money and magnificent jewels, and displayed his power and wealth to the wondering eyes of the natives and Europeans. The English at Madras began to fear that they would be driven out of the country altogether. They wished to do something to stop the growth of Dupleix's power, and they sent some soldiers to help the son of one of the slain Nabobs. But these soldiers were defeated, and the Nabob they had hoped to help lost all his lands except one town called Trichinopoly, where he was closely besieged. Whilst the officers of the English Company were filled with despair at the way in which things were going, only one Englishman seemed to be able to face the danger without fear. This was young Clive, then only twenty-five years old. He told his superiors that unless something was done to save Trichinopoly, Dupleix and his allies would have things all their own way in India. He proposed that with a small body of troops he should march on the important town of Arcot; if he could surprise that, he thought that the French and their allies would have to give up the siege of Trichinopoly.

Clive's plan was approved of, and he was allowed to march to Arcot at the head of 500 men, partly English and partly sepoys, as the native soldiers were called. He had a stormy march, but he was not afraid of thunder, lightning, or rain, and he was able to give his own daring and spirit to his men. They pushed on to Arcot, and the garrison were so terrified at their unexpected appearance that they fled without striking a blow. Clive knew that he would not be allowed to stay quietly at Arcot, and he began at once to prepare for a siege. He collected provisions, and improved the fortifications

of the town. The garrison soon got the better of their fear, and were joined by other soldiers from the surrounding country, so that they numbered about 3000 men; and they encamped near Arcot. Clive did not wait till they attacked him. At dead of night he marched out at the head of his little force and surprised the camp. A great many were slain, the rest fled, and Clive went back to Arcot without having lost a single man.

But soon a still mightier army advanced to win Arcot back from Clive. Ten thousand men attacked the town, which was defended only by Clive's small body of followers. It seemed as if it would be impossible for them to hold out. The walls were in a ruined condition; they had few provisions; there were only four officers to lead and encourage the little force. But this small band, inspired by the spirit of their commander, resisted for fifty days. It was devotion to Clive that kept up their courage and helped them to brave hunger and death without a murmur. No complaints were heard at the hardships which they had to endure. On the contrary, the sepoys came to Clive and told him that they could do with less food than the English. "Let the grain," they said, "be given to the English; the thin gruel which is strained away from the rice will do for us."

The English at Madras tried to send help to Clive, but failed. Help was coming, however, from another side. A large body of natives, half soldiers, half robbers, who hated the French and their allies, were willing to aid the English, now that they saw how they could fight, and began to march towards Arcot. The besiegers heard that they were coming, and

determined to take Arcot by storm before they could arrive. But first they offered a large bribe to Clive if he would surrender. He refused with proud scorn, and then the last attempt was made to destroy him.

It was on the day of a great Mahometan festival that Arcot was stormed. The Mahometans believed that any one who died on that day would be forgiven all his sins, and go straight to the gardens of the blessed. Wildly excited by this belief, they prepared for the attack. They drove before them. elephants, whose foreheads were armed with iron plates to batter down the walls. But the elephants could not bear the English musket balls; they turned and fled, trampling many under foot on their way as they rushed madly through the hosts of soldiers behind. The besiegers still pressed on, but they were greeted by a terrible fire. Part of the English never ceased firing, whilst the others loaded the muskets and handed them to their comrades as fast as they were required. Clive himself was everywhere, directing everything, and inspiring all with courage. At last, after an hour's terrible fight, the besiegers withdrew; they had lost 400 men, whilst Clive had lost only five or six.

All through the night Clive watched anxiously, expecting that the attack would begin again. But when morning dawned he could see the enemy nowhere; they had gone off in the night. The English at Madras were filled with joy and pride when they heard of Clive's success. More troops were sent to him, and he did not disappoint the hopes which he had raised. Beginning with the defence of Arcot, he went on till, by his

daring deeds, he had laid the foundation of the English empire in India. The natives had for a moment been dazzled by the success of Dupleix, but his fame was forgotten in the glory that attended the deeds of Clive. Before many years the French had lost all their possessions in India, and Clive had settled who were to be the foreign masters of that great and powerful country.

XLIX

THE BOSTON TEA RIOTS.

A.D. 1773.

THE English colonists who went to seek a new home in America, that they might have freedom in the practice of their religion, were joined as years went on by many others, until the English settlers in America became a great people. Desire for liberty had first of all led them to cross the Atlantic, and as years went on their love for liberty did not grow cold. But they loved their mother country also, and freely owned their allegiance to her.

In George III.'s reign the colonies were rich and important, and he, in his desire to assert power over his dominions, wished to make the colonies feel that he was their King in deed as well as in name. Wars with France and Germany had brought England into great need of money, and one of the ministers, Charles Townshend,thought it would be a splendid thing to make the Americans pay taxes for the good of England. The Ameri

T

cans answered by saying that as they sent no representatives to Parliament, it had no right to tax them; but no heed was paid to their grumbling, and no one thought they would resist. Still they succeeded in making the English Government feel how determined they were to oppose the taxes; and after a while all the taxes were withdrawn except a small duty on tea. George III. was so anxious to show his right to tax America, that this duty was kept for that purpose. The Americans did not care whether it was small or great; they felt that they must resist it, because to allow it to be paid would be to own that the English Government was right.

The Americans warned the East India Tea Company that they would only suffer loss if they tried to bring tea to America; but when the Company consulted with the English Government, they were told, "It is to no purpose making objections, for the King will have it so. The King means to try the question with America." When the Americans found that no heed was paid to their remonstrances they determined to combine together to resist the tea duties. At Philadelphia, one of the towns to which the East India Company was to send tea, the people met together and declared the duty illegal, and called upon the agents of the East India Company to resign, which they all did after a little delay. At Boston the same thing was tried. The tea-ships coming to that town were known to be on their way. The consignees-the merchants to whom the tea was to be sent-were bidden to come to a general meeting of the people and give up their commissions.

Bells were rung to summon the people to the meeting, and