ut for the interference of
our troops, his men would have torn him to pieces. When he was asked if
he had really held out those promises as from us, he laughingly replied,
"I had no other method of getting them out, and I was not fool enough to
remain in that fort to have my brains blown out. They are now in your
power; do what you please with them. I have done my part; now do yours."
The keeledar was immediately placed in confinement, and Sir John thus
addressed the wretched-looking creatures who had constituted the
garrison:--"I have every reason to believe that you came out under the
idea that you should keep your arms and little property, and with the
understanding that this indulgence had been granted by the English. No
such thing was ever promised by us, nor could a rebellious garrison
expect such an indulgence from the government, when death alone was the
penalty of such conduct; but as you have been deceived by your base
keeledar, into a belief that such terms were offered by us, and have
surrendered the fort under this confident expectation, we will not
enforce the terms insisted on through your treacherous keeledar, but
permit you to depart as you are. You may therefore go, and I would
advise you to retire quietly to your homes, and there to make your peace
with your justly-offended master, Scindia."

This party was escorted some miles from camp, and the keeledar was sent
a prisoner to his master; but what became of him I never heard. There
can be little doubt, however, that his refusing to give up this fort was
by positive instructions received from Scindia himself, who was closely
connected with the conspiracy formed against the British government,
during the Pindaree campaign; but the presence of the Marquis of
Hastings, with the centre division of the grand army, under the very
walls of his capital, kept that combined conspiracy from breaking forth.

From the tremendous height of this fort, the shelling at night was truly
splendid and magnificent. I have seen ten and fifteen shells soaring in
the air together, and, from the extreme height from which they were
obliged to be thrown, they looked like falling stars. When they burst,
the report below was like thunder.

Thus ended the campaign of 1818-19, and we had no occasion to complain
of not having had the honour of storming the fort of Asseerghur, as all
the guns in the world could never have effected a breach. Where we did
attempt a breach, our twenty-f