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PREFACE.

HE conclufion of the war in the Eaft Indies, has ne

THE

ceffarily claimed our utmost attention in the Hiftory of the present year. Exclufive of the great national importance of that arduous contest, and the vast stakes which were played for by all the parties, the number and variety of military events, both by fea and land, of which it was fo unufually productive, together with the fuperior abilities and extraordinary exertions of the principal leaders on all fides, must ever render the late war in India peculiarly interesting. Having got through this difficult, though pleasing task, we had only to gather up the gleanings of the war in other quarters; and then, tracing those measures which led to the restoration of the public tranquillity, we have proceeded to take a view of the nature, circumstances, and confummation of that general peace, which has happily put an end to the ravages and calamities of war both in the Old and the New World.

Having thus concluded the narration, and wound up the business of the late moft extenfive and eventful war, we fhall be able, in our next volume, to take a retrofpective view of thofe political affairs and tranfactions in Europe, which, however confequential they might have been deemed in other feasons, could not have been attended to during the din and tumult of arms, and while a rapid fucceffion of the most interesting events were continually crowded upon the public attention.

It gives us no small concern to understand, that a paffage in our History for the year 1773, fhould have been supposed to convey an imputation injurious to the honour and character of the Baron de Tott. Independent of our attention to hiftorical truth, as well as to perfonal juftice, we too much regard the fingular talents and eminent abilities of that Nobleman, not to regret, however innocently, that we fhould, in any manner, have afforded means for wounding his feelings; much lefs fhould we consent to its being understood, that we gave any fanction to a falfe and scandalous calumny. It is impoffible, at this diftance of time, to recollect any of the operative circumstances with respect to that paffage, or even what our own sense of the fubject then was. The Translator of his very curious and valuable Memoirs has, in his Preface, along with the charge, candidly furnifhed, almost every thing which it would be neceffary for us to fay upon the fubject, by quoting, from ourselves, the uncertainty of the information which could then be obtained, relative to the circumstances of the Ruffian and Turkish war, and still farther, by his own fubfequent acknowledgment, that the calumny, to which the paffage in question is supposed to allude, however maliciously raised, was publicly prevalent. We fhall only add, what we are in ourselves convinced of, that Guys, the French conful or deputy, and the real renegado, was the perfon to whom we really pointed, however the Baron's actions might at first have been mistakenly attributed to him. Time has cleared up the truth, and done ample justice to his character.

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THE

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ANNUAL REGISTER,

For the YEAR 1783.

THE...

HISTORY

OF

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URO PE.

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CHA P. I.

Retrospective view of affairs in India. Benares. Tranfactions which led to the dependance of that country on the East India company. The Rajah Bulwant Sing, having taken a decided part in their favour, in the war against his paramount lord, Sujah Ul Dowlah, his territories are fecured to him by the treaty of Illahabad. Inveftiture of Cheit Sing, upon the death of his father Bulwant, and a new treaty concluded in favour of the family by Major Harper. A third treaty, in confirmation of the two former, concluded by Mr. Haftings, who is bimfelf a party to it, and renders the company guarantees of the Rajah's poffeffions. Upon the death of Sujah Ul Dowlah, the Nabob vizier, the fovereignty of Benares is transferred by his fucceffor to the company. Extraordinary fubfidies demanded and levied from the Rajah, Cheit Sing, on occafion of the war with France, lay the foundation of those differences which took place between him and the government of Calcutta. A fupply of 2,000 cavalry demanded from the Rajab. Charges of difaffection and contumacy laid against him. Governor general's progrefs ・from Calcutta, to fettle the affairs of Benares, and other countries. Proceeds up the Ganges to Buxar, where he is met by the Rajah, with a great attendance and number of boats. Different accounts of the conference on the water. Rajah's vifit at Benares forbidden. Rajah taken into cuftody: refcued, and the fepeys, with their officers, maffacred. He flies firft to Ramnagur, and from thence retires in the night to the fortress of Luttecfpoor. Ouffaun Sing appointed by the governor general to adminifter the affairs of the be country in the place of the Rajab. VOL. XXVI.

