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270
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1918
further obstacle to a conclusion, then why this delay ? Surely you are deceived by those you employ, or you have been deceiving me, and all your aim was to get away Omychund, The affair of the conspiracy to depose Suraju'ddaula) is now publickly talked of, and if it does not take place within a short time after the receipt of this, I will set it aside, being determined not to undertake it in the Rains."
Watts replied, on the 8th June, vindicating himself from Clive's accusations :) " I have not been duped as you must know by this time, and be convinced Omichund has been the occasion of the delay. As a further proof I inclose you Copy and translate of a letter from him to Petrus [ Khwaja Petros). Please to send for Petrus's brother [Grigor Arratoon) and ask him upon oath if Omichund did not dictate and he write such a letter to his brother. If this will not satisfy you, and Omichund's address has more weight than my proofs, I will send you the original letter with his own signing. Let me beg of you to comply with this request not to divulge what I have inclosed or wrote you to Omichund, till I am in a place of security, as he is implacable in his resentments, and may be induced to discover every thing by writing up here in order to sacrifice Petrus and me to his resentment. The Nabob and Meer Jaffier are at open variance, and it's apprehended troubles between them will soon ensue; the latter is supported by Laittee, Roydullub, Juggutseat 35 and others, but of this I shall write you more certainly in the evening."
The only document that Watts appears to have enclosed to Clive on the 8th June was the copy (Plate II) of the Armenian letter, and finding his mistake, he wrote again on the 11th, sending the translation, and no doubt the original. This accounts for the original, the copy and the translation being all three in Clive's possession, and the first two being handed down to his descendant.
Watts's letter of the 11th June 36, written on the day before he left Murshidabad, runs as follows:
"I have this moment received yours of the 10th. Meer Jaffeir and the Nabob continue with their forces armed night and day; Roydullub is faithful. Many Jemidars 37 have sworn to join Meer Jaffier in case of an attack. Upon it's appearing that you favour Meer Jaffeir's cause, I imagine the Nabob will be deserted by most of his people, and you will have little else to do than the trouble of a march. As we hourly run the risque of a discovery and of course being then at least made prisoners, and as there is no depending upon the arrival of Cossids , your last being 3 days in the way, if I do not hear from you to morrow, I am determined to set out the next day. We are already suspected of wanting to run away; this the whole town talk of. Meer Jaffier has sent to me to get away as soon as possible. This incloses Omichund's letter to Petrus."
The enclosure is in reality a free translation of a part of the Armenian letter under discussion, no doubt given to Watts by Petros himself.
* Orme MSS., India, vol. IX, p. 2316. I give below reasons for identifying Grigor Arratoon as the brother" mentioned, though of course there may have boon others.
15 These names are Yar Lutf Khan Lati, Rai Durlabh and Jagat Seth, the chief of the Setbe. Tho Arat two were with Suraju'ddaula's foron at Plassey (23rd June 1767), but refused to fight, which supports the statement in Watta's lettor.
36 Orme MSS., India, vol. IX, p. 2317. » Jemadar (jama'dar), military commander,
Consid (gdeid), messenger.
