for ascertaining the
Qualifications of Members of Parliament..... Act for
consolidating the Annuities granted in 1759..... Bill for
securing the Payment of Prize and Bounty Money appropriated
for the Use of Greenwich Hospital..... Act in Favour of
George Keith, late Earl Marshal of Scotland..... Session
closed_

SIEGE OF MADRAS.

While the arms of Great Britain triumphed in Europe and America, her
interest was not suffered to languish in other parts of the world.
This was the season of ambition and activity, in which every separate
armament, every distinct corps, and individual officer, seemed to exert
themselves with the most eager appetite of glory. The East Indies, which
in the course of the preceding year had been the theatre of operations
carried on with various success, exhibited nothing now but a succession
of trophies to the English commanders. The Indian transactions of the
last year were interrupted at that period when the French general,
Lally, was employed in making preparations for the siege of Madras. In
the month of October he had marched into Arcot without opposition; and
in the beginning of December, he advanced towards Madras. On the twelfth
he marched over Choultry plain, in three divisions, cannonaded by the
English artillery with considerable effect, and took post at Egmore
and St. Thome. Colonel Laurence, who commanded the garrison of Madras,
retired to the island, in order to prevent the enemy from taking
possession of the island bridge; and at the same time ordered the posts
to be occupied in the Blacktown, or suburbs of Madras. In the morning of
the fourteenth, the enemy marched with their whole force to attack this
place; the English detachments retreated into the garrison; and within
the hour a grand sally was made, under the command of colonel Draper, a
gallant officer, who signalized himself remarkably on this occasion.
He attacked the regiment of Lorrain with great impetuosity; and in all
probability would have beat them off, had they not been sustained by
the arrival of a fresh brigade. After a very warm dispute, in which many
officers and a great number of men were killed on each side, colonel
Draper was obliged to retreat, not altogether satisfied with the conduct
of his grenadiers. As the garrison of Madras was not very numerous,
nothing further was attempted on their side without the works. In the
meantime, the enemy used all their diligence in er