independent, ruled the three great provinces of Bengal, Orissa, and Bahar.  At Moorshedabad were the court, the harem, and the public offices.  Cossimbazar was a port and a place of trade, renowned for the quantity and excellence of the silks which were sold in its marts, and constantly receiving and sending forth fleets of richly laden barges.  At this important point, the Company had established a small factory subordinate to that of Fort William.  Here, during several years, Hastings was employed in making bargains for stuffs with native brokers.  While he was thus engaged, Surajah Dowlah succeeded to the government, and declared war against the English.  The defenceless settlement of Cossimbazar, lying close to the tyrant’s capital, was instantly seized.  Hastings was sent a prisoner to Moorshedabad, but, in consequence of the humane intervention of the servants of the Dutch Company, was treated with indulgence.  Meanwhile the Nabob marched on Calcutta; the governor and the commandant fled; the town and citadel were taken, and most of the English prisoners perished in the Black Hole.

In these events originated the greatness of Warren Hastings.  The fugitive governor and his companions had taken refuge on the dreary islet of Fulda, near the mouth of the Hoogley.  They were naturally desirous to obtain full information respecting the proceedings of the Nabob; and no person seemed so likely to furnish it as Hastings, who was a prisoner at large in the immediate neighbourhood of the court.  He thus became a diplomatic agent, and soon established a high character for ability and resolution.  The treason which at a later period was fatal to Surajah Dowlah was already in progress; and Hastings was admitted to the deliberations of the conspirators.  But the time for striking had not arrived.  It was necessary to postpone the execution of the design; and Hastings, who was now in extreme peril, fled to Fulda.

Soon after his arrival at Fulda, the expedition from Madras, commanded by Clive, appeared in the Hoogley.  Warren, young, intrepid, and excited probably by the example of the Commander of the Forces, who, having like himself been a mercantile agent of the Company, had been turned by public calamities into a soldier, determined to serve in the ranks.  During the early operations of the war he carried a musket.  But the quick eye of Clive soon perceived that the head of the young volunteer would be more useful than his arm.  When, after the battle of Plassey, Meer Jaffier was proclaimed Nabob of Bengal, Hastings was appointed to reside at the court of the new prince as agent for the Company.