SUBMISSION OF THE RAJAH. 205 



were found in British firmness and courage. Captain Fitz- 

 gerald, who had withdrawn the cavalry within the residency- 

 grounds, seeing the critical state of the infantry, and the 

 fire already opening upon his station, felt that affairs could 

 he retrieved only hy one of those bold attacks which a native 

 army can scarcely ever resist. He led his few horsemen to 

 the charge, drove every thing before him, took two guns, 

 and turned them against the enemy. The troops on the 

 larger hill, animated by this example, resumed courage, and, 

 raisin cr loud shouts, opened a brisk fire on the assailants. 

 A party dashed across to the smaller hill, from which the 

 rajah's followers were driven in their turn, and about noon 

 were repulsed at every point. Yet the British had lost a 

 fourth of their number, and their ammunition was drawing 

 to a close, so that had Appa persevered, he must have 

 finally succeeded in cutting off the detachment, — an event 

 which would have produced the strongest sensation over all 

 India. But he remained inactive, while English reinforce- 

 ments were poured in from every quarter. On the 12th 

 December, General Doveton arrived with the strong reserve 

 under his command. It then became impossible for Saheb 

 to hope for success ; he had already obtained an armistice, 

 and now inquired as to the terms on which a final accommo- 

 dation might be effected. Mr. Jenkins replied that nothing 

 could now be accepted short of entire submission, — the 

 disbanding of his troops, the delivering up of all his forts 

 and artillery, and his own presence as a hostage at the 

 British residency. It was however intimated, that on his 

 complying fully with these requisitions, he would be restored 

 to nearly his former condition, being required only to main- 

 tain a subsidiary force, and submit to a certain degree of 

 control. When the troops, however, marched into Nag- 

 pore to take possession of the ordnance, they were saluted 

 with a hot fire, and suffered some loss before they could 

 seize the guns and compel the Arabs, who took the chief 

 part in this resistance, to retire within the fort. As they 

 refused to surrender, a siege was immediately commenced, 

 and a practicable breach appeared to have been made in the 

 gate ; but when the assault was given, it was found to be 

 so secured by interior walls, that the English were obliged 

 to retreat with considerable damage. Preparations were 

 then made to invest the place on a more regular plan ; but 

 Vol. II.— S 



