o close it.

But another and stronger gate had still to be passed, and here a
desperate stand was made. The troops were obliged to take shelter,
close to the wall, until the twelve pounder was brought up. It was
of little avail, for the artillerymen were shot down as soon as
they endeavoured to work it. At length, two or three officers
gathered a party, and made a rush at the wicket gate. Half a dozen
muskets were discharged, together, at the lock; and the gate at
once gave way.

The whole party rushed forward into the interior of the fortress,
gained the ramparts, and opened fire on the enemy, who in vain
attempted to drive out the force gathered near the gate; and
Pedron, finding further resistance impossible, surrendered.

The loss of the victors, in killed and wounded, amounted to two
hundred and twenty-three; while that of the garrison, in killed
alone, exceeded two thousand. An enormous quantity of military
stores was found here, the French having made it their chief depot.
The number of guns captured was two hundred and eighty-one.

On the 7th of September, the army marched for Delhi. On the way,
General Lake received a letter from Monsieur Perron, saying that he
had quitted the service of Scindia, and requesting a free passage
to Lucknow. The easy capture of a fortress that he and his
engineers had rendered, as they believed, impregnable, and the loss
of all his military stores, sufficed to show him that he could not
hope to withstand the progress of the British; and that it was
better for him to resign, at once, than to continue a hopeless
struggle, especially as the loss of Alighur would excite the fury
of Scindia, and possibly lead to his arrest and execution. He had,
indeed, received information that he had already lost Scindia's
confidence; and that intrigues were being carried on, with some of
his officers, to deprive him of his jagheer and command.

His request was therefore granted and, escorted by a party of his
own bodyguard, and by some British dragoons, he proceeded to
Lucknow and, afterwards, settled in the neighbourhood of
Chandernagore.

The capture of Alighur had indeed made a tremendous impression upon
the native mind and, as the army advanced, several fortresses that
might have made a long defence were abandoned.

On the 11th, General Lake's army encamped within six miles of
Delhi; but the tents were but just pitched when intelligence was
received that a large force of the enemy was i