upleix scared King Louis XV. and his
feeble ministers; they angered and discomfited England, which was as yet
tottering in India, and whose affairs there had for a long while been ill
managed, but which remained ever vigorous, active, animated by the
indomitable ardor of a free people. At Versailles attempts were made to
lessen the conquests of Dupleix, prudence was recommended to him, delay
was shown in sending him the troops he demanded. In India England had at
last found a man still young and unknown, but worthy of being opposed to
Dupleix. Clive, who had almost in boyhood entered the Company's offices,
turned out, after the turbulence of his early years, a heaven-born
general; he was destined to continue Dupleix's work, when abandoned by
France, and to found to the advantage of the English that European
dominion in India which had been the Governor of Pondicherry's dream.
The war still continued in the Carnatic: Mahomet Ali, Tchunda Sahib's
rival, had for the last six months been besieged in Trichinopoli; the
English had several times, but in vain, attempted to effect the raising
of the siege; Clive, who had recently entered the Company's army, was for
saving the last refuge of Mahomet Ali by a bold diversion against Arcot,
the capital of the Carnatic. To him was given the command of the
expedition he had suggested. In the month of September, 1751, he made
himself master of Arcot by a surprise. The Hindoo populations, left to
themselves, passed almost without resistance from one master to another.
The Europeans did not signalize by the infliction of punishment the act
of taking possession. Clive was before long attacked in Arcot by Tchunda
Sahib, who was supported by a French detachment. He was not in a
position to hold the town; so he took refuge in the fort, and there, for
fifty days, withstood all the efforts of his enemies. Provisions fell
short; every day the rations were becoming more insufficient; but Clive
had managed to implant in his soldiers' hearts the heroic resolution
which animated him. "Give the rice to the English," said the sepoys; "we
will be content with the water in which it is boiled." A body of
Mahrattas, allies of the English, came to raise the siege. Clive pursued
the French on their retreat, twice defeated Tchunda Sahib, and, at last
effecting a junction with the Governor-General Lawrence, broke the
investment of Trichinopoli, and released Mahomet Ali. Tchunda Sahib, in
his turn