341 



fication, gunnery, and similar subjects to strengthen the ramparts, 

 repair the towers at the diamond gate, and render the old Mah- 

 ratta guns of some service. Fortunately at this critical period, 

 the approach of general Goddard, with his conquering army from 

 Ahmedabad, was announced; the Mahrattas instantly broke up 

 their encampment, and retreating towards Poonah, the general 

 marched to Surat. 



It having been suggested to me that authentic official informa- 

 tion, connected with the subject, introduced with brevity, would 

 be interesting and satisfactory, I shall transcribe part of my pub- 

 lic correspondence after I had been a year at Dhuboy, and had 

 put the fortifications into tolerable repair: premising that in my 

 retired situation, among people strangers to Europeans, and with 

 very few artificers from Baroche, my Encyclopedia was of won- 

 derful utility; the Indians thought it contained all knowledge, 

 from building a castle to making a gun-carriage, and were con- 

 stantly consulting it; and so ingenious and persevering were the 

 Indian artificers, that in a few months after my arrival I had fur- 

 nished the durbar with chairs, tables, sofas, and other necessary 

 articles, after the latest fashion from Europe, finished entirely by 

 the natives of Guzeral. 



I shall in the first place make a few extracts from my instruc- 

 tions from the chief and collector-general of Baroche and its de- 

 pendencies, on my being appointed collector of Dhuboy, to shew 

 the moderation and justice which universally prevailed. on such 

 occasions in India. 



" As I have appointed you collector of the Honourable Com- 

 pany's revenues at Dhuboy, and its districts, you will please to 



