File:A short history of England and the British Empire (1915) (14580642538).jpg

Identifier: shorthistoryofen00lars (find matches)
Title: A short history of England and the British Empire
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Larson, Laurence Marcellus, 1868-1938
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : Henry Holt and Company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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ernors ruledtheir separate states almost as sovereigns. It was this chaoticstate of affairs that made it possible for the English and Frenchto combine conquest with trade and commerce. From the Carnatic Clive turned his attention to Bengal. TheEnglishmen had a trading post at Calcutta, and the FrenchClive in were at Chandernagore not far distant. Both Bengal. pa^ tribute to the nabob of the region for the privilege of trade. The new viceroy was Surajah Dowlah whocame into power in 1756. Surajah Dowlah hated the Englishand planned to oust the East India Company. Pretexts foran attack were soon formed. He seized the companys postand while graciously promising the prisoners their lives, hadThe Black them confined, 146 in number, in a single room lessHole- than twenty feet square, since known as the Black Hole of Calcutta. When the door was opened the followingmorning, only twenty-three were still alive.3 1 Gardiner, 758-764. 2 Robinson, No. 166. 3 Cheyney, No. 357, VICTORIES IN INDIA 467
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British Territory Sphere of French Influence in the time of Dupleix (about 17 50)•-■■■ 1 Portuguese Territory 468 THE AGE OF PITT When the news came to Madras, Clive at once determinedto lead an expedition against the cruel viceroy. With 900British soldiers and 1500 Sepoys he landed in Bengal just be-fore the close of the year, reestablished the factory of the com-pany, and a little later drove the French out of Chandernagore.In June, almost a year after the tragedy of the Black Hole,Clives little army met a native host of more than 50,000 atThe battle Plassey and put the Bengalese to flight.1 Aof Plassey. native prince who was willing to serve as the75 companys tool was made nabob of Bengal. The influence of the East India Company spread rapidly up thegreat valley of the Ganges, and Calcutta became the center ofBritish power in India. The French made an effort to recover the Carnatic butwithout success. In 1760 they were completely defeated atWandewash. Wandewash. A few month

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