Date(s) on item: Reg. yr 6, March 13 received When you visited this area I was asked by the mother of the Nawab Sahib to enquire into the affairs of the Haveli at Murshidabad. I had prepared the papers according to the wishes of the Begum Sahibah and have made certain corrections. These are being sent to you for your approval. She has already paid the four Lacs she owed by borrowing this sum from bankers. Now she owes only forty four thousand, six hundred and fifty three rupees
Date(s) on item: Reg. yr 5 (sent) and 6 (received), Jumada II 25 sent; Rajab 5 received: March 5 received Thank you for your letter of 16 Jamadi al-Akhir, reg. yr. 5 informing that from the copies of shuqqas of the Prince as well as letters of Akbar Khan I had sent you have concluded that the Prince is short of funds and that I should not go and see him as the city was strongly defended and there was no need to worry. I have been informing you about the designs of the Prince for the past three months. As a matter of fact the Prince does not have his own army with him but the Naib of Allahabad, Mirza Kocha who is a younger brother of Nawab Shuja al-Daulah has supplied him with a ten thousand strong cavalry. In addition a large number of deserters from Murshidabad forces, including Mir Ali Jamadar have now joined the Prince. In addition, some people from the city [Aziamabad / Patna] have also left the city and have joined him. There are others who are staying here but are waiting for his arrival. I will appreciate your help and advice in defending the fort as the Prince has now crossed the river and has reached Mirzapore. There is no time to waste if we want to defend the city
Date(s) on item: Reg. yr 5, January 7 received I have already sent you an account of my affairs. Now I am sending an account of affairs at Balsar port. I had planned to interview all employees in Gang district and ask them to give me details of accounts for the last three years and punish those who did not comply with this order. However, some of my unfaithful servants who were in league with Masabih al-Din Muhammad Khan came to know about this. On his instigation all these unfaithful characters, including Odepuri Gosain / harkarah removed Bhagat Ram and Paras Ram from their posts and with the approval and help of Masabih al-Din Khan's assistant, Didar Ali they went to Lalbagh and established an entrenchment there and posted three persons as guards. However, they were surrounded by Fath Khan who informed me to send my faithful men from Balsar port to reach there. They have now established a camp nearby and will be able to overcome them soon
The districts of Kond Pasarah / Basarah, Kadah Pavi, etc., have been under the administration of Nawab Shuja al-Daulah and my late father for a long time. Whatever amount is raised from these districts is used as our income for living. Sometime back Lakhi Ganpat Dahr created difficulties in the administration and collection of taxes from these districts. I wrote to you about this at that time and you sent him a note to refrain from such activities. He stopped for some time but has again started mischief, claiming that these districts were mortgaged to the French Company. This is creating problems in the administration of these district and collections of taxes. As I have had no dealings regarding this with the French Company I will be grateful if you could issue a parvanah in the name of Ganpat Dahr asking him to abstain himself from these activities
Thank you for your letter giving details of Mr Amyatt's negotiations / interrogation of Rajah Ram Narayan. I have received a petition from Rajah Ram Narayan, which he had sent on 11 Rajab [10 March 1759]. This is enclosed with this letter for your information. If he had written it earlier it would seem that he has been faithful. He was staying in Farrah Bagh on 16th of this month [15 March 1759) and will be going to Sadiq Bagh tomorrow. Mr Hastings will tell you further details when he comes to see you. Enclosure: Dated 11 Rajab, San 5; [21 March 1758]. Letter from Maharajah Ram Narayan to Mir Ja’far. Thank you for your parvanah, which I received from Khvajah Afzu on 11 Rajab, San 5. You asked me that before Nawab Nasir al-Mulk Bahadur starts his journey with a large army and armaments and the arrival of Lord Clive at Bihroli whatever action is taken or happens it is necessary that Khvajah Afzu examines it personally and submits a detailed report. As our honour is at stake it is necessary that action be taken with consistency and courage. Whatever size of army is considered it is necessary that continuous and regular support is provided. He is appointed at the rear of the army and follows it. My lord, your instructions and various strategies which Khvajah Afzu has explained to you I, along with all my forces, am ready to follow them and prepared to sacrifice my life to achieve the results. All jamadars under me like Nawab Ahmad Khan, Sardar Khan, Nur Khan, Daroghah of artillery, Rao Shankar Lal, Daroghah of artillery, etc., have given money and are ready to march with me. I am not sure about Rahmat Khan and other jamadars who are accompanying the arsenal as to when they will arrive. I have written to him instructing him to join us as soon as possible
