TIPPO SAIB, bold, prompt, and vigilant, but less scrupulous and more ferocious than Hyder Ally, his father, was the heir of his throne and his enterprises, which former he ascended in the year 1732. He was already distinguished by his successive victories over Colonel Baillie in the Carnatic, and Colonel Braithwaite on the banks of the Coleroon; and it was soon discovered that the accession to royalty had not damped his ardour, or chilled his martial spirit. General Matthews had penetrated, with a select detachment to Bednore, the capital of the wealthy kingdom of Canore; his progress is said to have been marked by cruelty and avarice, and his rapacity to have not only stimulated him to plunder, with unfeeling assiduity, the prostrate city, but even to defraud his companions VOL. I. of their portion of the spoils. He, however, had scarcely time to indulge in the contemplation of his newly-acquired riches, before he was alarmed by the approach of Tippoo Saib, who, with a host of cavalry, and the small corps of French under the command of M. Lally, pressed forward to attack the invader. The English commander marched out to meet the exasperated tyrant, but neither his strength nor his skill seemed proportioned to the contest: his ranks were instantly broken by the charge of the French; with the loss of five hundred men he retired within the walls of Bednore, and soon after signed a capitulation, which, with a promise only of their lives and liberties, delivered himself and his troops into the power of Tippoo Saib. That capitulation was soon violated, and E the unfortunate general is reported to have perished by poison: several of the principal officers were barbarously murdered; and the scanty remnant that were released at the conclusion of the peace, had experienced sufferings that rendered the state of their slaughtered companions enviable. The hostile ardour of the French and English squadrons, repressed by a sense of their own danger, and to avoid the monsoons that scatter destruction along the coast of Coromandel, each sought shelter in their respective harbours; but the tempestuous season had no sooner elapsed, than the spirit of enterprise revived, and warlike operations were carried on with the greatest alacrity, on both sides. News now arrived of a peace having been concluded between Great Britain and France: a mutual cessation of hostilities, and restoration of prisoners immediately took place, and the tranquillity so long desired by all parties, was extended from the other quarters of the globe for the settlements of the East India Company, and the war-worn veterans of Asia. The pacification in 1784 was expedient and necessary both to the English and the Sultan of Mysore; but it was not calculated to restore permanent tranquillity. The principles and passions which had given birth to the preceding war remained; and the exhaustion that had reduced the aggressors to terms of peace had been repaired by prudence and the natural course of things. The power that preponderated in the peninsula of Hindostan had been checked, but not subdued. The dominions of Mysore extended over a tract of country five hundred miles in length, and three hundred and fifty in breadth; by nature the strongest, the most fertile and populous in the peninsula, and governed by one of the greatest princes who had appeared in the East for several ages. He was enterprising, prudent, and politic, but cruel and ferocious; a fanatic in the Mohammedan religion, a zealous advocate to all Europeans, and an irreconcilable foe to the English. The hatred which he bore to this nation he extended to the Mahratta states and the nizam of Deccan, on account of their desertion during the war in which they engaged as allies of Hyder. He recruited his strength by a wise and diligent improvement of some years of peace, and considered his present possessions merely as a formation for future conquests. He did not even affect to conceal his antipathy to the English; being high spirited and impetuous, he was at little pains to disguise his views of future aggrandisement and with these sentiments he sent a splendid embassy to the court of France, to solicit an alliance with that power for the purpose of expelling those whom he termed the tyrants of Calcutta. It was impossible for the English East India Company to hear of the preparations of Tippoo with indifference, or without taking measures for guarding against his encroachments. The greatest danger was apprehended for the Carnatic. Here accordingly the preparations for defence were most extensive and most vigorous. Granaries were established on the frontiers and other stations, containing supplies for more than thirty thousand men for twelve months. A complete train of battering and of field artillery was prepared, surpassing all that had ever been seen on the coast. Every thing wore a pleasing aspect, and gave confidence to those who were likely to be engaged in the approaching contest. The states to the north of the Mysore were obliged to take measures for their safety. Of these the two most considerable were the Mahrattas and the Nizam; and though there existed an hereditary enmity between the two; although they differed in laws, and institutions, and religion; urged by the common danger they forgot or suspended their quarrels, and joined in the closest union. In 1780, Tippoo marched his army down the Gauts towards the Malabar coast, evidently with hostile designs against the Rajah of Travancore. He first attempted to detach him from the alliance of the English, and to persuade him to throw himself under his protection. He then encouraged the Rajah of Cochin, one of his tributaries, to lay claim to part of the ground upon which the lines are built which defend Travancore on the north, the only quarter where it is accessible to an invading army. He seemed very desirous of getting possession of the kingdom, which would have made him master of the Malabar coast, and enabled him at any time, with ease, to invade the Carnatic. Alarmed at the danger, the Rajah dispatched a messenger to Madras to inform the English government of the movements of Tippoo. Sir Archibald Campbell sent some troops to his assistance; and declared that if Tippoo should attack the lines of Travancore, it would be considered by the English as a declaration of war. The steps were approved by the supreme government