Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/357

Book IX his commission to act as second in the command of the French army and brought a letter from Mr. Lally to Mr. Bussy, dated the 10th of May, which announced, although it did not order, his recall. The passage of the Gunga would decide the continuance of the march to Golcondah, of which the army still remained uncertain; but by this time Mr. Bussy had gained the concurrence of Bassaulet Jung by promising him the government of Hydrabad, which had been intended for his brother Nizamally, together with the office of Duan to the soubahship: his approbation silenced the discontent of many others, and the army shewed no aversion to go on: and as it was daily expected that the river would begin to rise, Mr. Bussy making use of this pretence, arranged, that the tents, family, and domestic retinue of Salabadjing, should pass the first, and then immediately followed himself with the whole body of the French troops, in the midst of whom he ordered the tents of Salabadjing to be pitched. Having thus secured possession of this important pledge, he gave out his intentions, which he had hitherto concealed, of not advancing any farther towards Golcondah, before he was joined by the troops he had left to garrison the fortress of Doltabad; they were 150 Europeans, and 400 Sepoys, to whom Mr. Bussy, on his return from the pursuit of Nizamally, had sent orders to come away, leaving the fortress to an officer nominated by Salabadjing, and to join him where he now was, on the Gunga; his dread of some evil chance befalling them, if left far behind, was the cause of this precaution; they were already on the way, marching expeditiously, and a few days after arrived safe at the camp; which then moved forward, and the whole passed the river just before the rains set in, which, as usual, fell and continued with great violence, and rendered the transport of the artillery so difficult, that the army did not arrive at Hydrabad until the 15th of July; on which day Mr. Bussy received a letter written by Mr. Lally on the 13th of June, ordering him to repair to Pondicherry without delay, with all the troops which could be spared from the defence of Masulipatam and the northern provinces, and to take up Mr. Moracin in the way, who had received the same orders. In this letter no respect was preserved to the convenience or incli-