[151] A maund is 80 pounds.
[152] A considerable province of the kingdom of Bengal, the Rajah (or Prince) of which was hostile to Suraj-u-Dowlah.
[153] Ghazee-u-Deen, the eldest son of the celebrated Nizam-ul-Mûlk, was at this period chief minister of Delhi, and had almost uncontrolled power.
[154] The following is the list of the officers of this council, and the order in which they voted:—
| Negative. | For immediate attack. |
| Robt. Clive. | Eyre Coote. |
| James Kilpatrick. | G. Alex. Grant. |
| Archd. Grant. | G. Muir. |
| Geo. Fred. Goupp. | Chas. Palmer. |
| Andrew Armstrong. | Robt. Campbell. |
| Thos. Rumbold. | Peter Carstairs. |
| Christian Firkan. | W. Jennings. |
| John Corneille. | |
| H. Popham. |
The query and list of the officers are transcribed from the original proceedings of the council of war, as found in the Clive MSS.
[155] It has been asserted that Clive was induced to change his opinion by the representations of Major Coote. This was contradicted by the latter, in his evidence before the House of Commons. He said, "After the council of war, Lord Clive spoke to him first, unasked, of the army marching, without his having mentioned a word to him upon the subject."—Parliamentary Reports, vol. iii. p. 153.
[156] June 21st.
[157] Scrafton's Letters, p. 90.
[158] Major Kilpatrick, observing an opportunity of attacking an advanced party, under a French officer, by whom the troops in the grove were annoyed, put himself at the head of two companies and two guns, to charge; sending, at the same time, to inform Clive of what he had done. The latter hastened to the spot, commanded the party back to the grove, and severely reprimanded the Major for acting without his orders. It has been stated, by those who were desirous of detracting from Clive's fame, that he was asleep in a hunting-house, which he had made his head-quarters, when the account was brought him of Kilpatrick's attack. This assertion has been denied; but, if admitted, it will prove no more than that this extraordinary man could give, amid such scenes, a few minutes to necessary repose.