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by cavalry. The nabob's answer to this extraordinary letter trans- 

 mits a very impressive trait of that great man's character. 



"I have received your letter, in which you invite me 

 " to an action with your army. Give me the same sort of troops 

 " that you command, and your wishes shall be accomplished. You 

 " will in time understand my mode of warfare. Shall I risk my 

 " cavalry, which cost a thousand rupees each horse, against your 

 " cannon balls which cost two pice?* No. — I will march your 

 " troops until their legs shall become the size of their bodies. — 

 " You shall not have a blade of grass, nor a drop of water. I will 

 " hear of you every time your drum beats, but you shall not know 

 " where I am once a month. — I will give your army battle, but it 

 " it must be when I please, and not when you choose." 



Every word in this letter proved true. The incessant fatigue 

 which Colonel Wood's detachment underwent, brought on such 

 complaints among the troops that he was obliged to leave a great 

 number in different garrisons of Coimbaloor. By keeping a piquet 

 of horse to watch Colonel Wood's motions, and establishing tele- 

 graphs on signal posts in different parts of the country, Hyder 

 exactly knew every movement his army made; and, by laying 

 waste the country, and destroying the tanks and wells as Colonel 

 Wood advanced, the latter was frequently obliged to retreat for 

 want of forage and water. To complete his promise, and fulfil his 

 threat of giving battle to the British army when he thought proper, 

 Hyder surprized Colonel Wood at Manbagul, and brought him to 

 an engagement, in which he lost all his artillery, and nothing saved 



* A piece of copper equal to a penny. 



