Page:Dupleix and the Struggle for India by the European Nations.djvu/147

140 the 'Tondeman's country,' whence the English obtained their native supplies.

In another work, I have given in full detail the story of the exciting military events which followed. In this work it is necessary only to record the results. My object is to place as clearly as I can before the reader the marvellous recuperative power of Dupleix, the persistently steady aim of his policy, his unswerving confidence in ultimate success, his determination to leave nothing untried to achieve it. Let the reader contrast his position at the beginning of 1753, when the loss of the 700 men coming from France under De la Touche and the death with them of that promising soldier, left him with scanty and inferior numbers to continue the battle for empire against Stringer Lawrence and the English, with the position his genius, his exertions, his over-active brain had created in June of the same year. It was indeed a triumph of statesmanship. Whilst his troops under Bussy held in the French interest the territories of the Subáhdár, comprehending those now ruled by the Nizam; whilst he had even obtained, by the tact and readiness of Bussy, the cession to France of the country called the 'Northern Sirkars'; he had recovered for the Nuwáb nominated by himself North and South Arcot, had compelled the English to surrender Tiruvádí and Chilambaram, and to hold Fort St. David with a scanty garrison; had once more forced them to act on the defensive at Trichinopoli, and had severed