Having, by forced marches, got ahead of the Seik army, Mr. Thomas first led his troops against the fort of Kanhori, which he took by ftorm, and put the garrifon to the fword.

The acquifition of this fortrefs, which was only thirty cofs diftant from Pattialah, was of great confequence to him. Situated on the borders of his own territory, and near the Cuggur river, it appeared fo well calculated for a depofit of ftores and ammunition, that he repaired the fortifications, and placed in it a ftrong garrifon. Then collecting hostages from the neighbouring districts, as fecurity for their future pacific intentions, he marched to Retara, another ftrong place on the frontier, belonging to Lall Sing. The garrifon confifted of five hundred men; but before a breach could be effected, dreading the fate of the inhabitants of Kanhori, they afked for quarter, and were allowed by Mr. Thomas to march out with the honours of war.

From this place he profecuted his route towards Hanfi. The hot feafon being now far

advanced, the Seiks, through want of water and forage for their cattle, were compelled to relinquish the purfuit; and, drawing off their force, encamped in the neighbourhood of Keithul, there to wait until the approaching rains permitted a renewal of hoftilities.

Mr. Thomas next marched into the district of Jeind, from whence he exacted tribute, and took hostages; but, from a dearth of water in this neighbourhood to fupply his troops, he did not think proper at that time to attack it.

During his abfence in the Punjab, Bappoo Scindiah, agreeably to inftructions received from Mr. Perron, invaded Mr. Thomas's poffeffions; but hearing of his return, thought proper to fall back upon the main army, at this time encamped near Delhi.

Mr. Thomas next marched, and laid fiege to Sefeedoo, a town dependant upon the chief of Jeind. This place was built of brick, and the walls of uncommon height. Having erected three redoubts, in which he placed eighteen

cannon, twelve and fix pounders, he began to batter the fort, and kept up an inceffant fire until three o'clock in the afternoon. At this time, fearing that the place might be reinforced during the ensuing night, Mr. Thomas determined on an immediate affault. The garrifon confifted of feven hundred men, three hundred of which remained within the fort; and the reft fallying out, defcended into the ditch, which croffing with rapidity, they commenced an attack upon Mr. Thomas's advanced pofts; but most of the party, among whom were fome chiefs of diftinction, were put to the fword. Mr. Thomas's foldiers in their turn attempted to mount the breach; but the fcaling ladders being found too fhort, and the ftorming party at the fame instant affailed by the remainder of the troops within the garrifon, these gallant men were involved in the greatest difficulty, and entirely exposed to the enemy's fhot, which fell fo thick among them, and did fo much execution, that, after a defperate and hard fought conflict of two hours, Mr. Thomas was compelled to retire, with the lofs of four hundred and fifty of his best men.

The gallant Mr. Hopkins, who had been confpicuous for his ardour throughout the attack, on this occafion received another fevere wound.

The enemy, who had likewife tuffered greatly, now attempted to escape from the fort, and to cut their way through Mr. Thomas's troops. This, notwithstanding every exertion on his part, they effected; and having taken fhelter in a thick foreft in the neighbourhood, Mr. Thomas thought it useless to pursue them any longer, but returned to take poffeffion of the fort.

During this tranfaction, the Seik army lay within eighteen cofs, and that of Bappoo Scindiah only nine, though both, happily for Mr. Thomas, remained quiet.

He next marched to Kythul. Here the rajah of Pattialah and others of the Seik chiefs, fent vakeels into his camp to negotiate a peace. Mr. Thomas, on his part, was fincerely inclined to put an end to the war, as he was well in

formed that the army of Mr. Perron was now on its march from Delhi, for the avowed purpofe of affording aid to the Seiks. They likewife had recently been informed that disturbances prevailed in their own country, and therefore haftened to conclude the prefent negotiations. It was agreed, therefore, that the Seiks fhould pay the fum of 1,35,000 rupees, and renounce all pretenfions to the country of Roy Kellaun; that the rajah of Pattialah fhould be reconciled to his fifter, with whom he had been fo long at variance; that this lady should be reimbursed for the property that had been confifcated; that certain diftricts fhould be ceded to Mr. Thomas; and finally, that the rajah of Pattialah fhould keep two battalions of infantry in conftant pay, who were to be ftationed for the defence of the Punjaub frontier, as a mutual fafeguard to either party.

"Thus (fays Mr. Thomas, in his ufual man"ly and energetic ftrain,) ended a campaign " of feven months, in which I had been more "fuccessful than I could poffibly have expected