Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/583

 Chap. X.] EXPEDITION FROM MADUAS TO BENGAL. 549

of middle course was adopted by acknowledging Mr. Drake and his council as a ad. nco.

presidency, with full powers in civil and commercial atlairs, and reserving to themselves, or the officer whom they might appoint, independent power in all things military.

The next point was the choice of the commander, to whom tliis independent choicoofa j)0wer was to be intrusted. There were only three pereons in the presidency on whom this choice could fall. Colonel Adlercron, as the first in rank, had the most legitimate claim, and was by no means disposed to forego it. To him, however, there were strong objections. He had never seen service in India, and as a king's officer, not dependent on the Company, showed little deference to their agents. It seems, however, from his letter, inserted by Sir John Malcohn in his Life of Clive (vol. i. p. 137, 138), that the presidency had at one time requested him "to imdertake this service with the whole of his majesty's troops," and pressed him "to give the necessary orders accordingly." A change of mind afterward took place, and they justified it mainly on the ground that "he could not engage to return hither upon our request, and that the Company shoiild not have any part of the plunder that may be taken, towards reim- bursement of the immense loss they have .sustained." Colonel Lawrence had all the Indian experience which Adlercron wanted, and had, as we have seen by his exploits in the Carnatic, proved both an able and a successful warrior. He deserved the utmost confidence, and had he obtained the appointment would undoubtedly have added to his laurels. It may have been fortunately ; but the unceremonious manner in which he appears to have been set aside, required a stronger justification than Orme adduces, wlien he says, "The climate of Bengal was so adverse to an asthmatic disorder with which Colonel Lawrence was afi'ected, that it was thought he would be disabled from that incessant activity recpiisite to the .success of this expedition, of which the tennination was limited to a time."

After Adlercron and Lawi'ence were rejected, Clive, now installed as governor ciive ap- of Fort St. David, was the only officer whose claims were worthy of a moment's consideration. He had early brought them imder the notice of the presidency, who had probably from the very first turned to him as the most eligible com- uiander. The following letter, written to the com-t of directors, October 11 th, 175G, after his appointment and arrival at Madras, gives so good an account of his feelings when preparing to set out on the expedition which was destined to crown his own fame and found the British Indian emph'e, that it deserves to be quoted entire : —

" Honourable Gentlemen, — From many hands you will hear of the captiu-e ush leciingK of Calcutta by the Moors, and the chain of misfortunes and losses which have happened to the Company in particidar, and to the nation in general ; every breast here seems filled with grief, horror and resentment ; indeed, it is too sad a tale to unfold, and 1 must beg leave to refer you to the general letters, con-