usly their superiors in fighting power. Hitherto the English had
not done so. The defence of Arcot had proved that they could fight
behind walls; but the natives had, themselves, many examples of
gallant defences of this kind. The English troops, under Gingen and
Cope, had suffered themselves to be cooped up in Trichinopoli, and had
not struck a blow in its defence.

At Kavaripak, the natives discovered that the English could fight as
well, or better than the French. The latter were somewhat stronger,
numerically, than their rivals. They had double the force of
artillery, were half as strong again in Sepoys, and had two thousand
five hundred cavalry, while the English had not a single horseman.
They had all the advantages of surprise and position; and yet, they
had been entirely defeated.

Thenceforth the natives of India regarded the English as a people to
be feared and respected; and, for the first time, considered their
ultimate triumph over the French to be a possibility. As the policy of
the native princes had ever been to side with the strongest, the
advantage thus gained to the English cause, by the victory of
Kavaripak, was enormous.

On the following day, the English took possession of the fort of
Kavaripak, and marched to Arcot. Scarcely had they arrived there when
Clive received a despatch from Fort Saint David; ordering him to
return there at once, with all his troops; to march to the relief of
Trichinopoli, where the garrison was reported to be in the sorest
straits, from want of provisions.

The force reached Fort Saint David on the 11th of March. Here
preparations were hurried forward for the advance to Trichinopoli;
and, in three days, Clive was ready to start. Just as he was about to
set out, a ship arrived from England, having on board some more
troops, together with Major Lawrence and several officers, some of
whom were captains senior to Clive.

Major Lawrence, who had already proved his capacity and energy, of
course took command of the expedition; and treated Clive, who had
served under him at the siege of Pondicherry, and whose successes in
the field had attracted his high admiration, as second in command,
somewhat to the discontent of the officers senior to him in rank.

The force consisted of four hundred Europeans, eleven hundred Sepoys,
and eight guns, and escorted a large train of provisions and stores.
During these months which the diversion, caused by the attack of Riza
Sahib and th