Mss Eur Orme India II

1, pp. 251-268. Journal de ce qui s'est passé depuis la mort de Naerdjang et pendant le séjour du Seigneur Mozaferdjang dans la ville de Pondicherry. Copied from 15.5. This covers the period 16 December 1750 to 15 Janurary 1751.

2, pp. 268-276. Part of a letter, dated – 1751, from Captain Cope to Captain Dalton. Copied from 14. 21. Describes his unsuccessful attack on Madura.

3, pp. 276. Murder of Mahomed Seid, Copied from 14. 13.

4, pp. 277-292. Seige (sic) and defence of Arcot, by a Sergeant. Copied from 14. 26.

5 (1), pp.292-295. Seige of Arcot by Dr. Wilson, 1751. Copied from 14. 25 (1). (2) p. 296. Letter, dated Conjeveram, 16 Dec. 1751, frorn Dr. James Wilson to Orrne. Copied from 14. 25 (2).

6, p. 297. Memoranda by Lord Clive of the battle of Volcondah, &c. [19 June], 1751. Copy. Clive notes that in this battle the native troops behaved extremely well, and actually approached the Europeans for their want of spirit. A few lines are appended regarding the fray in the pass at Utatur. 'This paper was given to Orme by Clive in 1763 (see 45, p.87). Mr. Charles Dalton, in his Memoir of Captain Dalton, pp.96 and 112, gives interesting plans of these battles. See No. 40 below.

7, p. 297. Battle of Arni, 1751. A Memorandum by Lord Clive. Copy. Paper written in 1763.

8, p. 298. Before the battle of Coverypauck, 1751. Lord Clive. Copy. Written in 1763.

9, pp. 299-300. Battle of Coverypauck, 1751. Lord Clive. Written in 1763. Copy. Clive narrowly escapes defeat owing to the unsteadiness of his troops.

10, p. 301. After the battle of Coverypauck, 1751. Lord Clive. Copy. Written in 1763. A few lines are appended regarding the town of Dupleix Fateabad.

11, p. 301. Captain Dalton's march to attack Chunda-saheb's Camp to the east of Tritchanopoly, 1752, by Lord Clive. This fight took place on the 2nd April 1752 (see 40, p.89).

12, p. 301. The Allies dernand Clive to command the separate army going to Samiaveram. Lord Clive, The 4th of April 1752. Copy. The French commander Jacques Law holding the Island of Srirangam and having free communication to the north with Pondicherry, Major Lawrence decided to send a force to operate against him in the rear. As this force would itself be exposed to attack by Law from one side and any force coming from Pondicherry on the other, the expedition was one of great danger, and the native allies apparently refused to march unless Clive was placed in command.

13, pp. 302-305. Attack made by the French in the night on the Camp at Samiaveram and Clive's escapes. Lord Clive. 14 April 1752. Copy. As mentioned in No.12 above, the English force sent across the river was in danger of attack in front and rear. Whilst Clive was supposed to be absent from his camp, Law arranged to surprise it. Clive, however, returned to camp before the attack and narrowly escaped being killed. The paper is very interesting as describing the behaviour of the sepoys in a night attack. As the extraordinary escape from being shot which Clive describes in this paper was openly derided as impossible, see the explanation ,given by Mr. Beaufoy, quoted in Malcolm's Life of Clive, Vol. 1., p 116, note, and Mr. George's Johnstone's contemptuous reference in the note, "see Orme's miracles of Lord Clive". (India J., p. 178).

14, p.305. The Taking of Pitchunda. Lord Clive. Copy. The Marathas with difficulty restrained from galloping up to the breach sword in hand.

15, p.305. After the taking of Pitchunda. The cannonade renewed. Lord Clive Copy.

16, p.306. Chundasaheb's horse come over to Clive and take service with the Mysorians. Lord Clive. Copy.

17, p. 306. Retreat of the enemy into Jambakistna and Seringham. Lord Clive. Copy.

18, p. 306. D'Auteuil taken at Volconda. Lord Clive. Copy.

19, p. 306. After the affair of Volconda. Lord Clive. Copy.

