482 HISTORY OK INDIA. [Book III.
AD. 1752. the nabob himself, whose dislionesty with regard to the cession of Trichinopoly
had begun to tell strongly against him. While the larger part of his force was
A rash at- detained there to counteract the intrigues of the Mysoreans and Mahrattas,
tempt to _ _ _
capture scarccly a chief in the Camatic voluntarily declared in his favour. In these circumstances it seemed desirable to strike some decisive blow which might at once raise the sinking spirits of his followers and intimidate his enemies. Hia scheme wfis to effect the capture of Gingee. Major Lawrence strongly disap- proved of it, and paid a visit to Madras for the purpose of dissuading the presi- dency from entertaining the proposal His influence, however, proved less than it ought to have been; and on the 23d of July, 1752, the nabob's application for assistance was complied with, by sending, under Major Kinneir, who had lately arrived from England, a detachment of 200 Europeans and 1500 sepoys, accom- panied by GOO native cavalry, on this formidable enterprise. The low country was easily traversed, but on reaching the mountains difficulties presented them- selves at every step. For ten miles round, Gingee is encircled by mountains, and accessible only by a few strong passes. These the invading force ought to have secured, but no troops could be spared for this purpose, and the whole continued to advance. When Gingee was reached, it soon appeared that the whole march hitherto had been labour in vain. The governor, when summoned, refused to surrender, and there were no means of compelling him, for, by a very unaccountable blunder, two pieces of battering cannon, on the way from Fort St. David, had not been waited for. Meanwhile Dupleix, who had been on the alert, no sooner learned that the expedition had passed the mountains than he detached 300 Europeans and 500 sepoys, with seven field-pieces, who took up a strong position at Vicravandi, near the pass through which Major Kinneir had led his troops. No longer dreaming of the capture of Gingee, his object now was to disentangle himself He had the good fortune to succeed, and having not only got clear of the mountains, but been reinforced by above 1000 of the nabob's horse, determined to give battle. He had not properly counted the cost, and sustained a defeat in which the loss was not so great as the disgrace, the whole troops, not excepting the Europeans, having given way under panic.
Dupleix cap- Elated by this success, Dupleix reinforced the victors, who, now mustering
tures a com- pany of 450 Europeans, 1500 sepoys, and 500 horse, encamped near the north boundary
iss mer- ^^ ^j^^ territory of Fort St. David. The Company's troops, after retreating to Trivadi, retired still further, and took up a position at a redoubt in the boiuid hedge, about three miles west of the fort. Here they remained inactive, waiting the arrival of two companies of Swiss of 100 men each, who had just arrived at Madras from England. To avoid delay, one of the companies was embarked in the light boats of the country, and were proceeding for Fort St. David by sea. It had been assumed that on that element Dupleix would not venture to violate English colours. The mistake was discovered when too late, for as soon as they were seen from Pondicherry, a ship set out and made them all prisoners.
cenanes.
