Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/200

192 On the 24th of October the enemy opened their battery to the south-west: the part of the wall against which they directed their fire was in a very ruinous condition, but it had the advantage of being much less exposed than any other to the fire from the houses. The garrison therefore kept up a constant fire of musketry against the battery, and several times drove the enemy out of it, but the breach notwithstanding increased every day. The retreat of lieutenant Innis left the garrison little hopes of succour from the settlements; but at this time their spirits were raised by the hopes of other resources. A body of 6000 Morattoes, under the command of Morari-row, had lain for some time encamped at the foot of the western mountains, about 30 miles from Arcot: they had been lined to assist Mahomed-ally by the king of Mysore; but the retreat of the English, and the Nabob's troops to Tritchinopoly, had been represented in the neighbouring countries so much to their prejudice, that the Nabob's affairs were thought to be desperate, and his allies were suspected of having little intention to support him; and from this persuasion the Morattoes remained inactive. Captain Clive had found means to send a messenger to inform them of his situation, and to request their approach to his relief; the messenger returning safely to the fort, brought a letter from Morari-row, in which he said that he would not delay a moment to send a detachment of his troops to the assistance of such brave men as the defenders of Arcot, whose behaviour had now first convinced him that the English could fight.

Raja-saheb receiving intelligence of their intentions, sent a flag of truce on the 30th of October, with proposals for the surrender of the fort. He offered honourable terms to the garrison, and a large sum of money to captain Clive; and if his offers were not accepted, he threatened to storm the fort immediately, and put every man to the sword.

Captain Clive, in his answer, reproached the badness of Chunda-saheb's cause, treated Raja-saheb's offers of money with contempt; and said, that he had too good an opinion of his prudence to believe that he would attempt to storm, until he had got better soldiers than the rabble of which his army was composed. As soon as the messenger was dispatched, the flag of truce was pulled down; but the enemy not