APPENDIX, No. I-An Account, shewing the Estimated and Actual Revenues and Charges in India, with the Results, for Ten Years, from 1795-4 to 1802-3 after deducting Payments on Account of Interest on Debts, and Supply to Bencoolen, &c.; exhibiting likewise, the Decrease, or the Increase of the Debts, distinguishing each Year.

In our fourth Volume, (Characters, p. 55,) we gave a summary account of this extraordinary adventurer; and considering his military exploits, and the influence which he thereby gained amongst the petty states in Western-Hindustan, highly curious and entertaining, we have much satisfaction in laying before our readers this more enlarged Narrative of his Life, from Captain William Francklin's work.

To the merits of that work, as well as of the character of Mr. TuoMAS, we shall call the attention of our Readers in our Account of Books."

MR. GEORGE THOMAS was a native of Tipperary, in Ireland. His arrival in India appears, from the best information, to have been in 1781-2. His situation in the fleet was humble, having served as a quarter-master, or, as is affirmed by some, in the capacity of foremast man on board a British man of war.

Having landed in the vicinity of Madras, the natural activity and ardour of his mind determined him to leave his ship, and embrace a life of enterprize.

His first service was among the Polygars, to the southward, with VOL. VI.

whom he resided some years.But, at length, setting out overland, he traversed the Peninsula, and about the year 1787, arrived at Delhi. Here he received a commission in the service of the Begum Sumroo; who, soon discovering his talents, raised him to a command in her From this army. period his military carcer commenced.

In various and successive actions against the Seiks, and others, Mr. Thomas, by his courage and perseverance, extended the dominion, and increased the revenue of his mistress, with whom he soon became chief confidant and counsellor; but, unfortunately for both parties, after a residence of six or seven years, he had the mortification to find himself supplanted by intrigue, and his authority devolved on his successful rival.

Indignant at the conduct of the Begum, Mr. Thomas resolved to embark his fortune on a different service. In pursuance of this plan he repaired, about the year 1792, to the frontier station of the British army, at the post of Anop

sheer.

Having waited some time in expectation of overtures from some of the native princes, he at length SA accepted

accepted very flattering proposals from Appakandarao, a Mahratta chief.

Appakandarao, had formerly been successful in the service of Mahajee Scindeah, but having invaded Bundilcund in the year 1790, and being repulsed in his operations, he was dismissed from the service of that prince.

Appakandarao, naturally haughty and impatient, could ill brook this humiliation, and from that moment resolved to shake off all dependence. It was at this period, that the fame of Thomas's former exploits held him up as a fit object to assist in the accomplishment of this bold and hazardous design. Overtures were consequently made to Mr. Thomas, who joined Appakandarao with a body of 250 cavalry, all chosen men, and of approved valour.

This accession of force was particularly acceptable to the Mahratta chief-many of his districts having rebelled against his power, and withheld their accustomed tribute.

Mr. Thomas was now directed to raise a battalion of 1000 infantry, and 100 cavalry, for the maintenance of which, Appakandarao assigned to him the purgannals of Tajara, Topookara, and Feroozeepoor, situated in the Mewattee district, to the south west of Delhi. These districts, had for some years before, been in a state of rebellion, nor was Appakandarao sufficiently powerful to reduce them to subjection. When a large force was sent against them, it was customary with the inhabitants to take shelter in the mountains, but when opposed by inferior numbers, they united their forces, and

usually became victorious. These excesses rendered the Mahratta chief anxious to transfer the districts to some person who would effectually exert himself to restore order among them.

Mr. Thomas now prepared to march, and take possession of his new territory, but was prevented by the death of Scindeah; on which occasion, Appakandarao, attended by Mr. Thomas, repaired instantly to Delhi, to guard against any commotion that might arise in that capital.

On their arrival at court, they, among other chiefs, were invested with khelauts. Similar presents were likewise prepared for Dowiut Rao Scindeah, heir to his deceased uncle.

Mr. Thomas having remained some time at Delhi, recruited his force to 700 men. With this reinforcement he proposed, a second time, to march, but was impeded by a new obstacle.

Unable to pay his troops, they became mutinous, and plundered the adjacent country. This conduct occasioned much severe altercation between Appakandarao and himself, which at length ended in a compromise, that gave to the latter the sum of 14,000 rupees, and an assignment for the remainder of his claim. The assignment, however, was never fulfilled.

In his march towards his districts, Mr. Thomas retaliated upon the Begum Sumroo, laying under contribution that part of her country which came within his route.

Arriving at Ghoorath, a large and populous village, he imposed heavy contributions, and supplied his army with an ample store of bullocks and forage.

Pursuing

Pursuing his march, after a long and tedious day's journey, he encamped near the town of Tejara, in the centre of the Mewattee district. The night was very dark and rainy, which, together with the extreme fatigue of the troops, favoured the enemy in carrying off a horse from the very centre of his camp.

On the following morning, a party was detached to discover the village to which the horse had been conveyed; but the party had not proceeded far, before it was attacked, and compelled to retreat. Orders were then given for the cavalry to advance in support of the detachment. Mr. Thomas having taken the command of the infantry, in person, with his whole collected forces, attacked the village to which the horse had been taken. The enemy had assembled in formidable numbers; but the centre division of Mr. Thomas's troops having, in a short time, fired the village, he made no doubt of a complete victory. At this moment, however, the divisions on the right and left gave way, flying with the utmost precipitancy, and leaving the wounded in the field of battle, where they were cut to pieces by the enemy.

The centre division soon following the example of their comrades, Mr. Thomas was left with about a dozen infantry, and a few determined cavalry to support the con

test.

In this perplexity, Mr. Thomas, as a dernier resort, encouraged his faithful adherents to exert themselves in extricating a nine-pounder, which, previous to the battle, had sunk in the bed of a nullah. The party had just succeeded, when the enemy, flushed with a

certainty of victory, recommenced their attack, and endeavoured to seize the gun.

The cominandant of Thomas's cavalry, a man of distinguished bravery, resolving not to forsake his chief, desperately threw himself, with a few resolute followers, between the gun and the enemy. This gallant action was fatal to them, but afforded Mr. Thomas time to remount his nine-pounder, and open a well-directed shower of grape upon the enemy.-This saved the gallant few of the surviving party, for after discharging a few rounds, the Mewatters retired to the surrounding ravines.

Mr. Thomas now collected his fugitives, who, with the brave partakers of his danger, encreased his detachment to about 300 men. With these, he challenged the enemy to a renewal of the combat, which they, however, cautiously declined.

This action, so disastrous in the onset, and so brilliant in its ter

ination, spread an universal terror throughout the remaining districts in rebellion, and led to an immediate overture of peace.

The punishment of this village, the strongest and most refractory of the district, was highly favourable to Mr. Thomas's interest, and the more particularly so, as it had, in a former campaign, resisted the whole force of the Begum Sumroo; but experience having convinced Mr. Thomas that vigorous measures could alone be depended on, he consumed others of the rebellious villages by fire as soon as he had gained possession of them.

An example so severe deterred the remainder from opposing him, and Mr. Thomas returned to Teja$42

ra,