E s c a l a d e *
•with equidiftant round towers : the outmoft wall is eighteen
feet high. At the diftance o f twenty-five feet is another, thirty
feet high, with a rampart of ftone, defcended by large Reps
from bottom to top, which is ten feet broad ; around the whole
is a ditch thirty feet wide and twelve deep, unequally fupplied
with water. On the north fide of the city is a rock a hundred
and fifty feet high, covered with various buildings. This important
city was in poffeifion of the Englijh from the year 1751,
and bravely defended by Major Laurence, either within the
Walls or by his viéfories over the French in the environs. He
was feconded by Clive, then a captain : their conjoined efforts
contributed to the confirming the power of the Englijh in India,
and promoting our future greatnefs.
T h e famous efcalade o f the French, in 1753, may be compared
to that o f the Savoyards on Geneva, in 1601 : it was
equally brave, ,but equally unfuccefsful. Multitudes o f the
French got into the town, which was preferved by the gallantry
o f a lieutenant Harrifon, the governor, the brave Kilpatrick,
being ill o f his wounds in bed. The French, bewildered
in the darknefs o f the night, amidft the intricacies o f the fortifications
were difcovered, yet made a brave defence. Part, w ho
made their retreat were, by reafon o f the deftruaion o f the
fcaling ladders, compelled to make a defperate leap from the
walls. Death or maiming was the confequence. The furvivors
within the walls furrendered to the brave fubaltern, who died
foon after in his humble ftation, unrewarded, unpromoted for
his moft important fervice *.
* Orme, i. p. p. 320 to 324-
A bout
A bout five miles to thé north o f the city, the Cavery is di1 P a g o d a or Sr.
RINGHAM.
vided by the iila'nd of Seringham, one part of which is fo near
to Pritchinopoly, that the fhot o f the Englijh and French have in-
terfeaed each other from their refpeaive batteries, The illand
is celebrated for its two Pagodas. That known by the name
of the illand is perhaps the moft famed of thofe o f Hindoojian,
for its fànaity, magnitude, and vaft refort o f pilgrims to pay
worlhip to the very image of the great Vichenou, the objea
of adoration of the god Brahma. I can only touch incidentally
on the mythology of the warm-fancied Hindoojians.
I leave that in general, and the various incarnations, to ftronger
heads than my own, which can bear to unfold the deep allegories
and myfteries. My weak brain turns round at
the very attempt, and my very dreams are horrible, in-
fefted by the monftrous affumptions o f this changeable fu-
preme*. StffjrfMÉïIflÎ I . .
Mr. Orme, vói. i. p. 1-78, gives a moft exait defcription o f D e s c r i b e d ,
the facred retreat : “ It is compofed of feven fquare inclofures
“ one within the other, the walls of which are twenty-five feet
“ high, and four thick. Thefe inclofures are three hundred
Ê and fifty feet diftant from one another, and each has four
“ large gates with a high tower, which are placed one in the
“ middle o f each fide of the inclofure, and oppofite to the four
“ cardinal points. The outward wall is near four miles in cir-
“ cumference, and its gateway to the fouth is ornamented with
* Conlult -our learned and able countryman the Reverend Thomas Maurice, who has. ex-
haufted the fubjedt- Alfo the ingenious Sannerat, vol. i. p. 151, o f his travels.
D a “ pillars.