had suffered much, not only having been shaken by the fire of their own guns, but by a constant fire of both shot and shell from the enemy. The ammunition of the besieged began, moreover, to fail. All hopes were now turned to the squadron, which, from adverse winds and currents, could not approach. The enemy's fire had ruined the reservoirs and wells so much, that little water could be procured except that from the ditch, which was brackish. On the 1st of June, an incessant fire was kept up from twenty-one guns and thirteen mortars, which, for want of powder, could not be returned by a single gun: at noon, the French squadron were discovered entering the roads, when Major Palier determined upon making terms, which were concluded in the evening, and the garrison surrendered prisoners of war. The force before Fort St. David, amounted to 2,500 Europeans, and about 3000 Sepoys.

The French having found a pretender to the throne of Tanjore, who had been kept in confinement in Fort St. David, determined to make use of him to extort money from the king of Tanjore. On the 18th, Lally marched for Tanjore, leaving behind 600 Europeans, and 200 Sepoys, for the defence of the French territory. On account of his violent conduct towards the natives in paying no attention to caste, and making all, without distinction, carry burdens, Lally could procure neither Coolies nor followers to accompany his army; his Sepoys even deserted, disgusted at his conduct, and although

their heavy baggage and guns were conveyed by sea to Karrical, yet they moved with much difficulty, and the Regiment of Lorrain left their tents at Cuddalore for want of carriage, and when it arrived at Devi Cottah, the army was twelve hours without food. On entering the Tanjore country, the king endeavoured to come to terms, but the enormous sum demanded by Lally prevented him; and on his earnest entreaty, Calliaud sent him from Trichinopoly 500 of his best Sepoys with ten Europeans, and 300 Colleries, as also 4000 of the latter, who were induced by Calliaud to accept service under him. The French remained at Trivatore until the 12th July, sweeping the country round of all the cattle, which they drove down to the coast: on the arrival of the Colleries, however, they were dispatched to forage in the rear of the French, and recaptured most of what the French plundered, which, however, they again sold to the highest bidder.

On the 18th, the French arrived within sight of the city of Tanjore, and in the evening, after breaking off all negociations, occupied the town and suburbs. On the following day, batteries were erected, but being much exposed to a superior fire from the walls, the French lost many men, and were unable to make any impression. On the 1st August, the king again rejected the terms offered, and on the 6th, a further reinforcement of 500 Sepoys, two excellent serjeants, and twenty-seven men from

the corps, reached him from Calliaud; on the 7th, batteries were opened against the south side, and a practicable breach effected on the 8th, reports arrived of the arrival of the English fleet before Karrical, and the enemy being exceedingly pressed for provisions, and their ammunition failing, Lally decided upon raising the siege, and on the following day, the sick and wounded, upwards of 150, were sent to the rear, and preparations made for a retreat.

On the morning of the 10th, the Tanjore General attacked and beat up the French camp, a party of horse penetrating towards Lally's tent; he was severely wounded and trampled upon, but saved. The English Sepoys captured two field-pieces, and the French camp was thrown into the greatest confusion before they could repulse their assailants. On the following night, after having spiked all his guns, Lally retired, harassed during his retreat by the Tanjorean horse and the Colleries, who plundered and cut off nearly all his baggage.

The English Sepoys, and the few European artillerymen, and men of the battalion, returned to Trichinopoly, having, by their gallantry, foiled the French in their attack upon Tanjore, which would certainly have fallen into the hands of the enemy had it not been for the assistance they rendered, and the confidence their presence inspired.

On the 18th, Lawrence, with 520 of the corps, and 1200 Sepoys from Madras, took the field, and a party of the Nabob's troops took Trivatore by

assault.

At about the same time, Trinomalee was also taken from the enemy. When Calliaud sent troops to assist at the defence of Tanjore he was obliged to abandon his outposts, and among others Seringam. The Mysoreans immediately re-occupied it; but on the return of the detachment from Tanjore, Calliaud dispatched parties of the corps to disperse these troops, which they did, and drove them out of the place. A detachment also, under command of Captain Joseph Smith, (afterwards General Smith,) of the corps, consisting of his company of seventy Europeans, fifty Caffres, and two field-pieces with ten companies of Sepoys, under Mahomed Issoff, was sent to dispossess the reigning chief of Terriore, a person favourable to the French, and to restore his cousin. This service was executed with some loss to the detachment, but much greater to the enemy, in whose fort were found several ladders ready made for the French, on the first favourable opportunity, to use in escalading Trichinopoly.

In September, accounts arrived at Calcutta of the fall of Fort St. David, the failure of the enemy before Tanjore, and the different actions between the squadrons; nevertheless, Clive determined not to send troops to Madras, but to employ all that could be spared against the French in the northern circars; for this purpose, Colonel Forde, who had left Aldercorn's regiment, was put in command of 500 of the corps, all of whom had for

merly embarked from Madras; 2000 Sepoys and 100 Lascars, with six best brass field-pieces, and six 24-pounders for battering. This force being embarked on board six ships, sailed for Vizagapatam.

During the month of August, after the reduction of Fort St. David, the French took all the small posts in the neighbourhood of Madras, except Chinglyputt, which still held out, and it was reinforced with three companies of Sepoys under Lieutenant Airey. On the 14th of September, several Company's ships, and two men-of-war, arrived at Madras with 900 king's troops, under Colonel Draper, styled Draper's Regiment. One hundred more having arrived shortly afterwards, a further reinforcement was sent to Chinglyputt, and augmented its garrison to nine companies of Sepoys, with twelve gunners, and about 30 chosen Europeans, which were placed under command of Captain Richard Smith of the corps, and ordered to defend the fort to the last. The garrison from Trichinopoly being also called in, arrived on the 25th of October at Madras, under Calliaud, and this increasing the means of defending Chinglyputt, four more field-pieces, with a complement of Lascars to work them, were sent thither. Lally, too late seeing the importance of this place, resolved to march against it with his entire force as soon as possible.

On the 2d November, 800 Europeans, and some native cavalry and Sepoys, marched against Chinglyputt; but Draper and Lawrence having preceded them