THE CARNATIC — TANJORE OUDE. 289 



retire with a liberal provision for himself and family. But 

 when Clive received these instructions, his highness la- 

 boured under so severe an illness as made it impossible to 

 communicate them. His death following soon after the 

 complaint, and the demand founded upon it, were first 

 made to his reputed son, Ali Hussein ; a circumstance un- 

 favourable to the British, who thus appeared disposed to 

 visit the offences of the father on one who was not even 

 accused of participating in them. The young man showed 

 considerable irresolution ; he at one time gave his consent ; 

 but, swayed by the«advice of his guardians, he finally met 

 the proposals with a positive rejection. The company then 

 looked round for another branch of the blood-royal, whom 

 the advantages still attached to the name of nabob might 

 incline to govern on their own terms. They pitched upon 

 Azeem-ul-Dowlah, a nephew of the deceased, who, having 

 no other access to greatness, was easily induced to accept 

 this dignity, even on the unfavourable conditions upon 

 which it was tendered. A similar arrangement had just 

 been made with the Rajah of Tanjore, who retired on a 

 pension, consisting of a lack of pagodas and a third part 

 of the nett revenues ; and hence the English were estab- 

 lished in the uncontrolled administration, civil and military, 

 of the whole Oarnatic. 



The nizam, who had long fluctuated between a French 

 and British alliance, was, in 1798, through the vigorous 

 measures of the Marquis Wellesley, compelled to accept 

 the latter, and to permit the occupation of his country by 

 a subsidiary force. The overthrow of the house of Mysore 

 had the effect of reducing him to a state of complete de- 

 pendence, of which the marquis took advantage, and re- 

 quired him to cede a large extent of territory, including all 

 that he had received on the partition of Tippoo's domin- 

 ions. To this was also annexed the condition, that he 

 should intrust all his foreign intercourse to the English. 

 Since that time, although many discontents have fermented 

 between the two parties, affairs have proceeded without any 

 material change in their relative situation. 



The nabobship of Oude, combined with the nominal yet 



still respected title of vizier, when held by the vigorous 



hands of" Sujah Dowlah, formed one of the most important 



fragments into which the Mogul empire had been sepa- 



Vol. II.— B b 



