34 CONQUEST OF BENCAL. 



supported by a fine train of artillery. Their number did 

 not exceed 20,000 horse and 8000 foot ; but to this Major 

 Adams had to oppose only 3000. The enemy withstood 

 the attack four hours with great intrepidity ; they even 

 during that time surrounded and broke a part of his lino, 

 and captured two pieces of cannon. But at length, the 

 steady and disciplined valour of the assailants carried every 

 thing before it ; and the enemy fled, abandoning all their 

 artillery and provisions. The Indian prince, however, re- 

 tired to an intrenched camp on the Oodwa, so strongly en- 

 closed between the river, the mountains, and a swamp, that 

 its reduction detained the army nearly a whole month. In 

 the end it was surprised and carried ; after which Cossim 

 Ali never again attempted to face his enemy in the field. 

 Major Adams immediately marched and laid si°ge to 

 Monghir, which the subahdar had made his capital, and 

 carefully fortified. After nine days of open trenches the 

 place capitulated, which threw the Indian chief into the 

 most dreadful paroxysm of rage. He sent notice that the 

 moment the English force should advance upon Patna, he 

 would avenge himself by putting to death the whole gar- 

 rison who had been taken in that city. Major Adams much 

 distressed by this threat, addressed a letter to the prisoners, 

 entreating them to suggest some expedient by which their 

 release might be effected. Ellis and Hay, however, with a 

 truly Roman spirit, answered, that there was no hope of 

 escape, — that they were resigned to their fate, — and en- 

 treated that the march of the army should not he suspended 

 on their account for a single moment. Vansittart wrote to 

 Meer Cossim, at once deprecating his intended cruelty and 

 threatening the most signal vengeance ; but as soon as the 

 army bejran to move, the tyrant fulfilled to the utmost his 

 bloody threat. The whole garrison of Patna, consisting 

 of 50 gentlemen and KID soldiers, were put to death, with 

 the single exception of Mr. Fullerton, who was spared on 

 account of bis medical skill. The nabob killed also the two 

 Seats, the most opulent and distinguished native inhabitants 

 of Bengal, solely for their suspected attachment to the 

 English. By these barbarities Ik- forfeited the interest 

 which his vigorous conduct and hard treatment would other- 

 wise have excited. 



