Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/396

388 did not amount to the expences of the army: part of the tributes were embezzled by Maphuze Khan, and part was likewise diminished by the presents which colonel Heron, with too much avidity, consented to receive from those who had accounts to settle with, the government. In the mean time Maphuze Khan, in concert with colonel Heron's interpreter, contrived every means to make the state of the province appear less advantageous than it really was; and then made an offer to take the farm of the Madura and Tinivelly countries together at the yearly rent of 1,500,000 rupees: this proposal was seconded, as usual, by the offer of a considerable present, which colonel Heron accepted, and gave him the investiture of the countries. Whilst these transactions passed to the southward, the Mysoreans remained encamped at Seringham, where the regent had been diligently employed in schemes to get possession of Tritchinopoly: his principal reliance for the accomplishment of this design, was on a bramin, who persuaded him that he had made a strong party in the city, and that he had seduced many of the garrison: the man even carried his imposture so far, that he mentioned the time when, as he pretended, the regent's party in the city desired he would make the attack. The regent, elated with this chimerical hope, could not refrain from revealing a secret, which gave him so much satisfaction, to M. de Saussay, the commander of the French troops, who immediately sent intelligence to the garrison: captain Kilpatrick returned him thanks for the information: but to shew the contempt in which he held the military character of the Mysoreans, he desired de Saussay to acquaint the regent, that if he would venture to make the attack, the gates of the city should be left open to receive him. Soon after the regent received news from Mysore, informing him, that a large army of Morattoes, under the command of Balagerow, who had levied a contribution from his country in the preceding year, was approaching again to the frontiers; and that Salabad-jing, at the head of his army, accompanied by the French troops under the command of Mr. Bussy, was likewise advancing to demand the Mogul's tribute, which had never been paid since the death of Nizam-al-muluck. Alarmed by this intelligence, he immediately prepared to return to his own country, and on the 14th of April, the great drum,