The Marquis de Bussy, a brave and capable soldier who had been a second to Dupleix, and was wholly in accord with his policy and ambitions, remained in the Deccan,--a large region in the southern central part of the peninsula, over which Dupleix had once ruled.

In 1756, troubles arose between the English and the native prince in Bengal.

The nabob of that province had died, and his successor, a young man of nineteen, attacked Calcutta.

The place fell, after a weak resistance, in June, and the surrender was followed by the famous tragedy known as that of the Black Hole of Calcutta.

The news reached Madras in August, and Clive, whose name has already been mentioned, sailed with the fleet of Admiral Watson, after a long and vexatious delay.