We have received today, 15 Rajab, reg. yr. 5 [14 March 1759], a letter from His Majesty with his signatures and a letter-bag from Nawab Vazir al-Mumalik regarding the Prince. Copies of these letters are enclosed for your information. I have also received a petition from Maharajah Ram Narayan. A copy of this is also enclosed. Enclosure 1. Copy of the letter from His Majesty. Some short sighted and foolish people have instigated my son Prince Mirza Ali Gohar to rebel against me. He is marching towards you with evil designs. As he is thinking of disturbing the peace of our realm I am writing to you so that you could at once go to Azimabad and somehow or other arrest my son, keep an eye on events everywhere else and punish the troublemakers so that they become an example to others. This will please us most Enclosure 2: Copy of letter from Nawab Vazir al-Mumalik to His Majesty. We have been informed that your son, misguided by some mean and unfaithful people and having some crazy ideas in his mind is marching towards Azimabad. It will be good if you could issue an order forbidding everyone to join in this mischief and to arrest the Prince for usurping your rights and authority and punish all troublemakers for destroying the peace and tranquillity of the state. This would give us great pleasure Enclosure 3: Copy of a petition of Maharajah Nand Kumar addressed to Shuja al-Mulk Bahadur. Thank you for your parvana received here on 9 Rajab, informing that Nawab Sabitjang Bahadur [Clive], along with a European force arrived there on the above date and Nawab Nasir al-Mulk Bahadur will be reaching there by fast coaches. Mr Sabitjang has written to Mr Amyatt that he should also come with his army and armaments to join them. I am pleased to know that everything is working out satisfactorily. I have recently informed you that Nawab Madar al-Daulah had arrived at Nayatpore. He has now reached Phulwari. In order to delay him here I have asked Maharajah Shitab Rai to start some negotiations with him so that our forces have enough time to reach here. Mr Amyatt was also here but today, in the morning of Thursday, 9 Rajab [8 March 1759] he suddenly and without informing me left for Murshidabad by boat. This has made my army very disheartened and there is rioting in the city. The Prince is marching towards us very fast and it was reported yesterday that he has arrived at Alipore. There is a rebellion in the city. I am not sure what sort of report Mr Amyatt will give to Nawab Sabitjang Bahadur but I swear in the name of Almighty, my religion and Ganges, etc., that I am fully faithful to you and the negotiations with Madar al-Daulah were being conducted to waste his time and delay him until our forces arrive here. That is why I have sent one of your most faithful servants Muhammad Shakir to you to give you correct information regarding my intentions. So far, I have not received any reply to this message. Here there are two thousand men carrying banners and shuqqa of Muhammad Quli Khan. I am at a loss what to do. I am annoyed with my own luck that I have been ruined for nothing. I do not know what to do next. As I am the keeper of the fort and the English Kothi is next to it, or rather, it is part of the fort, I wanted my men to guard this place. If the Kothi was taken over by the enemy I would not be able to protect the fort. In order to guard Mr Amyatt and the English Kothi I appointed some of my men to guard this place but he wanted to depend on his men only. I have explained this to you in detail in my letter. There is not much time left. Whatever I have done I have done with a clear conscience
Date(s) on item: Reg. yr 5, Rajab 11 or 15 received News report from the Camp of the Prince. One munshi and two harkarahs belonging to Shitab Rai are present in the camp of the Prince; two other men of Shitab Rai are with the French forces. Four men belonging to Rajah Ram are also in the service of the French. Two of these men were caught while sleeping; the other two are still there. A letter from Rajah Dulabha Ram addressed to Khudadad Khan was received here. A reply has been sent. Rajah Ram, Narayan Singh, Mathra Mall, etc., present news reports to the Prince which they receive from their men in Bengal. A bank draft of twelve thousand rupees addressed to the French was received at Benares from Azimabad. This was forwarded to Chatarpore but the French had left that place thirteen days ago so the bank draft was returned to Benares. Here no one trusts people from Bengal. We have to do everything with great care and cleverness. Two of my men are in the camp of Pihalvan Singh and another two are with Khudaddad Khan in Benares. Two other are in the Camp of Monsieur Lally. Fourteen other are present in the camp of the Prince. Thirteen, including a chef, are with me. As it all involves many expenses, I will be coming to see you in a few days to discuss this. I hope you have read my earlier petitions in this respect. At present Chatu Babu and Bhaghari Harkarah of Mathra Mall are in Benares and Himmat Singh who was with the French with four of his men has left Benares for Calcutta. A Bengali man, called Khvajah Pitrus, belonging to Tate tribe and an inhabitant of Hujrah who was employed by the messenger of Torimall, and who was sent to the French camp, will be returning soon
