ABSTRACT
The remainder of Vansittart’s government was, and deserved to be, a government of troubles. The first sign of them was the sudden disappearance of three of his supporters. One of the last acts of Clive’s government had been the composition of a letter to the Court of Directors complaining of the unmerited asperity of recent dispatches and the readiness with which the home authorities listened to the interested slander of designing persons. 1 The Company’s repartee was rather vigorous than subtle. It dismissed from its service every person who had signed the letter of complaint. 2 Seven of the ten victims had gone home before the order of dismissal was received in India. The disappearance of the three who remained in August 1761, together with the resignation of another member soon after, destroyed Vansittart’s majority.
