English
After the battle of Plaseey, Mir Jafar and Clive had a conference on the battlefield, and they together entered Mnrahidibad. Mir Jafar occupied the palaoe of Man?urganj, which was the residence of Siriju-d.daulah, and then visited the Nijamat Treasury in order to distribute the treasures between himself, DuUb Ram, and Clive! as had bften agreed to mutnally. Dnlab Ram now became Mir Jafar’e most influential oolleagne in the administration. Their friendship, however, did not last long, and shortly after Dnlab Ram contemplated placing Siriju-d-dnulah’s brother, Mirsi Mahdi, on the monad. See Beir, Vol. II, Pars, text, p 644) 378 army and the nobility, who had joined him in his conspiracy to destroy Siraju-d-daulah. He appointed hiB nephew, Khadim Husain ghan, 1 to the office of Faujdar of Purniah, and conferred on Ramnarain a robe of honour, confirming him in the Deputy- Governorship of the Subah of Azimabad (Patna). 8 At this time Shah Alam 3 invaded the Sabah of Azimabad. 1 See Beir (Vol. II, p. 645), for an acconnt of Khadem Hnsain Hiiin. Khndem Husain Khan’s father, Syed Khadem All Khan, was husband of Mir Jafar’s sister, but Khadem Husain was not from this sister, but born of another wife of Khadem. Khadem Husain was a boon companion of Mir Jafar, who was fond of pleasures and carousals (p. 645, Vol. II, Beir). * Mir Jafar was quite incompetent for the office of $ubadar of Bengal. As soon as he ascended the masnad of the Ni&amat, he flung himself into pleasures, neglected State affairs, and left them in the hands of his son, Mirnn, and others. Jahangir Nngar or Dacca fell into the bands of Rajballab, Diwan of Mirafa ; this Rajballab in the time of the late §hahamat Jang was peshkar of §hahamat Jang’s Diwan, Husain Quli Khan. Bardwan and some other districts were ceded to the English, in lieu of cash payment of a part of the Bengal revenue. Hugli was assigned to Mir Beg Khan, who had rendered good services to the English. Rajah Ramnarain became supreme administrator of Bibar, whilst Purniah was bestowed on Khadem Husain Khan. (See Seir, Vol. II, p. 651). It is stated in the Seir that shortly after Mir Jafar’s acces¬ sion, people got tired of him and his son Miran, and sighed back for the old days of 8iraju-d-daulah, whom they regarded now as better in all respects than Mir Jafar (Seiru-l-Muta&erin, Vol. II, p. 656). ft A detailed account of this will be found in the Seiru-l-Mutakherin, Vol. I , p. 656. It appears that many of the noblemen in Bihar and Bengal soon got into thorough disgust with Mir Jafar and his son, Miran, and opened corres¬ pondence with Muhammad Quli Khan, $ubadar of Allahabad (a cousin of Shujau-d-daulah, and a nephew of Safdar Jang). Muhammad Quli Si™ took counsel with hie cousin, Shujau-d-daulab, §ubadar of Oudh, who inwardly harboured ill-feeling towards his cousin and aimed at his ruin, gave im false advice,\and encourged him to invade Bihar and to carry ‘ wi ‘ Prince All Gauhar, eurnamed Shah Alam (who was heir of Emperor Alamgir II). Ali Gauhar was harassed at this time by Imadu-l-Mulk, and wa f at * y, “ g Najibuld-daulah Najib Khan Afghan at Miranpur, fibaturah. At first R narain Deputy-Governor of Bihar, took counsel with Mr. Amytt the Ch e of theEnglish Factor, at Pat.., enqoired what coarse of act,on hesbonld adopt and snggested that the English ehonld help h,m .n oppos.ng Pnn Alt Gauhar’s invasion. Mr. Amytt said he conld give no dec.s.ve answer. Find ing that no help was opining from the Nasim of Bengal Mir Jafar, nor fro the English Ramnarain became anaions, opened political courtea.e. with Prince Gaohar and Mohammad Qoli ©in, waited on them m Barter, and professed allegiance to the Prince. Both the Prince and Mohammad Qn . 379 Rahim Khan and Qadirdad Khan, <fcc., sons of Umar Khan, and Ghnlam Shah and other commanders and generals in the service Khan being thna re-assured. let Ramnarain return to the fort of Ajimabad. Shortly after, on getting news of the approach of Miran and the English, Ramnarain threw off hia mask of loyalty to the Prince and Mohammad Qoli Khan. The latter pressed the siege of Patna, assaulted the Fort, and Ramnarain being hardpressed was abont to surrender and run away. Then news arriving that ghnjau-d-daulah by a fonl trick had made himself master of the Fort of Allahabad, which was held by his cousin Muhammad Quli Khan, the latter together with Prince All Ganhar abandoned the siege of Patna, and withdrew towards Allahabad. (See p.669, fleir.Vol.il). At this time, Mons. Las met the Prince, persuaded the latter to attack again Patna, but the latter acknowledged his inability to do so, owing to want of funds. If, at this time, Shujan-d-daulah, instead of being meanly treacherous to his cousin, had supported him, the fate of Bihar might have been different. See Mons. Las’s observations on the point