cosses dans le sud de Patna par les Anglois et Cassimalikham, voyant enfin qu’il ne pouvoit plus compter sur son général Camgarkhan, avoit pris le parti[1] de se jeter entre les bras des Anglois, dans l’espérance que son sort soutenu du crédit et des armes de cette nation, deviendroit tel que sa naissance l’exigeoit. Il ne tarda pas en effet à être reconnu en sa qualité d’empereur. Il fut proclamé tel à Patna et dans le Bengale et les roupies furent frappées à son nom. Tout cela ne coûtoit plus rien aux Anglois ; il n’y avoit plus de François qui leur fissent ombrage, et quant aux affaires du côté
- ↑ Ce fut dans le courant du mois de février 1761.
ved that we were to meet the enemy, who appeared on the 13th of jany on the banks of the Suan a river which runs about three Coss west of Patna… The pursuit of the enemy continued about four miles and deprived them of part of their baggage ; when at lenght coming near enough to observe that the french troops brought up and endeavoured to cover their rear, I determined at ail events to make one effort at them, that their escape at least might he prevented with the rest. The guns were therefore dropped behind under the guard of a battalion of sepoys, and with the Europeans and the remainder of the sepoys I made a push at Mr Law. The french played six pièces of artillery upon us as we advanced, but being levelled too high the balls flew over us. Our Europeans, much to their credit, marched up to and passed these guns with shouldered arms. The french battalion fell into disorder and broke before our musketry could reach them. Not a shot was fired on our side nor did we lose a single man. Mr Law with several of his offîcers et about fifty men were then taken, and the remainder some time after surrendered. »
(India Office. Orme mss. VIII. p. 2007-2008.)