20, p. 307. Before the surrender of Mr. Law, 1752. Lord Clive. Copy. States that Law could not be induced to surrender before he was shown d'Auteuil a prisoner.

21, p. 307, Surrender of Seringham and the behaviour of sorne Rajpoots. Lord Clive. Copy. Illustrative of Rajput courage and piety, the Rajputs refusing to surrender until assured that the Pagoda should not be desecrated by the entrance of the English.

22, pp. 307-308. Death of Chundasaheb. False. Copy. A fragment of no importance.

23, p. 308. Kineer's attack of Gingee and battle of Vickravandee, 1752. Lord Cllive. Copy. This was an expedition which Lawrence declared to be impracticable, but upon which the Council insisted. The account is incomplete and therefore of little value.

24, pp. 300-310. Siege of Cobelong and Chinglapet by Clive. Lord Clive, 1752. Copy. The capture of these two forts placed the Nawab in possession of all the Carnatic to the north of the River Paniyar. For plan see I. 3 above. This paper is interesting as showing the wretched material out of which the Company's officers were forced to form their European battalions. It contains the only description of the Nawab's colours which I have come across:-"The Nabob's colours the ground of which was white bordered-with green." There is very little information to be found in connection with the Ensigns or Standards of the native princes of Southern India. That given above is repeated by Orme in his History, I. 268. On p. 165 Orme mentions that Dupleix was granted permission to display the Ensign of the Fish, for which see Prosper Cultru's Dupleix, p. 255 and note. The Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses. (published by Aimé-Martin, 1839, II, pp. 718-19), describe a number of Standards used by Muzaffar Jang and Dupleix, that of the former being a white flag with a half sun on one half and a golden crescent on the other. In the Fort St. George Consultations of 10 February 1746, the Moorish flag at sea is described simply as red.

25, pp. 311-312. Affair between the English with Mahomedally and the French at Trivady, July 1750. Major Joseph Smith. Copy. Cope defeated by the French. Joseph Smith was in the action, see 40, p. 85.

26, pp. 312-314. Extract from a letter dated Fort St. David, 14 July 1752, from a person unknown. Copied from 14. 27. This is an extract from V. 1 (pp. 1071-1073), which is Dr. Wilson's Journal. It gives several important dates which may be compared with those given in Clive's letter to Schoning (No. 36 below). It states that, contrary to the genenal report, the Tanjore General Mankoji did not make Chanda Sahib any promise of security before he took refuge in his camp.

27, pp. 315-316. List of the several actions and engagements in which Lord Clive was present to the taking of Chinglapet, Sept. 1752. Copied from 14. 31.

28, pp. 317-337. Idea of a treaty, drawn at the request of Lord Holdernesse in Jun. 1754, by R. Orme, or Reflections on the disputes subsisting between the Companies of France and England trading to the East Indies, Copied hom 17. 6, Dated London, November 24th, 1753.

