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

350 impossible. Respect to Salabadjing had withheld Mr. Bussy from attacking Nizamally in his camp, which his force would have easily beaten up and dispersed.

The next day Salabadjing returned, and immediately held a general council of his principal officers, at which Mr. Bussy was likewise present: after many opinions all insensibly joined in the necessity of punishing Nizamally; and this led to a general resolution of marching directly with the whole army to Brampour. Mr. Bussy, who knew the characters and connexions of those who composed the council, suspected the sincerity of several in this advice, foreseeing that nothing would render him more unpopular in the Decan than the imputation of engaging the Soubah in a war with his brother, to avenge an offence more particularly committed against himself; he had, moreover, at this time received intelligence from Pondicherry that Mr. Lally was daily expected to arrive there, whose orders might not be consonant to the difficulties or importance of his own situation: he therefore endeavoured to revoke the resolution; but Salabadjing himself insisted, and rested the necessity on the assertion of his own authority. The whole army was in motion the next morning, and advanced with diligence for three days towards Brampour, during which Mr. Bussy convinced Salabadjing, naturally averse to endeavour, of the inutility of the pursuit, since it was evident that Nizamally with the insufficient force he commanded would be continually removing out of his reach. The army having halted a day began their march back, thinking that they were returning to Aurungabad; but it was the intention of Mr. Bussy to lead them by degrees to Golcondah; and in this view he suggested the expediency of moving towards the frontiers of Berar, in order to suppress any commotions which might be attempted in that province by the adherents of Nizamally. The army thus proceeded to the south, leaving the city of Aurungabad at a distance to the west: but, halting continually to support the regulations of the government, advanced so slowly, that they did not reach the banks of the Gunga, which passeth about midway between Golcondah and Aurungabad, until the 11th of June, in which interval Mr, Conflans arrived with