tures to us for dethroning him. At the head of these was Meer Jaffier, then Bukhshee [paymaster] to the army, a man as generally esteemed as the other was detested. As we had reason to believe this disaffection pretty general, we soon entered into engagements with Meer Jaffier to put the crown on his head. All necessary preparations being completed with the utmost secrecy, the army, consisting of about one thousand Europeans, and two thousand sepoys, with eight pieces of cannon, marched from Chandernagore on the 13th,1 and arrived on the 18th at Cutwa Fort, which was taken without opposition. The 22nd, in the evening, we crossed the river, and landing on the island, marched straight for Plassey Grove, where we arrived by one in the morning. At daybreak, we discovered the Nabob's army moving toward us, consisting, as we since found, of about fifteen thousand horse, and thirty-five thousand foot, with upwards of forty pieces of cannon. They approached apace, and by six began to attack with a number of heavy cannon, supported by the whole army, and continued to play on us very briskly for several hours, during which our situation was of the utmost service to us, being lodged in a large grove, with good mud banks. To succeed in an attempt on their cannon was next to impossible, as they were planted in a manner round us, and at considerable distances from each other. We therefore remained quiet in our post, in expectation of a successful attack upon their camp at night. About noon, the enemy drew off their artillery, and retired to their camp, being the same day which Roy Dullub 2 had left but a few days before, and which he had fortified with a good ditch and breastwork. We immediately sent a detachment, accompanied with two field-pieces, to take possession of a tank with high banks, which was advanced about three hundred yards above our grove, and from whence the enemy had considerably annoyed us with some cannon managed by Frenchmen. This motion brought them out a second time; but on finding them make no great effort to dislodge us, we proceeded to take possession of one or two more eminences lying very near an angle of their camp, from whence, and an adjacent eminence in their possession, they kept a smart fire of musketry upon us. They made several attempts to bring out their cannon, but our advanced fieldpieces played so warmly and so well upon them, that they 2 1 July. Suraj-ud-Dowlah's minister of finance, and one of the chief conspirators against him. were always drove back. Their horse exposing themselves a good deal on this occasion, many of them were killed, and among the rest four or five officers of the first distinction, by which the whole army being visibly dispirited and thrown into some confusion, we were encouraged to storm both the eminence and the angle of their camp, which were carried at the same instant, with little or no loss; though the latter was defended (exclusively of blacks) by forty French and two pieces of cannon; and the former by a large body of blacks, both foot and horse. On this, a general rout ensued, and we pursued the enemy six miles, passing upwards of forty pieces of cannon they had abandoned, with an infinite number of hackaries, and carriages filled with baggage of all kinds. Suraj-u-Dowlah escaped on a camel, and reaching Moorshedabad early next morning, despatched away what jewels and treasure he conveniently could, and he himself followed at midnight, with only two or three attendants. 1 It is computed there are killed of the enemy about five hundred. Our loss amounted to twenty-two killed, and fifty wounded, and those chiefly blacks. During the warmest part of the action we observed a large body of troops hovering on our right, which proved to be our friends; but as they never discovered themselves by any signal whatsoever, we frequently fired on them to make them keep their distance. When the battle was over, they sent a congratulatory message, and encamped in our neighbourhood that night. The next morning Meer Jaffier paid me a visit, and expressed much gratitude at the service done him, assuring me, in the most solemn manner, that he would faithfully perform his engagement to the English. He then proceeded to the city, which he reached some hours before Suraj-u-Dowlah left it. 95. WOLFE BEFORE QUEBEC (1759). Wolfe's victory before Quebec banished the French flag from the mainland of North America and added half a continent to British possessions. One would not like to say that had he lost in 1759 his cause would never have triumphed, but as it was he did win by the barest margin. His despatch to Pitt (Sept. 2nd) (sent off only eleven days before he scaled the heights) 1" A species of cart drawn by a couple of bullocks."-Malcolm. and General Townshend's letter to his wife,1 will enable the reader to see how dramatic the situation was. Considering the lateness of the season and the posture of public affairs, it is evident that victory came in the nick of time. SOURCE.