Page:History of the French in India.djvu/361

 TITLES BESTOWED UPON DUPLEIX. 337 princes of the Karnatik. The effect was increased by chap. the capture, shortly afterwards, of a company of Swiss mercenaries, employed by the English under the com- 1752. mand of Captain Schaufon the high seas. The English denounced this action as opposed to the law of nations, the two countries being nominally at peace. But Dupleix triumphantly replied that he had as much right to capture English soldiers on the seas, as the English had to capture French soldiers on land ; that on this occasion he was merely acting in self-defence, as these soldiers had been sent to sea that they might the more effectually attack the French possessions on shore. There can be no doubt as to the soundness and com- pleteness of this reply. It was about this period that Dupleix received from the Subadar of the Dakhan, Salabat Jang, a patent containing his formal appointment as Nawwab of the Karnatik, and of the countries south of the Krishna, and as possessor of all the other honours conferred upon him by Muzaffar Jang. Salabat Jang also in- formed him that the Emperor Ahmad Shah would shortly send an embassy with the imperial patents of confirmation. In consequence of the authority thus re- ceived, Dupleix appointed Raju Sahib, the son of the deceased Chanda Sahib, to hold the appointment under him. Finding, however, that the young man himself preferred pleasure and sloth to the occupation of war, he entered into negotiations with Murtiza Ali, the surviving son-in-law and nearest relative of the family of Dost Ali. Murtiza Ali responded freely to the con- ditions, and agreed to advance a considerable sum of money, and to levy troops in support of his title. In the same month, likewise, the Directors of the Company of the Indies wrote to Dupleix to express their entire satisfaction with his conduct, and to inform him that the King of France had been pleased, in compliance with their solicitations, to confer upon him the title of z