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242 independent establishment, would not return from Chitore, but levied troops, and corresponded with the Morratoes.

On the first of October, Mr. Soupires encamped the rest of the Lorrain regiment at Valdoor, as a body of observation ready either to intercept any succours which might be sent from Fort St. David, or to march to the Paliar, if the main body of the English force at Madrass should take the field to interrupt the siege of Chittapet. The kellidar, on the first motion of the French troops, saw his danger, and asked in pressing, but manly terms, the assistance of the presidency. It was then almost too late, for the English had no force at hand, sufficient to make their way through the first division which had set down before his fort; nevertheless stratagem and activity might have conducted some. Unfortunately the Nabob Mahomedally bore a deep grudge against the kellidar, for offences which power rarely pardons. He had received his appointment from Murzafajing, which had been confirmed by Nazirjing, and by his successor, the present Subah, on the conditions of the ancient governors of forts in Indostan, appointed by the Mogul to restrain instead of strengthening the hands of the Nabob, against whom the kellidar is obliged, in many instaces, to shut his gates. Nizar Mahomed never quitted this idea of his own dignity, keeping his court, constituting officers and levying troops, without asking the Nabob's consent or approbation; and some months before aggravated his offence by receiving a commission from Salabadjing, appointing him, in addition to his own, and with equal privileges, governor of the neighbouring fort of Polore, from which his districts had been often molested. The patents were ushered into Chittapet with much ceremony, and proclaimed to the garrison and vassals with ostentation, immediately after which the kellidar took the field with the greatest part of his force and marched against Polore. The Nabob, stung and exasperated, reproached the presidency with the proceedings of their ally, whom, having formerly served in Bengal under the Nabob Allaverdy, he accused of a strict connexion with his successor Surajahdowlah, from whom he alleged the kellidar had lately received a large sum of money, to be employed in conjunction with the French at Pondicherry,