could keep nothing fecret, but would, by divulging them, put the enemy on their guard. It was night when he fet out; and a tumbril being upfet on the road, occafioned confiderable delay in their progrefs, fo that the day began to dawn before the evil was repaired; and, to add to his mortification, on arriving near the camp, he perceived the enemy af fembled under arms, and ready to receive him.

It was now too late to carry his first design into execution. He pushed on, however; and, coming up with a party who now advanced to meet him, attacked them to the number of feven thousand men with great fpirit and vigour. The enemy made but a feeble refiftance, and foon after withdrew to their main body, having fuftained confiderable lofs. The wells which had been cleaned out were again filled up; and Mr. Thomas, after collecting the horses and other cattle which had been left on the field, returned with his detachment to camp. On his way he met. with the Mahratta cavalry, who seemed much out of humour that they had not been confulted on fo important an occafion: but Vavon

Row, their chief, repreffed their pride by telling them plainly, that their own delay in accoutring was the real caufe of their difappointment.

Mr. Thomas's officers now received khilluts* from the Mahratta chief; and, to prevent animofities, fimilar marks of honour were bestowed, though with reluctance, on the of ficers of the Mahratta horfe.

Preparations were now making by the enemy to bring on a general engagement, which proved far greater in its confequences than either party had foreseen. The next morning at day-break, Mr. Thomas was informed that there was a great bustle in the enemy's camp, and fhortly after received intelligence of their actual approach in order of battle. He had determined in his own mind the fpot where he would engage; and as he well knew no reliance could be placed on the Mahrattas, he was neceffitated to leave a part of his infantry, and four fix-pounders, to guard

* Dresses of honour.

the camp and cover his rear, which was in danger of being furrounded by the enemy: with the remainder, confifting of two battalions of infantry, two hundred Rohillas, his ca valry, and ten pieces of artillery, he prepared for the encounter.

The Mahrattas, on seeing the immense force they had to cope with, gave themselves over for loft; and Mr. Thomas was in a manner compelled to fight this important battle without affiftance.

After fome manoeuvres on either fide, he was glad to find that the enemy diftributed. their army as he wished.

Their right wing, confifting of the whole force of the Rajpoot cavalry, was destined to the attack of his camp; and fo certain were they of victory, that, on perceiving the stockade we have before described, they laughed at the idea that a few bushes, as they were pleased to term them, could for a moment retard their progress, or resist the impetuofity of the attack. The left wing, confifting of four thousand Ro

hillas, three thousand Ghoffeins, and fix thoufand irregular infantry, commanded by the chiefs of their respective districts, advanced at the fame time with hafty ftrides and loud shouts, to take poffeffion of the city, the loss of which, by cutting off the fupply of water, would have been attended with the most serious confequences.

Their third, or main body, was composed of ten battalions of infantry, twenty-two pieces of artillery, and the fillah pofh, or body guard, of the rajah, confifting of fixteen hundred men armed with matchlocks and fabres, and commanded by Rajah Roorojee Khavies, as generaliffimo of the army. Notwithstanding this immenfe force, Mr. Thomas derived great advantage from the pofition in which his troops were drawn up; his front and flanks being fecured by the fortified camp, and his rear by the city of Futtahpore.

The enemy's cavalry now advancing in clofe and compact order, the Mahrattas, who were posted in the rear, fent to require a reinforcement; and accordingly Mr. Thomas, though

he could ill spare it, ordered four companies and two of the guns which had been left for the protection of the camp, to march out and join him; while, with three guns and five companies of infantry, he advanced to repel the attack of the enemy's horfe. His main body was commanded by John Morris, an Englishman, "who, though a brave man (says "Mr. Thomas), was better adapted to con"duct a forlorn hope than to direct the mo "tions of troops in a field of battle." Mr. Thomas having taken poffeffion of a very high fand-bank, the enemy were thus placed between two fires, and could neither charge him or attack the camp; they confequently began to draw off: but perceiving he had but few cavalry, and those being in his rear, on a fudden made a furious charge upon them, by which the person who commanded, and feveral, other brave men, were instantly cut to pieces; and it was not until the advance of two companies of grenadiers, who, after having given their volley, charged with bayonets, that the enemy, thus expofed, were compelled to retreat; and had the other divifions of their

army behaved with equal fpirit, the day would