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18 COOTE. and the expedition, although it did not succeed in the capture of Law, was of advantage to the Company and country. General Lally threatening the siege of Tri chinopoly, Major Coote, now become a colonel, drew together what forces he could, and invested Wandewash, which he took on the 30th of November, 1754, in three days. General Lally, considering the place to be of great importance, attempted to retake i t , which brought o n a n engagement, o n the 22nd o f January, 1760, i n which the French troops were utterly routed, and, with their general, fled i n despair t o Pondicherry. Sir Eyre laid siege t o Pondicherry o n the 26th o f November, 1760, and carried i t o n with unremitting dili gence until the middle o f January 1761, when the English forces took possession o f that important town. The gar rison, consisting o f 1400 European soldiers, became pri soners o f war, and a vast quantity o f military stores, and great riches were given u p t o the victors. This was the final blow t o the French power i n India. On the Colonel's return t o England, the next year, h e was presented b y the Court o f Directors with a diamond hilted sword, which cost 700l., a s a testimony o f gratitude for the important services h e had done. At the close o f 1769, o r very early i n 1770, h e was appointed commander in-chief o f the East India Company's forces i n India. He reached Madras i n 1770, but left that place again i n October, t o proceed t o Bussorah, from whence h e pro secuted his journey overland t o England. The reason o f his quitting Madras, i s supposed t o have been owing t o a dispute with the governor there. On the 31st o f August, 1771, h e was invested with the order o f the Bath; and, i n March 1778, became colonel o f the 37th regiment of foot, which being stationed i n Scotland, h e resided a t Fort George, near Inverness, a s governor. On the death o f General Clavering i n the East Indies, Sir Eyre Coote was appointed a member o f the supreme council o f Bengal, and commander o f the British troops. I n 1780, Hyder Ally having invaded the Carnatic, General Coote was