fhows in what manner the commerce of the Italian ftates was promoted by the Crufades, until at laft, having entirely engroffed the Eaft India trade, they ftrove with Tuch eagerness to find new markets for their commodities, that they extended a taste for them to many parts of Europe where they had -formerly been little known. The rivalship of the Italian Atates terminated at last in a treaty with the fultan of Egypt in 1425, by which the port of Alexandria and others in Egypt were opened to the Florentines as well as the Venetians; and foon after, that people began to obtain a fhare in the trade to India. The following account of the manner in which the India trade was carried on in the beginning of the 14th century, is given by Marino Sanudo, a Venetian nobleman. The merchants of Venice were fupplied with the commodities they wanted in two different ways. Thofe of small bulk and great value, fuch as cloves, nutmegs, gems, pearls, &c. were carried up the Perfian gulf to Baffora, thence to Bagdad, and after wards to fome port on the Mediterranean. The more bulky goods, fuch as pepper, cinnamon, and other fpiceries, were brought in the ufual manner to the Red fea, and thence to Alexandria. The goods brought by land, however, were always liable to be feized by barbarians; and therefore the fupply that way was fcanty, and the price extravagantly dear, while, on the other hand, the Sultan of Egypt, by impofing duties upon the Eaft India cargoes to the amount of a full third of the value, feemed to render it impoffible that the owners should find purchafers for their goods. This, however, was far from being the cafe; the demand for India goods continually increased; and thus a communication, formerly unknown, betwixt all the nations of Europe, was begun and kept up. All this time, however, there had been no direct communication betwixt Europe and India, as the Mohammedans would never allow any Christian to pass through their dominions into that country. The dreadful incurfions and conquefts of the Tartars under Jenghiz khan, however, had fo broken the power of the Mohammedans in the N. of Afia, that a way was now opened to India through the dominions of these barbarians. A bout the middle of the 13th century, therefore, Marc Polo, a Venetian, by getting accefs to the khan of the Tartars, explored many parts of the eaft, which had long been unknown even by name to the Europeans. He travelled through China from Peking on its northern frontier to some of its moft foutherly provinces. He vifited alfo different parts of Hindooftan, and first mentions Bengal and Guzerat by their modern names, as great and flourifhing kingdoms. He obtained alfo fome account of an inland which he called Zipangri; (probably Japan;) he visited Java and several neighbouring iflands; Ceylon, and the coaft of Malabar as far as the Gulf of Cambay; to all which he gave the names they have at this day. The difcovery of fuch immenfe regions unknown before in Europe, furnished vaft room for speculation and conjecture; and while the public attention was yet engaged by thefe difcoveries, the deftruction of Conftantinople by the Turks gave a very confiderable turn to the Eaft India commerce, by throwing it almost entirely into the hands of the Vene tians. Hitherto the Genoefe had rivalled that stale in this commerce, and had poffeffed themselves of many important places on the coaft of Greece, as well as the port of Caffa on the Black sea. Nay, they had even established themselves at Conftantinople, in the fuburb of Pera, in fuch a manner as almoft entirely to exclude the Greeks themselves from any share in this commerce; but by the destruction of Conftantinople they were driven out of all these poffeffions, and fo thoroughly humbled, that they could no longer contend with the Venetians; fo that, during the latter part of the 15th century, that republic fupplied the greater part of Europe with the productions of the eaft, and carried on trade to an extent far beyond what had been known in former times. The mode in which they now carried on this trade was fomewhat different from what had been practised by ancient nations. The Tyrians, Greeks, and Romans, had failed directly to India in queft of the commodities they wanted; and their example has been imitated by the navigators of modern Europe. In both periods the Indian commodities were paid for in gold and filver; and great complaints were made on account of the drain of thefe precious metals, which were thus buried in India, never to return. The