Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/153

Book II. the means of carrying on a correspondence with the discontented Nabobs of Cudapa, Canoul, and Savanore.

Suspicions were entertained of the clandestine conduct of the French deputies, and major Lawrence was informed, that some design was carrying on in the camp against the Soubah, in which Shanavaze Khan, the prime minister, was the principal agent. The latter part of this report was not true, and the first could not be proved: however, the major, at an audience, endeavoured to acquaint Nazir-jing with what he had heard, but his interpreter had not courage to make a declaration, which would probably have cost him his life, and misrepresented what he was ordered to say. There was no other method of conveying this intelligence; for the state maintained by Nazir-jing, as Soubah, suffered no letters to be directly addressed to him, and no one was admitted to a private conference but his prime minister, who was involved in the accusation, or his domestics, who, as in all courts, were dependants on the minister.

On the return of the deputies, Chunda-saheb began to levy troops, and Mr. Dupleix thought it necessary to re-establish the reputation of the French arms by some enterprize, which might convince the allies he had gained in Nazir-jing's camp, that he was both prepared and determined to continue the war. Mr. d'Auteuil, who had taken the command again, marched before day, and attacked by surprize one of the quarters of the camp, into which the troops penetrated a mile, firing at fugitives: for, as it is the custom in an Indian army to make the great meal at night, and after it to smoke opium, and other soporiferous drugs, the whole camp towards morning is generally in so deep and heavy a sleep, that a few resolute and disciplined men may beat up thousands, before they recover alertness sufficient to make any vigorous resistance.

In the mean time Major Lawrence with the battalion remained in the camp, and with the other deputies sollicited Nazir-jing to confirm the grant, which Mahomed-ally, now esteemed Nabob of Arcot, had made to the East-India company of a territory near Madrass, in return for the assistance of their troops. He had often promised to comply with this request; but his minister Shanavaze Khan regarded