Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/72

64 which constituted a danger along the whole frontier, especially to Bengal, and after mature consideration, decided to take the offensive; but he also gave his adversary time for reflection, and did not sign the proclamation which explained the causes of the war till the 1st November.

His plan was to invade Nepál by four columns, from two directions. In the west, General Ochterlony (6,000 native troops and 16 guns) was ordered to operate in the hilly country near the Sutlej; and on his right General Gillespie (1,000 Europeans, 2,500 natives, and 11 guns) was to push from Meerut to the lower spurs of the mountains, between the upper Ganges and Jumna, and detaching a force against Srínagar, to incline to the left and support the first column. In the east, General J. S. Wood (1,000 Europeans, 3,000 natives, and 11 guns) was to penetrate into Palpa from Gorakhpur, and to co-operate with the main body under General Marley (1,000 Europeans, 7,000 natives, and 26 guns), who was to advance from Patna upon the capital Khátmándu. Besides, local troops were placed in position to defend the rest of the frontier, and a force of 2,000 men was formed under Major Latter, to operate defensively towards Sikkim and to support the Rájá of that district against the Gúrkhas. Lord Hastings, who had made these dispositions, directed the operations from Lucknow.

To resist this attack, the Gúrkhas had no more than