1 418 LALPURA TAKEN.
2 pardoned for his late misconduct; but if he
3 refused, Lalpura was threatened to be carried
4 by force. Lieutenant Mackeson, who had
5 proceeded a day in advance of us, had written
6 to him to the same effect, We received no
7 answer until next morning, when Sadat Khan
8 declined to appear in person, but offered to
9 depute his son. Another admonitory letter
10 was addressed to him, requiring his submission
11 to the terms prescribed; but two days passed
12 in silence, without any settlement. At last
13 Sadat Khan was told that if he still continued
14 hostile and obstinate, he would be attacked the
15 next morning; yet every persuasion failed to
16 restore him to his senses. Colonel Wade pro-
17 ceeded accordingly with a party to assault
18 Lalpura; and with that view, some rafts were
19 prepared for the passage of the troops across
20 the river; but just as the troops were about to
21 embark, a report was brought of the flight of
22 Sadat Khan to the hills, over which we saw
23 them passing. The fort was therefore occupied
24 and garrisoned by the Shah Zada’s troops
25 without any bloodshed, while the town of Lal-