46 EASTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 



part having been interred, on September 14th, at P.ockbourne, 

 HampJJjire, in the family vault. He entered early into the 

 army, and is fliid to have ferved in Scotland in 1745. In 1754 ^^^ 

 landed at Madras, being in one of the regiments fent to India 

 under the command of a Colonel Jdlercron. His firft diflindion 

 was that of being appointed, in 1757, to command at Calcutta, 

 in which he was fupeneded on a difpute between him and 

 Cli'i-e refpeding the right. Coote was prefent at the battle of 

 Plajfv. The day preceding the action, the commander in chief, 

 Colonel Clive^ called a council, in which it was debated, whe- 

 ther the attack fliould immediately be made, or the army retire 

 to Cut'xab during the rainy feafon. Coote dreaded the effect a 

 retreat might have on the common foldiers, which might fup- 

 prefs the ardor with which they were then infpired. The 

 council divided. Thirteen lided with Clive, and only feven with 

 the gallant major. The colonel retired to an adjacent grove, 

 and paffed an hour in gloomy meditation. He returned con- 

 vinced of the folidity of Coote's advice, and inilantly diredted that 

 the troops Ihould crofs the river to the attack the next morn- 

 ing *. The great event is fufficiently known : but the caufe of 

 immediate action is fuppreffed by the hiftorian of the fearlefs 

 vi6lor, who feemed to be fuperior to advice ; yet, after reflec- 

 tion, was too wife to decline what every one muft acknowlege 

 the necellity of. The cenotaph was not the only honor be- 

 ftowed on this faithful fervant. The Eafl India Company 

 eredled in their temple of Fame in the India-houje, a ftatue to his 



* Ormc, ii. p.p. 170, 171, 



memory, 



