Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/355

Book V. Clive, a little before the battle of Covrepauk: he was a brave and resolute man, but cool and wary in action, and capable of stratagem: he constantly procured intelligence of the enemy's motions, and having a perfect knowledge of the country, planned the marches of the convoys so well, that by constantly changing the roads, and the times of bringing the provisions out of the woods, not one of them was intercepted for three months. The enemy, however, getting intelligence that the magazines were kept at Killanore, sent, in the end of March, a party to attack that place; but they were repulsed by the Sepoys stationed there. About the same time the regent detached 1000 horse, and 1000 Sepoys, with some pieces of cannon, to his own country, which the Morattoe Balagerow had entered, and was plundering: but soon after he received a reinforcement of 2000 Morattoes, under the command of Morari-row's brother, which more than compensated the draught he had made from his army: even this reinforcement did not tempt the enemy to quit the island, and encamp on the plain, although it was evident that this measure would inevitably oblige the English either to retire or bring on a general action. In the mean time the English camp, although not distressed for provisions, had little hopes of receiving any reinforcements to enable them to stand their ground if the enemy should take this step; for the detachment at Devi Cottah could not prudently move until they were joined by Maphuze Khan, who cavilling with his brother about the pay of his troops, had got no farther than Conjeveram, and shewed no inclination to proceed from thence before his demands were satisfied. Major Lawrence therefore, as the only resource, represented to the presidency the necessity of endeavouring to recover the king of Tanjore to the Nabob's interest, and Mr. Palk, who had during his former residence at Tanjore, made himself acceptable to the king, was sent thither again in the middle of April. He now found the king difficult of access, and more than ever under the influence of his minister Succo-gee, who was carrying on a treaty with the Mysoreans, and had prevailed on his master to imprison Monac-gee, under pretence that he had not accounted regularly for the monies which had been issued for the expences of the army. The representations made by Mr. Palk, prevented the