Page:Dupleix and the Struggle for India by the European Nations.djvu/107

100 England were at peace, he was on no account to attack them until he should have been joined by the native levies of Muhammad Alí. When that junction should have been effected, the action of Muhammad Alí would cover, morally, the action of the English. This convenient fiction, practised by the French and English alike, permitted the representatives of two nations at peace in Europe to wage deadly and unremitting hostilities against each other in Southern India.

I propose to relate here only those salient actions of the rival field-forces which are necessary to the comprehension of the policy of Dupleix. It was at this period, and during the periods that followed, his misfortune to be badly served in the field. His best general was with the Subáhdár at Aurangábád, and could not be spared from thence. D'Auteuil was gouty and infirm, and had once before failed in his hands. But he had advices from France that the young and brilliant De la Touche, who had already given proofs of more than ordinary capacity, would sail that autumn from France with 700 tried men, and he might be expected some time in 1752. Law of Lauriston, who had done well at the siege, and who had on its conclusion proceeded home to recruit, was due at any moment. Pending his arrival it was scarcely possible, he thought, that D'Auteuil should make a mistake, if he would only obey orders.

But D'Auteuil did not obey orders. He had accompanied Chandá Sáhib but a few marches from