e correction of abuses;
and for which he had full powers given him by the court of directors
before he left England. But this was no easy task. Most of the members
of the council at Calcutta had been partakers in the spoils and profits
of the nefarious system which had been adopted in India; many of those
servants who had been most oppressive and rapacious, were strong in
their patronage in Leadenhall-street; and nearly every European in the
country looked to India as prey, which they were to make the most of
for themselves, without regarding the interests of those who should come
after them, or of the company by whom they were employed. On commencing
his reforms, many of the company's agents threatened and protested; and
several, confident in their patronage at home, refused to act with or
under him. But none of these things daunted Clive. He declared that if
he could not find support at Calcutta, he would procure it elsewhere;
and he actually sent for some civil servants from Madras, and turned
the refractory out of their offices. Seeing his resolution, recourse was
next had to flattery, entreaty, persuasion, and arguments, but all this
failed to turn him aside from his purpose. By one fell stroke he
put down the private trade and dangerous privileges of the company's
servants, and he prohibited the extorting or receiving presents from the
natives. At the same time Clive adopted measures, which might give the
servants of the company a proper maintenance, and also an opportunity
of acquiring fortunes by application and perseverance. The pay of the
company's servants being miserably low, and altogether insufficient for
their proper maintenance--a circumstance which doubtless had the effect
of increasing their rapacity--as the monopoly of salt was now, by
the pensioning off the young nabob, in the hands of the company, he
appropriated it to the proper pay and support of the servants of all
kinds, carefully dividing the proceeds according to a scale; and thus
gave every British functionary employed in the East the means of slowly
but surely acquiring a competence. Having disposed of the affairs of the
civil servants, Clive turned his attention to those of the military, his
old companions in arms. And here he had greater difficulties than ever
to contend with, for they were men who held the power of the sword in
their hands.

Notwithstanding, the reduction of military expenses, which were rapidly
absorbing the whole revenu