Two French corps had already been destroyed by Clive, who held the third army prisoners.

Bussy was carrying on war in the Deccan, with great difficulty making head against overt hostilities and secret intrigues.
The report of Dupleix's reverses arrived in France in the month of September, 1752.
[Illustration: Death of the Nabob of the Carnatic----174] The dismay at Versailles was great, and prevailed over the astonishment.
There had never been any confidence in Dupleix's projects, there had been scarcely any belief in his conquests.

The soft-hearted inertness of ministers and courtiers was almost as much disgusted at the successes as at the defeats of the bold adventurers who were attempting and risking all for the aggrandizement and puissance of France in the East.

Dupleix secretly received notice to demand his recall.

He replied by proposing to have M.de Bussy nominated in his place.