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2

during the feud between the Mahratta and the
Mahomedan that the French and English began
the work of conquest and annexation. The principal
 struggle between the French and English
commenced in 1750 in Madras, where most of the
French possessions were situated, and they ended
in the supremacy of the English being established,
and in Madras becoming the most important
possession of the Company. The struggle in
Bengal between the English and the native government
 continued from 1756 to 1765. It commenced
upon the accession of Suraja Daula, who captured
Calcutta, but was overthrown by Clive in 1757,
with the result that the authority of the Company
was established over the whole of Bengal. The
powers and duties of Government were, however,
carried on by the Nawab of Murshedabad and in
the name of the native government. In 1765 the
grant of the Diwan: was conferred upon the
English by the Emperor Shah Alam, in exchange
for an annual payment of twenty-six lakhs of
rupees; at the same time all the territories previously
 held by the East India Company under
grants from the Emperor were confirmed to them.
The civil and revenue administration was now
carried on by the Company through native agency,
while the administration of criminal justice was
left in the hands of the Nawab, who received an
annual grant of fifty-three lakhs of rupees; and
who thus became dependent upon the Company.