Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 18.10.6

18.10.6

Advices of all this having been duely imparted to Colonel Clive, and himself being now fully apprised of the dissensions sown in the country, and of the peculiar turn of mind of all the Grandees of the Court, he grew tired of waiting to no purpose for an answer, which no one thought of sending, and he prepared himself for acting with open force, and for an offensive war. He brought his ships to an anchor over against Manic-chund's lodgings, and commenced a cannonade; but having soon observed in the enemy's motions much ignorance and confusion, he landed his men and artillery, and marched against him. The senseless Governor of the place, intimidated by so much boldness, and not finding in himself courage enough to stand an engagement, thought it prudent to decline a nearer approach, and he fled with all his might. The English General seeing the enemy disappeared, took possession of the factory and fort, raised everywhere his victorious standards, and sent the refugee gentlemen every one to his ancient abode, and every one to his own home. Such a piece of intelligence having soon been conveyed to Moorshood-abad, could not fail to disorder greatly that stuffing of pride and ignorance, with which Seradj-ed-doulah had been at so much pains to fill his head and ears; and he prepared to come to Calcutta to oppose the progress of the English. Such being the instability of human things, that two months and twenty-two days had hardly elapsed since the conquest of Pooraniah;