29, pp. 339-445. Revolutions of Carnatica by Robert Orme. Copy. Preface and four books dealing with the affairs of the Carnatic from 1701 to the 25th March 1753, on which day Orme left Madras for England. This paper covers the first three and part of the fourth volumes of Orme's History. It appears to be a redraft of the incomplete first attempt at his History, which is to be found in 59. 1. The Preface is interesting as it shows Orme's motive and object in writing his History. It runs as follows:- "In the beginning of the year 1751 I found the Coast of Coromandel involved in a war, between two Competitors, for the Government of the Province of Carnatica. I found the English and French ranged on the different sides, and assisting their disputes, with an ardour which demonstrated that both thought their utmost Interests concerned in the event of it. "Curiosity led me to enquire into the original of this War, into the Titles of the Pretenders, and into the remarkable Events which these had already occasioned. I mean it not as a retiection on any persons, when I say that I found no one who could give me an account, succinct and coherent enough to satisfy me. Particular employments receive general Events as Amusements, and as Amusements they are lost in the succession of new ones. "I nevertheless discovered sufficient to make me think that the whole, if digested into some form, would afford a narrative, which, from the circumstances contained in it, would be acceptable to many, although few should approve the manner of executing it. "The Interests of the grandest Society of Merchants in the Universe, in whose service I had long received Employment, are so blended with the consequences of these Occurrences that I confess I had some View to their satisfaction in placing them in a clearer and more methodical light than they have yet been viewed in. "I had scarcely brought down my Story, at the End of the Second Book, to the present War of Carnatica, before I found that the chief stress of it had lain upon the arms of the European Auxiliaries. I found that their presence had become the chief influence in all the Transactions of Importance which happened after they had taken the field. "Neither my Talents or Ambition permitted me to affect the reputation or attempt the dignity of an Historian. If such had been my aim, I should not have persisted in a Subject which afforded Battles without Bloodshed and Councils of State directed by men called to them by Chance. I therefore very contentedly took Events just as they happened, and have described them with an Impartiality which no man alive can question. "When I say Battles without Bloodshed, I only mean that these will be deemed so when compared to such as imprint the Memory of their fatal Effects to all posterity. The strain of this Indian War laying upon the Europeans, and these never having exceeded the number of fifteen hundred on a side, the Event of such conflicts may have much of the merit of more conspicuous Actions but can never acquire the Reputation of them. "I have nevertheless endeavoured in this Narrative to pay some tribute, however small, to the merit of those who have exerted themselves in defence of Interests, which, if Commerce is allowed to be the Basis of the British Nation's [Interests], may justly be called the Interests of their Country. Convinced myself that they are so, I have ventured to think that these sheets would not prove unacceptable to the Publick." Unfortunately this Preface is not dated, nor is there anything corresponding to it in the published History, the Introduction to the 1763 Edition being by no means so deprecatory, and concluding :-" We have therefore thought that a general history of their military transactions in Indostan, during this period, would not be unacceptable to the public; more especially as there is no part of the world in which the British arms have, of late years, acquired more honour."

30, pp. 446-448. Reflections on the preliminary Articles regarding India sent to Lord Holdernesse by Robert Orme. 1763, Copy. Intended to point out the absurdity of accepting the status quo of 1749 as the basis for restoration of the respective conquests of the French and English. The Articles refer, of course, to the Treaty of Paris, which was signed in February 1763.

31, p. 449. Letter, dated 22 Dec. 1762, from Orme to Capt. Dalton. Copy. Acknowledges receipt of a portion of his Narrative and asks certain questions.

32, p. 450. Affair at Kondoor against the French 1751. Lord Clive. Copy. See 14. 31 above. Written in 1763. The Madras Records are somewhat defective at this period, and contain no mention of this affair though it is duly recorded by Orme.

33, pp. 451-452. Account of the Pretender to Tanjore [,Sahuji,], and the Expedition to Devi Cotah in 1749 by Governor Floyer, then Governor Floyer then Governor of Fort St. David. Copied from 247. l.

34, pp. 453-456. Mr. Lally’s defence, sent from Paris to Lord Clive by the Duke of Bedfords Chaplain. In French. A short summary of Lally's answers to the two most important items of the charges made against him, viz. (1), that he could have saved the French possessions in India, but did not; (2) that he misappropriated the money of the French East India Company.

