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 reiice m vain warns Nazir Jung.

448 HISTORY OF INDIA. [Book III.

A.D. 1750. of the disaster, and, as asual when force failed, had recourse to diplomacy. It was known that there was considerable disaffection in Nazir Jung's camp. Several chiefs, who had pledged themselves for the honourable treatment of Muzzuffer Jung, were indignant at his captivity, and still more at the evasive answers given to themselves when they applied to be confirmed in their govern- ments. Dupleix, having obtained permission, after several rebuffs, to send an embassy to Nazir Jung's camp for the purpose of negotiating a peace, employed his deputies not only in ascertaining the extent of the defection, but in foment- ing it. Their proposals were purposely so framed as to protract the negotiation, which, though it ostensibly failed, gained all that he sought by it. He had secured a party who, from belonging ostensibly to Nazir Jung's camp, would do better service than if they had been ranged under French banners.

Major Law- Major Lawreucc, who had suspicions of the French deputies, endeavoured to put Nazir Jung on his guard, and obtained a personal interview for this pur- pose ; but as he could only communicate by an intei-preter, who feared to give the true meaning of his words, the warning was given in vain. The major then endeavoured, along with the deputies who accompanied him, to obtain a con- firmation of a grant of territory near Madras, which Mahomed Ali, as nabob, had made to the Company in return for the services of their troops. After much prevarication compliance was j^romised, provided he wovJd accom2)any the camp to Arcot, to which the soubahdar was eager to proceed, not for any stra- tigetical purpose, but to indulge his taste for licentioas pleasures. Disgusted at all he saw. Major Lawrence refused; and after speaking his mind fi-eely, returned with his troops to Fort St. David.

Successes of Leaving Nazir Jung^ to his deffradino^ pleasm-es at Ai-cot, we must now

the Frencli.

follow the proceedings of the French, who, having recovered from their conster- nation, not only began to regain theii* lost ground, but were emboldened to make new conquests. In order to avenge an attack which had been made by Nazir Jung's orders on their factory at Masulipatam, situated at the mouths of the Kistna, a detachment of 200 Europeans and 300 sepoys, with several pieces of battering cannon, were embarked at Pondicherry, in two large sliips, in the beginning of July, 1750, and landing in the night, took the city by surpi'ise with almost no loss. It was immediately put in a position of defence, and reserved to become the nucleus of other conquests which were ah-eady meditated in the same quarter. Their next conquest, if not so important in itself, did more to redeem the credit of their arms. About fifteen miles east of Fort St. David stood the town of Trivadi, with a pagoda so strongly fortified as to serve as its citadel. It seemed to the French a desirable possession, both from its proximity to tiie British territory, and as a station which might be turned to good account in a southern campaign. It was taken without resistance, and garrisoned with only fifty Europeans and 100 sepoys. Mahomed Ali, to whom it previously belonged, justly inferring that the capture had been made