-(4) Letter to Pitt. James Wolfe (1727-1759). Annual The admiral and I have examined the town, with a view to a general assault; but, after consulting with the chief engineer, who is well acquainted with the interior parts of it, and, after viewing it with the utmost attention, we found, that though the batteries of the lower town might be easily silenced by the men of war, yet the business of an assault would be little advanced by that, since the few passages that lead from the lower to the upper town, are carefully intrenched; and the upper batteries cannot be affected by the ships, which must receive considerable damage from them, and from the mortars. The admiral would readily join in this, or in any other measure for the public service; but I could not propose to him an undertaking of so dangerous a nature, and promising so little success. To the uncommon strength of the country, the enemy have added (for the defence of the river) a great number of floating batteries and boats. By the vigilance of these, and the Indians round our different posts, it has been impossible to execute anything by surprise. We have had almost daily skirmishes with these savages, in which they are generally defeated, but not without loss on our side. By the list of disabled officers (many of whom are of rank) you may perceive, Sir, that the army is much weakened. By the nature of the river, the most formidable part of this armament is deprived of the power of acting, yet we have almost the whole force of Canada to oppose. In this situation, there is such a choice of difficulties, that I own myself at a loss how to determine. The affairs of Great Britain, I know, require the most vigorous measures; but then the courage of a handful of brave men should be exerted only where there is some hope of a favourable event. However, you may be assured, Sir, that the small part of the campaign, which remains, shall be employed (as far as I am able) for the honour of his majesty, and the interest of the nation, in which I am sure of being well seconded by the admiral, and by the generals. Happy if our efforts here 1 Written four days after Wolfe's despatch to Pitt, 6th Sept., 1759. can contribute to the success of his majesty's arms in any other parts of America. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, J. WOLFE. SOURCE. (B) Letter to his Wife. General George Townshend (17241807). Histor. MSS. Commission. Report xi., Appendix iv., p. 308. MY DEAREST CHARLOTTE, I hope Mr. Perceval will arrive safe & bring you these two letters from me. The happiness of writing to you is beyond all I know. My concern for your sufferings, my affection for you & your dear little ones, convince me how unfit I am for this sceene, which another month will thank God give a conclusion to. The captive women & children which I see every day brought in here, often tell me what I am and who belong to me, but above all, the malencholly news I received the day before yesterday upon my arrival here from the cursed camp of Montmorenci of my poor brother's death has reproved me for not consulting my own nature more, when I ask'd you to [let me] return to the Army. It had then pleaded for you, when you did not plead for yourself & I had not been now in a sceene of ambition, confusion, misery; and you oppress'd as I know you must be, with terrours & affliction. I dare say poor Lady Tounshend too now starts at every knock at the door. Let us look up with hopes my Charlotte to the Disposer of all things & trust he will in his mercy & goodness do all for the best. I have wrote a line to poor Lady Tounshend to comfort her by convincing her of my own health & safety. One month more will put an end to our troubles. I never served so disagreeable a campaign as this. Our unequal force has reduced our operations to a sceene of skirmishing cruelty & devastation. It is war of the worst shape. A sceene I ought not to be in, for the future believe me my dear Charlotte I will seek the reverse of it. Genl. Wolf's health is but very bad. His generalship in my poor opinion is not a bit better, this only between us. He never consulted any of us till the latter end of August, so that we have nothing to answer for I hope as to the success of this campaign, which from the disposition the French have made of their force must chiefly fall to Genl. Amherst & Genl. Johnson. God bless you my most dear wife, my blessing to my children, my good George in particular, and thank him for his letters. I have constantly thanked God for the success in the inoculation, a most comfortable circumstance for you. Mr. Barker has been slightly wounded. Mr. Gay quite recover'd & join'd us. Our campaign is just over. I shall come back in Adl. Saunders's ship & in two months shall again belong to those I ought never to have left.-Adieu.-Your most affectionate husband, & faithful friend, GEO. TOWNShend. 96. THE EARL OF CHATHAM (1761). The tradition of the elder Pitt's eloquence is still fresh, but the solid basis of his renown is what he wrought for Great Britain during the Seven Years' War. He communicated his own hope and confidence to every department of administration and to the fighting forces. He snatched North America and India from France, and, in alliance with Frederick the Great, carried through the most advantageous war in which England has ever been engaged. This, too, in the face of great initial disadvantages. Pitt was forced out of office by Lord Bute soon after George III. succeeded to the throne, and his retirement from the ministry led the Annual Register to publish an appreciation of his skill in conducting government at such a time of crisis. The authorship of this passage cannot be determined. It was possibly written by Edmund Burke, who in 1758 founded the Annual Register-a record of the year's events at home and abroad. The series has been continued to the present day. Whether or not the following extract is from Burke's own pen, it may be accepted as a reflex of his views. SOURCE.-Annual Register. London, 1761. P. 47. A torrent of low and illiberal abuse was poured out on this occasion. His whole life, public and private, was scrutinized with the utmost malignity, to furnish matter of calumny against him. The successes of his administration were depreciated; his faults were monstrously exaggerated; and the reward and honours so justly conferred on him by his sovereign, were by every trick of wit, ridicule, and buffoonery, converted into matter of degradation and disgrace. Without presuming to take any part in a controversy, which (however unequally) divided the royal council, or without entering into the sentiments of any faction, which we have |