Lieutenant John Gordon of the Dundurcus family, massacred at Patna

24
Dowla, and so make a pusli in the dry season.
It is said he carries off upwards of three crore3
of rupees."
Adams struck his next big blow on Sept. 5 at
Udha-nala. Describing the battle, from hearing
of course, Anderson writes on Sept. 7:— "By a
messenger from Muradabad in nine days have the
account of an action confirmed as follows. The
enemy made an attack on our fascine battery at
night. Our people quitted it, and having let about
4000 men land (for they crossed the nulla in boats),
they immediately surrounded them and cut them
off."
Writing again on Sept. 10 he says:— "We have
from Niccolo some confused account of our storm-
ing the enemy's trenches in the night, entirely
driving them thence and taking all. their camp
and artillery. Soomero and Marcott are missing,
and the beaten troops obliged to retreat. It is
reported 6 jemadars who were with Comdar Cawn
are gone off. Things in the greatest confusion at
His Excellency's court."
Mir Kasim was more savage than ever, and
resolved to have his revenge on the English
prisoners in his hands. On Sept. 9, a few days
after his defeat at Udha-nala, he announced in a
letter dated Sept. 9:— "I will cut off the heads of
Mr Ellis [the local Agent of the Calcutta Council]
and the rest of your chiefs, and send them to you.
Exult not upon the success which you have gained
merely by treachery and night assaults in two
or three places, over a few jemaldars sent by me.
By the will of God, you shall see in what manner
this shall be avenged and retaliated."
Major Adams wrote in reply on Sept. 14, 1763: —
"It is true you have Mr Ellis and many other
gentlemen in your power. If a hair of their heads
is hurt, you can have no title to mercy from the
English, and you may depend on the utmost fury
of their resentment, and that they will pursue
you to the utmost extremity of the earth; and,
should we unfortunately not lay hold of you, the
vengeance of the Almighty cannot fail overtaking
you if you perpetrate so horrid an act as the
murder of the gentlemen in your custody."
This threat evoked from the President the fol-
lowing letter to Mir Kasim, dated Sept. 19, 1763: —
"I have received from Major Adams the copy of
your letter, dated the last of Sept. Mr Amyatt
and Mr Hay were sent to you as ambassadors, a
title sacred among all nations; yet, in violation
of that title, you caused Mr Amyatt to be attacked