s
the Northern Sirdars, to Bussy.

It was all that the English could do to hold their own, around Madras;
and it was out of the question for them to think of attempting, single
handed, to dislodge Bussy from Hyderabad. Between the nizam, however,
and the Peishwar of the Deccan, there was a longstanding feud; and the
Company had proposed, to this prince, to aid him with a strong English
force, in an attack upon Hyderabad.

Colonel Scott had, in the first place, been sent out to command this
expedition; but when Clive, wearied with two years' life of inactivity
in England, applied to be appointed to active service, the directors
at once appointed him governor of Fort Saint David, and obtained for
him the rank of lieutenant colonel in the royal army. They directed
him to sail at once for Bombay, with three companies of the Royal
Artillery, each a hundred strong, and three hundred infantry recruits.
Upon his arrival there, he was to give Colonel Scott any assistance he
required. That officer, however, had died before Clive arrived.

Upon reaching Bombay, Clive found that events had occurred, in the
south, which would prevent the intended expedition from taking place.
The French government had suddenly recalled Dupleix, the great man
whose talent and statesmanship had sustained their cause. On his
return to France, instead of treating him with honor for the work he
had done for them, they even refused to repay him the large sums which
he had advanced, from his private fortune, to carry on the struggle
against the English; and Dupleix died in poverty and obscurity.

In his place, the French governor had sent out a man by the name of
Godchen, who was weak and wholly destitute of ability. At the time of
his arrival the English were hardly pressed, and a strong French fleet
and force were expected on the coast. When, however, Mr. Saunders
proposed to him a treaty of neutrality between the Indian possessions
of the two powers, he at once accepted it; and thus threw away all the
advantages, which Dupleix had struggled so hard to obtain. The result
of this treaty, however, was that the English were unable to carry out
their proposed alliance, with the peishwar, against the nizam and
Bussy.

Upon Clive's arrival, Charlie at once reported himself to him. For a
time, however, no active duty was assigned to him, as it was uncertain
what steps would now be taken. Finally it was resolved that, taking
advantage of the presence of Cl