440 
TILE T. 
was no! determined on, without the most prudent circumspection. 
All the roads upon the hills were broken up, the bridges were removed 
from across the torrents, and every possible obstacle was thrown in 
the way of the enemy. 
Thus closely pressed by a victorious army, and destitute of any 
immediate resource, the Nipalese were induced to solicit the interfe- 
1 ' 
rence of the British government. 
Captain Kirkpatrick, an officer in our service, was at this time 
appointed ambassador to Nipal, and he was the first of our nation who 
ever obtained admission into that country. The object of his embassy 
was considered in different points of view, by the parties that were 
either directly, or remotely, engaged in the present contest. The 
Chinese commander is said to have made no very favourable report 
of the English, at his court, for he viewed our connection with the 
Nipalese in a most inauspicious light. These representations from him, 
and our declining to afford effectual assistance to the Lama’s cause, 
had considerable weight at the Chinese court; the similarity of dress 
and discipline, between the Nipal soldiers and the battalions in the 
British service, is said, also, to have been most forcibly stated, and 
not without considerable effect, since the suspicious character of the 
Chinese, could hardly be persuaded to believe, that we had not given 
assistance to their enemies. 
The Chinese troops, however, pursued their fortune with uniform suc¬ 
cess; and. daunted by their superior conduct and courage, the Nipalese 
now began to look upon all further resistance as vain, and immediately 
had recourse to the most abject and most submissive entreaty. 
