before any definite result could be reached Heath had reverted to his old idea of seeking a new site for a settlement.
Early in November, the whole of the establishment having been embarked, the long prosecuted quest assumed a new phase. Heath, who was "everything by turns, and nothing long," had only a vague idea of what he really wanted to do. His first move, delayed until towards the end of November, was to make an attack on the Mogul camp at Balasor. The action was attended with the usual success, but the troops stained their victory by excesses committed in the town against Christian and non-Christian, friend and enemy alike. Nothing much came of the affair save that the lives of the English factors, who had been imprisoned and taken up country on the landing from the ships, were placed in jeopardy. A letter received at this juncture from the Company's representatives at Dacca announcing that the Nabob was favourable to their proposals brought the policy of negotiation once more into the ascendant. But by the end of the year Heath was again on the war path. His objective this time was Chittagong. There had been some question earlier of the English helping the Moguls in a war which they were waging against the King of Arakan, and on the arrival of his fleet off the port Heath sounded the local authorities on the point. Finding that there was no desire locally to enlist his aid the English commander turned his thoughts to an attack on the town. A cool survey of the situation, however, brought home to him the extreme risks which would attend such an enterprise. Next his restless mind swung round to the idea that the King of Arakan might be used as a stalking horse for his plans. But his Majesty,