Venetians, however, were exempted from this lofs; for having no direct intercourse with India, they fupplied themselves from the warehouses they found in Egypt and Syria, ready filled with the precious commodities they wanted; and these they purchased more frequently by barter than with ready money. Thus not only the republic of Yenice, but all the cities which were emporia for the India goods imported by it, were raised to fuch a pitch of power and fplendor as fcarce ever belonged to any European state. The citizens of Bruges, from which place the other European nations had been long fupplied with thefe goods, difplayed fuch magnificence in their drefs, buildings, and manner of living, as excited the envy of their queen, Joan of Navarre, when the visited them. On the removal of the staple from Bruges to Antwerp, the latter foon difplayed the fame opulence; and in fome cities of Germany, particularly Augfburgh, the great mart for Indian commodities in that country, fome merchants acquired fuch large fortunes as entitled them to high rank in the empire. The most accurate me. thod, however, of attaining some knowledge of the profits the Venetians had on their trade, is by confidering the rate of intereft on money borrowed at that time. This, from the clofe of the 11th century to the commencement of the 16th, was no lefs than 20 per cent. and fometimes more. Even as late as 1500, it was 10 or 12 in every part of Europe. Hence we may conclude, that the profits of money applied in trade had been then extremely high; and the condition of the inhabitants of Venice at that time warrants us to make the conclufion." In the magnificence of their houfes (fays Dr Robertfon,) in richnefs of furniture, in profufion of plate, and in every thing which con tributed either towards elegance or parade in their mode of living, the nobles of Venice furpaffed the ftate of the greateft monarch beyond the Alps. Nor was all this difplay the effect of an oftentatious and inconfiderate diffipation; it was the natural confe quence quence of fuccefsful induftry, which, having accumulated wealth with eafe, is entitled to enjoy it in plendour." This fuperiority of wealth'difplayed by he Venetians excited the envy of the other ftates Europe. They law that the Eaft India trade as the principal fource from whence their wealth vas derived. Some of them endeavoured to obain a fhare by applying to the fultans of Egypt nd Syria, to gain admiffion into their ports upon be fame terms with the Venetians; but either by he fuperior intereft of the latter with those prin, or from the advantage they had of being ng eftablifhed in the trade, the Venetians alays prevailed. So intent indeed were the other uropean powers in obtaining some share of this crative commerce, that application was made the fovereign of Ruffia, to open an intercourfe y land with China, though the capitals of the wo empires are upwards of 6000 miles diftant. his, however, was beyond the power of the uan prince at that time; and the Venetians magined, that their power and wealth were fully tablished on the most permanent bafis, when wo events, altogether unforeseen and unexpected, are it a mortal blow, from which it never has ecovered. Thefe were the difcovery of America nd that of the paffage to the Eaft Indies by the Cape of Good Hope. The former put Spain in poffeffion of immenfe treasures; which being gradually diffufed all over Europe, foon called forth the induftry of other nations, and made them exert themfelves in fuch a manner, as of itself muft have foon leffened the demand for Indian producCons. The difcovery of the paffage to India by the Cape of Good Hope, however, was the most fectual and speedy means of humbling the Vesetians. After a tedious courfe of voyages along the western coaft of Africa, continued for near alf a century, Vafco de Gama, an active and nterprifing Portuguese officer, doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and, coafting along the eastern hore of the continent, failed next across the Indiocean, and landed at Calecut on the coaft of Malabar, on the 22d of May 1498, ten months and two days after leaving the port of Lifbon. On his arrival in India he was at firft received with great kindness by the fovereign of that country, tyled the Samorin; but afterwards, from what Cafes we cannot now well determine, the Indian prince fuddenly changed all his kindnefs into mortal enmity, and attempted to cut off Gama with his whole party. The Portuguese general, bowever, found means to escape every plot that was laid