Date(s) on item: Reg. yr 5, Jumada II 26 sent; Rajab 6 received: March 6 received Whatever intelligence reports I have received from the capital until today were handed over to Mr Amyatt to be passed on to you. I hope you have read all these reports. In the letters sent from the capital on 6 Jumada II, reg. yr. 5 it is written that Jankuji Marhatta was causing trouble near the capital and had invaded the capital on 26 Jumada I, reg. yr. 5. The Nawab Wazir sent his army and his sardars and as a result there was a great battle fought between the two forces. In addition to a large number of people who were killed or injured a number of high-ranking Marhatta Sardars were also killed. At the end, the Marhattas could not face the enemy and fled from the battlefield. They were chased to their tents and at the end had to negotiate the terms of a truce. It was agreed that the Marhattas will offer ten Lac rupees out of which three Lacs will be given to Rajah Ram Prashad and seven Lacs to Najib Khan Rohila. After this decision, Jankuji Marhatta marched towards Lahore. On 3 Jumada II, reg. yr. 5 he encamped near Barnalah, a distance of 12 Karoh from Lahore. Rajah Daler Singh accompanied him until four manzils. As soon as the Nawab Vazir and the Emperor get a respite from the Marhattas, they divert their attention towards the troubles caused by Prince Ali Gohar. This is a fact. The messengers of the Prince intercepted the letters of Nawab Wazir, which were sent to you. Meanwhile if any of the messengers manages to escape and comes here with letters I will pass them on to you. Whatever letters I have been receiving for you so far have been dispatched to you promptly. It is reported that the Prince with Muhammad Quli Khan Bahadur and a force of seven to eight thousand cavalry has crossed the Ganges near Benares and wants to come to Azimabad. Maharajah Ram Narayan wants to come out on Thursday. I will be accompanying him with my force
After Nawab Munir al-Daulah Raza Quli Khan Bahadur had been given leave by His Majesty he was asked to come and see you and convey to you privately and in confidence his messages concerning your welfare and the welfare and betterment of the inhabitants. It was hoped that as a well-wisher of the God-given state, and after listening to these messages, you would be able to discharge your duties more efficiently towards His Majesty. As His Majesty regards the aforesaid Nawab as an arm of his state and one who is well versed in statecraft, it was hoped that when the banners of the state are raised under his command you would not be lacking in desire to serve and obey his orders. However, whatever was written in our destiny happened, and whatever is destined by God would happen. In order that your name is remembered for time immemorial and I too who is an heir-apparent and descendant of Amir Timur Sahib-i qiran considered you as an arm and well-wisher of the state, and in this matter God and his prophet are my witness that whatever Munir al-Daulah conveyed to you in confidence should have been considered as if it was coming from my own tongue. In addition, if you refuse to support us and turn away from us then, with God's help, the state is capable of defending itself from any designs. God willing, by raising over two hundred thousand force of horsemen and foot soldiers it could crush all rebellious and troublemakers in the province so that they become extinct from the world and become a lesson to others and the province returns to its former peace and tranquillity and no one dares to commit such unbecoming and disgraceful acts against Murshid Zadah and inheritor of this country and devotes his energies towards the welfare of his people
Date(s) on item: December 19 received Thank you for your letter. A reply to Nawab Wazir's letter he had sent to you is long overdue. He has sent me another reminder. In the past I had enquired through Mr Amhurst [?Amherst] whether he had sent Nawab Wazir's letter to Nawab Mir Muhammad Jafar Khan and the Nawab Vazir had, in reply, written to him that he would be able to answer his letter only after he had received advice and a draft of a reply and had shown this draft to Mr Watts. As we do not know whether he has received the corrected version of this draft or not it will be a waste of time to send him a reply. At the same time I have received letters from the capital dated 16 Rabi` I. In it is written that the Emperor and the Wazir al-Mumalik are returning back to the capital, after their conquests and annihilation of the rebel forces of the district. They will reach the capital in two or three days. In the post- bag I have received from you today one letter addressed to Nawab Vazir and the second to Maharajah Umdat al-Mulk Rajah Nagar Mal Bahadur and the third to Muhammad Sulaiman Khan Bahadur and the fourth to brother Daler Singh Bahadur. These were all presented to His Highness who cannot send a reply at present as he