tending about eighty miles along the coast and twenty inland.
After the fall of Masulipatam, some naval engagements took place on the coast, between the English fleet under Admiral Pocock and the French under Monsieur d'Aché; but none of a decisive character, though the English generally bore off the glory of the day. Some actions of minor importance also took place between the land troops of the respective nations in the Carnatic; which only resulted in the capture or recapture of third or fourth class fortresses, by alternate movements of the contending parties, but exercised no great influence on the progress of the war.
Meanwhile, the pecuniary necessities of the French, and some mutinies which had taken place amongst the troops for want of pay, forced them to consider how they should recruit their exhausted treasury. In the rich and fertile island of Seringham, near Trichinopoly, the approaching December harvest promised to be unusually abundant, and the Government share was estimated to be worth six hundred thousand rupees. This, in the existing situation of the French, was a tempting prize, and it was resolved to make an effort to secure it. An expedition for this purpose was despatched under Mons. Crillon, consisting of nine hundred Europeans, one thousand Sepoys, and two hundred native horse. On the 20th of November, Crillon's force crossed into the island of Seringham, and encamped opposite the west face of the great pagoda, within which were stationed three hundred Sepoys, five hundred irregular troops armed with lances, and two field-pieces. An attempt was made to defend the gateway by erecting a wall across it with a single opening, in front of which was a trench, and, behind, a parapet for the field-pieces. The French, however, advancing their heaviest cannon, soon beat down the wall and disabled their field-pieces; they then effected an entrance, though gallantly resisted by the Sepoys; but their victory was tarnished by a wantonness of cruelty
