all compulsion, his academical attainments seldom received or deserved from his masters any particular applause but they all agreed in giving him the character of being the most unlucky boy they ever had in their schools. Such were the first aspects of a character, which soon afterwards commanded the admiration of the world!

In consequence of Mr. Clive's appointment, he embarked in one of the company's ships, and arrived at Madras, in the year 1744, in the nineteenth year. of his age. The same dislike to the drudgery of the desk, the same impatience of controul, which distinguished him at school still marked his character, and rendered his appointment as troublesome to his superiors, as it was irksome to himself. On one occasion, his conduct to the Secretary, under whom the writers are placed, was so inconsistent with the discipline of office, that the Governor to whom it was reported, commanded him to ask the Secretary's pardon. The submission was made in terms of extreme contempt, but the Secretary received it graciously and invited him to dinner, "no, sir," replied Clive, "the governor never commanded me to dine with you."

Soon after the surrender of Madras to the French, in September, 1746, Clive removed to Fort St. David, where he had not been long, till he happened to be engaged in a party at cards with two ensigns, who were detected in a combination to cheat the rest of the company. The ensigns had won considerable sums, which, as their knavery was proved, the losers at first, refused to pay; but the threats of the two gamblers, soon intimidated all but Clive, who still persisted in his refusal, and accepted of the challenge which the boldest of them gave. Clive delivered his fire, but his antagonist reserved his, and quitting his ground, presented his pistol to Mr. Clives' head, and bade him ask his life. After some hesitation, Clive complied, but his antagonist telling him, he must also

Tecant the expressions he had used to his dishonour, and promise payment of the money. "Fire and be d-d," said Clive," I said you cheated; I say so still, and will never pay you." The ensign finding that all remonstrances were vain, called him a madman, and threw away his pistol. When Clive's acquaintances complimented him on his behaviour on this occasion, he made the following remark: "The man has given me my life, and I have no right in future, to mention his behaviour at the card-table, although I never will pay him, nor ever keep his company."

In 1747, Mr. Clive obtained an ensign's commission, and in 1748 greatly distinguished himself at the siege of Pondicherry. In the ensuing spring, the news of a cessation of hostilities between Great-Britain and France arrived: but, though the subjects of the two states had no longer a national pretence for war, yet circumstances immediately occurred, to render the duration of peace very short in the eastern part of the world. At this time, the dominions of a neighbouring chief, the rajah of Tanjore were claimed by his brother, a fugitive, who declared, that the present rajah was an usurper; and, that he himself, though deposed by his subjects, was their rightful Lord. Whether the English were, upon this occasion, actuated by a regard to justice, or, which is as probable, by a wish to promote their own aggrandizement, it would be foreign to our purpose to enquire; they, however, espoused the cause of the fu gitive prince. Near the English settlement, was a fort of the rajah called Devi Cotah, with the attack of which, they resolved to begin their operations. When they appeared before it, they found the approaches difficult, and the ramparts covered with innumerable troops, whose military prowess, experience had not yet taught them to despise. Clive alone insisted that the enterprise, though hazardous, was far from being desperate; for by advancing the can

non in the night, the gates might be destroyed, and the town taken by a storm. The commanding officer refused to listen to his advice, as too bold to be followed, and continued a fruitless cannonade, till having exhausted his ammunition, he was compelled to lead back his troops with disgrace to Fort St. David. Their shame at this discomfiture, its ill effects upon their trade, and above all, the triumphs of the French, determined the English to make a second attempt for the reduction of Devi Cotah. The detachment consisted of 800 British troops, and 1500 Seapoys, under the command of Major Lawrence, whose great abilities, though, at that time, little known, soon afterwards raised him to the highest rank in the service.

