English
Mir Qasim owed his installation chiefly to Mr. Vansittnrt, the Governor of Calcutta, and bis colleague in the Conncil, Mr. Hastings, both of whom went for the purpose to Mnrshidabad. Mir Jafar came to Calcutta and remained there under surveillance. S In the Seir, it is stated Mir Qasim wns a son of Syed Murtaza, who was a son of Imtiaz Kh an, surnamed Kh nlif. 385 demaud of pay wns a very serious matter, and that it was ad¬ visable that the Nawab abandoning the Fort should come down to Calcutta, entrusting the Fort and the Subah to Mir Muhammad Qasim Khan. 1 * * * * * * Mir Muhammad Qasim with full self-confidence, on attaining his aim, returned to Murshidahad. The English Chiefs leaguing with Mir Muhammad Qasim Khun brought out Nawab Jafar Khan from the Fort, placed him on a boat, and sent him down to Calcutta. Mir Qasim Khau entered the Fort, mounted the masnad of Nizamat, and issued proclamations of peace and security in his own name. He sent a message to Raj- ballab* to bring back the Emperor to Azimabad, whilst he himself afterwards set out for Azimabad, in order to wait on the Emperor, after attending to and reassuring his army, and making some settlement in regard to their arrears of pay. Leaving his uncle, Mir Turab All Khan, as Deputy Nazim in Murshidabad, Mir Qasim carried with himself all his effects, requisites, elephants, horses, and treasures comprising cash and jewelleries of the harem, and even gold and silver decorations of the Imambara, amounting to several lake in value, and bade farewell to the country of Bengal. After arriving at Monghyr, and attending to the work of strengthening its fortifications, 8 he marched to 1 Mir Jaf&r proved himself thoroughly incapable. Id whatever light his character is viewed, he appears to have been maoh worse than the mneh. abused Siraja-d-daulah. Though much older than the latter, Mir Jafar was unquestionably inferior to the latter in qualities both of head and heart, As a general or an administrator, Sirlja-d-danlah was suporior to him, whilst as a man, Sirajn-d-daulah was much better than Mir Jafar or his infamous son, Miran. The Seir states that shortly after tho Revolution, even Mir Jafar’s old adherents sighed back for tho days of Siriju-d- daalah. Mir Jofar was oven incapable of retaining the friendships or attachments of his fellow-conspirators, Dulab Ram and Jngat Set. After as¬ cending the masnad of Nizamat, Mir Jafar gave himself up to pleasures and debaucheries, though he was an elderly man, and neglected State affairs which fell into confasion. Mr. Yansittnrt and Mr. Hastings contemplated at first that Mir Jafar shonld bo allowed to retain his titles and privileges as the Nazim of Bengal, whilst Mir Qosim should net as Administrator-Genoral or Regent on his behalf. In this arrangement, Mir Jafar refused to acquiesce, nnd so he was brought down a prisoner to Cnlcntta, whilst Mir Qasim was pro¬ claimed Naw&b Nazim of Bengal, Bihar, aud Orissa. (See Seir, Vol. II, p. 605.) 8 Rajballab was at this time in Patna in charge of Miran’s army, os Miran had been killed by lightning. 8 From the Seir, Vol. II, Pore, text, p. 711, it oppears that Mir Qisim went 386 Aziraabad (Patna), in order to wait on the Emperor. Before Mir Qiisim’s arrival at Aziraabad, the Emperor had returned to that place, and the English going forward to receive him had accommodated His Majesty in their own Factory. 1 Sub¬ sequently, Qasim AH Khan also arrived, had the honour of an audience with the Emperor, and received from the latter the title of Nawab All Jah Na§iru-l-mulk Imtiazu-d-daulah Qasim Ali Khan Naarat Jang. But the officers of the Emperor marking some change in the conduct of Qasim Ali Khan marched back with the Emperor to Banaras, without giving any intimation thereof to the aforesaid Khan. 8 Nawab Qasim Ali Khan followed to Monghyr and resided there in 1175 A.H., after having finished his expedi¬ tions to Tirhnt, Shahabad. and Agimabdd, and after having left Rajah Naubat Rai as Depnty §nbadar of Patna, in place of Ramnariiin and Rajballab who were imprisoned. (See Seir, Vol. II, p. 711). Two days every week, tho Nawab dispensed justice, attended personally to every State affair, and listen¬ ed patiently to the complaints and grievances of everyone, however humble his position, and did not permit corruption or bribery to thwart the course of justice. He paid assiduous attention to the happiness of his people and to tbo comfort of his army, which he placed in a highly efficient state. He was, however, a terror to enemies and wrong-doers, and his vigorous personality pervaded all affairs of the State. Friends and foes alike respected him, and even the English regarded him as a real power in the land, and not as a shadow like Mir Jafar. He respected learning and the loarned, and appre¬ ciated the company of scholars, savants, and saints. The one fatal mistake that