But,
without a moment's hesitation or a solitary misgiving, Clive
recognized that the opportunity had come to him to complete the work
he had begun, six years before, in Southern India; that a chance
presented itself to transfer the great influence exercised by Bussy
at the court of the Subahdar of the Deccan to his own nation. Leaving
to himself then the care of Bengal and Bihar he directed a trusted
officer, Colonel Forde, to proceed (October 12) with 500 Europeans,
2000 sipahis, and some guns to Vizagapatam, to unite there with the
Raja's troops, to take command; and to expel the French from the
Northern Sirkars: then, if it were possible, to assume at the court
of the Subahdar the influence which the French had till then
exercised. It is only necessary here to say that Forde, who was one
of the great Indian soldiers of the century, carried both points with
skill and discretion. He beat the French in detail, and compelled
them to yield their fortresses; and, when the Subahdar marched to
their aid, he succeeded, with rare tact, in inducing him to cede to
the English the whole of the territories he had conquered, and to
transfer the paramount influence at his court to the English. The
victories of Forde laid the foundation of a predominance which,
placed some forty years later on a definite basis by the great
Marquess Wellesley, exists to the present day. It is not too much to
assert that this splendid result was due to {123}the unerring
sagacity, the daring under difficult circumstances, of Robert Clive.

[Footnote 11: The districts of Ganjam, Vizagapatam, Godavari, and
Krishna.]

Meanwhile the solicitations of Mir Jafar increased in importunity.
Even the Great Mughal called upon Clive, as a Mansabdar, to assist
him to repress the rebellion of his son. Clive did not refuse. As
soon as his preparation had been completed, he set out, February,
1759, for Murshidabad with 450 Europeans and 2500 sipahis, leaving
the care of Calcutta to a few sick and invalids. He reached
Murshidabad the 8th of March, and, accompanied by the Mir Jafar's
army, entered Patna on the 8th of April. But the rumour of his march
had been sufficient. Four days before the date mentioned the
rebellious prince evacuated his positions before the city, and,
eventually, sought refuge in Bundelkhand. Clive entered Patna in
triumph; put down with a strong hand the disturbances in its
vicinity; and then returned to Calcutta, in time enough to hear of
the