strongly attached to the predatory system. The lady, with the direct view of maintaining her influence, made secret overtures to the English for receiving a subsidiary force. This measure was firmly opposed by the leaders just named, who seized the person of Toolsee Bhye, carried her down to the river Seepra, where she was beheaded, and her body thrown into the water. War was then only delayed till the completion of the necessary preparations. Troops, especially infantry, were collected with the utmost diligence, and their movements assumed so formidable an aspect that a junction was deemed necessary between the army-corps of Sir John Malcolm and Sir Thomas Hislop, who proceeded together, and found the native army strongly posted at Mehidpoor, with a steep bank in front, at the foot of which flowed the river Seepra.
Although this position might have been turned by a circuitous march, Sir Thomas Hislop considered such an advantage more than counterbalanced by the impression that would be produced by pushing on promptly and directly to the attack. It was accordingly determined that the attack should be on the enemy's front, and that the passage of the river should be made by a single ford.
Some light troops first passed over, followed by the horse artillery, which opened their guns; a battery of foot artillery playing from the right bank of the river, and enfilading some cannon on the enemy's left, which had opened a heavy and well-directed fire on the ford. The troops, as they crossed, were successively formed in the bed of the river, and took up their respective positions; the cavalry ascending the bank to the left, where they were partially screened from the enemy by some rising ground, the horse artillery forming batteries in front of the ford. The light brigade had taken possession of two ravines which opened into the river, the object being to keep it clear for the passage of the remaining brigades, who, on crossing, were directed, by a countermarch, to bring their right in front. As soon