A breach being made in the walls, Clive, then a lieutenant, solicited the command of the forlorn hope, and Major Lawrence having given his consent, a platoon of 34 British, supported by 700 Sepoys was ordered to storm the breach. Clive and the English led the way. Between the camp and the fort was a rivulet, in passing which, four of the English fell by the enemy's fire. The frightened Sepoys halted as soon as they had passed the brook, but the English pushed resolutely on; and being now close upon the breach, had levelled their musquets, when a party of horse, whom a tower of the fort had hitherto concealed, rushed upon their rear, and cut down twentysix of their number. One of the horsemen aimed a stroke at Clive, but having escaped it, he ran towards the rivulet, and had the good fortune to join the Sepoys. Of the whole four and thirty, himself and three others, were all, who were left alive. Major Lawrence seeing the disaster, commanded all the Europeans to advance. Clive still marched in the first division. The horse renewed their attack, but were repulsed with such slaughter, that the garrison, dismayed at the sight, gave way as the English approached the breach, and, abandoned the town to the victors. Alarmed at this unexpected success,

the rajah sent overtures of peace, to which, on condition that a settlement should be made on his rival, and the fort of Devi Cotah, with the adjoining district be ceded to the company, the English acceded. After the war, Clive returned to the civil establishment; his income was, however, considerably augmented by his appointment to the office of commissary to the British forces. He had not long been settled at Madras, when a fever of the nervous kind destroyed his constitution, and operated so banefully on his spirits, that the constant presence of an attendant became absolutely requisite, to prevent him from doing injury to himself. As the disease abated, his former strength was in some degree renewed; but his frame had received so rude a shock, that, during the remainder of his life, excepting when his mind was ardently engaged, the oppression on his spirits frequently returned.

On account of the distraction of affairs in 1751, Clive resumed his military character. Being then at St. David, and having obtained a captain's commission, he undertook to conduct a detachment sent to the relief of a fort of the nabob, which at that time was closely besieged by a neighbouring chieftain, the ally of his rival Chundasaheb. Led on by Clive, the English broke through the chieftain's troops in the night, and entered the fort amidst the applause of the garrison. No sooner had he seen them safe, than he attempted to return, accompanied by his servants, and a guard of twelve Sepoys: but they had not. proceeded far, when they found themselves surrounded by the chieftain's troops. Captain Clive resolved to force his way, and the attempt succeeded; but seven of the Sepoys and several of his servants, fell by the sabres of the enemy.

Having displayed great skill and courage, Clive, by stratagem and a timely reinforcement, defeated three hundred Europeans, two thousand five hundred Sepoys, and two thousand horse, which Dupleix and

Chundasaheb had sent against him; and before the end of the campaign, he had made himself master of several forts belonging to the enemy.

Early in the next year, 1752, Captain Clive took the field with three hundred and eighty Europeans, two thousand Sepoys and two thousand five hundred horse, and finding that the enemy intended to attack Arcot, hastened to its relief. The enemy, who had intelligence of his motions, had formed a plan to surprize him in his march; and having with them a numerous party of French, had taken their measures with so much judgment, that, the fire of nine pieces of cannon was poured upon his men, from a small distance, before he suspected an attack. The extremity of danger increased the activity, but never disturbed the composure of his mind. The battle hung in suspence till evening, when a detachment of his troops attacked the enemy in the rear, and having made themselves masters of their cannon, a general defeat ensued.

It would far exceed our limits, to do justice to the many and important military exploits of this officer, whose actions alone would fill volumes. He was, indeed, acknowledged, as the man, who first raised his countrymen's reputation in the East, so that when he came over to England, in 1753, he was presented by the court of Directors, with a rich sword set with diamonds, as an acknowledgement of past, and an incitement to future services. He returned to India in 1755, as governor of Fort St. David, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; when, as commander of the Company's troops, he, in conjunction with Admiral Watson, subdued Angria the pirate, and became master of Geria, his capital, with all his accumulated

treasure.

Soon after this, they sailed to Bengal, where they took fort William in January 1757; and Colonel Clive, defeating the Soubah's army soon after, accelerated a peace. It was however given out by the