Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/253

Book IV. The usual ceremonies being over, the Morattoe with great deliberation and propriety enumerated the many obligations which the Nabob owed to the regent. He painted in lively colours the distressful state of his affairs, when the regent generously undertook his cause; at which time, although nominal lord of a country extending from the river Pennar to Cape Comerin, he really possessed no more of this great dominion than the ground inclosed by the walls of Tritchinopoly, where he was closely besieged by a much superior and implacable enemy. He appealed to the Nabob for the truth of what he asserted, and then demanded in form the delivery of the city and territory of Tritchinopoly, in consequence of the solemn agreement he had made with the Mysorean, which he produced signed and sealed. The Nabob, who expected this harrangue, acknowledged the favours he had received, and said, that he was resolved to fulfil his engagements: but that being at this time in possession of no other considerable fortified town, it was impossible to remove his family, which was very large, until he had, by reducing the Arcot province got a place proper for their reception: he therefore demanded a respite of two months, at the expiration of which he promised to send orders to his brother-in-law to deliver up the city. The Morattoe highly commended this resolution; and after some other vague discourse, he signified an inclination to speak to him in private, and desired the commissaries to withdraw. As soon as they and the rest of the audience, excepting captain Dalton, were retired, changing his countenance from the solemnity of a negociator to the smile of a courtier, he told the Nabob, that he believed him endowed with too much sense to mind what he had said before those two stupid fellows, meaning the commissaries: you must likewise, said he, think that I have too much discernment to believe you have any intention of fulfilling the promise you have now made. How could you answer to the Great Mogul the giving up so considerable a part of his dominion to such insignificant people: it would be the highest absurdity to think of it. These you may be assured are my real sentiments, whatever my private interest may induce me to say to the contrary in public. The Nabob Was not a little delighted to find him in this