is travelling with his army. In two to four days he will be able to send a reply to the letter of Muhammad Sulaiman Khan who is a courtier of Nawab Wazir al-Mumalik. You will be seeing it soon. It will be good to send him a friendly reply. I have received two letters from Nawab Wazir al-Mumalik, one addressed to you and the other addressed to Mir Muhammad Jafar regarding the case of the state of Nawab Samsam al-Daulah which you had sent him. You may keep the letter addressed to you and the other you may send the one addressed to Nawab Sahib to him, asking him to seek the help of Khvajah Muhammadi Khan and to write to Rajah Ram Narayan that he should withdraw his claim on Malda. His Highness has asked me to stress this strongly. There has been quite a lot of rumours that Abadli was coming but these all turned out be not true. The Marhattas are busy in rampaging the Capital. Amaji Mankser [?] who used to be always here is back here again. I have sent one of my servant, Hanga, to remind him of the previous favours to him. I am hoping that he will be able to deliver the parvanah of Mir Muhammad Jafar Khan to Maharajah Ram Narayan Bahadur asking him not to support Khvajah Muhammdi Khan and not to interfere in the affairs of Malda
Date(s) on item: September 19 received Thank you for your letter regarding the payment of twenty five Lac rupees for the maintenance of land and sea forces and which you say that you had made clear to me that I must pay and that without the payment of this amount you would not be able to satisfy Patrick [?] Akhtan [?] Bahadur [Board of Governors [?]. At the time I agreed to this demand I had told Mr Dache [French Admiral Comte de D' Ache'] that I do not know how much money was left in my treasury and in case there was not enough money left I would not be able to fulfil this demand. In this situation I would not be able to agree to this demand. I am, therefore, writing to inform you and Mr D'Arche that there is not enough money available in our treasury. This could be confirmed from Jagat Seth brothers and the Maharajah [Diwan] who are both very well known to you. I have agreed with them that I am willing to pay half of this amount. Out of this I am willing to pay half in cash and half in commodities. It would not be possible for me to pay more than that in cash as I have to take into account the payment I have to make to my own army. This is in addition to the demand of Chauth / one-fourth from the Marathas and payment made to the King Emperor. God willing I will be able to pay the first instalment of the above amount in the month of Katak and the rest in Chet. I am unable to agree or pay any additional sum. I am sure there is enough money in the Company's coffers that you could pay the Board of Governor this amount now and replace it when you have received it from me
I hope you have already received news report of the court of Rajah Ram Narayan we had sent you early this morning. The subsequent news is that when Rajah Ram Narayan went out he was accompanied by harkarahs and they have submitted the following report. At mid-day when the four ghari of the day had passed the Rajah's carriage reached Phulwari and he sent two of his courtiers, Muhammad Ali Khan and Mir Masum to see Nawab Madar al-Daulah. Nawab Madar al-Daulah received them with open arms and took them to his palace where they conducted negotiations with the help of Shah Shakir. Afterwards the Rajah left his elephant and sat in a palanquin and came to the tent of the Nawab Madar al-Daulah. They continued their negotiations for about four hours. Nawab Ahmad Khan Quraishi and Mustafa Quli Khan and Himmat Zaman Khan, son of Muslih Khan, Bishn Singh, Khanis [?] Ali Khan with his sons and Mir Abdullah had gone in the tent with the aforesaid Rajah. Nawab Ahmad Khan offered a nazr of two ashrafis and Mustafa Quli Khan one ashrafi to Nawab Madar al-Daulah. In the afternoon Nawab Madar al-Daulah mounted his elephant and came to his fort. It was 13th of Rajab. Other news is that Nawab Shuja al-Daulah has left Lucknow and has come to Sahsram. Other news is that on Monday 19 of this month Rajah Ram Narayan with the help of mediator Nawab Madar al-Daulah went to see the Prince
Date(s) on item: December 29 received Refers to the transfer of 21,000 rupees to Hughli with knowledge the of Manik Ram and states that tomorrow will be Friday 26 Rabi` al-Thani. (As there is no close match possible between the date in the letter and that of receipt on the envelope, one may assume that the two have been mistakenly related). Envelope states letter was translated
Date(s) on item: Reg. yr 5, Rabi` II 27 received: December 28 received Thank you for your letter informing that Gopi and four other Dafa'dars with some labourers have run away from Calcutta and are now in my district and that I should apprehend them send them back to Calcutta under guard. I am appointing my brother Mirza Nur Ali Beg to accomplish this task. I am sending your letter to him for this purpose. I am intending to go to Murshidabad on the 26th of this month and will see my brother there. If you need any further help in this respect please write to him directly there
