Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 18.11.12

18.11.12

) the English, I say, on being informed of the state of things at Moorshood-abad, held a great council, the result of which was "that the proposals and offers of Mir-djaafer-qhan and Radja Dooloob-ram ought to be accepted, and that preparations ought immediately to be made for declaring war." But as it is not customary with this nation, nor indeed with any man of sense, to break with any one, without a sufficient subject, it is probable that in their negotiations with Seradj-ed-doulah, they had found some grave subject that might warrant a rupture. Of this, indeed, I could get no information ; but probably they found it in the dilatoriness and neglect of the payment of the sum of money stipulated for the plunder made in Calcutta ; and to all appearance that Prince himself found it hard to part with such a sum as one coror of rupees, for a promise made only in a moment of necessity. Be it as it may, the resolution for war having been taken at Calcutta, Colonel Clive, better known under the title of Sabut-djung, prepared to march with the troops and necessaries which he had at hand. This intelligence struck Seradj-ed-doulah. Sensible now that he had no other resource but that of regaining the hearts of his enemies, he at once made his appearance at the wicket of dissimulation and at the gate of caresses ; but he advanced nothing by that step. For, as says the Poet :