Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/631

 Chap. XI. j CAPTURE OF FOirr ST. DAVID. Ji^V

feelings and prejudices of the natives, Lally Issued a general order, compelling a.d. irss. all, without distinction of rank or caste, to supply the want of bullocks and other beasts of burden, by becoming themselves drawers and carriers. When this order was issued, the governor and council, aware of the general ferment which it would produce, endeavoured to prevent the execution, but Lally, lidiciding their fears, and even impugning their motives, persisted in his own reckless coiu".se. He was consequently regarded with abhorrence by the native population, who took their revenge by deserting on every opportunity, and rendering no service which they could possibly avoid.

VVliile Lally was thus blundering and raising up obstacles to his own success, indecisive the fate of his whole armament was hanging in a trembling balance. The gagemeut British squadron, after reaching the north extremity of Ceylon, steered again for the coast of India, and arrived oif Negapatam on the very day when the French squacbon was entering the road of Fort St. Daad. Continuing its course northward along the shore, it no .sooner came in .sight of the enemy than Admiral Pococke threw out the signal for chase. Count d'Ach^ did not decline the challenge thus thrown out to him ; and when come up with, about noon of the 29th, was waiting, with his ships in line of battle. His .squadron, diminished by a ship and a frigate which had gone with Lally to Pondicherry, still amoimted to nine sail. The British squadron consisted of only seven sail. The engagement proved indecisive. After it had la.sted an hour and a half tlie French sheered off, apparently not for flight, but to reassemble their ships, which had become scattered, and resume the action. The British, very much damaged in their rigging, were unable and perhaps had no great inclination to follow. The combatants thus parted by a kind of nuitual consent. The loss of the French during the action was the more severe, and afterwards it was considei'ably increased, one of their ships, the Bien Aime, of fifty- eight gims, having run ashore, in consequence of cutting her cable, and become a total wreck.

It was six days after the action before Count d'Ach(^ reached Pondicherry. siege and The troops he had with him were immediately landed and marched off to Fort tortst. St. David. As the difHculty of land ti-ansport had been greatly increased by Lally's rash and improvident proceedings, the artillery and ammunition were sent by sea, and put ashore near the mouth of the Penaar. Everything being now provided for the siege, operations commenced on the 14th of May, by the erection of a battery in the vicinity of Cuddalore, and were continued with con- siderable vigour. The garrison consisted of 619 Europeans, of whom 280 were effective, and 2.50 seamen taken from two frigates which had been run ashore when the French squadron first made its appearance, and of 1 GOO -sepoy-s, lascars, and topasses. Such a force placed within a fortification which, by means of additions and improvements, had been rendered so complete that want of space was its only serious defect, should have been able to make a protracted defence. It was not so. Instead of acting on a kind of regular plan, the commander of

David.