a regular and progressive siege, as, independently of the
fort, there was also a walled town, which it would be necessary to take
and occupy, before we could get near enough to the former to mine and
breach it. For the taking of the town our first batteries were erecting
during the parley, as convincing proofs that we were in earnest. This
siege was under the command of Major-General Sir Dyson Marshall, K.C.B.

Mid-day was finally to determine peace or war. The embassy had been in
camp all the morning, begging for time to consider of the proffered
terms, or, more probably, to endeavour to meet the foe. This stratagem
had often been resorted to on similar occasions, to gain the same end;
and I have known instances when those creatures would swear by all their
heathen gods and goddesses, that their great wish was to be reconciled,
when, in reality, they were only plotting a more formidable resistance.
I have often heard them swear by their most sacred Ganges, what was well
known, both to us and them, to be the most palpable falsehood. I have
seen these sycophants kiss the earth, and call everything dear to them
to witness their asseverations, when they have been uttering the most
abominable falsehoods to gain some end. I have also seen them beat their
breasts and tear their hair, in indication of their love and friendship,
when all the while the canker-worm was busy in their hearts. If you
permit them, they will put off the evil day from week to week, and from
month to month, having always something new to start. This day the
vakeel had brought to camp the most positive assurance that his master,
the rajah, would be in camp to sign and ratify a treaty on the proffered
terms. On receiving this intelligence, our good general directed that
our batteries should not open till the hour of twelve that day.

Ten o'clock arrived, but no rajah; eleven o'clock and half-past eleven
passed away, but still no appearance of the great man from the fort.
About a quarter before the awful hour, the vakeel was seen emerging from
the political agent's tent, and mounting his rut; but his contracted
brow betrayed the agitation of his mind. He set off at speed. I rode
beside him as far as our grand battery, and he told me on the way that
all was settled, and that the rajah was coming into camp. Scarcely had
he uttered this lie, when the awful bell struck twelve, and our
batteries opened at the same instant. In a moment the whole town was
envelop