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NOVEMBER, 1899.)
THE LOSS OF CALCUTTA IN 1756.
301
some of the Bastions, and told him that the Nabob had given him orders to desist from firing in order to accomodate. This proposal was readily agreed to by Our People, and accordingly ceas'd firing likewise, and our men were ordered to lay down their Arms and refresh themselves. In the mean time the Enemy made use of this pretended truce, and I suppose they intended it for no other purpose, (was) to croud in swarins under the Walls of ye Etern Curtain and Bastions, and under the cover of there fire from the Church &c. We having before been obliged to abandon that side, with Ladders and Bamboas scall'd the walls in an instant, and put to the sword such as offered to resist. Every Red coat was destroyed withont mercy. To conclude the scene, such as were taken Prisoners to the Number of about 200 Europeans. Portuguese, and Armenians, were at night shut up in ye Black hole, a place of 16 foot square ; where by the liest of ye Place and for want of water, which was absolutely denied them, not above lw of them survived till morning. And amongst the dead there were wear 100 Europeans, Companys Servt's, Officers &ca. Mr. Holwell amongst the Number that snrvived and is now Prisoner with the Nabob, who stay'd but a few days at Calcutta and is return'd to Musondabad, leaving some thousands of his Troops to keep Possession of our Fort and Town. The Factory and the Church they bave destroy'd.. [They have destroyed us, horr no other Houses that their being set on fire. 2
The French and Dutch have in a manner accommodated montters with him (the Nabob]. the tirst by paying 4 and ye other 5 Lacks of Rnpees; Tho each of their settlements are now crowded with Moors, and no Business can be carried on without particnlar Perwaunas for that parpose, so that it is supposed he has not done with them yet. Messrs. Watts and Collet are Prisonors at Large now at the French Factory, who have Orders to send then to yo Court by their first Ships. The rest of the Gentlemen belonging to the Cossinbuzar Factory, by the Jast Account we had, were P'risioners nt Musclradabad and in irons. The Decca Factory are safo with yo French at that place. Both yo Lacke poor, and Ballasore factorys got off and are now with us. We know to have been killed during yo Siege and dead in yo black hole, 30 Company Servants and 15 Officers. Minchin, Keen, Muir and myself, being all that now remains of Calcutta Settlements, are now henre on board 6 Ships and some sloops.
Messrs. Drake (tbe Governour], Maningham Frankland and Macket, with Amyal and Radham whome they lately join'd, from (form) a Council and Order that they think necessary for ye Company's Advantage. The Nabob seems satisfied with what he has already done and I fancy is very well pleased to see as leave his Dominions. Mr. Drake seems inclinable to maintain some footing in the Country, especially till Advices from the Coast. After the Receipt of this news, in Consequence of our Letters to you on the taking of Cossinbuzar and ye Nabobs intentions to march to Calcutta, We are in expectations, in case french War dont prevent it, of a strong reinforcement to arrive in ye river about yo 18th of August; but I'm Afrnid such numbers as you will think necessary to send to reinforce the Garrieon of Fort William, not expecting it to be taken, will be too few to establish a footing in yo Conntry now it is lost. For which reason I wish your (our) Govenour and Conncil had thought proper to dispatch one of their Sloops to advise you sooner ; as it might arrive before the Embarkation of such Troops, and enable yon to send such a force as would not only reestablish Calcutta, but march in our turn to the Nabobs Capitol at Murchadabad; which I think might be done, not withstanding the loss of Calcutta, with 1000 or 1500 Regular Troops, and proper field Artillery. The conveniency of yo river that runs through the heart of yo Country, and a most healthy Climate from October to March or April, would afford us every Opportunity we could desire. . The resolution our Enemy heve shewn behind ye Walls and Houses would all Vanish in an instant in ye Open field, and I am sure they are worce Troops than any you have. I need not tell you what hand they would make against Artillery well serv'd. It was first intended to send Mr. Mapletot and myself with these Advices, but they have altered their Minds.
· [This sontonde bus evidently been mutilated in copying. -ED.)
