Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c9.s1.1

v1.c9.s1.1

The second and third quarters of the year 1746 passed in comparative tranquillity for Bengal and Bihār. In October, after the rains had ceased, active operations were renewed for the recovery of Orissā. But at this time the Nawāb was thrown into great perplexity. Early in November he received a letter from the Emperor Muhammad Shāh announcing that he had agreed to make peace with the Marāthas by promising to Rājah Shāhu 25 lakhs of Rupees as the *chauth* of Bengal and ten lakhs as that of Bihār. These amounts were to be annually transmitted by the *subahdār* from Bengal to Delhi and there handed over to the agents of the Marātha king. People hoped that such a permanent arrangement would save the province from disturbances in future and restore the security of trade. [Chandarnagar letter of 24 November, 1746 cited in Pondichery letter of 31 January, 1747 (N. S.); Calcutta to Company, 30 November, 1746.]