WELLESLEY PREPARES FOR WAR. 109 



British navy, had recently landed in Egypt a force suffi- 

 cient to conquer it ; an expedition, too, generally believed 

 to be undertaken with an ultimate view to India. The 

 dangers of a French invasion of that country were then, 

 perhaps, generally overrated ; now, after the event, they 

 are probably underrated ; for it seems highly probable that 

 the rulers of France, had they not been involved in a series 

 of continental wars, would have attempted to transport a 

 large army into the East, — and it is by no means certain 

 that they would not have succeeded. 



However decided might be the view taken by Lord 

 Wellesley of this subject, he was not yet in a condition to 

 commence open hostilities. Immediate attention was re- 

 quired to the strong corps formed under French officers at 

 the capital of Hydrabad. Upon this point the governor- 

 general determined to adopt the most decisive measures. 

 Captain Kirkpatrick, resident at that court, was instructed 

 to lay before the nizam the plan of an alliance, offensive 

 and defensive, by which he was to be guarantied against 

 the attack of all his enemies. In support of this pledge 

 four English battalions, with a body of artillery, in addition 

 to the two already stationed there, were to be sent to his 

 capital ; but he was informed that the corps under French 

 command must be immediately dissolved, and the officers 

 dismissed. The movement of a large body of troops to 

 the frontier intimated that these propositions were not 

 meant to be optional. The nizam was involved in much 

 doubt and perplexity. He is said to have been disgusted 

 by the insolent and domineering conduct of the French 

 officers; but he dreaded to see his country the theatre of a 

 contest between the rival nations ; still more, perhaps, he 

 foresaw that, by the proposed arrangement, he would be- 

 come completely the vassal of England. At length, on the 

 1st September, 1798, he signed the treaty, which was rati- 

 fied at Calcutta on the 18th, and carried into effect with 

 such expedition, that on the 10th October the new sub- 

 sidiary force arrived at Hydrabad. The nizam relapsed 

 into all his doubt and irresolution, and endeavoured to 

 evade or delay every decisive step, till Colonel Roberts, the 

 commander, cutting short all discussion, inarched up to the 

 French cantonments, and on the 22d formed a circle round 

 them. The troops, at once dreading a contest with the 

 . Yol. II.— X 



