Page:History of the French in India.djvu/316

 292 THE STRUGGLES OF DUPLE1X WITH ADVERSITY. C vn P " serv ^ ce °^ the Oompany m the y ear 1744, and had y ^ > been in Madras when that place was taken by La 1751. Bourdonnais. On the departure of La Bourdonnais, and the disavowal by Dupleix of the terms of capitula- tion which he had unauthorisedly granted, Clive had escaped to Fort St. David. Here he enjoyed many opportunities of noticing the method of war adopted in the east, in the several attacks made upon Fort St. David by Dupleix and his allies, and in the movements of Anwaru-dm and his two sons to hinder their suc- cess. When, subsequently, the arrival of Admiral Boscawen secured for the English a preponderance on the Koromandel coast, and the siege of Pondichery was resolved upon, Clive obtained permission to join the besieging army in the rank of ensign. He is stated to have distinguished himself on this occasion by his daring courage, but the skill which was wanting in the leaders of the besieging army shone brilliantly within the walls of the town, and the enterprise miscarried. We next hear of Clive at Devikota, as usual in the foremost rank; and shortly afterwards as commissariat officer of the expedition sent to intercept Chanda Sahib. In the panic which followed the failure of Captain Gingens to possess himself of Volkondah, Clive showed considerable presence of mind, and attempted, though in vain, to rally the fugitives.* When the force re- treated the following day towards Trichinapalli, Clive, disgusted at a leadership which did not lead, and which declined to accept advice, returned to Fort St. David, and arrived there just as a reinforcement of about 400 men landed from England. One detachment of these he accompanied to Verdachelam, and a second to Trichina- palli, increasing the English garrison in that place to 600 men. Clive himself did not remain in Trichina- gens, Dalton, Kilpatrick, and Lieu- them, but in vain."
 * Orme statps, "Captains G-in- tenant Clive enleavoured to rally-