f
Prussia's, or the famous victories won by Marlborough over the French,
this affair of Plassy may seem to be but a trifling skirmish, yet the
country whose fate was decided upon that field, namely the
Subahdarship of Bengal, Orissa, and Behar, is equal in magnitude to
the whole of King Frederic's dominions. In fact the blow struck that
day resounded throughout the entire East Indies, procuring for the
English an authority in every Court of Indostan, and for Mr. Clive the
rank of Omrah, with many rich presents, from the Great Mogul himself.

For eight miles we kept up the pursuit of the flying Moors, and only
rested from sheer weariness. The next morning Meer Jaffier rode into
our camp at Daudpore, ill at ease. But Colonel Clive received him with
friendship, and caused him to be saluted as the Nabob of Bengal. From
him we learned the particulars of what had taken place on the previous
day in Surajah Dowlah's camp.

The night before the battle the young Nabob had some suspicions that
there was treachery going on round him. When the next morning he saw
his army halting at a distance from the English lines, and refusing to
come to close quarters, his suspicions were confirmed. One of his
generals on whom he most relied was slain soon after the artillery
combat commenced, and this further terrified him. Without quitting his
tent he sent for Meer Jaffier, whose division was posted on the
extreme right, and implored him to save the day. He even took off his
turban, than which there can be no greater humiliation for an
Oriental, and cast it at his uncle's feet, bidding him defend it. Meer
Jaffier left the tent, and at once despatched a message of
encouragement to Colonel Clive, which, however, never reached him.
Shortly afterwards the unhappy Surajah Dowlah, vanquished by his own
fears, or, it may be, by the stings of his remorseful conscience,
mounted a swift camel and fled, and this was the signal for that
general movement of retreat which had given us the victory.

After Colonel Clive and the new Nabob had discussed the situation for
a short time, it was agreed between them that Meer Jaffier should
proceed at once with his force to the capital to check any attempt at
rallying on the part of Surajah Dowlah. Colonel Clive, with the
English army, was to follow more slowly.

The moment I heard of these arrangements, I asked the Colonel for
permission to go forward in advance.

"Why, what do you desire to do?" he asked.