against him; and loaded his fhips not only with the products of that part of the country, but with many of the valuable products of the more remote regions. On his return to Porugal, De Gama was received with all imaginable bonours. The Portuguese nation, nay all the bations in Europe, the Venetians alone excepted, rejoiced at the difcovery which had been made. The latter beheld in it the certain and unavoidble downfal of their power; while the Portugucfe, prefuming upon the right of prior difcosery, which they took care to have confirmed by a papal grant, plumed themselves on the thoughts of having the whole Indian commerce centre in their nation. The expectations of the one, and the apprehenfions of the other, feemed at firft te be well-founded. A fucceffion of gallant officers fent into the east from Portugal accomplished the greatest and most arduous undertakings. In 24 years after the voyage of De Gama, they had made themselves mafters of many important places in India; and among the reft the city of MALACCA, where the great ftaple of trade throughout the whole Eaft Indies was established. As this city ftands nearly at an equal distance from the eastern and western extremities of all the countries comprehended under the name of Indies, it was frequented by the merchants of China, Japan, and all the kingdoms on the Continent, the Moluccas and other iflands in that quarter, as well as by thofe of Malabar, Ceylon, Coromandel, and Bengal. Thus the Portuguese acquired a moft extenfive influence over the internal commerce of India; while, by the fettlements they had formed at Goa and Diu, they were enabled to engross the trade on the Malabar coast, and greatly to obftruct the long eftablished intercourfe of Egypt with India by the Red Sea. Their fhips now frequented every port in the eaft, where any valuable commodities were to be had, from the Cape of Good Hope to the river of Canton in China; and all along this immenfe extent, of more than 4000 leagues, they had a chain of forts and factories eftablished to protect their trade. They had likewife made themselves mafters of feveral stations favourable to commerce along the coaft of Africa, and in many islands lying between Madagascar and the Moluccas. In all places where they came, their arms had ftruck fuch terror, that they not only carried on their trade without any rival or controul, but even prescribed to the natives the terms of their mutual intercourfe; nay, fometimes they fet what price they pleased upon the commodities they purchased, and thus were enabled to import into Europe the Indian commodities, in greater abundance and at a lower rate than had ever been done before. Not fatiffied with this, they formed a scheme of excluding all other nations from any fhare of the trade they enjoyed; and for that purpofe determined to make themselves mafters of fuch stations on the Red Sea and Perfian Gulf, as might put them in poffeffion of the navigation of both these feas, and enable them not only to obftruct the ancient commerce between Egypt and India, but to command "the mouths of the great rivers which conveyed the Indian goods through the internal parts of Afia. The conduct of thefe enterprifes was committed to Alphonfo Albuquerque, the moft diftinguished officer at that time in the Portuguese fervice. By the vaft number of the enemies he had to contend with, however, and the fcanty supplies derived from Portugal, he could not fully accomplish what was expected from him. However, he took from the petty princes who were tributaries to the kings of Perfia the fmall island of ORMUS, which commands the mouth of the Perfian Gulf; and thus fecured to Portugal the poffeffion of that extenfive trade with the eaft, which the Perfians had carried on for several centuries. On this barren ifland, almoft entirely covered with falt, and fo hot, that the climate can scarcely be horne, deftitute of a drop of fresh water, except what what was brought from the continent, a city was erected by the Portuguese, which foon became one of the chief feats of opulence, fplendor, and luxury, in the eastern world. In the Red Sea the Arabian princes made a much more formidable refiftance; and this, together with the damage his fleet fuftained in that fea, the navigation of which is always difficult and dangerous, obliged Albuquerque to retire without effecting any thing of importance. Thus the ancient channel of conveyance ftill remained open to the Egyptians; but their commerce was greatly circumfcribed by the powerful intereft of the