The diaries of three surgeons of Patna, 1763 / edited by Walter K. Firminger.

Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The diaries of three surgeons of Patna, 1763 / edited by Walter K. Firminger. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    was near seven o’clock. The Nabob, I find, accuses me of going in a violent manner, through his tents ; on the contrary, the place where I alighted from my horse was near the Durbar tent, and the place where I had always alighted ; and upon seeing Mr. Watts, I asked him where the Nawab was ? who replied he was asleep in his zanana ; and, as I had reason to suspect from my intelligence, the last 24 hours, that his intentions were not the best, I therefore alighted, took my pistols out of my holsters, for my own security (as I seldom ride with a sword), but declare they were not cocked ; and I affirm that I went no further than the Durbar tent, where I sat down for a little time ; still finding the Nabob did not come, I desired Captain Eiser to order two troopers to see that no body of troops came in at the back part of the tent ; and I now declare that no one was placed on his Zenana. As the Nawab did not come, I went away. Commenting on the Nawab’s letter, and, not having as yet heard the Colonel’s version of the facts, McGuire wrote to Vansittart : “ I foresaw in same degree the bad consequences of giving such ample powers to your Commander-in-Chief. Few men can brook the losing any part of the authority wherewith they are vested ; and fewer still, who can support that authority with moderation. If you cannot come yourself, as I find the gentleman at Madras will not send the regiment, have you not the power to re-call him, and confine the Major to military operations only ? ” The Council at Calcutta, however, onlreading the Nawab’s and McGuire’s letter, determined that Colonel Coote and Major Carnac13 shouldlbe ordered.down to Calcutta, leaving at Patna four Companies of infantry and two battalions of seepoys, under the command of Captain Carstairs, and that this officer should act entirely under the orders of the Chief of the Factory.16 5. ELLIS BECOMES CHIEF AT PATNA. Section VII oflVansittart’s Narrative of Transactions in Bengal is taken up by an attempt to display, from Carnac’s own letters, the latters “ arrogance and self-opinion, and tendency to subvert all the order of Government, and to keep up the spirit of party.” The Major, we are told, was too much encouraged in these insults on the authority of the Board by some of the members themselves, 15. Major Carnac, at the time of these later troubles, was attending Shah Alam on his journey towards Delhi. The “ King,” as the Mogul was called by the English, on this occasion made an offer of the Diwani of the three provinces. Vansittart was much piqued by the King’s habit of addressing most of his correspondence, not to the Governor and Council, but to the Council only—a breach of etiquette which Vansittart attributed to the Major’s desire to derrogate from his authority. 16. The authorities in Calcutta acted on the receipt of the Nawab’s letters dated June 16th and 17th. Colonel Coote’s letter to the Governor and Council was dated July 17th. and he was therefore in a position to protest “ I have not been the first person whose actions have been condemned unheard. I, therefore, cannot look upon it as a particular misfortune attending me alone.” Narrative Vol. 1 p. 243. As to the Nawab’s objection to the guards at the gates, the sepoys were a part of the Nawab’s army, and they were under orders to stop nobody belonging to his camp from entering and leaving the city. Mir Kasim had avowed his inability to discipline his forces, and Carnac had had a painful experience of the ill-ordered soldiery of Murshidabad. The Colonel had expressed his willingness to put some of the Nawab’s own people, together with his own, at the gates. mg manner in which the Colonel went about from tent to tent, with 35 horsemen and 200 seepoys, calling out : “ Where is the Nawab.” He left some of his people at the Zenana and Dewans conna, and went towards the fourth tent. The eunuch of the serai and Mr. Watts «prevented his entering, saying the Nabob is asleep, and this is the private tent of the Zenana. The Colonel returned, and proceeded through my whole army, and seeing every one with- out arms or any preparations, went back to the kella. This base man [i. e. Ramnarain] is ungrateful, treacherous, and only intent on mischief ; and to suppose such a wicked man, has not any fear of God, and has even forgotten himself, is to give cause for mutual animosities