therefore come to a resolution to attack them.  I am told that some of the Government’s forces have been perswaded under promise of great rewards from the French to join them against us; I should be sorry, at a time when I am so happy in his Excellency’s favour and friendship, that I should do any injury to his servants; I am therefore to desire you will send these forces an order to withdraw, and that no other may come to their assistance."[37]

What Clive feared was that, though the Nawab might not interfere openly, some of his servants might receive secret orders to do so, and on the 22nd of March he wrote even more curtly to Rai Durlabh himself:—­

“I hear you are arrived within 20 miles of Hughly.  Whether you come as a friend or an enemy, I know not.  If as the latter, say so at once, and I will send some people out to fight you immediately....  Now you know my mind."[38]

When diplomatic correspondence was conducted in letters of this kind, it is easy to understand that the Nawab was frightened out of his wits, and absolutely unable to decide what course he should take.  There was little likelihood of the siege being influenced by anything he might do.

The outpost mentioned as the object of the first attack was a small earthwork, erected at the meeting of three roads.  It was covered by the Moorish troops, who held the roofs of the houses around.  As the intention of the outposts was merely to prevent the town from being surprised, and to enable the inhabitants to take shelter in the Fort, the outpost ought to have been withdrawn as quickly as possible, but, probably because they thought it a point of honour to make a stout defence wherever they were first attacked, the defenders stood to it gallantly.  Renault sent repeated reinforcements, first the company of grenadiers, then at 9 o’clock the company of artillery, and at 10 o’clock, when the surrounding houses were in flames, and many of the Moors had fled, a company of volunteers.  With these, and a further reinforcement of sixty sailors, the little fort held out till 7 o’clock in the evening, when the English, after three fruitless assaults, ceased fire and withdrew.  Street fighting is always confusing, and hence the following vague description of the day’s events from Captain Eyre Coote’s journal:—­

“Colonel Clive ordered the picquets, with the company’s grenadiers, to march into the French bounds, which is encompassed with an old ditch,[39] the entrance into it a gateway with embrasures on the top but no cannons, which the French evacuated on our people’s advancing.  As soon as Captain Lynn, who commanded the party, had taken possession, he acquainted the Colonel, who ordered Major Kilpatrick and me, with my company of grenadiers, to join Captain Lynn, and send him word after we had reconnoitred the place.  On our arrival there we found a party of French was in possession of a road leading to a redoubt that they