Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/662

638 with ammunition, whilst serving for the French; who, after the Carnatic should be cleared, were to assist him in conquering the southern countries of Madura and Tinivelly. Besides the number already stipulated, Hyder Ally engaged to supply 1000 horse and 2000 Sepoys more: in consideration of which, half the countries which should be recovered in the Carnatic, were to be assigned to his government, excepting the French company's domains of Villenore, Valdore, Bahoor, and Alamparvah: the territory of Vellore, as belonging to Mortizally, their ally, and the districts dependant on Trinomalee, having been granted in appanage to Rajahsaheb, the son of Chundasaheb, were likewise exempted; and whatsoever portion of the Carnatic should fall to the Mysoreans, was to be delivered back to the French, in proportion to the progress of the acquisitions in the southern countries."

The negotiation was conducted with so much secrecy, that no surmises of it were obtained by the English until the 24th of May, just as their late successes seemed to have left nothing on the land, which could interrupt the prosecution of their intention to blockade Pondicherry; for which, preparations were making at Madrass, when Colonel Coote received intelligence of this unexpected alliance by a letter from one of his correspondents in Pondicherry, signifying, that Mr. Lally was preparing a considerable detachment, to march and join Hyder Ally at Thiagar. Hyder it was known was not there, nor was there any probability that his other interest would permit him to leave Seringapatam: nor were any dispositions observed in the enemy's encampment, which signified such a detachment as was said to be going. On the 30th, Colonel Coote went out to reconnoitre them himself, accompanied as usual by the black horse and Sepoys. The enemy cannonaded hotly, and killed some of the horsemen; but Assaf beg, with two or three squadrons, broke in upon their Sepoys, and killed 14 of them. Nothing appeared for several days after to confirm the intelligence; and Colonel Coote began to regard it as a rumour thrown out by Mr. Lally himself, to conceal some other design, when, on the 7th of June, he received a confirmation of it from