Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/294

286 Indians, never influenced by the principle of gratitude themselves, do not expect to meet with it in others; and accustomed, after they have gained their ends, to pay no regard to the promises they have made, they gave little credit to major Lawrence when he assured them that he would never remove from Tritchinopoly, before he had provided for the safety of their countries. Nor did the Mysorean neglect to employ the resource of money to alienate these precarious allies: in Tondiman's country he bribed the chiefs and officers of such districts as lay convenient for furnishing provisions; and at Tanjore gained over to his interest the prime minister Succojee, who intirely ruled the King his master; however the King, not wholly unsollicitous of the consequences, if the English fortune should change again, palliated his refusal with specious pretexts, and wrote to the presidency that the enemy's detachments had already done mischief to the amount of 100,000 pounds in his country, where the harvest was now coming on, but that as soon as it was gathered he would not fail to give them all the assistance in his power: this pretended mischief was no more than what all other parts of the country had suffered from the Morattoes, who in their predatory excursions made no distinction between the territories of friends and foes.

Thus, notwithstanding no prudent measure was neglected, the supplies received were so far from being sufficient to stock the magazines, that it was with difficulty, enough was procured for the immediate consumption of the army and Garrison. In this situation major Lawrence was obliged to remain for five weeks, without having an opportunity of acting against the enemy, who determined not to expose themselves, until they were reinforced from the sea coast.

The French troops in this part of the country quitted their entrenchments on the same day that the major marched from Fort St. David, and a detachment of 200 Europeans, with 300 Sepoys, attacked the village of Trivadi; but captain Chace, the commanding officer, sallying from the fort, repulsed them; some days after they renewed the attack, and were again repulsed by a detachment of 60 Europeans, and 300 Sepoys; who, elated with their success, quitted the