of Bengal; and Tippoo, awed by this resolute opposition, withdrew his troops and returned to Seringapatam. Mahratta states, and the nizam of Deccan. Their own affairs were in a state of unexampled prosperity. Tippoo's first attacks were completely successful: Jacottah, Paroor, and Curiapilly, successively surrendered to his arms; and not a fort in the northern part of his dominions remained in the possession of the unfortunate rajah. He was obliged to remain an inactive spectator of the devastations of Tippoo, who once laid waste the whole country with fire and sword. But the triumphs of Tippoo were but of short duration. The career which he began so prosperously was to be terminated in his defeat and disgrace in the loss of his dominions, and nearly in the extinction of his power. War was now publicly declared against Mysore, by the supreme government of Bengal: an army of fifteen thousand men was formed in the Carnatic, and one of nearly half that number in the presidency of Bombay. Tippoo, daunted by these vigorous measures, and alarmed at the storm that he saw gathering in every direction, made offers of submission, which were treated with contempt. "The Eng The following summer, however, produced a plausible picture for executing his scheme, and spread the flames of war all over India. The Dutch, from the vicinity of Cochin to the Mysore, trembled for their most valuable possessions. Their two parts of Cranganore and Jacottah they offered for sale to the Rajah of Travancore, who eagerly accepted of the terms. Tippoo was, or pretended to be, highly incensed at this transaction. He asserted that he was the sovereign of that part of the Malabar coast, and that of course no transfer could be made of the property without his leave; and upon the Rajah's refusal to relinquish the||lish, equally incapable of offering an inpurchase, he marched with a powerful army to the frontiers of Travancore, which he attempted to take by storm. At first he carried away every thing before him; but the fortune of the day soon changed, and the Sultan escaped from the enemy with great difficulty. In his retreat he was thrown from his horse into a ditch, where he was severely bruised. Galled at this disappointment and disgrace, he made a vow never again to wear his turban till he had taken the lines of Travancore. Accordingly he sent to Mysore for supplies of troops and battering-cannon, and prepared to besiege them by regular approach. The English attempted to settle this affair by negociation; but Tippoo, confident of his strength, already considered Travancore as his own; from which he foresaw there would no difficulty in crossing over to the Coromandel coast, driving the English from the Carnatic, pursuing them from Bengal, and finally extirpating them from India; such were the delusive hopes of the Sultan. The juncture was still more favourable to the views of his enemies. The English had formed a close alliance with the sult, as of submitting to one," said general Meadows to him in reply, "have always looked upon war as declared from the moment that you attacked their ally the king of Travancore. God does not always give the battle to the strong, nor the race to the swift; but generally success to those whose cause is just: on that we depend." The war was carried on with the greatest fury on both sides: an almost incalculable number of lives were lost; and early in the year 1792, Tippoo found himself in a very critical situation. Of his extensive dominions he retained in February only a single fort, and this he had reason to fear would not much longer be tenable. To the British general, Lord Cornwallis, he attributed all his misfortunes: and he now made a daring attempt to extricate himself from his difficulties, by aiming a secret blow at his life: fortunately the assassins were conducted by a guide that was not properly informed as to the situation of his lordship's tent Had their information been more accurate, or had their judgment been equal to their spirit, they might very probably have effected their atrocious design. Seringapatam was the place at which all the British force was assembled: it was exceedingly strong and difficult of approach. Every thing was ready for commencing the attack: and Tippoo, alarmed at the resolution and preparations of the British army, and fearing that a breach would soon be followed up by an assault, thought of an expedient by which he proposed to retard such an event. He sent a body of soldiers, who cut off a stream of water which ran through the English camp. But it was soon reconverted to its former channel, by a detachment sent by lord Cornwallis to investigate the cause of the failure of the usual supply; who drove the Mysoreans from its banks, and established themselves in a station on the spot to protect it during the remainder of the siege. In the mean time the operations were carried on with vigour, and promised soon to be brought to a happy conclusion on the part of the besiegers; indeed, no doubt was entertained of a speedy surrender, or capture by assault, of this last hope of Tippoo; and the soldiers already considered as their own the immense treasures which the town contained. from the time of Hyder Alley; and that two of his sons should be delivered up as hostages for the due performance of the treaty. In conformity to these terms the treasure was carried out, and the young princes conducted to the English camp. The ceremony was performed with great pomp. The princes were mounted on elephants magnificently caparisoned, and attended by a numerous suite. Vast crowds, actuated by curiosity or affection, assembled to witness their departure. Lord Cornwallis, attended by his staff, met the princes at the door of the tent, conducted them in, and treated them with the utmost tenderness and respect. They were dressed in long white muslin gowns and red turbans. They had seve ral rows of large pearls round their necks, from which was suspended an ornament consisting of a ruby and an emerald of considerable size, surrounded with large brilliants; and in their turbans each had a string of rich pearls. Educated from their infancy with infinite care, and instructed in their manners to imitate the reserve of politeness in their rank, it astonished every one present to observe the correctness and propriety of their conduct. this show of vigour and resolution Tippoo