Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/221

Book III. them to Tritchinopoly. He therefore changed his rout, and marching across the country, came to the spot where Nazir-jing had been killed: here he found a rising town projected by the vanity of Mr. Dupleix to commemorate that detestable action, and called Dupleix-Fateabad, or the town of Dupleix's victory: it is said, that he was preparing a column, with a pompous inscription in the French, Malabar, Persic, and Indostan languages, which he intended to erect in the middle of the town, where he had already caused coins struck with symbols of the victory to be buried. The troops did not quit this place until they had razed to the ground all that was erected, after which they proceeded to Fort St. David. During the whole march they no where met a single squadron of the enemy's troops. The defeat at Covrepauk succeeding to their former disgraces, intirely broke their force as well as their spirits: their horse either disbanded, or took service with the governors in the provinces who still acknowledged Chunda-saheb; and the French troops and Sepoys were, recalled to Pondicherry, where Mr. Dupleix was so incensed against Raja-saheb, that he would not suffer him for several days to appear in his presence. Thus the English successes in the Carnatic recovered to Mahomed-ally an extent of country 30 miles in breadth and 60 in length, the annual revenues of which, including that of the famous pagoda at Tripetti, amounted to 400,000 pagodas.

Three days after their arrival at Fort St. David, the troops were ready to take the field again under the command of captain Clive, when, on the 15th of March, Major Lawrence arrived from England, and two days after put himself at the head of the detachment. It consisted of 400 Europeans and 1100 Sepoys, with eight field pieces, who escorting a large quantity of military stores, marched through the king of Tanjore's country towards Tritchinopoly. Here the Mysoreans and Morattoes were so much displeased with the precaution of captain Gingen, who constantly refused to attack the enemy's posts before he was joined by the expected reinforcement, that the Dalaway of Mysore, distressed by the great expences of his army, had more than once been on the point of returning to his own country: however, him the Nabob appeased, by making