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Ramjiewaun, garrisons Ramnagur for the Rajah. Scheme for the reduction of that place fruftrated by the rafhness of Capt. Mayaffre; who is killed in an ill-judged attack, and the party repulfed with great lofs. Country immediately in arms. Defign of attacking the governor general in bis quarters obliges him to retire by night to Chunar. Repeated propofals made by the Rajab for an accommodation, produce no effect. Embarraffment occafioned by the Nabob vizier's vifit. The commotion in Benares Spreads the flame in the adjoining countries. Cheit Sing's manifefto. Attack on the Rajah's camp at Pateetah. Great reinforcements arrive at Chunar. Bundoo Cawn, a native, proposes the means, by which the Rajah's forces might, without much difficulty, be difpoffeffed of their ftrong-holds. The Scheme adopted by Major Popham; who privately difpatches Major Crabbe, with a strong detachment, to penetrate the mountains, under the guidance of Bundoo Cawn, and attack the enemy in the rear, while he engages them in front. The defign fucceeds; Major Crabbe carries the strong pass of Suckroot; the enemy abandon the fortress of Lutteefpoor; the Rajah flies to Bidjeygur, and all his forces difperfe. Country immedately refumes its ufual tranquillity. Governor general returns to Benares; fettles the government; appoints a new Rajah; and increases the revenue. Disturbances in the neighbouring countries quelled. Treaty of peace and alliance happily concluded with Madajee Scindia by Colonel Muir. The Rajah, Cheit Sing, totally abandons his country. Strong fortress of Bidjeygur taken, upon conditions, by Major Popham. Great treasure found, and Spoil made by the army.

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with the most gentle and inoffenfive manners, poffeffed fuch a fpirit of induftry, as had given to a whole country, the face of a garden in the highest state of culture and beauty; and whose labours were a common benefit to all, who either lived near or had occafion to approach them.

The Ganges, before it yet becomes too vaft for health and fatisfaction, winding through the variegated face of fuch a country, could not but greatly heighten the picturefque beauty of the fcene; and lying, as it does, under the happieft influence of the heavens, it is not to be wondered at, that under fuch favourable circumftances, Benares had long been confidered as the paradife of India. The capital was not lefs

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diftinguished for its beauty, than eminent for its rank and confidera tion. But neither the falubrity of the air, nor the delights of its fitua tion, were more alluring to ftrangers, than the happy fecurity to perfon and property which it afforded. It accordingly became the coveted retreat of people of all the Afiatic countries and religions, who weary of a bufy life, vexed by its difappointments, or apprehenfive of its dangers, wifhed to enjoy during fome portion of their lives, the tranquillity of a fecure and happy retirement.

The expences of the prefent war with Hyder Ally and the Marattas, in which all the English prefidencies were fo deeply, and one at least fo dangerously involved, rofe to fuch an height, that the wealth and revenue of Bengal, great as these were, prov. ed unequal to their fupply. New fources were accordingly to be fought; and the weak and the wealthy were doomed, as ufual, to administer to the wants of the ftrong and the warlike. The pro. fecution of thefe means of fupply, led to the fubfequent calamities of Benares; and fuddenly plunged Mr. Haftings, the governor general, into a new war, at near 600 miles diftance from the feat of his government.

For the better comprehenfion or illuftration of this fubject, it will be necessary to take some notice of the late state and government of that country, as well as of its relation to, and the means by which it became dependent on the Eaft India company.

The country of Benares lies far up the Ganges, not a great deal short of 600 miles, to the

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north-west of Calcutta. river, without taking in its continual windings, points generally from the weft to the east in its courfe through it. Its extent from north to fouth, including the diftricts of Chunar and Ga zypour, which are united with it, is about 150 miles; nor is it much lefs from east to west; but it is a good deal indented on the former fide by the province of Bahar. It was a part of those extenfive poffeffions, which the misfortunes of the court of Delli, enabled Sujah Ul Dowlah, the grand vizier of the empire, and nabob of Oude, to fecure the actual fovereignty and poffeffion of in his own family. The Rajah, Bulwant Sing, was tributary to Sujah Ul Dowlah, for the country of Benares, and its dependencies, at a certain ftated tribute or rent; for it is difputed, though indeed of little confequence, to which clafs it properly belongs.

In the war which broke out in the year 1764, wherein Sujah Ul Dowlah fupported Coffim Ally Cawn, who had been the murderer of fo great a number of English gentlemen at Patna, the Rajah Bulwant Sing, notwithftanding the relation in which he ftood with Sujah, took a decided part in favour of the English, and rendered them effential and acknowledged fervices. As Sujah Dowlah was fo entirely ruined by the war, that he scarcely hoped to have been left in poffeffion of any part of his territories, it was in the power of the English to dictate the terms of peace. These were, however, fo much in his favour, as to excite no fmall furprize at the time, both at home [A] 2

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