the countries round Madura and Tinnevelly. This was entirely a jungle warfare.

The Polygars and Colleries, a rude, warlike and savage people, fought with every advantage, in their native fastnesses, against regular troops; and although European discipline and gallantry eventually prevailed, the war was not brought to a successful conclusion before many valuable men had been lost to the corps, and some severe examples, particularly at the fort of Nellicottah, where the garrison were put to the sword, had taught the enemy that it was useless to contend longer.

During this year also, several attempts were made by the Regent of Mysore, to gain possession of Trichinopoly through treachery; but all were frustrated by the vigilance and determination of part of the corps that garrisoned it. In October, Clive arrived at Bombay from England with 300 European recruits for the Company; soon after his arrival there, it was decided to attack the Pirate Angrias' forts on the western coast of India.

On the 11th February, 1756, the fleet under Admiral Watson, having on board 800 Europeans, the greater part composed of the Bombay European Regiment, and 1000 Sepoys under Clive, arrived off the famous fort of Gheira. After a severe cannonade from the ships, the troops were landed, and the forts taken possession of by Colonel Clive. In them were found 200 pieces of cannon, and a large quantity of ammunition, besides naval and military

stores; the money and effects of other kinds amounted to upwards of 120,000l. In the beginning of April, the fleet returned to Bombay and refitted; about the end of the month it sailed, having on board Clive, and a number of the Europeans who were at Gheira, and arrived at Madras on the 12th May.

Clive proceeded to take charge of Fort St. David, where he arrived on the 20th of June, the very day on which the Nabob of Bengal took Calcutta, intelligence of which unfortunate event, together with the melancholy loss of life from the confinement of the English prisoners in the Blackhole, reached Madras on the 16th August. On the 18th, Clive was offered the command of the expedition to retake Calcutta. After some consultations regarding the force to be employed,—as by this time advices had been received from England, that war between France and England would shortly be declared, and that reinforcements were on their voyage out from France,-it was decided to despatch a sufficient force not only to retake Calcutta, but to attack the Nabob of Bengal in his capital. At this time, the forces of the rival nations on the coast of Coromandel amounted each to about 2,000 Europeans, and 10,000 Sepoys, both separated in detachments, in different garrisons, in an extent of about 600 miles.

A sloop of war was despatched to Fulta, to inform the English, who had taken refuge there after

the loss of Calcutta, of the intended armament, and on the 16th October, the fleet, consisting of six ships of war, and several transports, having on board 900 Europeans and 1500 Sepoys, sailed from Madras Roads: of the Europeans 250 were of H. M.'s 39th, the rest were picked men from the Madras European battalion.

On the 20th December, the fleet, with the exception of two vessels containing 250 Europeans, arrived, and found Major Kilpatrick with a small detachment of not more than 100 men, only fifty of whom were fit for duty; these, however, daily recovering their health, and a company of seventy volunteers, in a measure made up the loss of the 250 troops not arrived. On the 27th December, all the ships weighed and stood up the river as far as Moyapore, ten miles from the Fort of Budge-Budge, which it was determined to attack the following day; on the morning of which, all the men of H.M.'s 39th who were present, amounting to 120, the remainder not having arrived, were kept on board ship; whilst 500 of the Madras Europeans, with 1500 Sepoys, and two field-pieces, were landed a few miles from the fort under Colonel Clive, and proceeded to its attack. Whilst the troops were resting after the fatigue of a long march and dragging their guns through the mud, they were attacked by Mouick Chund, the Governor of Calcutta, with 2,000 foot and 1500 horse; the enemy being under cover, stood for a short time, but were ultimately dislodged and re

pulsed with considerable loss; several of the corps were wounded, and one ensign killed. The following day the fort having been previously fired upon from the fleet, was evacuated; but in a skirmish with some of the retreating enemy, Captain Campbell of the corps was killed.

On the 1st of January, 1757, the fleet arrived before Alighur, which, with Thanah, was found abandoned; in them fifty pieces of cannon were found. The next morning Clive landed with most of the Europeans and Sepoys, and marched towards Calcutta. The ships had, however, arrived before him, and after a short cannonade the enemy evacuated the fort, and it was taken possession of, and the English colours hoisted by Captain, afterwards Sir Eyre Coote, who was landed from the ships with the detachment of his regiment, the 39th. On the 12th the fort of Hooghly was captured by a small party of Europeans of both corps, under Coote, who detached a party to the northward, which captured and destroyed several granaries. On the 19th all returned to Calcutta.

During this time, news arrived, vid Aleppo, of war between Great Britain and France, and there being 300 Europeans and a train of field-artillery at the French settlement of Chandernagore, it was determined to treat with the Nabob, and thus prevent the junction of the French with him; but the attempt was unsuccessful, and he advanced to retake Calcutta and punish the English. On the 2d

of February his army entered the Company's limits, and on the following day closely invested Calcutta. On the 4th Colonel Clive determined to attack him in his camp. At midnight 600 sailors having been landed, the whole, consisting of 650 Europeans in battalion 100 artillerymen, 800 sepoys, six fieldpieces, and the sailors marched out of the fort; at day-light they came upon the enemy's advanced guards, which were quickly driven in. A dense fog coming on, they continued their march towards where the Nabob was supposed to have encamped; and after repulsing a well-executed charge by a body of Persian cavalry, continued on through the enemy's camp, and returned to Calcutta on the opposite quarter from whence they had set out. The troops were much exhausted by the day's work, and the loss was considerable. Twenty-seven of the Europeans, twelve sailors, and eighteen Sepoys were killed; seventy Europeans, twelve sailors, and thirtyfive Sepoys wounded; Captains Pye and Bridges of the corps were killed, also Mr. Belcher, Colonel Clive's secretary; Mr. Ellis of the civil service, a volunteer, lost his leg by a round shot. The enemy's loss was severe; twenty-two officers of distinction, 600 men, 500 horses, four elephants, and several camels were killed and wounded; and the Nabob, from being so near the tumult of the fight, from which he could not escape, was impressed with such dread of his enemies, as on the following day