Early this year, then, Mr.
Saunders assured him that he should be assisted with all our strength, and Muhammud Ali thereupon broke off the negotiations with the French.
"Most unfortunately for us, Major Lawrence had gone home to England on sick leave.

Captain Gingen, who now commands our troops, is a wretched substitute for him.

Captain Cope is no better.
"Early this year Mr.Saunders sent Cope, with two hundred and eighty English and three hundred Sepoys, to Trichinopoli.

Benefiting by the delay which was caused before Dupleix, owing to the absence of his best troops at Hyderabad, could collect an army, Cope laid siege to Madura, but was defeated and had to abandon his guns.

Three thousand of Muhammud Ali's native troops thereupon deserted to the enemy.
"The cause of the English now appeared lost.