LECTURE VII. INDIA. RISE OF THE BRITISH POWER IN INI PART I.-CLIVE (1743-1767). The French conceive the Idea of an Empire in India, and discipline the Natives-Labourdonnais, Dupleix-The English Campaign in Tanjore-The English and French take opposite Sides in the Carnatic War-Clive at ArcotHe returns to England-Bussy's Influence with the Nizam-Dupleix's Recall-Sooraj-ud-Dowlah's Proceedings in Bengal-The Black Hole-Clive's Second Voyage to India-Plassey, 22nd June, 1757-Meer Jaffier enthroned instead of Sooraj-ud-Dowlah-Proceedings in the Carnatic -Lally-Coote's Victory at Vandiwash-The French Empire in India at an End-Forde's Campaign in the Northern Circars-Clive's against the Moguls-Hostilities with the Dutch-Clive's Second Return to Europe-Second Campaign against the Moguls; Knox's Victory at Patna -Meer Jaffier replaced by Meer Kasim-The Company's Servants claim a Monopoly for their Private Trade-Meer Jaffier restored-Glance at the State of the Mogul Empire -The Battle of Paniput (1761)-Monro's Campaign against Oude; his Victory at Buxar-Death of Meer Jaffier-English Arrangements-Fleecing of the Nawab of the Carnatic-Clive's Second Return to India-His Reforms-The Company assume the Dewannee of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa-Arrangements with Oude and the Emperor-Clive's Final Return to Europe (1767), and Death (1774)-Altered Position of the English. PART II. ENGLAND owes the idea of an Indian empire to History. the French, as also the chief means by which she LECT. VII. has hitherto sought to realize it. The war of the Austrian succession had just broken out between France and England. Du DUPLEIX AND LABOURDONNAIS. 141 pleix, the governor of the settlements of the PART II. French East India Company, proposed to the History. English Company a neutrality in the eastern LECT. VII. seas; it was rejected. The English probably repented of their presumption when they saw Captain Peyton, the commander of a squadron of three liners and a frigate, after an indecisive engagement with the French admiral, Labourdonnais, take flight to the Bay of Bengal, leaving Madras, then the most flourishing of the English settlements, defenceless. Dupleix and Labourdonnais were the first of that series of remarkable Frenchmen who, amidst every discouragement from home, and in spite of their frequent mutual dissensions, kept the French name so prominent in India for more than the next half century, only to meet on their return with obloquy, punishment, even death. Labourdonnais, who was Admiral of the French fleet, was also Governor of Mauritius, then called the Isle of France. He had disciplined a force of African negroes. With French troops and these, he entered the narrow strip of coast, five miles long, one mile broad, which was then the territory of Madras, bombarded the city, compelled the fort (which had lost five men) to surrender. But his terms were honourable; the English were placed on parole; the town was to be given up on payment of a moderate ransom (1746). Dupleix, however, was jealous; he denied Labourdonnais' powers; broke the capitulation; paraded the Governor and other English gentlemen in triumph through Pondicherry. In vain did Admiral Boscawen besiege the latter place; time was wasted, the trenches PART II. were too far, the rains came on; Boscawen raised History. the siege, crippled in men and stores; was LECT. VII. recalled by the news of the peace of Aix-la-Cha pelle, and, to close his career of misfortune, lost several ships and 1,200 men on the Coromandel coast (1748-9). News of the treaty of Aix-laChapelle, however, produced a very temporary cessation of hostilities, Madras being restored, with fortifications much improved. The English fortunes seemed at their lowest in India; the French rising to their full height. Dupleix conceived the bold plan of interfering in the internal politics of the country. Labourdonnais had disciplined the negro; Dupleix disciplined the native Indian, organized the first sepoys. Labourdonnais had beaten off the so-called Nawab of the Carnatic, when he attempted to take Madras; the event produced an immense sensation; it was the first victory obtained for a century by Europeans over the natives of India. Dupleix was strong enough to be reckoned a valuable ally. But on the English side a young man had appeared, who was to change the whole course of events in the East. Robert Clive, an attorney's son from Market Drayton, born in 1725, sent off at eighteen as a writer to Madras— a naughty boy who had grown into an insubordinate clerk, who had been several times in danger of losing his situation, and had twice attempted to destroy himself-ran away from Madras, disguised as a Mussulman, after Dupleix's violation of the capitulation, obtained an ensign's commission at twenty-one, and began distinguishing himself as a soldier under Major Lawrence, then the best British officer in India. For him, THE TANJORE CAMPAIGN. 143 as it turned out, and not for themselves, had the PART II. French trained the Hindoo sepoy to discipline History. warfare. For him, and not for themselves, did LECT. VII. Labourdonnais fight, and Dupleix plan and plot for empire. The idea of territorial aggrandizement went abroad amongst the Europeans. The middle of the eighteenth century was not a period of great tenderness of conscience. The Anglo-Europeans were far from scrupulous, even for that age; and in the state of things which then obtained in India-closely analogous, as Lord Macaulay has pointed out, to that which existed in Europe after the death of Charlemagne-there was little settled law. Every throne almost had pretenders as well as occupants. A descendant of Seevajee's brother, Sahujee, had been displaced from the throne of the petty state of Tanjore in favour of his illegitimate brother, Pretaup Sing. He offered the English the little fort and territory of Devee Cotta, if they would restore him. They had acknowledged his brother, and solicited his aid against the French. What of that? The bribe was accepted, and 100 Europeans and 500 sepoys were sent to make sure of Devee Cotta. They had to retreat disgracefully. A new detachment was sent under Major Lawrence, Clive acting under him with a lieutenant's commission. Devee Cotta was stormed, Clive volunteering to lead the attack. He was too rash; suffered his platoon of Europeans to be separated from their support of 700 sepoys, scarcely escaped with his life, and saw his platoon all but annihilated. Major Lawrence had to advance with his whole force, and the place was taken. The English had PART II. been vigorously resisted on their way; but now History. it turned out that Sahujee had no party in TanLECT. VII. jore. The English made peace with Pretaub Sing, gave up Sahujee's cause, agreed to detain him prisoner; thought even, it was said, of handing him over to the Mahratta mercy of his brother. But they kept Devee Cotta (1749). The sovereignty of Tanjore was a small affair. The Carnatic, forming a large portion of the Coromandel coast, as far south as the Cauvery, was ruled by a deputy or nawab named by the Nizam. The present nawab, Anwar ud din Khan (called by the English Anaverdy Khan), had a rival pretender named Chunda Sahib. On the other hand, the Nizam of the day, Nazir Jung, had also a competitor, Muzaffir, or Mirzapha Jung. Chunda Sahib, when engaged with the Mahrattas, had sent his family to Pondicherry, where they had been kindly treated by the French. He became thus attached to French interests, and entered into correspondence with Dupleix. The two pretenders, Chunda Sahib and Muzaffir Jung, united their interests and their forces. Dupleix supplied them with auxiliaries. They marched against Anwaruddin and defeated him; he fell in the engagement, a veteran warrior of 107; his eldest son was taken prisoner, and Mohammed Ali, his second son, fled to Trichinopoly. The French received eighty-one villages as a reward for their services (1750). The English now took up the cause of Mohammed Ali and Nazir Jung. But though at first slightly successful, their advantages did not last long. Nazir was shot by a Patan (Afghan) in his pay; Muzaffir Jung, who was his prisoner, |