became daunted, knowing that if hostilities should recommence they would probably not terminate but in his utter destruction. He therefore sent word that he would submit to the demands of the victors; and the definitive treaty, as dictated by lord Cornwallis, was delivered by his sons to the ambassadors of the three allied powers, with the greatest solemnity. Notwithstanding these princes were delivered into the power of the enemy, Tippoo had often sought for peace; he yet Tippoo refused to negociate till lord now renewed his solicitations: and as in Cornwallis issued orders for the recomthis instance he appeared to be actuated mencement of the siege, and for the young by sincerity, lord Cornwallis, at the re-hostages to be sent to the Carnatic. Upon presentations of the Mahrattas and the nizam, agreed to his proposals for the appointment of commissioners to settle the terms. Tippoo, it afterwards appeared, made this application with a view only of gaining time, in the expectation of having succour and supplies from Bednore. None, however, arrived; when looking upon his affairs as desperate, being importuned by all his friends, and fearing sedition within the fort from farther obstinacy, he submitted, and the preliminary articles of peace were signed. These were exceedingly humiliating to the Sultan, but glorious to the British It was stipulated that he should cede one half of his dominions to the allied powers, pay them three crores and thirty lacks of rupees; that he should unequivocally restore all the prisoners which had been taken by the Mysoreans, arms. As soon as the late war was entered into between England and France, early intelligence was transmitted of the important event to the East Indies; Pondicherry, Mahe, and the other French settlements on the coast of Coromandel and Malabar, were captured with little resistance, by the troops of the India company, under the conduct of general Stewart; and it was not till some years after that the French were able to make even by the dominions of a common enemy, a show of resistance in that part of the he was a natural and formidable foe to world. The first attempt of this kind was the British empire in India. Proofs of seen in a letter sent to Tippoo, by Buo- a secret correspondence between these naparte, after he had gained a footing in princes were accordingly found after the Egypt; which signified a desire of co- destruction of the latter in his palace of operating with the Sultan in delivering Seringapatam: which correspondence rehim and his subjects from the yoke of the commenced previous to the war which English. Tippoo dispatched two ambas- terminated in 1792, and the same hostile sadors to the French government in the and ambitious views marked it to its Isle of France, where they were received close. In a paper dated March, 1796, with every circumstance of distinction and we find instructions to the ambassadors respect, and during their continuance in sent by Tippoo to the king of Kandahar, the island were entertained in a very relating to their conduct and deportment superb style at the public expense. They in their mission; their suite; their exproposed to levy men to any practicable penses; the presents to be made to the extent, stating their powers to be un-chief officers of that prince; and the celimited, with respect to the number to be remonies to be observed at their audience, raised in the name of Tippoo. An alliance or reception. both offensive and defensive was concluded between them, and Tippoo was waiting with the greatest anxiety for the moment when the succour should enable him to satisfy his ardent desire of expelling the British from India. The ambassadors from Tippoo embarked on board a French frigate with a force raised in the name of the Sultan, amounting to about two hundred men, and arrived at Mangalore on the 26th of April. While Tippoo was careful to augment his own European establishment, he laboured by every means to increase that of the nizam of Deccan, though this prince was in confederacy with the Mahrattas and English, in the hope of bringing him over to his own interest. About the same time that the British government in India were informed of the correspondence between Tippoo and the French, and the plot agitated in the army of the nizam, they learnt also that an embassy had been dispatched to Zemaun Shah, a very powerful prince of Tartarean origin, and of the Mohammedan faith, on the northern frontier of India, who was also the sovereign of Cabul, the ancient Bactria, and Kandahar; the object of which embassy was to encourage that prince in his long-threatened invasion of India. Zemaun Shah was able to bring into the field one hundred and twenty thousand men. Being a Mohammedan prince, naturally allied to Tippoo by religious opinions, habits, and that goodwill which usually subsists between sovereign powers that are divided Of these projects lord Morningtonthe British governor-general in India, was apprised; he saw in part to what they tended, and in a letter dated the 8th of November, he pointed out to Tippoo the danger that his connection with the French would occasion to his authority, the tranquillity of his dominions, the prosperity of his government, and the permanence of his religion. Some other letters passed between his lordship and the sultan, till at length war broke out, and on the 13th of April, 1799, the batteries against Seringapatam were finished, when the assailants began to play upon the city, and on the 3d day of May so much of the walls were destroyed that an arrangement was made for assaulting the place next day, when the breach was reported to be practicable. The Sultan went out early in the morning of the 4th, as was his custom daily, to one of the cavaliers of the outer rampart of the north face, whence he could observe what was doing on both sides. He remained there till about noon, when he took his usual repast under a pandal. It would appear, that he had at that time no suspicion of the assault being so near; for when it was reported to him that our parallels and approaches were unusually crowded with Europeans, he did not express the least apprehension, nor take any other precaution but desiring the messenger to return to the west face, with orders to Meer Gofhar, and the troops on duty near the breach, to keep a stric guard. A few minutes afterwards he was in |