Scarcely had one enemy been overcome, ere a new one appeared—the French, hurled into fatal antagonism with us because of the unhappy avowal of sentiments subversive of good order. Accordingly, in 1793, the Seventy-second was engaged in the siege of Pondicherry—the principal Indian colony of France; which fell into our hands rather from a mutiny among its defenders than our own efforts. It is related by Lieutenant Campbell, that “the moment the piper began to play, the fire from the enemy slackened, and soon after almost entirely ceased. The French all got upon the works, and seemed astonished at hearing the bag-pipe.” The Dutch having allied themselves with the French, paid the penalty of their folly in the loss of many of their most valuable colonies, conquered by the British. Ceylon, the principal, perhaps the most valuable of them, was in consequence assailed by our Indian army, including the Seventy-second regiment, which, capturing Trincomalee, Batticaloe, Manaar, and Colombo, reduced the island under British dominion. This was the closing achievement, for the present, of the regiment in India. Returning from Ceylon to Pondicherry, thence removed to Madras in 1798, it was ordered home, and landed at Gravesend. These many and distinguished services are commemorated in the word “Hindoostan,” now borne by Royal authority upon its colours and appointments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXXIII. “Then glory, my Jeanie, maun plead my excuse; Since honour commands me, how can I refuse? Without it, I ne’er can have merit for thee, And losing thy favour I’d better not be. I gae, then, my lass, to win glory and fame, And if I should chance to come gloriously hame, I’ll bring a heart to thee with love running o’er, And then I’ll leave thee and Lochaber no more.” CAPE OF GOOD HOPE—MAURITIUS—INDIA—CAPE OF GOOD HOPE—1799–1862.