Portuguefe in every port to which they had been accustomed to refort. The Venetians now began to feel those effects of De Gama's discovery which they had dreaded. To preferve the remains of their commerce, they applied to the fultan of the Mamelukes in Egypt, who was no lefs alarmed at the lofs of fuch a capital branch of his revenue as he had been accustomed to derive from the India trade, By them this fierce and barbarous prince was eafily perfuaded to fend a furious manifefto to Pope Julius II. and Emmanuel king of Portugal. After ftating his exclufive right to the Indian trade, he informed them, that if the Portuguese did not relinquish that new courfe of navigation by which they had penetrated into the Indian ocean, and ceafe from encroaching on that commerce which from time immemorial had been carried on between the east of Afia and his dominions, he would put to death all the Chriftians in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine, and demolish the holy fepulchre itself. To this threat, which in fome of the preceding centuries, would have alarmed all Christendom, little or no regard was paid; so that the Venetians, as their laft refource, were obliged to fall upon a different expedient. This was to excite the fultan to fit out a fleet in the Red Sea to attack the Portuguese, and drive them from all their fettlements in the east. To affift him in the enterprife, he was allow. ed to cut down their forefts in Dalmatia, to fupply the deficiency of Egypt in timber for fhipbuilding. The timber was conveyed from Dalmatia to Alexandria; and from thence, partly by water and partly by land, to Suez; where 12 men of war were built, on board of which a body of Mamelukes were ordered to serve under the command of an experienced officer. Thus the Portuguese were affaulted by a new enemy, far more formidable than any they had yet encountered; yet fuch was the valour and conduct of the admiral, that after feveral fevere engagements, the fleet of the infidels was entirely ruined, and the Portuguese became abfolute mafters of the Indian ocean. This difafter was followed by the total overthrow of the dominion of the Mamelukes in Egypt by fultan Selim, who thus alfo became mafter of Syria and Paleftine. As his intereft was now the fame with that of the Venetians, a league was quickly formed betwixt them for the ruin of the power of the Portuguese in India. With this view Selim confirmed to the Venetians the exten- five commercial privileges they enjoyed under the Mamelukes; publishing at the fame time an edict, by which he permitted the free entry of all the productions of the eaft imported directly from Alexandria into any part of his dominions, impofed heavy taxes upon fuch as were impo from Lifbon. All this, however, was infuffic to counteract the great advantages which the tuguefe had obtained by the new paffage to In and the fettlements they had established in country. The power of the Venetians being tirely broken by the league of Cambray, the tuguese for some time remained uncontrouled ters of the Indian trade, and all Europe was plied by them, excepting an inconfiderable qu tity imported by the Venetians through the u channels. The Portuguese continued to er this valuable branch of commerce undisturbed moft for a whole century; to which, howe they were indebted more to the political fituat of the different European nations than to th own prowefs. After the acceffion of Charles to the throne of Spain, that kingdom was eit fo much engaged in a multiplicity of operatio owing to the ambition of that monarch and fon Philip II. or so intent on profecuting the coveries and conquefts in the new world, that effort was made to interfere with the East In trade of the Portuguese, even though an oppor nity offered by the discovery of a fecond paff by fea to the Eaft Indies, through the ftraits Magellan. By the acquifition of the crown of P tugal in 1580, Spain, instead of becoming the val, became the protector and guardian of t Portuguefe trade. The refources of France this time were so much exhausted by long and folating wars, that it could neither beftow mu attention on objects at fuch a diftance, nor e gage in any expenfive fcheme. England was de lated by the ruinous wars between the houses York and Lancaster; and afterwards its enterp fing spirit was reftrained by the cautious and c vetous Henry VII. His fon Henry VIII. in t former part of his reign, by engaging in the co tinental quarrels of the European princes, and the latter part by his quarrel with the pope