any's ship the Revenge, arrived in the road of Madras, with a
reinforcement of six hundred men belonging to colonel Draper's regiment,
and part of them was immediately disembarked. From the beginning of
the siege the enemy had discovered a backwardness in the service, very
unsuitable to their national character. They were ill supplied by their
commissaries and contractors: they were discouraged by the obstinate
defence of the garrison, and all their hope of success vanished at the
arrival of this reinforcement. After a brisk fire, they raised the siege
that very night, abandoning forty pieces of cannon; and having destroyed
the powder-mills at Egmore, retreated to the territory of Arcot. [515]
_[See note 4 A, at the end of this Vol.]_

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

SUCCESS OF COLONEL FORDE.

M. Lally having weakened his forces that were at Masalipatam, under the
conduct of the marquis de Conflans, in order to strengthen the army with
which he undertook the siege of Madras, the rajah of Vizanapore drove
the French garrison from Vizagapatam, and hoisted English colours in
the place. The marquis having put his troops in motion to revenge this
insult, the rajah solicited succour from colonel Clive at Calcutta; and,
with the consent of the council, a body of troops was sent under the
command of colonel Forde to his assistance. They consisted of five
hundred Europeans, including a company of artillery, and sixteen hundred
sepoys; with about fifteen pieces of cannon, one howitzer, and three
mortars. The forces of Conflans were much more considerable. On the
twentieth day of October colonel Forde arrived at Vizagapatam, and made
an agreement with the rajah, who promised to pay the expense of the
expedition, as soon as he should be put in possession of Rajamundry, a
large town and fort possessed by the French. It was stipulated that he
should have all the inland country belonging to the Indian powers in the
French interest, and at present in arms; and that the English
company should retain all the conquered sea-coast from Vizagapatam to
Masulipatam. On the first of November colonel Forde proceeded on his
march; and on the third joined the rajah's army, consisting of between
three and four thousand men. On the third of December, they came in
sight of the enemy, near the village of Golapool; but the French
declining battle, the colonel determined to draw them from their
advantageous situation, or march round and get between them