Lieutenant John Gordon of the Dundurcus family, massacred at Patna

repairing the ramparts, clearing the ditch,
posting troops on the walls, and doubling the
guards to the westward of the city. The factory
walls were likewise repaired; the ditch wa3
cleared; and two 24-pounders were mounted; the
terrace top of the Factory House was all
round fortified with sand bags; and two 3-pounders
were mounted there.
The date for seizing the town, June 24, seems
to have been chosen deliberately as a way of
celebrating the battle of Plassey, where Clive had
routed the Hindus under Surajah Dowlah seven
years before (June 23, 1757). Patna was to be the
rou-5 of the Mohammedan power to Bengal, and
though we "muddled through" in the long run,
the desirable consummation was not effected with-
out a great deal of unnecessary suffering, in which
Lieut. John Gordon sacrificed his life.
Plassey and its glories dazzled the diarists.
Anderson writes on June 23 : —
"Being the anniversary of the battle of
Plassey, we all dined at the Factory, when it
was easy to observe by the faces of the gentle-
men that somewhat of importance was on the
carpet, for our Council had been sitting, and
orders were issued out for the guards to be
relieved by the awkward men, and the captains
to meet the commanding officer at his quarters
at eight in the evening. It seems the gentlemen
at the Factory had advice of Mr Amyatt's
negotiation at Mongheer being broken off, and a
day appointed for his departure ; also that a
strong detachment of horse and Sepoys, to the
number of 3000 with six guns, were on their march
to Patna, so that as war seemed inevitable,
they thought it best to strike the first stroke
by possessing themselves of the city of Patna.
However, they were willing to wait for certain
advices from Mr Amyatt."
Campbell starts his story in much the same
strain : —
"This day I dined at the Factory with most
of the officers in commemoration of the battle
of Plassey, when I observed by the private
conferences of Messrs Ellis and Carstairs that
the publick embroils which had' been long
threatening appeared to be coming near to a
crisis, which made me take Carstairs aside and
ask him whether he thought it was safe to stay
longer in the city. He told me for that night
I may, but no longer, and invited me out to
hi 9 garden