602
lilSTOIlY OF INJ^IA.
[Bo<>K li
Siege of Tiiujore.
A.D. 1758 he summoned a council of war, and having obtained from it a confirmation of his own opinion, that no reliance couM l^e placed on professions of peace, and that the siege ought fortiiwith to be commenced, and prosecuted with the utmost vigour, wrote a letter denouncing vengeance on both town and c^juntrj', and even threatening to caiTy off the king and his whole family an slaves to the Mauritius. This threat fixed the wavering resolution of the king, who an- nounced his detei'mi nation to defend himself to the last extremity. Captain Calliaud, who, though repeatedly applied to for assistance, had hesitated so long as negotiations with the French were pending, now sent from Trichinojjoly a reinforcement consisting of 500 of his best sepoys, with two excellent sergeants, and seventeen cannoneers.
After determining on the siege, Lally pushed on the necessary operations with great activity ; and two breaching batteries, one of three and the other of two guns, were opened, on the 2d of August, within 400 yards of the south wall. The effect fell far short of what had been expected. Five days' firing produced a breach of only six feet wide, and yet exhausted so much of the imperfect supply of ammunition, that only 150 charges for the cannon were left. The supply of the troops was still more deficient, amounting to no more than twenty cartridges a man. Nor was this all. The Tanjorines, though verj^ ineffective as regidar troops, were excellent skinnishei-s, and had so much increased the difficulty of obtaining provisions, that not more than two days' consumption remained. Rumours, too, of a naval engagement, in which Count d'Ach^ had been worsted, began to prevail, and the whole prospect looked so gloomy that Lally summoned a council of war, and submitted to them, as the onl}- alternative, to assault forth- with or raise the siege. Of the twelve officers fomiing the council only two advocated the bolder course ; the rest, with LaU}- at their head, decided against it. This decision could not long remain a secret. Monacjee, on being made acquainted with it, immediately collected aU his forces, and well nigh succeeded in surprising the French camp. He was repulsed with difficulty, and continued, after the retreat commenced, to follow with clouds of cavalry. The damage inflicted was not serious ; and Lally, though burning with shame at his discom- fiture, and at the loss of all his battering cannon and lieav}- baggage, had reason to congratulate himself and his army on an almost miraculous escape when they at length succeeded in reaching Carrical. Their anxiety, however, was not at an end, for the first sight which met them was the English squadi'on riding at anchor in the mouth of the river. Ineffectual Admiral Pococke, after endeavouring in vain to reach Fort St. David in time
operations, to prevent its premature surrender, retraced his steps, and anchored in the Road of Madras. Here eight weeks were spent in making repairs and in obtaining necessary supplies, and the 25th of July arrived before the squadron was again ready to put to sea. Having sailed on that day it came in sight of Pondicheirv on the 27th, and beheld Count d'Achd's squadron at anchor. Before night
Its failure.
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