Item CR9/1/33. - News report from ,

I had sent three pairs of letters to the Bara Sahib through our messenger but have received acknowledgement of only one pair. I had received a letter from one of our agent working in the Prince's camp. This is enclosed with this letter. It is learnt that some French officers have arrived here from Benares and a large number of people in patna are corresponding with them. – Enclosure 1: Seal of Harkarah Rang La'l Konpani-yi Angrez. -- On the 4th of this month the Prince woke up in the morning and had his breakfast. After one ghari had passed, Rajah Ram Nath came to see the Prince [?] Later Bahadur Ali Khan also came to see the Prince. Bahadur Ali Khan presented a petition of Murad al-Daulah Bahadur to the Prince. He signed the petition and ordered an official document to be prepared. Later he went into Tasbih Khanah/prayer room and remained there for one ghari. Later he came and sat in the Diwan-i Khas. He ordered the army to get ready to march. Bahadur Ali Khan informed the Prince that four French artillery officers had arrived. The Prince ordered that they should be sent to operate the guns on the front. When four ghari of the day had passed Rajah Ram Nath, Bahadur Ali Khan, Murad al-Daulah Bahadur, Naubat Khan and Aithiya Khan assembled at one place to discuss future strategy. The meeting was presided by the Prince who sat on an English chair. At the same time a petition from Muhammad Quli Khan was presented. The Prince signed the document and ordered a reply to be prepared. The meeting continued for one ghari and after it was over the Prince ordered the food to be served. Bahadur Ali Khan, Murad al-Daulah Bahadur, Naubat Khan and Aithiya Khan also joined in. After one ghari the Prince went into his Tasbih Khanah/prayer room and came out from there after one ghari and again sat on his chair. He ordered his horse to be made ready. The name of the horse is Barqandaz. He went around visiting on his horse for one ghari. Later he transferred himself on to an elephant and ordered Murad al-Daulah to lead the procession and in this way reached the house of Mir Begum. At this time four cannons were fired. From the Kothi to Alipore, which is a distance of one Koh, the whole area was full of morchals and banners. At this time a number of guns were fired. Maharajah Sahib had meanwhile arranged for ammunition to be sent. He also sent a number of people to find out the location where Sahib [probably an English General on the payroll of the Prince] had arrived. Maharaja Sahib has also been asked to write to Sahib and inform him as soon as he arrives. It is rumoured that the Sahib is coming to join the forces of the Prince and for this reason the Prince has travelled to reach the south gate of the city and has erected morchals there. It is also rumoured that the French forces have also reached the frontiers. In addition, a messenger named Ram Dahn and another named Sital? Chand are employed by Gulab Chand in the court of Bahadur Ali Khan. Gulab Chand receives a salary of 12 rupees per month and he pays seven rupees a month to Sital Chand. His job is to receive news reported from harkarahs of Gulab Chand and then write them down. For this purpose the aforesaid messenger writes to Sital Chand and then Sital Chand reveals them to Bahadur Ali Khan and Bahadur Ali Khan, in turn, informs Huzur about the details of the Prince's army. Sital Chand writes to Ram Dahn and Ram Dahn writes to Gulab Chand and Gulab Chand, after verifying all details reports to Huzur. -- Enclosure 2: I have already sent four letters by post. Please do let me know if you have received all these letters as the people here have arrested Ram Dahn, the messenger of Gulab Chand when he was on his way to you.