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NOVEMBER, 1918)
SIDE-LIGHTS ON OMICHUND
267
On the 3rd March 175 Watts wrote, “I must do this justice to Omichund to say he is indefatigable in the Company's interest; his assistance is of the utmost service to me he declares he will convince the Company and the whole world of his attachment to their service." On the 26th he reported, “Omichund is indefatigable in the service of the Company and if ever man deserved their favour he does; he is always with me, and as I am convinced of his superior understanding, I always consult him and am persuaded he is sincere and hearty in the cause of the English ; and if our advice is thought worthy to be listened to, I do not doubt we shall be able to be of advantage to the Company and particulars; hitherto I think I have not erred." Again, on the 11th April, Watts wrote, 10 " As Omichund has a superior understanding and as I am persuaded it is greatly for his interest we should be successful, I therefore consult him on all occasions, which I hope you will approve of." His illness, a few days later, caused Watts great anxiety : “Omichund is ill; if any accident should happen to him, we shall miss him greatly."11
During the first two months of Watte's stay at Murshidâbâd Omichund's assistance was invaluable, and it was he who persuaded Suraju'ddaula to allow the English to attack the French in Chandernagore in March 1757, as a reprisal for assistance reported to have been treacherously given to the perpetrators of the Black Hole. After the capture of the place, Jean Law, Chief of the French at Kâsimbâzâr, endeavoured to re-establish his influence with the Nawab, but the more attractive promises of the Company's agents prevailed, and Watts eventually gained the upper hand. Nevertheless, although the Nawab withdrew his protection from the French, he was still suspicious of the designs of the English, and on Clive's demand for the complete fulfilment of the Treaty of the 9th February 1757, his attitude towards Watts became threatening.
Suraju'ddaula had by this time rendered himself odious to a large proportion of his subjects as well as to the Europeans in his dominions, and Omichund now devised a scheme to depose him. The particulars were first communicated, on the 17th April, to Luke Scrafton 2, who had apparently been sent to Murshidâbâd in connection with the Company's business at Kâsimbâzâr Factory. Omichund's idea was to obtain the support of the Seths, the powerful Hindu financial community of Bengal, and with their help and that of the British to set up Yâr Lutf Khân 13, a military adventurer and an officer in high commend in the Nawab's army. On the 20th April Omichund had an interview with "Juggutseat" (Jagat Seth), 14 the head of the fraternity, who seems to have received his suggestion with favour, and with the sanction of Watts, he visited Yâr Lutf Khân on the 23rd, when preliminary conditions were arranged. 15 Omichund was now at the height of his power, and Serafton warned Clive not to allow him too much latitude, as he wants to have the whole honour to himself and cannot bear that any one should interfere." 16 It is at this point that Khwaja (or Agha) Petros comes prominently into the story.
& Orme MSS., India, vol. IX, p. 2277. Ibid. p. 2285. 0 Ibid, p. 2291. Ibid, p. 2295
1 Ibid, pp. 2324-2326. Scrafton was one of the emissaries employed by Clive to treat with the NawAb after the retaking of Calcutta. He was appointed Resident at Murshidabad when Mir Ja'fir was made Nawab Nazim.
13 Mir KhudAyar (also Khudadad) Khân Latt, called by Watts "Meir Godau Yar Cawn Laitty" (Orme MSS., India, Vol. IX, p. 2299), with many curious variante, including "Murgodsunyer Cawa Lattee" (Ibid, vol. X, p. 2405). He had been brought to Murshidabad by the Seths, which may have been one reason why Omich und counted on their support.
# Orme MSS., India, vol. IX, pp. 2326-2328. 15 Ibid, pp. 2299-2300.
16 Ibid, p. 2330.
