Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/348

342 the next day he went to Balagerow, who met him half-way in a tent pitched on purpose, and then conducted him to his camp, where they had a long conference. Shanavaze Khan had already asked permission to exculpate himself in person; but Mr. Bussy commissioned Hyderjung his principal agent to receive his communications, in order, if possible, to discover his real practices or intentions. The father of Hyderjung was governor of Masulipatam when the French factory in that city was confiscated in 1750 by the orders of Nazirjing, of which he evaded the rigour; and afterwards, when the city itself was surprized by the armament sent from Pondicherry by Mr. Dupleix, is supposed to have connived at their success. With these pretensions, his son came, and tendered his service to Mr. Bussy at Golcondah on his first arrival there with Salabadjing from the Carnatic, when Hyderjung received a command in the French Sepoys, in which he distinguished himself; but still more by his sagacity and address, until by degrees he became the principal confident of Mr. Bussy, who, to give him weight and dignity, obtained for him high titles from Salabadjing, and even a patent of nobility from Delhi. From this time, his retinue and household were established with sumptuousness; and he was allowed to keep a constant court or durbar in order to extend his informations; and Jaghires with other emoluments, sufficient not only to defray his expences, but to establish his fortune, were likewise conferred on him, as well by Salabadjing as Mr. Bussy: his penetration soon perceived that Shanavaze Khan, naturally timid, was frightened by the arrival of the French army; but that he had been the secret spring of all the mischief, in which he had engaged, from a persuasion that the operations of the war declared between the two European nations would have confined Mr. Bussy to the protection of the ceded provinces until its conclusion; before which he had no doubt of establishing his own arrangements in the government of the Decan, too firmly to be shaken. But, as more danger in the present circumstances was to be apprehended from the more audacious character of Nizamally, who, besides the respect which was paid to his birth, had acquired some reputation