Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/247

Book III. his flags of truce would be fired upon; and if the batteries once began to play, it was declared that every man in the pagoda should be put to the sword.

He had already been informd of the fate of his ally, and had heard a rumour of the defeat at Vol-condah, but this he did not entirely give credit to; when convinced of it by the report of one of his own officers who had seen Mr. D'Auteuil in the English camp, he desired a personal conference with major Lawrence, which, after several messages, was agreed to be held the next day.

He began, by asserting that the peace which existed between the two crowns, entitled him to expect from the English every mark of consideration for the French troops, since they were now left unconnected with any powers contending in the Carnatic, by the dispersion of Chunda-saheb's army, and the imprisonment of its leader; he therefore expected that the English would, instead of acting as enemies, contribute as allies to facilitate the retreat of his army into the French settlements. Major Lawrence replied, that he acted in the conference only as the interpreter of the Nabob's intentions, with whom the English were in close alliance; and as a justification of the Nabob's conduct, produced a letter in which Mr. Dupleix had declared that he would never cease to pursue him whilst a single Frenchman remained in India.

After several other altercations, which produced little change in the terms first proposed, the capitulation was signed. It was agreed that the pagoda of Jumbakistna should be delivered up, with all the guns, stores, and ammunition; that the officers should give their parole not to serve against the Nabob or his allies; that the private men of the battalion, Europeans, Coffrees and Topasses, should remain prisoners; and that the deserters should be pardoned.

The troops with captain Clive were then ordered to rejoin the major's division, and the next morning, before break of day, captain Dalton marched with 250 chosen men, who halted, beating their drums at an abandoned out-post within pistol-shot of the walls of Jumbakistna, whilst the major remained not far off with the rest of the troops' drawn up ready to prevent the effect of any treachery;