he made was that he trusted implicitly the Armenian cut throat, Gurgan Khan, who was the generalissimo of hie Army and who was secretly bent on ruining him, and this one fatal mistake which embroiled him in a quarre with the English subsequently proved disastrous to his power. See 8eini-l- Uutakherin, Vol. II, p- 712. I It appears the English General, Mnjor Carnac, concluded a truce with tbo Emperor, established amicable relations with him, and induced the latter to come to Patna. At this time, the moves of the pawns on the political chess¬ board of India were quick and strange and inconsistent. Everyone was after his game of self-interest, regardless of traditions and of 8cnt ’ monts - ( C ° Seir, Vol. II, pp. 700, 703-704). At this time Ahmad Shah Abdal. had ag invaded India, defeated the Mahrattos, and instructed Shojau-d-daula Najibu-d-daulah and other Afghans to show allcgianco^to Emperor Alam who was his brother-in-law. (See Seir, Vol. II, p 706). t There docs not appear to be any authority for th slatemeDt. It J 0 ld appear that agreeably to the infection left by Ahmad ffl.h Abdah who. bad inflicted a ernahing defeat on the Mahrattaa Shuiaa.d.danloh Sah^r^ Oadb had come at the time to the border, of Oudb, to receive tho Emperor 38? them op to the coufines of Baksar and Jagadishpur, and after pillag¬ ing those places returned to Azimabad, halted at the residence of Ramnarain, and set himself to the work of administration of the affairs of that place. 1 When Qasim AH Khan demanded from the English duties on their trade-goods, the latter refused to pay the same, and carried on their trade duty-free. 8 Nawab Qasim Ali Khan ghnh Alam and to escort him to Delhi/ to instal him on his ancestral throne. See Seiru-l-MutaMierin , Vol. II, pp. 705-706. I Important administrative changes transpired at this time. Nawab Mir Qasim called for accounts from Ramnarain, wbo was Depnty §ubadar of Bebar. Finding that Ramnarain had been guilty of malversation in respect of large amounts of tho public revenues, the Nawab dismissed him from office and threw him into prison, at tho same time confiscating all his treasures, ghitab Rai, who was RimnarSin’s colleague, was also suspected, and dismiss¬ ed by the Nawab, who took into his own hands the direct administration of Behar, retaining, however, Rajballab aa his Depnty there. Seo Seir, Vol. If, p. 707. Subsequently Rajballab was thrown into prison, his office being given to RSjah Naubat Rai, who was replaced shortly after by Mir Mehdi Khan. Gurgan Khan, an Armenian, was placed at the head of the Artillery ? and the Nawab placed implicit confidence in him. But as later events would shew, this Armenian proved a traitor. The Nawab employed a large num- her of spies, and thus kept himself well informed of everything that trans¬ pired. He also appointed Mir Mehdi Khan as Fanjdar of Tirhut, and Muhammad Tuqi Khan as Fanjdar of Birbhnm. * This was the beginning and ostensible cause of tho rupture between Nawab Qiisim Ali and the English. The Seir (Vol. II, p. 715), details these important events. In 1176 A.H., Mr. Henry Vansittart, then acting as Gov¬ ernor of the English East India Company in Cnlcotta, visited the Nawnb at Monghjr, and held a conference with him on various matters. The Nawab then told Mr. Vansittart that much trade passed through the country duty¬ free, as it was given out that it was on behalf of the English, that in conse¬ quence the State suffered a heavy loss, and that it was proper that duty should be levied on all suoh goods, except those particularly belonging to the English East India Company. BIr. Vansittart informed the Nawiib not to do any¬ thing in the matter in haste, but to wait till his return to Calcutta, when pro¬ per orders on the subject would bo passed by him and communicated to the Naw&b. The Nawab on the strength of this felt sanguine that his request would be complied with, and in tho meantime wrote to his Collectors (Amils), directing them to be vigilant in regard to permitting goods to pass duty-free, aod adding that full orders would be communicated to thorn hereafter. These Amils in some cases exoeeded their authority by stopping goods, with the result that several of them were imprisoned by Mr. Ellison, of tbe Patna Fac¬ tory, and by Mr. Batteson, of the Dacca Faotory, and sent to Calcutta. The Nawib, on hearing this, directed reprisals, and ordered the arrest of the goma*h+ 388 remitted thereupon the duties leviable from all the traders of BeDgal and Behar, and declared that so long as he failed to levy duties from the rich, he would hold back his band from doing so, in the case of the poor. Owing to this cause, and owing to some other matters, a misunderstanding set in between him and the English chiefs. The Nawab now hatched plans for exterminating them. 1 At length, he formed the resolution of putting them all to the sword on one day.