RK.FUCTION OF CHANLH-RNAGORK. 23 



settlement at Chandemagore, — a bad return for the mode- 

 rate conduct observed by that nation. The nabob, when 

 this design was mentioned to him, expressed strong aver- 

 sion to it, but did not impose an absolute prohibition. The 

 former made preparations for carrying his design into ef- 

 fect, but was now induced to delay by a positive inter- 

 dict from his ally. Having afterward, however, received 

 a reinforcement, and learning that the Indian prince was 

 under the alarm of an invasion from the Afghans, he de- 

 termined to undertake the expedition at all hazards. He 

 reached Chandemagore, and began the siege on the 14th 

 March, 1757, and on the first day drove in the outposts; 

 but the place made a brave resistance, and message after 

 message was sent by the nabob, ordering the English to 

 cease hostilities. Nevertheless they still persevered ; Ad- 

 miral Watson came up with the ships, and began a heavy 

 cannonade, which, though briskly returned with considerable 

 loss to the assailants, produced finally the surrender of the 

 fort, and of all the garrison except a detachment that con- 

 trived to make their escape. 



Complete success had crowned this undertaking ; yet 

 Clive soon felt the critical situation in which his very triumph 

 had placed him. The nabob and the French were united 

 against his interests ; and though the latter were at pre- 

 sent much humbled, they would doubtless soon receive rein- 

 forcements, which, combined with the native powers, would 

 probably enable them to expel their rivals, and gain a com- 

 plete ascendency. This ought to have been seriously con- 

 sidered before he rejected their offer of neutrality, made 

 seemingly with perfect good faith ; but such a course was 

 no longer possible. The daring genius of the commander 

 saw no resource hut to dethrone the nabob, and place on 

 the throne of Bengal a new sovereign, who should owe his 

 greatness to the English, and be entirely devoted to then- 

 cause. Yet to attack the whole force of Bengal, aided by 

 the French troops, was an undertaking which even Clive 

 scarcely dared to contemplate. He judged it necessary to 

 pave the way by other and somewhat less honourable 

 means. An oriental court, and especially one in the disor- 

 ganized state iii which those of India at that time were, 

 usually presents the elements of treason. No regular law 

 of succession was recognised ; and there were understood 



