Page:History of the French in India.djvu/479

 TRAGIC NEWS FROM BENGAL. 453 no sooner had they heard of the arrival of Clive at chap. Bombay, than they sent to suggest the mode in which his force could be best used — a mode almost identical 1756 with the plan of the Court of Directors. But before their despatch could reach Bombay, the Government of that Presidency, more cautious than that of Madras, had determined to employ Clive's force and Admiral "Watson's fleet for the reduction, in conjunction with the Marathas, of the Fort of Gheriah, the principal stronghold of the famous pirate Angria. It forms no part of this history to give the details of this expedition, unconnected as it was with French interests. It will suffice to say that it was attended with complete success ; that Gheriah was taken, Angria's fleet destroyed, and the ten lakhs of prize-money captured divided on the spot amongst the English — the Marathas being excluded* from all participation therein, notwithstanding that it was to them, and not to the English, that Angria surrendered. This expedition terminated, Clive and Watson re- turned to the coast of Koromandel, the former taking up his Government at Fort St. David, the latter repairing to Madras. He reached this place on the 16th May, and began at once to concert with Governor Pigottf a scheme which the expulsion of Bussy by Salabat Jang seemed to facilitate for replacing French by English influence in the Dakhan. But just two months after his arrival, accounts were received of the capture of Kasim-bazar, and, three weeks later, of the taking of Calcutta by the Subadar of Bengal. Clive was instantly summoned from Fort St. David to take part in the deliberations having for their object the bay, the English had agreed amongst mined to keep it. This was not per- themselves that the Marathas were haps the most effectual mode of to be excluded irom all participation inducing a hearty co-operation in the prize-money ; nay more, al- against the Subadar. — Grant Duff- though it had been previously agreed t Governor Pigott succeeded Go- that Gh6riah should be given up to vernor Saunders at Madras in 1755.
 * Before the expedition left Bom- the Marathas, the English deter-