35, pp. 457-474. Letters from Major Lawrence to Captain Clive, 7 April to 21st Oct. 1752. (1) p. 457. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 7 April 1752. Evening. (2) p. 457. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 7 April 1752. Noon. (3) p. 457. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 11 April 1752. Mentions Dalton's successful attack on the day of writing. (4) p. 458. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 13 April 1752. Morning. Gives instructions regarding the capture of Lalgudi. (5) p. 459. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 13 Aprl 1752. Suggests measures to find out what has become of Murray, an English officer who had deserted to the French. See 264. 2. (6) p. 460. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 14 April 1752. (7) p. 460. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 15 April 1752. No. 1. Complains of the Nawab: "I'm distracted with this damned Nabob who is continually deceiving me. I sent Gossall to him this morning to tell him that I'll neither receive messages nor have anything to do with him but concoct measures for the future without him"; gives instructions about his correspondence. (8) p. 461. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 15 April 1752. No.2. (9) p. 461. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 16 April 1752. No. 3. Orders him to hang Kelsall and other deserters. (10) p. 462. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 16 April 1752. No.4. Sends Dr. Hancock to him: "I rejoice at your success as your wounds are not dangerous, and if they spoil the beauty of your face they raise your fame in having served your country when you got them." This is the only mention I have found of Clive being wounded in the face, and none of his portraits, I believe, show any mark of the wound. (11) p. 462. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 16 April 1752. No.5. Congratulates him in his own name and on behalf of his officers on his success, and gives instructions for the disposal of the prisoners. (12) p. 463. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 20 April 1752. No.8. Refuses to alter his plans at Clive's suggestion, and reminds Clive that he had acquiesced in these plans at the beginning. This letter is really a reply to a letter from Clive to Lawrence (III. 28), which Orme mistakenly places in May. (13) p. 464. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 23 April 1752 . No.9. (14) p. 464. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 25 April 1752. No. 11. (15) p. 465. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 27 Arril 1752. No. 13. (16) p. 465. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 29 April 1752. No. 14. (17) p. 466. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 29 April 1752. No.15. (18) p. 466. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 30 April 1752. No. 16. Says that he is about to cross the Coleroon river. (19) p. 466. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 9 May 1752. cont, No. 22. (20) p. 467. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 10 May 1752. No. 23. Refers apparently to a proposal made by Law that he should be allowed to leave Srirangam and D'Auteuil take his place. (21) p. 467. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 11 May 1752. 10 o'clock. Congratulates him on the capture of Pichandar; mentions that Captain Love has shot himself. (22) p. 468. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 12 May 1752. No. 24. Warns him against giving any terms to the French or receiving French prisoners into the English Settlements, as the English are not waging war as principals, but only as allies of the Nawab. (23) p. 469. Letter dated Trichinopoly, 17 May 1752. Approves of his strict observances of his promises to the French and to "Coop Saib." (24) p. 469. Letter, dated Camp, 22 May 1752. Wants him to be present at a meeting with the Nawab. (25) p. 469. Letter, dated Camp before Jumbekisnam, 22 May 1752. Says that the Nawab has confirmed the promises made to "Coop Sahaib," whom he asks Clive to send to him with his men, and encloses letters from M. Law and M. Dupleix. (26) p. 470. Letter dated Sunday, 12 o'clock. (27) p. 470. Letter, dated Before Syringham, 30 May 1752. (28) p. 471. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 1 June 1752. Asks him to make things as agreeable as possible for M. d'Auteuil. N.B. The preceding letters all refer to the period during which Clive held separate command of the troops north of the Coleroon during Lawrence's campaign around Trichinopoly. (29) p. 471. Letter, dated Trivady, 21 Sept. 1752. (30) p. 471. Letter, dated Trivady, 21 Sept. 1752. Says that he has heard of Cooper's death, and that Clive's success is doubtful; promises support as soon as possible. (31) p. 472. Letter, dated Trivady, 23 Sept. 1752. Congratulates him on his success, and encloses letters of congratulation from James Repington and Robert Palk. (32) p. 473. Letter, dated Camp at Tritaloor, 26 Sept. 1752. Says that his success at "Cobelon" has greatly cheered the Nawab, who "has wrote a very blustering letter to Dupleix and does not fear him in the least." (33) p. 473. Letter, dated Before Wandewash, 2 Oct. 1752. Asks if he wants any assistance against Chingleput, and to leave some guns. (34) p. 474. Letter, dated Wandewash, 4 Oct. 1752. (35) p. 474. Letter, dated Tryvedy, 21 Oct. 1752. Says that he has tried to keep on good terms with the Governor (i.e., Saunders), but finds that he cannot do so, and has written to say that he can no longer serve under him; regrets that Repington should have only suffered by his recommendation. N.B. From No. (29) these letters refer to the period of Clive's expedition against Covelong and Chingleput, his last campaign in the Madras Presidency.

