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104 without money, and without the means of raising any. The pay of the troops was several weeks in arrear; the supply of food was scanty and uncertain; the Sepoys deserted in great numbers: some of the European troops threatened to follow their example, while the feelings of the officers towards their commander were almost avowedly those of disaffection and hostility.

Under these circumstances, Lally contemplated raising the siege of Madras; and his proceedings were accelerated by the opportune arrival, on the 16th of February, of a