Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/252

244 The Nabob finding dissimulation no longer of any service, confessed the truth when major Lawrence demanded an explanation of it; protesting that his extreme distress alone had extorted a promise from him, which the Mysorean himself might very well know was totally out of his power to perform. Tritchinopoly, he said, was the Great Mogul's, and himself only a viceroy, appointed to govern it during the pleasure of that great prince: that the resignng of this important place to the government of an Indian king, would involve both himself and the English in continual wars with the whole Mogul empire. In short, firmly resolved at all events not to part with the place, he proposed to amuse the regent with a further promise of delivering it up within two months; in which time he hoped, by collecting the large arrears due from the Arcot province, to repay the expences which the Mysoreans had incurred by assisting him. As a palliative for the present, he meant to give up the fort of Madura with its dependencies, which include a very large district. These terms he thought a full and ample recompence for all that the regent had done for him, more especially as the reduction of Chunda-saheb's power had been an essential advantage to the interests of the Mysoreans as well as to his own. Major Lawrence, whose power was confined to the operations of the field, waited for instructions from the presidency, who received at the same time applications from both parties, setting forth, as usual, the subject in a very different manner. They prudently determined not to interfere in the dispute, unless violence should be used against the Nabob; and professing great friendship to the Mysorean, they strenuously recommended to both parties an amicable adjustment of their differences.

But these differences continued with great warmth; and in the long debate on this subject, Morari-row conducted himself with so much seeming impartiality, that he was chosen, with equal confidence on both sides, to be the mediator between them; and the time being fixed for the conference, he came one evening into the city in great state, accompanied by two commissaries deputed by the regent: they proceeded to the Nabob's palace, where captain Dalton, as commander of the English garrison, was present.