Mr. Thomas thought it more prudent to recal the detachment altogether, and it accordingly returned to camp.

Shortly after his hircarrahs brought information that the enemy, having been apprifed of his intention to force his way to Hanfi, had got their line under arms ready to oppose his progrefs; and which, if he had attempted it in the prefent difcontented state of his troops, would in all probability have terminated in his difgrace.

Destitute of forage, in want of ammunition, there being no poffibility of any fupply arriving from without, his foldiers daily deferting, and the few who remained even refusing to fight, except in the actual defence of the camp, in this fituation Mr. Thomas affembled a council of his officers, who, on his fubmitting to them the circumstances, gave it as their unanimous opinion, that there was nothing to be done but by an unconditional furrender to the enemy.

Mr. Thomas endeavoured to perfuade them that a retreat to Hanfi was still practicable;

but his exertions were ineffectual, and a difmal aspect presented itself on all fides.

For the last three days no grain had been ferved out in the garrifon; but as many of the foldiers had been provident in times of plenty to fave from their refpective allowances, there exifted no real want of that article in the camp, and falt and fugar were ftill to be had in great abundance. A fmall quantity of wheat still remained, which Mr. Thomas humanely appropriated to the ufe of the fick and wounded. The fcarcity of provifions operated more fcverely upon the Hindoo than the Mooffulman foldiers, as the latter could fubfift upon the cattle that were daily deftroyed by the enemy's fhot.

A body of Rohillas, who were ftationed in the pofts that commanded the water used for the supply of the camp, fuddenly went over to the enemy. Mr. Thomas inftantly appointed others to guard the posts thus abandoned; but to his forrow foon found that the spirit of defertion had feized on the Mooffulman troops in general, the cavalry alone excepted. At

seven o'clock in the evening information was brought that the whole of the troops ftationed at the out-pofts of the camp had deferted; that the enemy were making preparations for a general affault; and at the inftant of receiving this intelligence, Mr. Thomas had the additional mortification to perceive the last stack of his hay in flames by the incendiaries. This, as it afterwards appeared, was a preconcerted fignal between the enemy and the traitors in his own camp.

Diftreffed at this intelligence, Mr. Thomas demanded of the perfon who informed him wherefore he had fo long delayed the communication; but received in reply only a vague and unfatisfactory excufe. The scene of treachery now began to disclose itself.

Shortly after Mr. Thomas's hircarrahs brought word that Shah Tab Khan, who commanded George Ghur, had already mounted his horfe, attended by his people and all their effects, and was preparing to leave the fort, being at that instant in conference with a party of the enemy, who had approached the walls with a

determination to escort the traitor to their own

camp.

His escape was eafily effected, Mr. Thomas being in no condition to punish him; and on his departure, a party from camp was ordered to take poffeffion of the fort; but by the defertion of Shah Tab Khan the face of affairs was altered confiderably for the worse. The matchlock men were now deferting the camp in crowds and in all directions; a few of the officers of the whole regiment being the only perfons who remained.

Mr. Thomas's fole reliance was now on the attachment of the regiment which had been commanded by the gallant but unfortunate Mr. Hopkins, at the commencement of the campaign. It was feven hundred ftrong; but during the late fevere fervice had been reduced to one third of the original number. "Thefe

(fays Mr. Thomas, in the bitterness of his "anguish, occafioned by fo many desertions) "were the only men that food true to my " interefts,"

[A. D. 1801. But even with this force, though comparatively fo infignificant, had there been provi fions and forage in the place, he might still have defended the fort of George Ghur; but excepting the fmall portion allotted for the fuftenance of the fick and wounded men, not a feer of rice or grain could be procured; to complete their diftrefs, the enemy, perceiving their forlorn fituation, prepared to advance and overwhelm them with numbers; nothing now remained for Mr. Thomas but to attempt a retreat, and, if poffible, carry into effect his former determination of throwing himself into Hanfi.

Agreeably to this determination, having ordered the cavalry to hold themselves in readinefs, he about nine o'clock in the evening quit ted his camp.

Not long after, he fell in with a party of the enemy, who attacked him with vigour : his men, disheartened by the late events, having loft their accustomed fpirit, gave way on all fides, and he was compelled with a few fol lowers to fly for his life.