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106 Europeans, two thousand one hundred native troops, six field-pieces, a battering train of six twenty-four pounders, a howitzer, and an eight-inch mortar. The expedition proceeded by sea, and, having disembarked at Vizagapatam, joined the army of Anunderauze, which lay at a short distance from that place. A treaty was concluded with the Rajah, by which it was stipulated that all plunder should be equally divided; that all the countries that might be conquered should be delivered to the Rajah, with the exception of the seaports and towns at the mouths of the rivers, which, with the revenues of the districts annexed to them, were to belong to the Company; and, finally, that the Rajah should supply fifty thousand rupees a month for the expenses of the army, and six thousand for the private expenses of the officers.

The united forces now marched against the French under Monsieur Conflans, and a battle took place at Peddapore, in which the French, being totally defeated, abandoned their camp to the victors, with many pieces of cannon, a large quantity of ammunition, and a thousand draught bullocks. The remnant of the French troops took shelter in Masulipatam, whither they were immediately pursued by the English commander, who arrived in sight of that important place on the 6th of March, 1759; and on the same day he received the cheering intelligence that Lally had been obliged to raise the siege of Madras.

The fort of Masulipatam, which is of an oblong square figure, 800 yards by 600, situated in the midst of a salt morass, was speedily invested by the English; and batteries were constructed, which kept up a hot fire till the 6th of April, when the works were so much damaged as to be deemed accessible in three places. As ammunition was getting slack, and Salabat Jung was advancing to the assistance of his allies. Colonel Forde determined to storm without further delay. He accordingly ordered the firing to be kept up vigorously through the next