same number of Sepoys. A vigorous bombardment was carried on for some time; and though the enemy had made no breach, they had dismounted some of the guns, disabled the carriages, and inflicted serious injury on parts of the works. The tanks and reservoirs had suffered, and water could only be procured under cover of the night. The stock of ammunition also began to fail, much having been wasted; and, in addition to these circumstances, the native troops deserted in great numbers, and part of the Europeans are represented to have been drunken, disorderly, and disobedient. On the 2nd of June, terms of capitulation were proposed by the besieged, and on the evening of that day the place was surrendered.
The fall of Fort St. David was immediately followed by that of Deir-Cottah and Cuddalore, and an attack upon Madras would have been the next step taken by the French Governor-General had he not laboured under a deficiency of money; this he endeavoured to supply by an expedition against Tanjore, to enforce payment of a bond which had been given several years before by the Rajah to Chunda Sahib, who had made it over to his friends the French.
After an unsuccessful attempt on Tanjore, Lally was obliged to retire from before that place for want of provisions and ammunition. Monaekjee, the Tanjorean general, having resolved to attack the French on their retreat, commenced by a characteristic piece of treachery. At the dawn of day, fifty horsemen rode leisurely from the city towards the camp. On being challenged by the advanced guard, they said they were come to offer their services to the French, and desired to see the General. They were conducted to his quarters, and, halting at a short distance from the choultry where he slept, their leader advanced to confer with him.
Lally left the choultry to receive his visitor, by whose hands he would probably have fallen, had not the operation of opium led one of the stranger horsemen to commit an act which could not be reconciled with friendly inten-
