163 



General Orders, Onore 20th of March 1784. 



" Replete with the highest sense of gratitude to this 

 garrison, the Commandant, in the warmest manner thanks the 

 officers, heads of departments, non-commissioned officers, and 

 privates of every corps, for their courage, toil, and conduct, during 

 a fatiguing siege of more than three months, and a painful 

 blockade of much longer continuance. He is assured, from a 

 determination to do ample justice in his representations to the 

 Honourable the Select Committee at Bombay, and. to brigadier 

 general M'Leod, commander in chief of the army, of the spirit 

 and perseverance they have in so great a degree evinced, they 

 will receive more flattering commendations on their arrival at the 

 presidency, than it is in his power to bestow." 



The same evening, captain Torriano, in compliance with a 

 pressing invitation, paid his first visit to Mirza, accompanied by 

 captain Scott, and three other gentlemen. They met, agreeably 

 to a preconcerted plan, at the sultaun's batteries. Mirza was at- 

 tended by the rajah of Zeremullee, and a numerous suwarree ; the 

 sultaun's troops forming a line from the batteries to the durbar, 

 paid the British commandant all the European military honours 

 as he passed their respective corps. After a plentiful supper, 

 consisting of every dainty procurable, the company were enter- 

 tained till day-light by the best dancing girls in the camp. They 

 then returned to the fort; the road from the durbar to the batteries 

 being, as before, lined with troops. 



During the conviviality of the evening, captain Torriano 

 asked Mirza some questions regarding the officer who had so 



