Whilst the Admiral was making up his mind fortune had favoured the English.  The Nawab, in fear of an invasion of Bengal by the Pathans, had called upon the British for assistance, and on the 3rd of March Clive’s army left Calcutta en route for Murshidabad.  The Admiral now pointed out to the Nawab that the British could not safely leave Chandernagore behind them in the hands of an enemy, and Clive wrote to the same effect, saying he would wait near Chandernagore for a reply.  On the 10th of March the Nawab wrote a letter to the Admiral, which concluded with the following significant words:—­

“You have understanding and generosity:  if your enemy with an upright heart claims your protection, you will give him life, but then you must be well satisfied of the innocence of his intentions:  if not, whatever you think right, that do.”

Law says this letter was a forgery,[34] but as the Nawab did not write any letters himself, the only test of authenticity was his seal, which was duly attached.  The English believed it to be genuine, and the words quoted could have but one meaning.  Admiral Watson read them as a permission to attack the French without fear of the Nawab’s interference.  He prepared to support Clive as soon as the water in the Hugli would allow his ships to pass up, and, it must be supposed, informed Clive of the letter he had received.  At any rate, he so informed the Council.

Clive reached Chandernagore on the 12th, and probably heard on that day or the next from Calcutta.  On the 13th he sent the following summons—­which Renault does not mention, and did not reply to—­to Chandernagore:—­

  “SIR,

“The King of Great Britain having declared war against France, I summons you in his name to surrender the Fort of Chandernagore.  In case of refusal you are to answer the consequences, and expect to be treated according to the usage of war in such cases.

  “I have the honour to be, sir,

  “Your most obedient and humble servant,

  “ROBERT CLIVE.”

It is important, in the light of what happened later, to notice that Clive addresses Renault as a combatant and the head of the garrison.

In England we have recently seen men eager to vilify their own nation.  France has produced similar monsters.  One of them wrote from Pondicherry:—­

“The English having changed their minds on the arrival of the reinforcement from Bombay, our gentlemen at Chandernagore prepared to ransom themselves, and they would have done so at whatever price the ransom had been fixed provided anything had remained to them.  That mode of agreement could not possibly suit the taste of the English.  It was rejected, and the Council of Chandernagore had no other resource except to surrender on the best conditions they could obtain from the generosity of their enemy.  This course was so firmly resolved upon that they gave no thought to defending themselves.