Page:History of the French in India.djvu/364

 340 THE STRUGGLES OF DUPLEIX WITH ADVERSITY. chap. He promised the Maisurians that, if they could only take , TrichinapalK, it should be theirs. The magic of his in- 1752. fluence, still all-prevalent in the minds of the natives, was confirmed by the inaction of Lawrence after his victory. Thus it happened that, within six weeks of that action, the Maisurians and the Marathas abandoned the English alliance, and declared openly for the French. Another advantage before the termination of the campaign of 1752 accrued to the French governor. The greatest of his opponents, Clive, was forced before the close of the year to abandon the scene of his triumphs, and to proceed to Europe for the benefit of his health. It is true that he signalised the few months prior to his departure by two achievements, showing not less energy, daring, and military talent than had distinguished his early victories. We allude to the capture of the forts of Kovlaon and Chengalpat; the former on the sea coast about midway between St. Thome and Sadras, 16 miles south of Madras ; the latter on the river Palar, commanding the high road between Fort St. George and Pondichery, and about 40 miles from the English Presidency. The capture of these two places is memorable from the fact that the 200 troops who formed the European portion of Clive' s little army were raw recruits,* the sweepings of the English jails, and so little disciplined that on a shot from the fort of Kovlaon killing one of them all the rest ran away. Nevertheless, even upon this rabble, Clive exercised an influence so magical ; he won their respect to such an extent by his own contempt of danger and personal daring, his fail- ing health notwithstanding ; that at their head and by their means he reduced Kovlaon, defeated a force of Clive, states that the force was of could hardly be expected that any such a description that no officer but officer who had acquired reputation Clive would rikk his reputation by would willingly risk it by taking the commanding it. Orme, however, command of them, who was Lord Macaulay 's authority
 * Lord Macaulay, in his essay ou for this statement, simply remarks, it