several others, which had been taken up by colonel Cuppage, in command of the Malabar provinces, for the conveyance of his majesty's 12th regiment, and a battalion of sepoys, to the reinforcement of the subsidiary force. That prudent and gallant officer having received information, it seems, from his private sources, that the Travancore government had lately set on foot an extensive armament in the southern extremity of that country, had taken upon himself the responsibility of detaching, to the support of colonel Chalmers, in command of the subsidiary force, this large proportion of the troops subject to his immediate command; a promptitude, not less declaratory of his prudence and foresight, than of his zeal and attachment to the service. These arrived, but with one exception, in good time, and were esteemed by colonel Chalmers as a most seasonable, as well as indispensable relief; and enabled him, as he amply and gratefully acknowledged, to withstand the no longer concealed approaches of the Travancore troops, that threatened otherwise to overwhelm him. The missing vessel, which had on board a surgeon, and about thirty-three privates, belonging to his majesty's 12th regiment, had been delayed in its course by contrary winds or currents, and had, on that account, been obliged to put in at the port of Alippee, on the coast of Travancore, for a supply of water and other necessaries. Two or three of the soldiers landed immediately on the vessel's arriving at her anchorage, and being told by certain officers, in the service of the rajab, that a large body of British troops were in the neighbourhood, they were induced to go back to their comrades with the intelligence, and with an assurance that they would be provided with every requisite on landing, to enable them to proceed to the detachment near at hand. Knowing nothing of any existing hostility, nor suspecting any deceit, the whole of the party disembarked, and were conducted, in seeming friendship, some miles inland, where they were treacherously surrounded, and overpowered by numbers, tied in couples, back and back

As such an

On the 30th of December, the commandant of the subsidiary force received intelligence, on which he could rely, that a large body of armed mea had been assembled on that morning, at the house of the dewan, and in the inclosed ground about it: that ammunition had been delivered out to them, with an intimation that they should hold themselves in immediate readiness for service. assemblage had not previously taken place, without communication with colonel Chalmers, and as it was attended with circumstances so suspicious, he naturally expected and prepared him self for an attack. He ordered, in consequence, the whole force under his command, to sleep that night on their arms. He had scarcely issued his orders to this effect, when fresh intel ligence reached him, that another miltary force, consisting of numerous armed Nairs, had been collected at Paroor, about ten miles to the southward ofcolonel Chalmers's cantonment, for the purpose of advancing in the direction of the subsidiary force. This information induced the commandant of that force to give specific instructions for a party, consisting of five com

panies of the 1st battalion of the 4th Native regiment, with a gun, to advance, under the command of captain Clapham, to take post on a height, commanding the position of the dewan's house, so as to keep the body collected there in check, and to prevent the possibility of his being exposed to the fire of the two different bodies of troops at the same instant. This detachment had scarcely arrived at the point assigned for it, when it was observed that a small hill, immediately on the right flank of the post, had been already possessed by a body of Travancore troops, who were increasing momentarily in their numbers. It now appeared, that this commanding eniinence was as much a military object to the Travancorean, as to the British commandant; and captain Clapham lost not any time in making the necessary dispositions for the defence of the height. These were scarcely effected when a considerable column of Nairs, armed with musquets, pikes, and other missiles, was seen rapidly advancing on his front; it was challenged, on its approach, more than once, and requested to halt; but heedless of the challenge and request, it proceeded steadily towards the British detachment, then drawn up in line, and evidently with a design to charge it. The Travancorean force had now arrived within ten paces of captain Clapham, when that officer, unawed by their numbers and resolute appearance, gave immediate orders for his detachment to fire, which was instantly returned by the force opposed to it, by which one sepoy was killed, and one subadar, of captain Clapham's small party, wounded. The British troops loaded and fired again with so much quickness and precision, that the enemy was obliged, after making several ineffectual attempts to gain the height, and after rallying on frequent repulses, to abandon his design, with the loss of many men killed and Wounded. After this spirited and Successful resistance, the British de tachment was permitted to keep its position without any further molestation, during the night.

On the next morning, the 31st of December, major Hamilton, of the 2d battalion of the 13th Native infantry, with five companies of the 4th regiment, reinforced by two flank companies of his own battalion, was ordered by colonel Chalmers to advance and take possession of the battery at the Dewan's house; which he effected with much spirit, and without any loss. The capture of two brass four pounders, and four iron guns of the same calibre, was the fruit of this service, which was safely conveyed within the British lines. These guns were placed here originally for the purpose of firing salutes ; but, on examination, after they had come into the possession of colonel Chalmers, they were all found to be loaded and doubly shotted. They were captured also in a situation, in which they were not usually placed, a spot having the command of the only road leading to the dewan's house. This circumstance would sufficiently indicate the hostile design of the dewan at this juncture, if it had not been discovered in more direct and unequivocal acts.

This enterprize was succeeded by another of equal good fortune. Before major Hamilton could return to the position whence he had been detached early in the morning, he was required to push forward with his party to the bar at Anjuvicha, about five miles to the north of the encampment of Colonel Chalmers, in consequence of intelligence having been received by the latter officer, that the enemy, in great numbers, were crossing the river in that direction.

