Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/324

316 now sold at sixteen; and at this rate a stock was laid in sufficient to supply the garrison for six months at full allowance. Captain Dalton seeing this object of the general sollicitude provided for, and the city in all other respects out of danger, quitted the command of Tritchinopoly, and some time after returned to Europe.

The approach of the rainy monsoon in the middle of October made it necessary to carry the troops into cantonment: the city itself would certainly have afforded them the best shelter: but the stock of provisions laid up for the use of the garrison would soon have been consumed by the addition of such a number of mouths: and as little danger was to be apprehended from any attempts which the enemy might make during the absence of the army, provided the garrison were commonly vigilant, major Lawrence preferred to remove to Coiladdy, on the frontiers of Tanjore, from whence the wants of the army might constantly be supplied, without the necessity of fatiguing the troops by employing them to escort convoys. Four hundred Sepoys and the sick of the battalion, with 150 Europeans, were sent into Tritchinopoly, to augment the garrison; a detachment was left to defend Elimiserum; and the rest of the English troops marched on the 23d of October to their winter quarters: they were accompanied by the Nabob, with the few troops he commanded; but the Tanjorines quitted them, and proceeded to their capital, in order to be present at the celebration of a great festival which falls out at this time of the year. It was with great reluctance that major Lawrence saw them depart, judging from experience, that nothing but the last necessity would induce the king to send them back, notwithstanding that he promised, with much seeming complacence, that they should take the field, and rejoin the Nabob, as soon as the monsoon was past. During these transactions to the south of the Coleroon, the English arms had likewise gained some successes in the Carnatic. The retreat of Morari-row from before Trinomalee increased the courage of the garrison, who signalized themselves so much by frequent and vigorous sallies that the presidency of Madrass determined to send a reinforcement to their assistance; and 500 Sepoys detached from the garrison of Arcot, arrived in the middle of September in sight of the place: but finding all the avenues blockaded they concerted