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 CHAPTER VIII

Robert Clive

Robert Clive was a young Englishman of the middle class who, born in 1725, and regarded by his relatives on his attaining manhood as utterly untractable, had been shipped off to Madras, in 1743, as a writer in the service of the East India Company. At Madras he had earned the character of being sullen, unsociable, and haughty; had on one occasion behaved with such marked insolence towards his superiors that he was compelled to apologise, and on another had attempted his own life. Prior to the attack on Madras by La Bourdonnais he would seem to have attached to himself but one friend. That friend was the Governor, Mr. Morse. Clive was aware that he had neglected his education in early life. Under the auspices of Governor Morse, he endeavoured to supply the deficiency by availing himself of the well-stored library which that gentleman was glad to place at his disposal.

When Madras surrendered to the French, Clive had fled in disguise to Fort St. David. When subsequently Boscawen laid siege to Pondichery he served as a volunteer with the besieging force, and, to use the