This movement of major Hamilton was directed with a view to prevent the further passage of the Travancore troops, and to keep those already landed in check. Several small parties of troops were encountered on the way, who fled on the approach of the British detachment: one of these, however, was luckily intercepted, from the commandant of which, major Hamilton derived intelligence of the strength and situation of the enemy in that quarter. It appeared that the force on both banks of the river amounted to 4,000 irregu

lar troops, with a regular body, as well disciplined as any in the rajah's service, called the Carnatic brigade. This latter force had arrived but a few hours, previously, from Alippee. This intelligence induced major Hamilton to proceed with expedition to Anjuvicha, where he arrived just as a numerous body of the enemy was crossing the water in their boats; while another was drawn up on shore to protect their landing. Perceiving that a moment was not to be lost, the British commandant ordered an immediate attack on the party on shore, which was commenced by a heavy and effective fire of grape and musketry; which made so severe an impression on the opposed forces, that they were dispersed in an instant, pursued to the bar, and driven headlong into the water. Four hundred of the enemy were left dead on the banks, and numbers drowned in the attempt to cross the ford. The prisoners takenon this oc casion amounted to nearly a hundred. A battalion of the Carnatic brigade was drawn up on the opposite side of the bar, and witnessed the slaughter of their countrymen and fellow soldiers, without attempting any thing further to their assistance, than a few discharges of their small arms, and from a distance at which they could do no execution. On the dispersion and discomfiture of the enemy on the nearer side of the river, major Hamilton directed his artillery to be opened on the Carnatic battalion on the opposite shore, which precipitately retired almost at the first shot.

In about two hours afterwards, the Carnatic battalion, being reinforced, and accompanied by heavy artillery, resumed its original station, and opened a brisk cannonade of round and grape on the British forces, which was returned with equal spirit. While this firing was maintained on the opposite shore, with a view chiefly to occupy the attention of major Hamilton, the enemy, by means of his boats, transported great numbers of his troops across the river, at a different place, in the expectation of attacking the British party in the rear. But this design was seen and frustrated by the activity •f colonel Chalmers, who, at this junc

ture, issued his orders for the recall of major Hamil.on's detachment within the lines of the cantonuent.

At an early hour in the evening, information reached colonel Chalmers, that a body of Nirs, to the number of 10,000, were advareing very rapidly on the side of Paroor. From the enemy, thus pouring in from every quarter, in numbers sufficiently pow erful, and with regular means of annoyance and of attack, colonel Chalmers thought it predent to shift his position, and take post in the ruined fort of Quilon, which otherwise, he apprehended, might have fallen into the possession of the enemy. In this position colonel Chalmers remained unmolested throughout the night, which was stormy and tempestuous; and, therefore, probably not employed by the enemy in hostile operations. Colonel Chalmers, on the following morning, not observing any arrange. ments on the part of the enemy for an immediate attack, moved out from the fort to his former ground, covering the cantonment; determined to await, in that station, the combined attack of the enemy.

From the 1st of January to the 15th of the same month, colonel Chalmers remained in the position last taken up by him, fortifying it by all the practicable means of military defence. The enemy, in the interval, drew all his available force to this point, and maintained himself in a formidable position in front. The state of the strength of the Travancore troops at this date, is not exactly ascertained; but it is understood to have amounted to more than ten times the number of the subsidiary force; but the latter had received, in the interim, a very valuable and important reinforcement, in his majesty's 12th regiment of foot, under the command of colonel Picton. This regiment, with the 1st battalion of the 17th Native infantry, under major Hewitt, had been providently dispatched to the relief of the subsidiary force, without individual application, or communication with the govern ment, but on the mere motive of colo nel Cuppage, in command of the Ma labar province. The 12th regiment

had at this time newly and seasonably joined the camp of colonel Chalmers; but the Native battalion had been ordered to take post at Cochin, an unfortified place, lying immediately on the coast, and keeping the line of communication open with the subsidiary force. On the 15th of January, the enemy confidently relying on his numbers, made a desperate assault on the British lines, consisting only of one European regiment, and three battalions of sepoys, with a small body of artillery. A most severe and sanguinary contest ensued, which terminated in the entire repulse and defeat of the Travancore troops, with a most heavy loss. On the part of the British, the loss was comparatively small in the aggregate, falling principally on the European regiment, which lost in killed eight men, and in wounded forty-five-the sepoy battalions suffered in killed and wounded, a loss of about 70 men. The enemy left 700 men dead on the field of battle, and ten pieces of ordnance.

This brilliant action called for, and received, the public thanks of the governor in council of Fort St. George; who requested colonel Chalmers to accept and to convey the lively acknowledgments of the government to the whole of the troops under his command, but more particularly to colonel Picton, of his majesty's 12th regiment, major Muirhead, major Hamilton, captain Newall, captain Pepper, captain Macintosh, lieutenant Lindsay, lieutenant Arthur of the engineers, and captains Cranston and Ahmuty, of colonel Chalmers's personal staff; who had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves individually in this most gallant affair.

