Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/356

348 king from concluding the treaty with the Mysoreans, but did not induce him to send his troops to Tritchinopoly. In these circumstances, which the enemy's generals, if indued with common sagacity or activity, might soon have rendered desperate, it was discovered that the army had for some time been exposed to the danger of treachery from a person in whom, by the nature of his office, major Lawrence had been obliged to repose the utmost confidence. One day in the beginning of April, a Bramin informed the servant of captain Kilpatrick, that as he was washing himself that morning at the river side, some of the enemy's Colleries crossed the river, and gave a parcel to some Colleries belonging to the English camp, whom he heard, although indistinctly, saying something about a letter, and Mahomed Issoof the commander of the Sepoys; he added, that he knew the men who had taken the parcel, and desired assistance to seize them. The Colleries were immediately taken up, and one of them, without hesitation, delivered a woollen parcel, containing a letter directed to Mahomed Issoof, which captain Kilpatrick immediately carried to the major, in whose presence it was opened, and interpreted by Poniapah, the principal linguist. It was from the regent of Mysore, sealed with his seal of signature, and on the back was stamped the print of a hand, a form equivalent with the Mysoreans to an oath. The letter desired Mahomed Issoof, and another officer of Sepoys, to meet, according to their promise, some persons who were to be deputed by the regent, with powers to adjust the time and manner of betraying the city of Tritchinopoly; in reward for which service the regent promised, if the plot succeeded, to give Mahomed Issoof a sum of money equal to 160,000 pounds sterling, a considerable command in his army, with some lands; he agreed likewise to reward, in the manner that Mahomed Issoof should recommend, such friends as he might employ in the enterprize. On this Mahomed Issoof, the other officer of Sepoys mentioned in the letter, the Bramin who gave the information, and the Colleries he had accused, were imprisoned; and captain Kilpatrick, with captain Caillaud, were appointed to examine them. The Bramin was a writer to the commissary of the army, and had lately been confined upon a