692 JILSTOltV OK INJJlA. ; IJook III.
AD. 1767. put me in inind of tlie famous answer of the iJc.'ljjliiu oracle to Pyirlius — Aio te, ^((cide, Romanos vincere posae.'" The triumj>harit result of the expedition saved the committee frf)m the imf^enerous course which they appear to have contemplated; but when the division of the money was discussed disputes of a disgraceful character arose. Admiral Watson, though not fonnally a member of the select committee, was virtually so, in consequence of the active part which he had taken in all their ])roceedings. and on this ground thought himself entitled to share in the money allotted to that body. Clive, without admitting the strict ju.stice of the claim, saw its reasonableness, and exeiled himself to make it effectual; but, though he offered at once to .set the example, by deducting his part, most of the others were too selfi.sh to follow his example. It was perhaps thought that, as the admiral had refased to damage his character by signing the fictitious treaty, he was compensated in reputation for the lo.ss of money. He certainly was; and it is more than pro})able that he him.self was of the same opinion, when, not many days after, he received in his own ]^)erson a proof of the utter emptiness of all earthly possessions, and died of fever, after a few days' illness. Meicenary Auotlier pccunlary di.spute, which gave Clive much vexation, while it .served
military, to bring out somc of the better and more prominent pai-ts of his character, re- lated to the division of prize-money. Besides the nabob's so-called donation to the army and navy, as to which there could not be any misunderstanding, since the obvious meaning was that the two services ought to share it between them, another and the largest present appears to have been made through Clive to the troops who, under him, had gained the victory. As the squadi'on could not a.scend the river and take part in the victory, it could not be denied that this present belonged exclusively to the troops engaged. All this was clear, but some were selfish enough to maintain that by the term "troops" only .soldiers .should be understood, and that the .sailoi's, who actually sei'ved in the expedition, had no claim. To obtain an equitable settlement of this and various other points, CHve assembled a council of war, which was attended by officers deputed from ever}' branch of the troops. After much discussion, and in the face even of a strong ]irotest made by Clive, the majority came to the shameful decision that the claim of the sailors who came with the expedition should not be recognized. Officers who had committed themselves thus far had no scniples in going further, and, in order to prevent the possibility of appeal against their meditated injustice, proceeded to vote that the division .shoiild be immediately earned into effect. In vain did Clive represent that " the money could not be divided till it was shroffed, and the agents of both parties present, without the gi-eatest injustice.' They still persisted, till Clive overruled their votes, and broke up the council of war. So bent, however, were they on can-ying their point, that ihey sent him what they called a "remon.strance and protest." The nature of its contents may be learned from Clive's admirable answer, the principal part
