Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/268

260 English Sepoys; but finding that captain Dalton had reinforced this post, he moved again, and encamped near Seringham.

The mutual distrust increased daily, although the outward appearance of friendship subsisted; for the regent sent every day one of his principal officers to enquire after captain Dalton's health, in order to have an opportunity of discovering what he was doing. When the two months stipulated for the delivery of the city were expired, he sent four of his principal officers in form to demand the surrender of it; but Kiroodin Khan, a man haughty and insolent, when no danger was near, flew out into a passion, and reproaching the commissaries with the treacherous and clandestine practices of their prince, produced the agreement with captain Poverio, signed and sealed, and then told them plainly, that they had no city to expect, but should be paid the money which the regent had disbursed, as soon as the Nabob's finances were in a better condition.

The regent pretended to be much offended with this answer; however, after some consideration, he sent his minister to lay the accounts before the Nabob, declaring that he was willing to relinquish his claim to Tritchinopoly, provided the money was immediately paid. This appearance of moderation was only intended to lessen the Nabob's character with the publick, and to justify the measures he was determined to take himself; for he was too well acquainted with his circumstances, to imagine him able to pay so large a sum, which, by the accounts he produced, amounted to 8,500,000 rupees.

There now remained little hopes of reconciling the difference, which Mr. Dupleix had from the beginning diligently inflamed: knowing that it was the interest of the Morattoes to protract a war, he addressed himself particularly to Morari-row, who continually received presents and letters from him, as also from his wife. In these letters the English were represented as a plodding mercantile people, unacquainted with the art of war, and not fit to appear in the field, opposed to a nation of so martial a genius as the French; and the success at Seringham was totally ascribed to the valour and activity of the Morattoe cavalry.