then, that any troops which might arrive from England should be utilised for the despatch to the beleaguered fortress of the urgently required stores. Just at the moment a handful of troops arrived. Those, 80 in number, accompanied by 300 sipáhis, Saunders despatched, in charge of stores, to Trichinopoli. A second small detachment was despatched under Captain Clarke, Clive accompanying him, to the same fortress. Both detachments succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the French and in joining their comrades. His visit to Trichinopoli only confirmed the ideas which had germinated in the mind of Clive. He found the garrison in the last stage of despondency, hopeless of relief, ready to surrender. He, a civilian just appointed officer, for he had been nominated Captain before quitting Fort St. David, had less than no influence with the commanders. There was nothing but contempt for the civilian who presumed to lecture soldiers on tactics. He returned, then, after the stay of a few days, to Fort St. David, to press more strongly than over on Mr. Saunders the one plan which could save the English.
Saunders had already admitted the supreme force of the arguments of his young counsellor. At the time of Clive's previous visit he did not possess the necessary materials to act on them. But on the second, Clive found, to his delight, a garrison which, united to that at Madras, raised the number of troops, all told, to the total of 350. Some of those Saunders must retain for garrison purposes. Could he, himself
