corps of upwards of 2000 Frenchmen. It seemed probable that before that force Wandiwash must fall. Now it was everything to Coote to prevent the fall of Wandiwash. He marched, then, with his inferior force, and offered battle to Haidar and Duchemin. It was a daring, even a rash offer. He was over-matched in the three arms, and, considering the enormously preponderating numbers of the enemy's cavalry, defeat would have been ruin. Haidar saw the advantage, and pressed upon Duchemin to prepare his men for battle. The very reasons which made it rash to Coote to offer battle incited Haidar, and should have incited Duchemin, to accept it. But the responsibility weighed down Duchemin to the earth. He was only acting-commander, for Bussy had not arrived: and he had not the nerve to accept the gift which a too kind Fortune placed within his reach. Haidar, disgusted with his ally, fell back on Kalinur, near Pondichery. Watching thence the operations of Coote, he learned that the English General was about to attempt Ární. In Ární he had stored his magazines and ammunition. On no account must Árni be lost. Leaving then Duchemin and his corps behind him, he proceeded by forced marches to intercept Coote; caught him, and though he failed to defeat him, baffled his design on Ární. Four days later he enticed a detachment of Coote's army into an ambuscade, and cut it up. Coote then retired on Madras, and Haidar laid siege to Vollore.
Before Bussy could reach India, Haidar had died.
