[39]. This man's name was Gotica; he was uncle to the deposed King of Tanjore, whom the English had supported in 1749.
[40]. Col. Kennedy was one of the hostages sent to Tanjore.
[41]. A breach had been made, but it was not deemed practicable. Two of the principal French officers, General Saubinet and Count D'Estaing, strongly advised a storm; deeming the breach, though imperfect, to be assailable.
[42]. A considerable body, cavalry and infantry, of Tanjore troops, with fifty Europeans, and one thousand English sepoys, were engaged in this attack; which is chiefly remarkable for the attempt made upon the person of the French General. A body of fifty horsemen advanced, at daylight, to the French outposts: they inquired for Lally, saying they wished to take service. They were conducted to the General, who, being informed of their request, came out from a choultry to speak to them: at this moment one of the Tanjore horsemen, supposed to be intoxicated, fired his pistol into a tumbril, which, by its explosion, gave a general alarm. The leader of the party, observing this, rode at Lally, who, however, defended himself with a stick, and the man was shot by an attendant, while the French guard succeeded in repelling a charge made by his comrades.
[43]. Orme's History, and Clive's MSS.
[44]. A species of pulse upon which horses are fed in India.
[45]. The north-east monsoon commences, on the coast of Coromandel, in the end of October; and military operations are difficult, and in some parts almost impracticable, till towards the end of November.
[46]. Orme, vol. iii. p. 385.
[47]. Captain Preston's corps was from the garrison of Chingliput.
[48]. Orme, vol. iii. p. 453.