the removal of any officer from a civil to a military

station.

During the year 1677, the great Mahratta General, Seragee, appeared within a short distance of Madras, which he intended surprising; he, however, took Gingee and Nellore from the Nabob, and shortly after left the Carnatic at the head of a select body of cavalry, leaving the rest of his army behind, with strict orders to surprise and plunder Madras on the first favourable opportunity. At the same time he confirmed Pondicherry to the French, who had settled at, and fortified that place in 1672.

In 1678, an order arrived from the Court of Directors allowing ten fanams monthly to every soldier after completing seven years' service; this regulation was intended to encourage soldiers who had completed their term of seven years, to re-enlist.

In 1681-82, an act of parliament authorized the Company to seize and send home all British subjects trading to the East Indies unauthorized by them; and these persons were styled "Interlopers :" a number of adventurers of this description had assembled at Hoogly, in Bengal, and threatened the agent of the English factory there: "an ensign of tried courage and fidelity," was sent from Fort St. George with thirty soldiers for his protection, and were the first European soldiers sent to Bengal.

1683-84. In the following year the Court of

Directors constituted the agency of Fort St. George a governorship. Mr. Gyfford was its first governor, and was also directed to proceed to Bengal, and assume the supreme command there. Mr. Gyfford was to be attended to Bengal by a company of soldiers from Fort St. George, and to take with him arms and accoutrements for an additional one to be formed of volunteers from the fleet, to give the appearance of strength and dignity to his mission and transactions. These soldiers, when affairs were settled, were intended to return to Madras, and the company of seamen to be employed under Mr. Gyfford and his council in Bengal, as they might think proper, for the protection of the trade. King's and Company's commissions were at the same time granted to Sir John Wetway, and Sir Thomas Grantham.

Instructions were received from the Company in 1685-86, sanctioned by his Majesty, for their ser vants in India to retaliate, on the native powers, the injuries sustained, and their loss of privileges in Bengal. War was thus declared against the Nabob of Dacca and his superior, the Great Mogul. An expedition had been fitted out in England by the Company, for this service, and consisted of ten ships, from seventy to twelve guns each, under the command of Captain Nicholson, with the rank of vice-admiral until his arrival in the Ganges, when the President of Bengal was to act as admiral and commander-in-chief of the land forces. On

board this fleet were embarked six companies of infantry, nearly eight hundred men, without captains, it being intended that the different members in council should act in that capacity. This force was to be joined by a detachment from Fort St. George, and a company from Priaman, on the Island of Sumatra, the Company's chief settlement in that part of the world, and garrisoned by three hundred soldiers and forty-nine pieces of cannon; by which means an effective regiment of ten companies and one thousand men was formed.

In 1686, the English were involved in hostilities at Hooghly, from a quarrel in the bazar between some of the nabobs and three English soldiers, in which the latter were wounded. The garrison immediately beat to arms, and turned out a severe action ensued, in which the Nabob's troops were defeated, sixty being killed, and many more wounded; a battery of eleven guns was carried by the British, and all either spiked or destroyed. Captain Nicholson's fleet at the same time bombarded the town, and destroyed more than five hundred houses, besides a great many of the inhabitants killed and wounded. This was the first action fought by the English in Bengal, and although a very gallant one, and the enemy were perfectly routed, yet the settlement of Hooghly was obliged to be moved towards Calcutta, where, shortly afterwards, it was again attacked. The chief, Mr. Charnock, made a gallant defence,-not only re

pulsing repeated assaults of the Nabob's troops, but eventually storming the fort of Tauna. The Island of Injellee was also seized by the English, and strongly fortified; and the fine town of Balasore was completely burnt, with forty of the Mogul's fleet. Shortly afterwards, however, the Moguls took the factories of Cossimbazar and Patna, plundering every thing, and putting nearly every one of the English to death. During the absence of so large a detachment in Bengal, the Governor of Madras was in a state of great anxiety for the safety of Fort St. George, which was constantly threatened by Arungzebe's army.

During 1688-89, a large reinforcement of recruits arrived; about sixty were landed from the "Chandos" Indiaman, also large quantities of military stores ; the fort had been, besides, strengthened;-to all which causes the president and council attributed the backwardness of the enemy to attack them. The factory at Vizagapatam had not been so fortunate; one of Arungzebe's armies appeared before it and took it by surprise: every person belonging to the factory was killed.

In the end of 1689, Captain Nicholson's fleet appeared before Chittagong, and created a great alarm ; no troops were, however, landed, and little or nothing belonging to the enemy was destroyed.

In 1690-91, a company of European artillery, and a troop of horse, formed part of the garrison of Fort St. George, and were ordered to be increased

and regularly exercised. One of the three companies of infantry was, however, to be disbanded, and the men, if willing, entertained either in the artillery or horse, sent to the Bombay Regiment, or to Bencoolen. During the same year Fort St. David was established.

In 1691-92, the order regarding the increase of the artillery and horse was repeated, but the one regarding the disbanding the company of infantry countermanded: the infantry companies were, however, to be commanded by lieutenants only; the president and first of council were to be captains, but to draw no pay in time of peace; and the duty was to be performed by an aid-major or adjutant, who was to draw four shillings per diem as pay, and twenty shillings per mensem as maintenance, being the sum allowed for aid-majors in all the Company's other military stations. A troop of horse and a company of artillery, formed of the civil servants, were all ordered to be continued embodied. The country all about Madras had been for some time in a most unsettled state, and the settlement constantly threatened.

In 1693-94, orders were received from the home government, directing all goods to be sent home from Tonquin, Malacca, and Batavia, and to strengthen the fortifications of Madras and Fort St. David. Seventy recruits landed at Madras this year.

Pondicherry, which had been occupied by the