lately signed. However specious his promises were, they found him
extremely dilatory in the execution of several articles of the treaty,
which, in effect, was the same to the English commerce as if none had
been concluded. The company's goods were loaded with high duties, and
several other infractions of the peace committed, upon such frivolous
pretences, as evidently demonstrated that he sought to come to an open
rupture as soon as his projects were ripe for execution. In a word,
he discovered all along a manifest partiality to the French, whose
emissaries cajoled him with promises that he should be joined by such a
body of their European troops, under M. de Bussy, as would enable him to
crush the power of the English, whom they had taught him to fear and to
hate. As recommencing hostilities against so powerful a prince was in
itself dangerous, and if possible to be avoided, the affair was
laid before the council of Culcutta, and canvassed with all the
circumspection and caution that a measure required, on which depended
the fate of the whole trade of Bengal. Mr. Watts, from time to time,
sent them intelligence of every transaction in the suba's cabinet; and
although that prince publicly declared he would cause him to be impaled
as soon as the English troops should be put in motion within the kingdom
of Bengal, he bravely sacrificed his own safety to the interest of the
company, and exhorted them to proceed with vigour in their military
operations. During these deliberations a most fortunate incident
occurred, that soon determined the council to come to an open rupture.
The leading persons in the viceroy's court found themselves oppressed
by his haughtiness and insolence. The same spirit of discontent appeared
among the principal officers of his army; they were well acquainted with
his prefidy, saw his preparations for war, and were sensible that the
peace of the country could never be restored, unless either the
English were expelled, or the nabob deposed. In consequence, a plan was
concerted for divesting him of all his power; and the conspiracy was
conducted by Jaffier Ali Khan, his prime minister and chief commander,
a nobleman of great influence and authority in the province. The project
was communicated by Ali Khan to Mr. Watts, and so improved by the
address of that gentleman, as in a manner to ensure success. A treaty
was actually concluded between this Meer Jaffier Ali Khan and the
English company; and a plan co