We learn from the correspondence between
Mr. Scrafton and Clive, that Drake, the cowardly
Governor of Calcutta, very naturally could not
understand what was meant by this claim to the
honours of war.[[163]]
"My guns were conducted by land by a small detachment,
the command of which I gave to M. Chevalier, and we
embarked on some small boats belonging to the Raja,
in which we had hardly room to move.
"I was not yet at the end of my troubles, for on the
3rd of March, after dinner, as I was getting back into
my boat, one of the boatmen, wishing to put down a gun,
managed to let it off, and sent a bullet through my left
shoulder. It passed through the clavicle between the sinew
and the bone. Luckily the blow was broken by a button which
the bullet first struck; still it passed almost completely
through the shoulder and lodged under the skin, which had
to be opened behind the shoulder to extract it and also the
wad. However unfortunate this wound was, I ought to be very
thankful to God that it was so safely directed, and for the
further good fortune of finding with one of my people sufficient
ointment for the surgeon, who was quite destitute of all necessaries,
to dress my shoulder until the ninth day after, when we arrived at
Murshidabad.[[164]] This wound caused me much suffering for the first
few days, but, thanks to the Lord, in thirty-two or thirty-three
days it was quite healed and without any bad effects.
"We rested ourselves from our fatigue till the 20th at my friend's
house, when, with his concurrence and in response to their offers,
I went to the Dutch gentlemen at Cossimbazar, where M. Vernet, their
chief and an old friend of mine, received us with the greatest kindness.
It is from their Settlement that I write to thee, my dear wife. Until
the ships sail for England I shall continue to write daily, and tell
thee everything that is of interest.[[165]]
"August 10, 1758.
"My dear wife, I resume my narrative to tell thee that my boats have
been restored by the English, as well as all the goods that had not
been plundered by Sheikh Faiz Ulla and his people, except the munitions
of war. Still, so much of the merchandise, goods and silver, has
disappeared that I am ruined for ever, unless the English, who have
promised to cause everything to be restored, are able to make the Moors
give them up. The English have at length decided on our fate in a way
altogether honourable to us. We are not prisoners of war, and so we are
not subject to exchange; but we are bound by certain conditions, which
they think necessary to their security, and which only do me honour.
What has flattered me even more is that the two Swedish guns which I
had with me on my campaign have actually been given to me as a present
by the commander of the English troops, who is also Governor of Calcutta,
with the most complimentary expressions."
Courtin had written to Clive, asking permission to go down to Pondicherry. Clive replied on the 15th of July, 1758, granting permission. His letter concludes:—
"I am at this moment sending an order to the Captain
Commandant of our troops to restore to you your two guns.
I am charmed at this opportunity of showing you my
appreciation of the way in which you have always behaved
to the English, and my own regard for your merit."[[166]]