a contests about religion, left no time for comme cial fchemes. It was not therefore till the rei of Q. Elizabeth that any attention was paid to t affairs of the eaft by that kingdom. The fi who fhook the power of the Portuguefe in Ind were the Dutch; and in this they were gladly conded by the natives, whom the Portugu had moft grievously oppreffed. The English fo followed their example; and in a few years Portuguese were expelled from their most valuat fettlements, while the moft lucrative branches their trade have continued ever fince in the han of thofe two nations. It is not to be fuppafe that the other European nations would fit ftill quietly fee thefe two engrofs the whole of this crative commerce, without attempting to put in a fhare. Eaft India companies were therefore up in different countries: but it was only betwe France and Britain that the great rivalihip com menced; nor did this fully difplay itself till aft the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. Both nations he by this time made themselves mafters of confide able fettlements in India. The principal of the belonging to Britain were, 1. Surat; 2. Bombay 3. Dabul; 4. Carwar; 5. Tillicherry; 6. Anjeng 7. Fort St David's on the Coromandel coaft, fo mer Tegafiatan; 8. Madras; 9. Vifigapatam; lafore; and 11. Calcutta, the capital of all ifh fettlements in the Eaft Indies. These the principal places belonging to Britain, we have occafion to mention in the account war which now took place; thofe of the were chiefly Pondicherry and ChandernaINDIA, HISTORY OF THE WAR IN, BEIN THE FRENCH AND BRITISH, FROM 1748 753. This war is faid to have been firft oced by the intrigues of the French commanM. Dupleix; who, immediately after the of Aix-la-Chapelle, began to fow diffenfion g the nabobs, who had by this time ufurped wereignty of the country. Nizam Almuluck, by of Deccan, and nabob of Arcot, had, as for the Mogul, nominated Anaverdy Khan governor of the Carnatic in 1745. On eath of the Nizam, his fecond fon, Nazir Zing, appointed to fucceed him in his viceroyalty, xis nomination was confirmed by the Mogul. yas opposed by his coufin Muzapher Zing, applied to Dupleix for affiftance. By him ras fupplied with a body of Europeans and artillery; after which, being alfo joined by nda Saib, an active Indian prince, he took field against Nazir Zing. The latter was fupted by a body of British troops under Colonel rence: and the French, dreading the event u engagement, retired in the night; fo that ally was obliged to throw himself on the ency of Nazir Zing. His life was fpared, gh he himself was detained as a ftate pri ; but the traitor, forgetting the kindness wed him on this occafion, entered into a concy against the life of Nazir Zing, and murd him in his camp; in which infamous tranfon he was encouraged by Dupleix and ChunSaib, who had retired to Pondicherry. Imle riches were found in the tents of Nazir 8, great part of which fell to the share of Du, whom Muzapher Zing now afsociated with Telf in the government. By this affociation Frenchman affumed the ftate and formalities in eaftern prince; and he and his colleague zapher Zing appointed Chunda Saib nabob of ot. In 1749, Anaverdy Khan had been defeated killed by Muzapher Zing and Chunda Saib, ted by the French; after which, his fon Momed Ali Khan had put himself under the proon of the English at Madras, and was coned by Nazir Zing, as his father's fucceffor in nabobship or government of Arcot. This go ment therefore was difputed betwixt MohamAli Khan, appointed by the legal viceroy zir Zing, and fupported by the English comy, and Chunda Saib nominated by the ufurper zapher Zing, and protected by Dupleix, who amanded at Pondicherry. Muzapher Zing, ever, did not long enjoy his ill-got authority; in 1751, the nabobs who had been the means of ing him to the power he enjoyed, thinking nfelves ill rewarded for their fervices, fell upon fuddenly, defeated his forces, and put him Heath; proclaiming Salabat Zing next day viceof the Deccan. On the other hand, the Moappointed Gauzedy Khan, the elder brother of Salabat Zing, who was confirmed by Mohammed Ali Khan in the government of Arcot; but the affairs of the Mogul were at that time in fuch diforder, that he could not fupport the nomination he had made. Chunda Saib in the mean time determined to recover, by force, the nabobfhip of Arcot, from which he had been depofed by the Mogul, who had placed Anaverdy Khan in his room. With this view, he had recourse to Dupleix at Pondicherry, who reinforced him with 