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character, exhibited in the fubject of the prefent memoirs, is rendered ftill more interesting by his adventures, his talents, his fucceffes, and his misfortunes, detailed in the following sheets, it may not only form the best apology for the compiler in fubmitting these memoirs to the public view, but also afford fome useful inftruction to the reader.

From the best information we could procure, it appears that Mr. George Thomas first came to India in a British fhip of war, in 1781-2. His fituation in the fleet was humble, having ferved as a quarter master, or, as is affirmed by fome, in the capacity of a common failor.

Shortly after landing in the vicinity of Madras, the activity of his mind, overcoming the lowlinefs of his fituation, he determined to quit the fhip, and embrace a life more fuitable to his ardent difpofition.

His firft fervice was among the Polygars to the fouthward, where he refided a few years. But at length fetting out over-land, he fpirit

edly traverfed the central part of the Peninfula, and about the year 1787 arrived at Delhi. Here he received a commiffion in the service of the Begum Sumroo. This lady is well known in the history of the transactions of modern times.

Soon after his arrival at

Delhi, the Begum, with her usual judgment and difcrimination of character, advanced him

to a command in her army.

From this period his military career in the north-weft of India may be faid to have commenced.

In various and fucceffive actions against the Seiks, and others of the Begum's enemies, Mr. Thomas, by his courage and perfeverance, rendered her authority refpectable. By these fucceffes, he obtained a confiderable influence over the mind of his mistress, and was for fome time her chief adviser and counsellor.*

*

Among other brilliant acts, performed by Mr. Thomas, during his service with the Begum, was the circumstance related in the History of Shah Aulum. The Compiler of these Memoirs did not know, at the time, that Mr. Thomas was the officer who commanded the party. But that gentleman, during his residence at Benares, communi

But, unfortunately for the mutual interefts of both parties, after a refidence of fix or feven years, Mr. Thomas had the mortification to find himself supplanted in the good opinion of the Begum. His authority was affumed by a more fuccessful rival.

This conduct in the Begum, exciting much animofity and many heart-burnings between the two rival commanders, Mr. Thomas refolved to embark his fortunes on a different fervice. He therefore quitted the Begum Sumroo, and about 1792 betook himself to the frontier station of the British army, at the post of Anopfhire.

Here he waited feveral months, in the expectation of receiving overtures for employment from fome of the native powers. He was not deceived in thefe expectations. In the beginning of the year 1793, Mr. Thomas, being at Anopshire, received letters from Ap

rated a detail of the affair, which, with a slight variation in a few particulars, happened as is stated in the printed work. See the History of Shah Aulum, page 167, et seq.

pakandarow, a Mahratta chief, conveying offers of fervice, and promises of a comfortable provision.

To comprehend the nature and use of Mr. Thomas's fervices at that juncture, it will be necessary to recur to the previous fituation and profpects of Appakandarow.

This chief had formerly been himself in the fervice of Madhajee Scindiah, who gave him the command of two battalions of infantry, raised and difciplined by the celebrated General Duboigne. In return for Appakandarow's fervices, Scindiah had also, fubfequently, entrusted to his management the diftricts of Gualier and Gohud. Thefe, for fome time, he conducted with fuccefs: but having, in the year 1790, invaded Bundelcund, and being unfuccessful in his operations, he was compelled to contract debts to a confiderable amount. This irregular and improvident conduct occafioned, firft, his removal from command, and afterwards, his difmiffion from Scindiah's employ. Of a haughty and impatient fpirit, Appakandarow ill brooked this

humiliation, and from that time fought, by his own exertion, to establish an independency. It was at this period he was joined by Mr. Thomas, who had with him 250 cavalry, chofen men, and of tried valour on several occafions.

This acceffion of force was highly acceptable to the Mahratta chief; he was, at that time, unable to keep under fubjection feveral diftricts, which, on account of his ill fuccefs, had rebelled against his authority, and withheld the payment of their accustomed tribute.

Mr. Thomas was now directed by Appakandarow to raife a battalion confifting of 1000 men and 100 cavalry. For the maintenance of this force, he affigned to him the pergunnas of Thajara, Thopookara, and Ferozeepoor, They are all in the Mawatty dif trict, fituated to the fouth-west of Delhi. Those districts had, fome years preceding, been in a state of rebellion, nor was Appakandarow able to reduce them to fubmiffion. The inhabitants, when a large force was fent against them, ufually took fhelter in the mountains;

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