CLIVE RETURNS TO INDIA. 37 



plain of India. Various opinions, however, prevailed as to 

 the best mode of improving these important triumphs. 



Meer Jaffier had died, partly it should seem of vexation 

 at not having been able to meet the enormous pecuniary 

 demands of the English rulers. The council after some 

 hesitation filled his place with his son, Nujeem-ul-Dowlah, 

 a youth of twenty, whom they reduced, however, to a much 

 more dependent situation than his predecessors. They 

 took upon themselves the whole defence of the province, 

 and consequently kept in their hands the entire military 

 force ; assuming, at the same time, an extensive control 

 over the internal administration. 



Meantime the directors at home, amid the triumphs which 

 had crowned their arms, felt considerable uneasiness re- 

 specting the state of their Indian possessions. They were 

 alarmed by the successive quarrels with Meer Jaffier and 

 Cossim Ali, by the extensive wars in which they were in- 

 volved, and by the rapacious and irregular conduct of their 

 servants, civil and military. This last evil they imputed in 

 a great measure to the profusion and corruption which per- 

 vaded every department. A statesman of comprehensive 

 and vigorous character seemed wanting to place their 

 affairs in the East on a stable and tranquil footing, as well 

 as to introduce order and regularity into the various branches 

 of so extended an administration. With this view, their 

 attention was directed to the same person who had been 

 the real founder of their dominions ; and Lord Clive, about 

 three years after his return, was nominated a second time 

 to the supreme command of the British provinces in India. 



His lordship arrived at Calcutta early in the year 1765 ; 

 but we shall reserve till another occasion our notice of 

 his internal regulations, and proceed at present to record 

 those measures by which he achieved the farther extension 

 of the company's territory. Sujah Dowlah, though de- 

 feated in successive battles, and driven even beyond his 

 frontier, still possessed energy and resources. Having 

 collected his scattered troops, and obtained a reinforcement 

 from the Mahrattas, he formed an army with which he 

 again ventured to face Major Carnac. At Calpy, however, 

 he was completely routed, and compelled to fly precipitately 

 with great loss across the Jumna. Considering his cause 

 Vol. II.— D 



