Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/260

252 the Mogul's dominions: its inhabitants, when the Soubah is there, are computed at a million and a half of souls. The French had a convenient quarter assigned them, to which Mr. Bussy strictly obliged the troops to confine themselves, lest the disparity of manners should create broils and tumults which might end fatally.


 * In the month of August, Salabat-jing exhibited another ceremony to amuse the people, receiving a delegate from Delhi, who brought, as was pretended, the Serpaw or vest, with the sword, and other symbols of sovereignty, which the Great Mogul sends to his viceroys, on appointment. But by this time, Balagerow appeared again at the head of 40,000 men, ravaging the neighbouring countries. Battles and negociations succeeded one another alternately during the rest of the year, and until the end of May in the next, without producing either a decisive victory, or a definitive treaty. The Morattoes would in more than one action have been successful had not the French battalion, and their field pieces, repulsed their onsets. These services gave Mr. Bussy supreme influence in the councils of his ally, which, on hearing of the decline of Chunda-saheb's affairs at Tritchinopoly, he employed to obtain a commission, appointing Mr. Dupleix Nabob of the Carnatic, notwithstanding that Chunda-saheb was still alive; this, with several other pompous patents, was sent to Pondicherry, and Salabat-jing promised they should soon be followed by an ambassador from the Great Mogul.

Mr. Dupleix published these mandates and marks of favour to awe the Carnatic, astonished and rendered wavering by the catastrophe of Chunda-saheb: nor were these his only resources. He had been early apprized of the discontent of the Mysoreans at Tritchinopoly, and was already deeply engaged in fomenting their defection. The annual ships from France arriving at the time Mr. Law surrendered brought a large reinforcement to Pondicherry, which he increased, by taking the sailors, and sending Lascars on board to navigate the ships to China. Thus armed, and relying on no vain expectations, the disasters at Seringham were so far from inducing him to make any proposals of accommodation either to the English or the Nabob, that he immediately discovered his intentions of continuing the war, by