ONS IN THE EAST INDIES.

Scenes of higher import were this year acted by the British arms in the
East Indies. The cessation of hostilities between the English and French
companies on the peninsula of Indus, though it encouraged Mr. Clive to
visit his native country, was not of long duration; for in a few months
both sides recommenced their operations, no longer as auxiliaries to the
princes of the country, but as principals and rivals both in arms and
commerce. Major Laurence, who now enjoyed the chief command of the
English force, obtained divers advantages over the enemy; and prosecuted
his success with such vigour, as, in all probability, would in a
little time have terminated the war according to his own wish, when the
progress of his arms was interrupted and suspended by an unfortunate
event at Calcutta, the cause of which is not easily explained;
for extraordinary pains have been taken to throw a vail over some
transactions from whence this calamity was immediately or remotely
derived.

CALCUTTA BESIEGED.

The old suba or viceroy of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa, dying in the month
of April, in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty-six, was
succeeded by his adopted son, Sur Raja al Dowlat, a young man of violent
passions, without principle, fortitude, or good faith, who began his
administration with acts of perfidy and violence. In all probability,
his design against the English settlements was suggested by his
rapacious disposition, on a belief that they abounded with treasure; as
the pretences which he used for commencing hostilities, were altogether
inconsistent, false, and frivolous. In the month of May, he caused the
English factory at Cassimbuzzar to be invested, and inviting Mr. Watts,
the chief of the factory, to a conference, under the sanction of a safe
conduct, detained him as prisoner; then, by means of fraud and force
intermingled, made himself master of the factory. This exploit being
achieved, he made no secret of his design to deprive the English of all
their settlements. With this view he marched to Calcutta at the head of
a numerous army, and invested the place, which was then in no posture of
defence.

[Illustration: 382.jpg CALCUTTA: THE ESPLANADE]

FATE OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE DUNGEON AT CALCUTTA.

The governor, intimidated by the number and power of the enemy,
abandoned the fort, and with some principal persons residing in the
settlement, took refuge on board a ship