er auvceiites.
Chap. XI.j MOVEMENTS OF COOTE AND LALLY. o23
killedar to accept the terms which had been oflered. It is admitted, indeed, a. a 1759. that he had signed his acceptance just as the British troops entered the fort, and yet, on the pretext that he was too late, all the stipulations made with him were shamefully violated. He was related to the family of Chunda Sahib, had long been connected with the French, and was held by Mahomed Ali to be so mveterate an enemy that he set more value on the possession of him as a prisoner than the reduction of the fort. On such irrelevant and miworthy grounds the Madras presidency became parties to an act of gross treachery, and the killedar, after refusing to disclose his treasures, or pay ten lacs of rupees for his ransom, was confined in a fort on one of the highest hills of Velloi'e.
Lally now discovered, when too late, that he had committed a fatal error in oti' dividing his army. Not only was he imable to relieve Wandiwjisli, but he could not conceal from himself that other forts were destined to share the same fate. Carangoly, a large fort situated twenty- five miles E.N.E. of Wandiwash, was next attacked, and fell like it, though not without making a better defence and obtaining better terms. Coote's attention was next called to Arcot. Con- sidered as the capital of the nabobshi]), the possession of it was naturally regarded as an object of primary moment, though in itself it was comparatively unim- portant. Preparatory to the siege of the fort, Coote ordered a detachment to move from Coverypauk and take post in the city. Tliis was accomplished without opposition — the garrison of the fort, which was only half a mile distant, looking on as unconcerned spectators, while possession was taken of the nabobs palace and the adjoining streets. It was not, however, to be supposed that Lally would allow the capital to be wrested from him without a struggle. The moment he saw it seriously threatened, he sent a peremptory order recalling Crillon with his force from Seringham. Bassy, too, arrived most opportunely from his long and fruitless visit to Basalut Jung, bringing with him not only all the troops he had taken away, but a considerable body of good horse whom he had induced to join him. The aspect of affairs was thus somewhat changed. The British detach- ment, after they had collected fa.scines and other materials, and even commenced the ei'ection of a battery, were obliged suddenly to decamp ; and Bus.sy's horse taking advantage of his departure for Pondiclierry, spread themselves over the country, and committed every species of devastation. At the same time a body of Mahrattas, who had been hovering on the western frontiers, prepared to descend into the low country to sell themselves to the highest l)idder. The Madras presidency deeming their terms too high, tried to lower them ; the Frencli agent gave a sum of 20, 000 rupees in hand, and thus obtained a body of 1000 horse who, without joining their camp, made their appeai-ance between Ai'cot and Conjeveram.
Coote with his army quitted Wandiwash on the 13th of December, and Motimi
1 •• I'l Till- • 1 inoveiiiente
next evenmg took up a position which enabled him to intercept the enemy s ofc.«.toani troops when moving towards each other, whether from .Vi'cot or from Chittapet. ^'"^'
