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 ClIAP. II.]

PROGRESS OF THE FRENXH IN INDIA.

-tOi

rattii empire had vanished The wreck of the army, abandoning the acqui.sition.s ad. 17-12. made in Hindoostan, retired beyond the Nerbudda ; the Pei.shwa, .slnitting him- self up in a temj)le near Poonah, died of a broken heart; and the whole nation, sunk in grief and despondency, became as it were paralyzed.

Stranffe to say, Ahmed did not ])rofit much by his victory, for the Mahometan Aj.i.roaiiiing ® -^ ' •, *' . . Btniggie he-

confederacy which he had formed having broken up, he quitted India, and never tween Great

1 1 1 ••/»•• mi I'll Britain aiid

retm-ned to take any shai-e in its anairs. 1 he only two powei's which then France. seemed capable of ^vielding the sceptre, which had been wrested from the hands of the Mogul, having thus been providentially removed, the work of conquest pa.ssed to other hands. The two most powerful nations of Europe, after they had long been contented to play a subordinate part in the contest, resolved at last to become principals, and France and Great Britain started as rival candidates for the establishment of a new Indian empire. The liistory of this memorable struggle is now to engage our attention.

CHAPTER 11.

The progress of the French in India — War between France and England — Naval and military operations

— The capture of Madras.


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J ROM the first the French East India Company, much more than that of England, was the creature of the state. All the influence of the crown was employed to obtain suliscribers to their funds; and no unimportant part of the otHcial correspon- dence of a commercial nature, during the ministry of the cele- brated Colbert, relates to solicitation"-* employed for this purpose. It is very ([uestionable whether the prosperity of the company was much promoted by this state patronage, but there cannot be a doubt that they were able in conse- ([uence of it to escape many of the dangers which might have beset them at the outset, and to start at once as a body able not only to repel aggression but to become aggressive. The alarm which their presence in the East excited in the Dutch and English companies must not be ascribed exclusively to commercial jealousy. As mere traders they could not appear very formidable rivals, but from their close connection with government their trade might easily be made subser- vient to political purposes, and become a dangerous instrument of intrigue at the native courts. In this way Louis XIV., not satisfied with disturbing the peace of Evu'ope by his ambitious .scheme.s, miglit be tempted to extend them to India, and by engaging in wai-s of conquest make the operations of trade impo.ssible. Knowing the character of the French monarch, it was not uncharitable to

nise and progress of tlio Frenili Rikst India Cciniiiany.