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 CHAPTER IX

A Great Man Wrestling with Fortune

In the preceding chapter, writing of the attempt made to surprise Clive at Samiáveram, I have used these words: 'The value of one man never asserted itself more convincingly than on the night of that memorable surprise.' Mutatis mutandis, the same words might be applied to the conduct of Dupleix when he learned of the shameful surrender of his whole European force, save the detachments under Bussy and D'Auteuil, to Major Lawrence at Srirangam.

The blow was undeniably a very severe blow. It left the English triumphant; their ally, Muhammad Alí, master of the Karnátik; the prestige – that word of enormous importance in India – of the French lowered. But, with the clear-headedness habitual with him, Dupleix, far from despairing, took stock of his actual position. He recognised fully the extent of the catastrophe consummated at Srirangam; and that south of the river Krishtna he could dispose only of the troops under D'Auteuil, insufficient even for garrison purposes. Yet, he had still the Subáhdár of the Deccan at his back. The unbeaten