to make Meer Jaffier, whom he had seated in the musund or throne, fulfil the conditional engagements into which he had solemnly entered before the English army was put in motion for his support. After attempting some evasions, by pleading the lowness of his predecessor's treasury, the nabob found it necessary to adhere to every stipulation. And a treaty to the following purport was read, and acknowledged to have been signed by him. 7. Orme, Hist. Indost. book ii. 8. Id ibid. " I "I engage, that as soon as I shall be established in "the government of Bengal, Behar, and Orixa, I will "maintain the treaty of peace concluded with the Eng"lish by Surajah Dowlah; that the enemies of the "English shall be my enemies, whether they be Indians "or Europeans; that all the effects and factories belong66 ing to the French in Bengal, the paradise of nations, 66 or in Behar and Orixa, shall remain in the possession "of the English-and I will never more allow them to "settle in any of the three provinces; that, in considera❝tion of the losses which the English company have "sustained by the capture and plunder of Calcutta by "the nabob, and the charges occasioned by maintaining "forces to recover their factories, I will give one crore "of rupees," equivalent to twelve hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling; " and that, for the effects plun"dered from the English inhabitants of Calcutta. I will "give fifty lacks of rupees," equivalent to six hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds sterling. He also agreed to indemnify the Armenian, Gentoo, and other Asiatic. inhabitants of Calcutta, and greatly to enlarge the territory of the English East India company9. In a word, the indemnification and restitutions, with a donation of fifty lacks of rupees to the fleet and army, exclusive of private gratuities, amounted to the enormous sum of two millions seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling. Near one-third of that sum was immediately paid in coined silver1o. Before information arrived in England of this great revolution in the south of Asia, so favourable to the interests of Great-Britain, a variety of events had happened in Europe, which served to revive the spirit of the English nation, and give a more agreeable turn to the affairs of his Britannic majesty and his allies. While the king of Prussia was wholly occupied in observing the motions of the Austrians, and struggling 9. Orme. ubi sup. Lond. Gazette, Feb. 14, 1758. 10. Orme, book vii. to to preserve his footing in Bohemia, the army of the empire under the prince of Hildburghausen, having formed, as already observed, a junction with the French army under the prince de Soubise, at Erfurth, assumed the title of the combined army, whose immediate object it was to drive the Prussians out of Saxony. The generals of that army accordingly resolved to march down the Saala, (supposing they had nothing to apprehend from his Prussian majesty) and begin their operations with the siege of Leipsic. This enterprise they chose, in preference to any other, because they would there be at hand to receive all kind of succours from Richelieu's army, now entirely at liberty, in consequence of the convention of Closter-seven; and also because, in case of success, they could take up their winter-quarters in that part of Saxony, and proceed next campaign, in full force, to the entire conquest of the country, as well as to that of Magdeburg and Brandenburg. But all their designs were broken, by the vigilance and activity of the enterprising Frederic. Aware of the necessity of opposing the progress of the French and Imperialists, or of humbling himself at the feet of his enemies, the king of Prussia pursued a line of conduct worthy of a hero and a commander. Leaving an army of forty battalions and seventy squadrons under the prince of Bevern, to observe the motions of the Austrians, and defend Silesia, he marched to Dresden; quickly assembled a new army, and proceeded to the Saala. The enemy abandoned Erfurth, on his approach, and retired to Eisenach. He followed them, with an intention to give them battle, but found them too advantageously posted to hazard an attack; and as they seemed studiously to decline an action, he fell back on the Saala, the better to subsist his troops. Various movements were afterwards made by both armies. And the generals of the combined army, having received a reinforcement under the duke de Broglio, during the absence of his Prussian majesty, who had been obliged to march to the relief of his capital, they resumed their resolution resolution of penetrating into Saxony. They accordingly passed the Saala, established their head-quarters at Weissenfels, and sent the count de Mailly to summon Leipsic. Mareschal Keith, who had thrown himself into that important place with six thousand men, treated the summons with contempt. And before the enemy could form the siege, he was happily joined by the king of Prussia, who now saw the necessity of giving battle to the combined army, consisting of fifty thousand French and Imperialists, with less than half its numbers. With this view he passed the Saala at Weissenfels, Merseburg, and Halle, the enemy having repassed the same river on his approach, and assembled his troops near the village of Rosbach. The combined army was encamped in the neighbourhood; and his Prussian majesty, having examined the position of the enemy, resolved to attack them. He accordingly advanced with that intention; but finding they had changed their position, he desisted from the attempt, and encamped, with his left at Rosbach, his centre at Shartaw, and his right toward Bedra. The generals of the combined army, considering this caution as the effect of fear, and elated with their great superiority in numbers, determined to bring him to an engagement next morning. In consequence of that resolution, they put their troops in motion about eleven o'clock, and advanced in order of battle; the cavalry in front, and the infantry in the rear. NOV. 5. The king of Prussia remained quiet till two o'clock; when, perceiving that the enemy's purpose was to attack his left flank, he ordered the main body of his army to march in that direction, behind the heights of Reicherswerben. These concealed his motions; and, in order farther to deceive the enemy, he left his camp standing, as if he had been in the most perfect, and even infatuated security. Confident of victory, the French and Imperialists advanced with so much precipitation, that their army was thrown into some disorder in its march; and before they had time to form, they were unexpectedly attacked and routed by the Prussian horse. Their cavalry |