Opening the text

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' WarFortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

History

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

Name: A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War
Author: Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History

Murzapha Jung having proclaimed himself Viceroy of the Deccan, and
taken steps to assert his sovereignty, proceeded next with Chunda
Sahib to Pondicherry, where they were received in great state by
Dupleix, and in return rewarded him with yet another grant of the
neighbouring territory. Meanwhile the English looked on, indignant
but helpless, having barred their right to protest by their own
foolish action at Tanjore. Boscawen did indeed take advantage of
Anwarudeen's death to hoist the British flag over St. Thomé, as a
masterless town which might be of profit to the Company; but for
the rest the arm of the British seemed paralysed. Mohammed Ali,
son of the dead Nabob Anwarudeen, who had fled from the field of
Amoor to Trichinopoly, invoked the aid of the East India Company;
but though profoundly distrustful of the friendship between Chunda
Sahib and Dupleix, the authorities sent but one hundred and twenty
men to help him. This done, they actually permitted Boscawen
to return to England with his fleet and transports, retaining
but three hundred of his men in India to strengthen the British
garrison. This was the moment for which Dupleix had longed. The one
force which he dreaded was removed. It remained only for Murzapha
Jung and Chunda Sahib to march to Trichinopoly and crush Mohammed
Ali; and Southern India was gained once for all.

[Sidenote: Dec. 20/31.]

Dupleix did not fail to urge this step upon his two allies;
but they had spent so much money over their own enjoyment at
Pondicherry that they had exhausted the treasure necessary for the
decisive campaign. Judging that the easiest and speediest method
of replenishing their empty purse would be to extort funds from
the Rajah of Tanjore, they led their armies against that city and
summoned it to surrender. The Rajah, Partab Singh, gained time by
astute negotiation to summon the English and Murzapha Jung's rival,
Nasir Jung, to his assistance; but the English hardly responded,
and the Rajah, cowed by an attack of the French infantry on the
defences of the city, agreed to pay the sum required of him. None
the less, by continual haggling he continued to keep his enemies
inactive before the walls until the news of Nasir Jung's approach,
with a force of overwhelming strength, caused them to fall back in
panic upon Pondicherry.

[Sidenote: 1750.]

[Sidenote: April 1/12.]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' WarFortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

History

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History

Murzapha Jung having proclaimed himself Viceroy of the Deccan, and
taken steps to assert his sovereignty, proceeded next with Chunda
Sahib to Pondicherry, where they were received in great state by
Dupleix, and in return rewarded him with yet another grant of the
neighbouring territory. Meanwhile the English looked on, indignant
but helpless, having barred their right to protest by their own
foolish action at Tanjore. Boscawen did indeed take advantage of
Anwarudeen's death to hoist the British flag over St. Thomé, as a
masterless town which might be of profit to the Company; but for
the rest the arm of the British seemed paralysed. Mohammed Ali,
son of the dead Nabob Anwarudeen, who had fled from the field of
Amoor to Trichinopoly, invoked the aid of the East India Company;
but though profoundly distrustful of the friendship between Chunda
Sahib and Dupleix, the authorities sent but one hundred and twenty
men to help him. This done, they actually permitted Boscawen
to return to England with his fleet and transports, retaining
but three hundred of his men in India to strengthen the British
garrison. This was the moment for which Dupleix had longed. The one
force which he dreaded was removed. It remained only for Murzapha
Jung and Chunda Sahib to march to Trichinopoly and crush Mohammed
Ali; and Southern India was gained once for all.

[Sidenote: Dec. 20/31.]

Dupleix did not fail to urge this step upon his two allies;
but they had spent so much money over their own enjoyment at
Pondicherry that they had exhausted the treasure necessary for the
decisive campaign. Judging that the easiest and speediest method
of replenishing their empty purse would be to extort funds from
the Rajah of Tanjore, they led their armies against that city and
summoned it to surrender. The Rajah, Partab Singh, gained time by
astute negotiation to summon the English and Murzapha Jung's rival,
Nasir Jung, to his assistance; but the English hardly responded,
and the Rajah, cowed by an attack of the French infantry on the
defences of the city, agreed to pay the sum required of him. None
the less, by continual haggling he continued to keep his enemies
inactive before the walls until the news of Nasir Jung's approach,
with a force of overwhelming strength, caused them to fall back in
panic upon Pondicherry.

[Sidenote: 1750.]

[Sidenote: April 1/12.]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

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