vile things they said, and their gross
behaviour, as I was led along a prisoner. I thank God I have since
walked through those same streets in a different trim, and had those
same wretches bowing and grovelling on the earth as I passed.

When I arrived at the fort I was horrified to find gathered there a
large company of other English prisoners, to the number of about a
hundred and fifty. Among them were both the Honourable Robert Byng and
Mr. Holwell, who received me with surprise, having been assured by
those men who had fought under me that they had seen me slain.
Immediately after my joining them Mr. Holwell, who had become the
chief of the party, was sent for by the Nabob to be examined. While he
was away Mr. Byng told me the miserable circumstances of the capture
of the fort, and how the Governor, Mr. Drake, had shamefully fled away
overnight in a boat to the ships on the first alarm of the enemy's
approach. Not content with this, he had carried off the whole of the
shipping down the river to Govindpore, thus rendering hopeless the
case of the English who had not escaped along with him, and that
although it would have been easy to rescue them by sending a few boats
to the shore. Of this, which I believe to be the most signal act of
cowardice ever heard of, I forbear to write, lest I should fall into
the use of opprobrious language. Yet I have often marvelled that those
who had poor Mr. Byng--I mean the Admiral--shot on his own quarterdeck
for his failure at Minorca, should have refused a gallows and a hempen
noose to one who so richly deserved it as Governor Drake.

While Mr. Holwell was with the Nabob the rest of us stood under a
strong guard in the courtyard of the fort, where we began to find the
heat very burdensome, the more so as it was difficult to get anything
to eat or drink. While we were thus situated I saw my cousin Rupert go
by, wearing a rich new turban, to wait upon the Nabob. At this period
he appeared to be in high favour at the Court. No doubt he had
acquired influence with Surajah Dowlah by flattering his superiority
to the English.

Mr. Holwell presently returned with the news that Surajah Dowlah
was very much incensed against him, on account of the small sum found
in the treasury of the fort, which amounted only to 54,000 Rs. The
prince was firmly persuaded that the Company had somewhere concealed
a vast treasure, which had been his principal motive to push the
attack of the place. He had t