from destroying Calcutta. But lest these evasions should create susPicions, he began to restore part of the English effects, and paid 450,000 rupees in money.
In the mean time, the captors collected the plunder of Chandernagore, which amounted to 100,0001. sterling. The ships returned to Calcutta, where the Kent, infirm before, was condemned as unfit for future service. The season was by this time so far advanced, that the other ships could not get out to sea before the southern monsoon set in. The troops might indeed have been sent to the coast of Coromandel, if they had been embarked, immediately after Chandernagore was taken, on several vessels, which were ready to sail at that time. But Colonel Clive determined, contrary to the orders of Madrass, to remain in Bengal with the whole army until the month of September; being convinced that the Nabob would never fulfil the terms of the treaty of February, unless constrained by fear. He therefore, instead of leading the army back to Calcutta, encamped on the plain to the north of Hughley, where it was better situated either to awe or act against the Nabob.
In this interval Mr, Law, the chief of the French factory at Cossimbuzar, had persuaded the Nabob that a fleet of 40 French ships were attacking Bombay. The Nabob elated by this supposition returned to his former equivocations concerning the treaty. On which Colonel Clive wrote to him, that nothing but his permission to attack the French at Cossimbuzar could convince the English that he bore the good will of an ally towards them, and that his dignity might be preserved by assisting neither side. This letter provoked him to excess, and amongst other extravagancies, he said publicly, he would put Mr. Watts to death. But soon recollecting the imprudence of this threat; and being as anxious to prevent the English troops from advancing towards his capital, as he was solicitous to preserve the French for future contingencies, he furnished Mr. Law with money, arms, and ammunition, and ordered him to march with all his men, as if proceeding to the western frontiers of Behar; but in expectation of being soon recalled to Muxadavad. Accordingly this body of adventurers, consisting of 100 Europeans, and