2000 Sepoys, 60 Caffrees, and 420 French; upon condition, that if he fucceeded, he should cede to the French the town of Velur in the neighbourhood of Pondicherry, with its dependencies, confifting of 45 villages. Thus reinforced, he defeated Anaverdy Khan, who loft his life in the engagement, reaffumed the government of Arcot, and punctually performed the engagements he had come under to his French allies. All this time Mohammed Ali Khan had been supported by the English, to whom he fled after his father's death. By them he was supplied with a reinforcement of men, money, and ammunition, under the conduct of Major Laurence, a brave and experienced officer; whereby he gained fome advantages over the enemy: and repairing afterwards to Fort St David's, he obtained a farther reinforcement. With all this affiftance, however, he accomplished nothing of any moment; and the English auxiliaries having retired, he was defeated by his enemies. Thus he was obliged to enter into a more clofe alliance with the English, and cede to them fome commercial points which had been long in difpute; after which, Captain Cope was dispatched to put Trinchinopoli in a ftate of defence, while Captain de Gingis, a Swifs officer, marched at the head of 400 Europeans to the affiftance of the nabob. On this occafion, Mr Clive firft offered his fervice in a military capacity. He had been employed before as a writer, but appeared very little qualified for that or any other department in civil life. He now marched towards Arcot at the head of 210 Europeans and 500 Sepoys. In his firft expedition, he difplayed at once the qualities of a great commander. His movements were conducted with such secrecy and dispatch, that he made himself mafter of the enemy's capital before they knew of his march; and gained the affections of his people by his generofity, in affording protection without ranfom. In a fhort time, however, he found himself invefted in Fort St David's by Rajah Saib, fon to Chunda Saib, an Indian chief, pretender to the nabobfhip of Arcot, at the head of a numerous army; the operations of the fiege being conducted by European engineers. Thus, in fpite of his utmoft efforts, two practicable breeches were made, and a general affault given; but Mr Clive having got intelligence of the intended attack, defended himself with such vigour, that the affailants were every where repulfed with lofs, and obliged to raise the fiege with the greateft precipitation. Mr Clive, being reinforced by a detachment from Trinchinopoli, marched in queft of the enemy; and having overtaken them in the plains of Arani, attacked and entirely defeated them on the 3d of Dec. 1751. This victory was followed by the furrender of the forts of Timery, Conjaveram, and Arani; after which which, Mr Clive returned in triumph to Fort St. poffeffion of it about 14 days when he was p David's. In the beginning of 1752, he marched foned by his own fifter. His fon, Shah Abac towards Madras, where he was reinforced by a Khan, was appointed to fucceed him by the Mog fmall body of troops from Bengal. Though the but the latter being unable to give him prop whole did not exceed 300 Europeans, with as affiftance, Salabat Zing remained without a many natives as were fufficient to give the appear- rival, and made a prefent to the French comma ance of an army, he boldly proceeded to a place der of all the English poffeffions to the northwa called KOVERIPAUK, about 15 miles from Arcot, Thus concluded the campaign of 1752. No where the enemy lay to the number of 1500 year both parties received confiderable reinfor Sepoys, 1700 horfe, with 150 Europeans, and ments; the English, by the arrival of Admi 8 pieces of cannon. Victory was long doubtful, Watfon with a squadron of fhips of war, havi until Mr Clive having fent round a detachment te on board a regiment commanded by Colonel fall upon the rear of the enemy while the English dercroon; and the French by M. Gadeheu, co attacked the entrenchments in front with their miffary and governor-general of all their fett bayonets, a general confufion enfued, the enemy ments, on whofe arrival M Dupleix departed were routed with confiderable flaughter, and on- Europe. The new governor made the moft friend ly faved from total deftruction by the darknefs of propofals, and defired a ceffation of arms un the night. The French to a man threw down the difputes could be adjusted in Europe. Th their arms, and furrendered themselves prisoners proposals being readily liftened to on the part of war; all the baggage