36, pp. 475-478. Letter, dated Fort St. George, 14 – 1752, from Clive to Mr. Schoning. Copy. Gives an account of military transactions from the battle of Kaveripak to the surrender of M. Law. in June.1752. As the last event mentioned is the surrender of Srirangam Pagoda on the 3rd June, and as the letter was apparently up to date, though written in a hurry, it is probably to be ascribed to the month of June (see No. 41 below). The letter is interesting, as giving exact dates and other details of the chief events in this period.

37; pp. 478-479. Letter, dated Wootatoor, 5 May [1752], from John Dalton to Clive. Sends some claret, taken from the French for himself and the Major, also some "Rappee snuff and a ham"; says that he has hesitated to attack Volkonda as a repulse would be disastrous; sends his compliments to Innis, Chase, &c. This is the only mention I find of European officers with Clive's detachment.

38, pp. 479-482. Deposition of D'Auteuil and d'Estimaville, June 1752. (Copy). A deposition made on the 18th June 1752 by Louis Hurbert (? Hubert) de Combault D'Auteuil, Captain of Foot; Claude Gallard, Captain of Artillery; and Nicholas Charles Francis d'Estimaville, Second-Lieutenant of Artillery, regarding the terms of the Capitulation granted by Captain Clive to the French at Volkonda (see 35 (22) above). The apparent object of this deposition is to show that the English, while professing to be only the allies of the Nawab, were really acting as principals. In the deposition the late of the surrender is given as the 9th June, which corresponds to the 28th May O.S. as given by Dr. Wilson on p. 314 of this volume and by Orme in his History.

39, pp. 483-486. Deposition of Dumesnil after Law Surrenderd July 1st 1752. Copy. Deposition of Mr. Henry Dumesnil, Officer of Foot, regarding the capitulation granted by Captain Dalton to the French at Srirangam. This paper contains a curious statement to the effect that if Dalton had not consented to "Shaikh Hussan" being treated as a French officer, he, i.e., M. Dumesnil, proposed to take command himself, place M. Law under arrest, and refuse to capitulate. M. de Kerjean.'s letter (Madras Public Sundries, Vol. IX. pp. 472-482), speaks very slightingly of Law's knowledge of military matters. "The army at Tritchinopoly was commanded by Mr. Law Lasse, whose little experience in military affairs, though a brave and worthy man as they say, was the whole cause of our ruin." M. Law is M. Jacques François Law, younger son of William Law, brother of John Law of Lauriston, the financier, and appended to the Mémoire pour, le sieur Dupleix contre la Compagnie des Indes there is a Plainte Rendue . . . . contre le Sieur Dupleix made by Messire Jacques Law, Chevalier, Capitaine d'Infanterie, ci-devant Major General des troupes du Roi dans l'Inde on the 14th March 1763 that he has been defamed on pp. 74-77 of Dupleix's Mémoire, i.e., in reference to his command in Srirangam. On p. 79 of the Plainte, reference is made in a letter dated 6 June 1762 to a brother in Bengal, wandering amongst the natives rather than surrender to the English, which reference fixes the author of Law's Memoire (272.1) as the elder brother, Jean Law. M. de Kerjean, being a relative of Dupleix, was naturally concerned in freeing the latter from the disgrace of the failure at Srirangam, but his choice of words is unfortunate for his purpose, as it leaves with Dupleix the responsibility of having entrusted so important a command to an inexperienced officer. "Shaikh Hussao" is evidently the "Hussein Ali" mentioned in the English Records as Commander of all the French sepoys.

40, p. 487. Plan of Gingins first fight at Volcondah, 1751. Copy. See No. 6 above.

41, pp. 488-490. Letter, dated Trichrinopoly, 1 July 1752, from Dalton to Clive. Copy. A private letter, but dealing with the pay and provisioning of the troops. The letter shows that Clive had returned to Madras (see No. 36 above). Dalton addresses Clive as "Dear Beauty."

42,pp. 490-491. Letter, dated Trichinopoly, 26 July [1752], from Dalton to Clive. Copy. A private letter. Mentions the Nawab's meanness to his troops in regard to pay.

43, p. 491. Letter, dated Camp, 22 Aug. 1752, from James Repington to Messrs. Law and Dumesnil. Copy. Reply to a challenge (287.32 above) addressed to Clive and himself in consequence of alleged breach of the terms of capitulation granted to M. Law. See No. 39 above.

