even then, to be a predominating feature in the character of the natives. No European troops, before his time, had once took the field againft the Prince in whofe dominion they refided, or acted as principals in the political altercations of the country. The plains of Indoftan were, notwithftanding, perpetually covered with armies. A general peace was unknown, and from the spirit of diffention that prevailed, feemed impracticable in the empire. The whole continent of India was a theatre of difcord, in which a violent ftruggle for fupremacy, treafure, or territory, was conftantly carrying on by fome of its Rajahs or Nabobs.

Thus, the want of adhesion in the political fyftem; the want of difcipline in the armies; and the want, perhaps, of the true military spirit in the natives of Indoftan, tempted Dupleix to conceive, that by taking fuch a part in the competition as at prudent ufe of circumftances might direct, there was a much greater certainty of accumulating wealth, and acquiring glory from fighting, than from commerce. He confequently refolved, without hefitation, to profit by thefe difcoveries, and to render his obfervations at once fubfervient to the intereft of his employers, and the honour of his nation. A more than ordinary attention was henceforth paid to the affairs of the military. The itate of the army was infpected with accuracy, the difcipline of the troops was enforced with additional circumfpe&tion, and every poffible expedient was adopted to complete their numbers, to rouze their ardour, and to render them formidable.

The

The execution was not lefs mafterly than the conception of his plans. He attached himfelf to the intereft of Chundafaheb, whofe powerful' connections on the one hand, and defperate fortunes on the other, rendered him no improper tool of French policy. This man had given feveral fpecimens of an enterprizing mind, but all his projects had hitherto failed. His parts, his addrefs, and his magnanimous temper, endeared him to his friends, and even procured him respect from his enemies. Though at this time a prifoner in Satarah, where he had been clofely confined for eight years, the power of the Carnatic, on the bloody ufurpation of Anwarodean, deemed him the fitteft person to conteft the nabobfhip with that hated tyrant. Dupleix guaranteed the ranfoms for which the Marratoes confented to release him. And after a great variety of military adventures and viciffitudes, in which the celebrity of his talents, as a foldier, was established and extended, he was received with open arms by Murzafajing, grandfon of Nizimmuluch, who then difputed the vice-royalty of the Deccan with his uncle, Nazirjing.

This prince foon perceived the afcendancy of his new ally, and treated him with a confidence and diftinction not inferior to the opinion he had formed of his abilities and integrity. Chundafaheb readily acknowledged his authority, and cafily prevailed on him to renew and authenticate his claim on the nabobship of Arcot, by iffuing letters patent for that purpose. A refolution was confequently

B 4

quently formed, of fubjugating Anwerodean, as a preliminary step to a fuccessful conteft with Nazirjing. The French intereft was folicited; Dupleix approved of a scheme probabormed at his inftance. The Nabob of Arcot was defeated, and fell at the battle of Amboor; but his death proved to Dupleix, and his allies, only cutting off the head of a hydra. The caufe of Mohommedally, fecond fon of Anwarodean, was espoused by a ftrong party of the neighbouring armies, who dreaded the ambition of Chundafaheb. At their defire, Nazirjing marched into the Carnatic with a ftrong army. His nephew, Murzafajing, who opposed his claim to the fubafhip, was now induced to accept of the offers made by his uncle.

This fudden agreement deranged for a moment the affairs of the allies. But Dupleix, ever fertile in resources, found means of creating diffenfion in the court of the fuba [1750]. A confpiracy immediately took place; and while Nazirjing, relying on the faith of the French, with whom a formal treaty had just been concluded, and the loyalty of the tributary Pitans, who were with him in the field, abandoned himself to effeminacy, the former made an attack on those unfufpccting troops who were moft in his intereft; and the latter raised the banners of rebellion, and murdered their prince in the midst of his guards and the view of his army.

By this unexpected revolution, Murzafajing, the steady friend of the French, was instantly proclaimed Subah of the Deccan. A large territory in the vicinity of Pondicherry, a district full more valuable

valuable, near Karical, in the kingdom of Tan jore, with the city of Maffulipatnam, and all its dependencies, which produced, in all, an annual revenue of bout thirty-eight thoufand pounds, were inftantly ceded to the French.

The treasures of Nazirjing were valued at two millions five hundred thousand pounds. Dupleix fhared of this immenfe booty two hundred thoufand pounds, befides jewels. In the gorgeous dress of a native prince, he was the firft that did homage to the new fubah. He was then declared governor for the Mogul, of all the countries fouth of the river Kirstna, a territory nearly equal in extent to the whole dominions of France in Europe. He was invested with the power and title of Munfub, or commander of feven hundred horfe. He was even permitted to bear, among his enfigns, that of the fifh, an honour never conferred but on natives of the highest distinction. All money, current in the Carnatic, was alfo to be coined at Pondi cherry; and all the Mogul's revenues in the countries of which Dupleix was appointed vicegerent, were in the firft inftance to be deposited with him. Chundafahab was appointed nabob of Arcot, under his authority.

By the death of Murzafajing, [Jan. 4, 1751] who, like his uncle, fell a victim, foon after him, to the rapacity of the Pitans, this torrent of good fortune received a temporary check. The genius of Dupleix, however, prevailed over every misfortune. Chundafaheb for a while fupported his authority in the Carnatic, under the aufpices and support of the French

interest,

intereft, with profperity. Mahommedally, affifted by the English, and all the adherents of his family, retreat before his victorious army. He followed them to Utatoor, to Siringham, and to Trichinopoly. The destinies of this great warrior overtook him at laft. Reduced by the fuperior conduct of his enemies to capitulate, he put himfelf in the power of Monahjee, the My forean general, who immediately ordered his head to be cut off [1752]. Thus was this formidable army, in the fpace of little more than two months, reduced to the neceffity of throwing down their arms, and furrendering at difcre

tion.

Even this difafter was in fome degree compenfated, by the fuccefs of the French arms, in fup. porting the claims of Salabatjing, to the fubahfhip in the northern provinces of the Decan. This campaign was conducted by Buffy, a foldier of experience and capacity. He marched to Canaul, the capital of the Pitan nabob, who had flain the former fubah, and determined that the city fhould fuffer for the treachery of its lord.

Having put all the garrifon to the fword, and imprifoned the wife of the late nabob, with her two fons, after treating with the general of the Marrattoes, the army entered Golconda, where Salabetjing publickly afcended the throne or mufned, as fubah of the Deccan. He then received letters from an ambaffador, who pretended to come from the court of Dehli, for the purpose of thus invefting him with all the enfigns of goverment. This he deemed neceffary to fecure a welcome reception.