and cannon falling at the the British, deputies were fent to Pondicher fame time into the hand of the victors. On the and a provifional treaty and truce were conclude return of Mr Clive to Fort St David's, he was on condition that neither of the two compan fuperfeded in the command by Major Laurence. fhould for the future interfere in any of the By him he was detached with 400 Europeans, a ferences that might take place in the count few Mahrattah foldiers, and a body of Sepoys, to The other articles related to the fettlements th cut off the enemy's retreat to Pondicherry. In fhould be retained or poffeffed by the refpecti this enterprise he was attended with his ufual fuc- companies until fresh orders fhould arrive from t cefs, took feveral forts, vanquished the French courts of London and Verfailles; and till then commander M. d'’Anteuil, and obliged him with was ftipulated, that neither of the two natio all his party to furrender prifoners of war. Chun- fhould be allowed to procure any new grant da Saib, in the mean time, lay encamped with an ceffion, or to build forts in defence of any ne army of 30,000 men at Syringham, an ifland near establishment; nor fhould they proceed to any c Trinchinopoli; but Major Laurence having inter- fion, retroceffion, or evacuation, of what the cepted his provifions, he was forced to fly. Being then poffeffed; but every thing fhould remain obliged to pass through the camp of the Tanjore the fame footing as formerly. general, he obtained a pass for that purpose; but was nevertheless detained by the nabob, who was an ally of the British, and his head was ftruck off, to prevent any disputes that might arife concerning him. After the flight of Chunda Saib, his army was at tacked and routed by Major Laurence; and the ifland of Syringham furrendered, with about 1000 French foldiers under the command of Mr Law, brother to him who schemed the Miffifippi company. M. Dupleix, mortified at this bad fuccefs, proclaimed Rajah Saib, fon to Chunda Saib, nabob of Arcot; and afterwards produced forged commiffions from the great Mogul, appointing him governor of all the Carnatic from the Kriftnah to the fea. To carry on this deception, a meffenger pretended to come from Delhi, and was received with all the pomp of an amballador from the Great Mogul. Dupleix, mounted on an elephant and preceded by mufic and dancing women, after the oriental fashion, received his commiffion from the hands of this impoftor; after which, he affected the ftate of an eaftern prince; kept his durbar or court, appeared fitting crofs. legged on a fopha, and received prefents as fo vereign of the country, from his own council as well as from the natives. Thus the forces of the English and French Eaft India companies were engaged in a courfe of hoftilities, at a time when no war exifted between the two nations; and while they thus continued to make war upon each other, under the title of auxiliaries to the contending parties, Gauzedy Khan affumed the dignity appointed him by the Mogul; but had not been in (16.) INDIA, HISTORY OF THE WAR IN, FRO 1755 TO THE TREATY IN FEB. 1757. The tre ty was published on the 11th of January 1755; the end of which month admiral Watfon return with his fquadron from Bombay, and M. G deheu returned to France in the beginning of F bruary, leaving M. Leyrit his fucceffor at Pond cherry. M. Buffy, with the Soubahdar Salab Zing, commanded in the north; and M. de Sau fay was left to command the troops at Syringhai Matters, however, did not long continue in ftate of tranquillity. Early in the year, it appea ed that the French were endeavouring to get p feffion of all the provinces of the Deccan. 1 Buffy demanded the fortrefs of Golconda fro Salabat Zing; and M. Leyrit encouraged the g vernor who rented Velu to take up arms agai the nabob. He even fent 300 French and as ma fepoys from Pondicherry to fupport this reb and oppofe the English employed by the nab to collect his revenues from the tributary princ In this office they had been employed ever fin the ceffation, of hoftilities; one half of the reven being paid to the nabob, and the other to company, which now involved them in a kind military expeditions into the country of the Pol gars, who had been previously fummoned to fe agents to fettle accounts with the nabob. Fo of them obeyed the fummons; but one Lachenai refufed, and it was therefore refolved to atta him. The country was very strong, being alme entirely, fortified by nature and arts for it furrounded by craggy hills, detached from anothe |