defensive positions, she continued to foster the feeling of hostility which Dupleix had been the first to inspire. Within that period also she lured the ruler of Mysore to those open demonstrations against England which the genius of Marquess Wellesley turned to his destruction. But not even when she stood alone against the combined force of Napoleon and his allies, did the ruler of France dare openly to attack the Empire, the conception of which had originated in the brain of Dupleix, but which Clive, Warren Hastings, and Wellesley had gained for England. That the conception was the conception of Dupleix cannot be denied. It was with him a well-thought-out calculation, an organised scheme, an end to be attained by patient striving. It was long before the English regarded it in that aspect. Contented with having defeated the plans of Dupleix they were ready to fall back upon their rôle of merchants. The quasi-imperial idea came to Clive only when he recognised that unless the English should crush Suráju-d-daulah, Suráju-d-daulah would crush the English. But how far, even after his victory, even after the annexation of Bengal and Behar, Clive was from having adopted the entire programme of Dupleix, was shown by the earnest injunctions he laid upon his successor not to advance the frontier beyond the point at which he had left it[1]. Action of the same
- ↑ Our possessions should be bounded by the provinces (Bengal and Behar). Studiously maintain peace, it is the groundwork of our prosperity. Never consent to act offensively against any Powers,
