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Memoirs of Lond chive, volD_ Libractan Uttarpara Joykrishas publi: Govt. of West Beoua) MEMOIRS OF LORD CLIVE. 163 manuscripts in my possession that, though a pleasant and respectable gentleman, Captain Maskelyne had little talent as an officer. His conduct to part of the Nabob’s family, while commanding at Arcot, had been severely con- demned by Mr. Pigot. We find amongst his letters to his brother-in-law an indignant remon- strance against the treatment he had met with from the Governor, who also wrote Clive fully upon the subject. ‘The latter in his reply* to Mr. Pigot states the great uneasiness which the circumstance had caused -him, but adds, that he derived consolation from the belief, that it entirely proceeded from an error of judgment. This instance, added to others, proves that, though the title to Clive’s regard rested more upon the heart than the head of the individual by whom it was possessed, yet he was rigid in his principle of never nominating any one to public station whose qualities did not fit him to perform its dutics. He regretted, as is shown by his letters, that Captain Maskelyne did not accompany him to Bengal, as a ‘member of his family ; but, instead of appointing him to one of the many high and lucrative stations he had in his gift, he recommended him to go to Eng- land, and added to liis small means what he * 25th of December, 1757. m2 164 MEMOIRS OF LORD CLIVE. deemed necessary to place him in independ- ence *: and we are amused with the following passage, in a letter t from Clive to his father :— «« My brother-in-law, Captain Maskelyne, goes by this conveyance, and will bring you this: he is worth 10,000. or 11,0002. I beg you will assist in settling him in the world, and in getting him a good wife.” In the same letter he observes, “ Should you have occasion for money to purchase commis- sions for my brothers, or to answer any other purpose that may be for their advantage, you will apply to my attorneys, who I desire may supply you accordingly.” The Icttert from Mr. Clive to his son, ac- knowledging the réceipt of the accounts of his success, commences with one of those simple but natural bursts of paternal affection that mock all imitation. “Your last letter,” he says, “ gave me joy be- yond all possibility of expression. The whole kingdom is in transports for the glory and success their countryman has gained. Come away, and let us rejoice together!” * T have not been able to ascertain the exact amount Clive gave Captain Maskclyne, but judge it must have been con- siderable from a passage in one of his letters. + 29th of December, 1758. $ 23d of March, 1758. MEMOIRS OF LORD CLIVE. 105 In a subsequent letter, he dwells with true paternal feeling upon the same subject. «« May Heaven,” he writes*, “ preserve you safe to Old England, where not only your friends and relations, but strangers who never saw you, will congratulate you for the glorious actions you have done your country. With what joy shall I embrace you! Oh, may I live to see that day! Your mother and sisters are sitting with me round the fire, drinking to your health and safe voyage.” Mr. Clive appears, from his own statement, to have been involved in his circumstances, and to have felt much distress in becoming such a burden io his son. In his answer to the letter which informed him of Clive’s agents being di- rected to give him the additional sam of 500%. per annum, and to keep a coach for him, he observes t, “ 1 have received your letter of the 9th of November, 1758, and am under the greatest obligations that ever father was to a son, espe- cially in the unhappy circumstances my own imprudence and being bound for others hath rendered me. Mr. Woolaston, for whom I was surety, is now dead; and what he owed the government, together with what remained un- paid on my account, amount to no less than * 23d of December, 1758. + 29th of July, 1759. ui 3