44, p. 492. Letter, dated Port St. George, 3 October 1752, from Governor Saunders to Clive. Copy. Written after the capture of Covelong and Chingleput. Instructs him as to the disposal of captured stores, &c., and approves of Clive's forcing the Nawab's people to observe the capitulation. Saunders' pedantic caution in insisting that the English fought as allies and not as principals is shown in his frigid congratulation:- "I am to return you thanks for the service you have been to the Nawab's affairs."

45, p. 493. Letter dated Fort St. David, 6 October 1751, from Governor Saunders to Capt. Rodolph Gingins. Copied from 264.2.

46, p. 494. Letter, dated Trivady Camp, 10 Jan. 1753, from, James Repington to Clive. Copy. Describes the fight at Tiruvadi when the" old cock" (i.e., Major Lawrence), managed to outwit the Marathas and beat them and the French.

47, p. 495. Letter, dated Bath, 25 Oct. 1762, from Henry Powney to Robert Orme. Copy. Says that he cannot give particulars of Cope's expedition to Trichinopoly (1 Madura) in 1751, and that he believes Nasir Jang was killed on the 6th December 1750.

48, p.496. Letter, dated 29 July 1752, from Captain Shaw to –. Copied from 14. 28.

49, pp. 497-498. Letter, dated fort St. George, 27 Feb. 1753, f'rom the Council, Fort St. George, to Capt. Rodolph de Gingins. Copied from 264. l.

50, p. 499. Letter, dated Madras, 18 Februarr 1751/2, from Robert Orme to Mr. Stephen Law. Copy. Expresses the high expectations of the English in regard to the overthrow of Chanda Sahib, and the public confidence in Clive:- "This military genius is too well known to us and too much dreaded by the enemy not to let us expect that if he goes to Tritchinopoly matters must be concluded immediately."

51, p. 500. Letter, dated 4 March 1751/2, from Orme to Mr. Stephen Law. Copy. Describes the battle of Kavedpak very briefly and not much more clearly than Captain Shaw describes the battle of Vicravandi (see No. 48 above), but gives the numbers engaged on either side. See 293. 10 above.

52, pp. 501-502. Dates on the Coast of Coromandel from Nov. 1746 to January 1748, with the Authorities. Copy In 45, p. 80 it is stated that these dates are collected from various publications, but apparently they are largely taken from the Mémoires of De la Bourdonnais; some few are taken from the Gentleman's Magazine others from various MSS. in this collection.

53, pp. 503-510. Idea of a treaty for India, drawn at Condover at the request of Lord Clive and with his assistance, sent by him to Lord Bute, August 1762. R. Orme. Copy. Orme here asserts that Dupleix's schemes for the establishment of a French Empire in India failed only owing to his inability to expel the English, and that the only result of these schemes has been "that we have accomplished for ourselves and against the French exactly everything that the French intended to accomplish to themselves and against us." He therefore proposes to exclude the French either entirely from India, or, if that is impossible, then to allow them to remain only as a trading community. (See Rev. Mr. Gleig's Life of Clive, Chapter XV.). M. Prosper Cultru (Dupleix, ses plans politiques; sa disgrace. Préface, p. xi.) states that there is no evidenee of a systematic attempt on the part of Dupleix to establish a French Empire in India, but there is evidence as early as 1749 to show that the English suspected him, or, at any rate, the French of having formed such a scheme. See Lawrence's letter of the 8th October 1749 (XI. 2 (3) below).

54, pp. 512-516. Description of Golcondah given to R. Orme at Madras in the beginning of 1755 by a Surgeon's mate, an Englishman, who had served with the French. Copied from 17. 11 (2).

55, p. 516. Letter, dated 12 April 1752, frorn Lawrence to Clive. Copy. Orme (46, p.192) calls this a very remarkable letter of this date from Major Lawrence to Captain Clive, in which Lawrence, says he will break the Nabob's bones and make him sensible what a dog he is." Lawrence's anger was excited by some insult offered by the Nawab to Clive.

pp. [i-iii]. Index, i.e., Table of Contents.