the views of the English and of the Seths, and the risk he himself was running, and he brought to his notice that the English were steadily increasing their garrison at Cossimbazar by bringing up soldiers who pretended they were deserters and wished to pass over to the Trench.  By this trick, indeed, many soldiers had passed through the Moorish camp without being stopped.  There was also talk of an English fleet preparing to come up and waiting only for the Nawab’s permission.  The Nazir Dalal represented to him that the trading boats might be loaded with ammunition, and that they ought to be strictly searched, and the casks and barrels opened, as guns and mortars might be found in them.  The Nawab opened his eyes at information of this kind, and promptly sent the Nazir Dalal to tell me not to leave.  This order came on the 10th of April.  I accordingly passed my garrison in review before the Nawab’s agent, and a statement showing the monthly pay of each officer and soldier was sent to the Nawab, who promised to pay them accordingly.”

On the 12th of April Law received a sudden summons to attend the Durbar the next day.

“After some reflection, I determined to obey.  I thought that by taking presents I could avoid the inconveniences I feared, so I arranged to start early on the morning of the 13th with five or six persons well armed.  A slight rain detained us till 10 o’clock.  On leaving I told my people that M. Sinfray was their commandant, and ordered him, if I did not return by 2 o’clock, to send a detachment of forty men to meet me.  We arrived at the Nawab’s palace about midday.  He had retired to his harem.  We were taken into the Audience Hall, where they brought us a very bad dinner.  The Nawab, they said, would soon come.  However, 5 o’clock had struck and he had not yet dressed.  During this wearisome interval I was visited by some of the Diwans, among others by the Arzbegi.[94] I asked him why the Nawab had called me.  He replied with an appearance of sincerity that as the Nawab was constantly receiving complaints from the English, about the numerous garrison we had in our Factory, he had judged it proper to summon both Mr. Watts and myself in order to reconcile us, and that he hoped to arrange matters so that the English should have nothing to fear from us nor we from them.  He added that the Nawab was quite satisfied with my behaviour, and wished me much good.  At last the Durbar hour arrives.  I am warned.  I pass into a hall, where I find Mr. Watts and a number of Diwans.  The agent of the Seths is present Compliments having passed, one of the Diwans asks me if I have anything particular to say to Mr. Watts.  I answer that I have not.  Thereupon Mr. Watts addresses me in English:  ’The question is, sir, whether you are prepared to surrender your Factory to me and to go down to Calcutta with all your people.  You will be well treated, and will be granted the same conditions as the gentlemen