quoted in the Seir (Vol. II, p. 670). At Benares, Mohammad Qnli Khin's march was opposed under orders of ghujau-d-daulah, whilst Prince Ali Ganhar with Mona. Las was allowed to pass on vid Mirzapur to Chattarpur towards Bundelknnd. Muhammad Quli Khan was carried to Shujau-d-danlnh who had the meanness to imprison him. In the meantime, Miran with Col. Clive came to Patna, and Ramnarain waited on them, whilst apparently amicable relations were opened between them and Prince Ali Ganhnr, through the diplomatic correspondence of Ghu- lam Husain Khan, author of the Seir. (See Seir, Vol. II, p. 674). Shortly after, on the invitation of Diler Khan and Kamgar Khan, Zamindar of Tirhut Samai, Prince Ali Ganhar again invaded Patna. At this time, the English army under Captain Cockrano supported RamnurSin. Mr. Amytt was still the Chief of the English Factory at Patna, whilst Dr. Fullerton was attached to the Factory as the medical officer. The author of the Seir (Ghulam Husain Khan) was a friend of Dr. Fullerton, and was the latter’s guest at the time. (See Seir, Vol. II, p. 676). At this time Emperor Alamgir II was treacherously murdered under orders of Imadu-l-Mulk (See Seir, Vol. II, p. 676), and Ali Ganhar consulted Ghulam Husain Khan's father, who resided at the time in Husainabad in Bihar Province and'proclaimed himself Em- poror under the title of Shah Alum in 1173, A.H., appointed Shujau-d-daulah ns Ins Vizier, and Najibn-d-daulah ns his General. Then Kamgar Khfin Mum and A ? alat K£an and Diler Khan met the Emperor, and induced the latter to invade Bihir. At this time, R5mnarain was encamped on the banks of the nver Dhanah. At this buttle, §hah Alam defeated Ramnarain who ww wounded The English army who supported Ramnariiin and were !ed by Captain Cockrane and Mr. Barwal, wore also defeated and dispersed • this h^r n-i ^ 6 h ^ dB ° f th ° Emperor ( See Seir ‘ Vo1 - II, P- 678). At this bat le, Diler and A*alnt Khin, sons of Umar Khan, fought and fell ero.cally on the side of the Emperor. Shortly after, Minin, with the Eng¬ lish troops under Colonel Clive arrived. On the side of the Emperor Kam- 380 of Siraju-d-daulah, whom Jafar All Khan had previously from policy shifted to the province of Bihar, now joined the Imperial Army. At Fatuhah, a battle took place between the Imperialists and Ramnarain. Ramnarain was wounded, and fled to the fort, and the Imperial troops laid siege to the fort. Nawab Jafar All Khan, on getting this news, despatched to Bihar bis son, Nawab Nasiru-l-Mulk Sadlq All Khan Shahamat Jang, surnamed Miran, with a detachment of English troops. On the banks of the river Adhuali, adjoining Barb, a battle ensued with the Imperialists. On the side of the Imperialists, Qadirdad Khan and Kamgar Khan displayed feats of bravery. Muhammad Amin Khan was wouuded, whilst Rajballab fell back, and both contemplated flight. Qadirdad Khan, with others, by brave onslaughts, attacked the lines of artillery. A heavy gun, which required to he drawn by 400 bullocks, happened to lie in front of these. Those men got entangled amidst the bullocks, and failed to cut through as the bullocks hemmed them on all sides. At this juncture* the ale- phant-driver of Qadirdad Khan was shot by a bullet. Qadirdad gar Khan. Qadirdad Khan, Ghulam Shah were the Generals. Qadirdad Khan made a bold movement to the rear of Miran, heroically fought, killed Muham¬ mad Amin Khan (maternal uncle of Miran), wounded Miran, and worked havoc in Miran’s army. Miran fled. Then the English opened a brisk can- nonade, and one cannon-ball hit Qadirdad Khan who was killed. Then the tide of victory turned in favour of Miran, whilst Kamgar KhaD, with the Emperor, proceeded towards Bihar. ( Seir, Yol. II, p. 680). Now Knmgar Khan, with the Emperor, contemplated surprising Murshidabad, and procoed- ^d"to Bardwan. Mir Jafar, with the English army and his own troops, pro¬ ceeded to Bardwan. Kamgar Khan with the Emperor now turned back towards Agimabad, while Mons. Las also arrived. (Seir, Vol. II, p. 680)- At this time Khadim Hasain Khan and Dulab Bam (who had got sick of bis old fellow-conspirator, Mir Jafar) sent help secretly to the Emperor. The m- peror and Kamgar Khan with Mons. Las and Zainu-d-din Khnn now ussau ed the fort of Patua. The assaults were vigorously repeated, and the or was about to fall, when a company of English troops under Captain Knox brought timely reinforcement, and raised the siege. The Emperor w. Kamgar Khan now went some distance from Patna, and was busy collecting revenue^ “n the meantime, Khadim Husain, who bore an old grudge to Miran moved to Hajipur with a large number of troops to attack Patna, b was defeated by Captain Knox who was supported by Shitab Kai iJSeir, Vo . , ^ Shortly after Miran, with Colonel Clive and another Enghsh army Arrived" . F- Ho.aio B I.. who felt h.