Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/305

Book IV. The late supplies of provisions being entirely reserved for the use of the garrison, the inhabitants were left to provide for themselves, and rice was now sold in the market for half a crown the measure, about an English quart, which was fifteen times dearer than the common price; and fire-wood was scarcely to be procured at any rate, This scarcity soon obliged them to quit their habitations, and in less than a month this spacious city, which had formerly contained 400,000 persons, was left almost desolate; for the military people who remained in it, soldiers and artificers of all denominations, did not exceed 2000 men; of these the Nabob's Peons, as being capable of no other service than to give an alarm, were posted between the outward and inward wall; their number was about 1000: the Sepoys, 600, were stationed round the ramparts, and the Europeans about 200, were appointed, some to guard the gates, whilst the rest bay on their arms every night, in readiness to march to any quarter where the alarm might be given.

Vigilance supplied as much as possible the defect of numbers; nevertheless it was visible that the city, thus slenderly garrisoned, would run great risque if the enemy attempted a vigorous assault by night; nor were they entirely without such intentions; for the French prepared scaling ladders, and often sent parties to sound the depth of the ditch; but these were always discovered and beaten off before they could accomplish their design. In the mean time Mr. Dupleix strenuously importuned Mr. Brenier, who had succeeded Mr. Astruc in the command, to attempt an escalade at all events, and suggested to him a method of getting the information he wanted by sending one De Cattans an intelligent officer, as a deserter, into the town: the man was promised the command of a company, and thirty thousand rupees; for which he not only undertook to find out the proper spot where they should place their scaling ladders, but also to maintain a correspondence with the French prisoners, who were to break loose, and seize the arms of the guard, and attack the quarters of the English whilst the assault was made on the walls. He was admitted into the city, and said, that he came to offer his service to the English, being disgusted by an unjust censure, which had been cast on his conduct in the late battle at the golden rock: an over-strained affectation