and put a stop to their march at the French
gardens. He accordingly advanced to the northward, and entered the town
of Chandernagore, where he sustained the fire of a Dutch party sent out
from Chinchura to join and conduct the expected reinforcement. These
being routed and dispersed, after a short action, colonel Forde in the
morning proceeded to a plain in the neighbourhood of Chinchura, where he
found the enemy prepared to give him battle on the twenty-fifth day of
November. They even advanced to the charge with great resolution and
activity; but found the fire of the English artillery and battalion so
intolerably hot, that they soon gave way, and were totally defeated.
A considerable number were killed, and the greater part of those who
survived the action were taken prisoners. During this contest, the
nabob, at the head of a considerable army, observed a suspicious
neutrality; and in all likelihood would have declared for the Dutch had
they proved victorious, as he had reason to believe they would, from
their great superiority in number. But fortune no sooner determined
in favour of the English, than he made a tender of his service to the
victor, and even offered to reduce Chinchura with his own army. In the
meantime, proposals of accommodation being sent to him by the directors
and council of the Dutch factory at Chinchura, a negotiation ensued, and
a treaty was concluded to the satisfaction of all parties. Above three
hundred of the prisoners entered into the service of Great Britain; the
rest embarked on board their ships, which were restored as soon as the
peace was ratified, and set out on their return for Batavia. After all,
perhaps, the Dutch company meant nothing more than to put their factory
of Chinchura on a more respectable footing; and, by acquiring greater
weight and consequence among the people of the country than they
formerly possessed, the more easily extend their commerce in that part
of the world. At any rate, it will admit of a dispute among those who
profess the law of nature and nations, whether the Dutch company could
be justly debarred the privilege of sending a reinforcement to their
own garrisons. Be that as it will, the ships were not restored until the
factory at Chinchura had given security to indemnify the English for the
damage they had sustained on this occasion.

COLONEL COOTE TAKES WANDEWASH.

The success of the English army was still more conspicuous on the
coast of Coroman