Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/154

146 such a cession as inconsistent with the majesty of the Mogul empire, and prevented the phirmaund, or patent, from being issued from his office. Wearied with prevarication, Major Lawrence insisted on a peremptory answer, on which he was assured that he should he immediately satisfied, provided he would march with the battalion to Arcot, where Nazir-jing had taken the resolution of going with his whole army. He did not think it prudent to comply with this proposal, lest the French and Chunda-saheb should take advantage of his absence and invade the English territory. He therefore endeavoured to divert the Soubah from this purpose, by representing that it would give the enemy an opportunity of recruiting their forces, and recommencing hostilities; whereas by remaining near Pondicherry, he might, by cutting off their communications with the country, reduce them to such distresses as would oblige them to accept of peace on his own terms. This reasoning producing no effect, the major returned with the battalion to Fort St. David, and in the latter end of April Nazir-jing broke up his camp at Valdore, and marched to Arcot.

From hence he sent orders to seize the houses and effects, which the French company had in the city of Masulipatnam, and at Yanam, a weaving town about 35 miles farther north. His officers proceeded without violence, plundered nothing, and sealed up what they took possession of. The detriment sustained was not considerable; but Mr. Dupleix, apprised of the defenceless condition of Masulipatnam, determined to revenge it ten-fold, by attacking this city, which he had for some months considered as an acquisition so necessary to his future views, that he had prevailed on Murzafa-jing upon his first arrival at Pondicherry to promise the cession of it to the French company. Masulipatnam is situated at the mouth of the river Kristna, which bounds the coast of Coromandel, and the ancient Carnatic to the north: it is the sea-port of Gol-condah and the western countries in that part of the peninsula, with which it has communication by the river Kristna, and by several high roads: it was formerly the greatest mart, and one of the most opulent and populous cities of Indostan; insomuch that several modern authors, first blundering in the acceptation and orthography of the termination Patnam, which