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 294 THE STKUGGLES OF DUPLE1X WITH ADVERSITY. C vn P * ava ^ a ^^ e army of the enemy. He does not consider _ y-w that such a movement must paralyse the onward march 1751. of his opponent. Yet history abounds with such ex- amples. Even Frederick II. of Prussia gave up, at a critical period, his movements in Saxony, when he found the Austrians were marching on Berlin. And if he, a consummate master of the art of war, would act thus, what may we imagine would be the effect of such a movement on men of inferior capacity? It must always be startling, almost always decisive, Clive, we say, had arrived at such a conclusion by the mere force of his genius. Hf had the capacity to open the eyes of his mind, and see the result that must follow. He went, therefore, on his return from Trichina- palli, direct to the Governor, Mr. Saunders; pointed out to him how, if matters were alio wed to take their sluggish course, TrichinapalH, and, with it English interests, must fall ; that Chanda Sahib, having brought all his resources to bear upon the siege, had left his capital comparatively unguarded ; that chere was no force of his or of the French in the field ; that Law was at TrichinapalH, Bussy at Aurangabad; that, there- fore, a blow might be struck at the heart of the enemy's possessions, which, if successful, would either force him to leave his hold on TrichinapalH, or would open out a new field for military operations, success in which would compensate for the loss of that place. To add force to his proposition, he offered to lead himself the troops that might be destined to carry it into effect. Mr. Saunders, who had been appointed governor the preceding year, was a man who possessed the not in- considerable merit of appreciating the large schemes of men whom he trusted. He cordially received the propositions made to him by Clive ; ordered for field service a force of 200 Europeans and 300 sipahis, — thus reducing the garrisons of Madras and Fort St. David to their lowest point, — and crowned the whole