DUPLEIX AND THE WAR IN THE KARNATIC 117

French had refused all overtures for European assist- ance, the contending princes would certainly have got it from the English, who would thus have attained irre- sistible predominance. However this may be, the result of his policy was that the English Company, who at first expected that the Treaty of 1748 would relieve them from the hostility of France, soon discovered that they were in greater danger than before; for the peace enabled Dupleix to employ his forces in giving such material assistance to Chanda Sahib, one of the com- petitors for the Karnatic, that the ruling Nawab Anwar- ad-din Khan was speedily attacked, defeated, and slain. The victorious Chanda Sahib joined forces with Muzaf- far Jang, who was contending for the Nizamship; and both marched to Pondicherri, where they were mag- nificently received by the French, to whom they made a substantial grant of territory, with special allotments to Monsieur and Madame Dupleix. The French were now openly supporting Muzafto Jang for the Nizam- ship of the Deccan, and Chanda Sahib for the Nawab- ship of the Karnatic. The English, who regarded these proceedings with considerable dismay, although their own behaviour at Tan j ore made protest embarrassing, became involved in an acrimonious correspondence with the French, obvi- ously leading to a rupture. Their position, which was now seriously threatened, left them no alternative but to take the side opposed to the French candidates in this double war of succession. When Dupleix sent out a strong contingent in support of Muzaffar Jang, Nasir