Though the design of the enemy had been completely defeated, and his troops repulsed with great slaughter in the rencontre just described, they do not appear to have been dispersed, but to have taken up ground, at no great distance from that from which they had been recently driven. The nature of colonel Chalmers's force, and the very limited extent of it, would not permit him to take the full advantage

of this victory, by the pursuit of the fugitives.

The enemy was so dispirited, and so much worsted in this engagement, as to seem incapable of recovering himself for fresh rencontres, without some season for recruit, both of actual strength and of spirit. Still, however, he did not remain wholly inactive, though incompetent for any great exploit. On the unsuccessful determination of the affair on the British lines, he detached an apparently overwheiming force against Cochin, then defended by major Hewitt, with the 1st bat, of the 17th Native infantry, and a mere handful of Europeans, with the hope of retrieving and re-establishing, if it could be effected by the expected result of so unequal a contest, the character and confidence of his troops. Major Hewitt, on the 19th of January, found himself attacked on every approachable side, by strong bodies of the enemy; and in a situation almost devoid of defence; having neither the cover of walls nor of batteries: yet in these circumstances he exhibited so determined a resistance, aided by so much skill and bravery, that he repulsed the enemy in every quarter, after repeated and ineffectual struggles to establish himself within the town." This severe and new loss, experienced by the assailants, compelled them to retreat to their main body, leaving many of their numbers behind them, on the field of their unsuccessful enterprise. The brilliant efforts of a small detachment of the 12th European regt. inspired by the gallantry of their leader, major Hewitt, gave life and animation to the native troops, converting every ordinary individual into an hero, and empowering them to fe ts of generous and emulous courage, that, would appear romantic rather than real. The explot of this little detachment was not thought unworthy of the particular notice and distinction of the government, which it honoured and served.

With these successive examples and impressions of the spirit and energy of our troops, taken, as it were, by surprise, the ardour of the enemy may

be presumed to have been damped, and could not be restored but by new efforts, and by further augmented numbers. They had still united, however, in the front of the subsidiary force, so large an army, reckoning on their mere numerical strength, as to render it imprudent, or unadvisable for colonel Chalmers to venture on an attempt to disperse them. So that from a different cause, the British, as the Travancorean force, was obliged to remain for a time inactive; but the consequence to one was different far from the other.

If the Travancore troops were not able to achieve any advantage, at this season, when they had attacked the British force in an insulated situation, without any preparation, and without the possibility of obtaining immediate reinforcements, it could hardly be expected that they should prevail, when supplies should be forwarded to it from the different contiguous parts of the company's possessions. So that inactivity on the one side, must have been politic and desirable, while on the other it could operate little short of the absolute ruin of its affairs.

It was impracticable for colonel Chalmers, not only from the want of cavalry, but from the dearth of public cattle, and articles of equipment, to have moved forward towards the enemy; even had policy suggested such a measure. This is one of the early inconveniences, and it is easy to foresee that it will not be the last, experienced from the abolition of the tent contract, noticed in the preceding chapter.

To these busy and agitated scenes succeeded a temporary calm in the southern districts of Travancore, which allowed time to colonel Chalmers to strengthen himself in his position, and to look with confidence, if he could maintain it, for speedy reinforcements. On hearing of the sudden rupture of the friendly relations of the two governments, and the consequent dangerous situation of the subsidiary force, it may be supposed, that the Madras government lost not any time in for warding a sufficient force from the

company's provinces, to sustain the British contingent in Travancore, and for further hostile purposes. The troops, therefore, that had been equip ed on a former occasion at Trichinopoly, and also at Seringapatam, and had been suddenly recalled on their route in the same direction, were now a second time ordered to march for Travancore; and it was fortunate, from the late equipment of these soparate detachments, that they were euabled to proceed without much delay, or otherwise, from the want of camp equipage and cattle, they might have been lost to the service in the opening campaign, from the usual season of the setting in of the Monsoon on the Malabar coast.

The troops from Seringapatam were quickened in their movements towards Travancore, by an urgent application from colonel Cuppage to col. Forbes, of his majesty's 80th regiment, commanding the force ordered from Mysoor; the former officer having dispatched, as has already been explained, an European regiment, and a battalion of sepoys, on the first appearance of hostilities, to the relief of colonel Chalmers at the British cantonment ; a provision which had saved that officer and his troops, and had enabled him to make that gallant defence, or rather, we should say, to gain those splendid advantages over the enemy, which have already been noticed

The aid, solicited by col. Cuppage, arrived some time at the commencement of the month of February, and served to render that zealous and active officer competent, in point of strength, which he immediately, and successfully used, to penetrate the lines of the enemy on the Malabar frontier; with which effort the operation on this side of Travancore seems to have concluded.

After the detail of these particulars, it will be requisite to pursue the movements of the detachment, proceeding from Trichinopoly; which, from its importance, as a military body, but more especially from its distinguished services, on this occasion, deserves a minute attention,