tiring, the members all rose from their seats to do | him honour. As the expenses of the trial had exceeded all the money he possessed, the Company in 1796 granted him an annuity of 4000l. a year, and lent him 50,000l. without interest, the greater

part of which was afterwards remitted. Although thus a pensioner, and without heirs, he clung almost to the last, to the fond hope of being raised to the peerage. Mr. Pitt's behaviour to him was certainly not praiseworthy.

CHAPTER I.

Lord Cornwallis appointed Governor-General-Affairs of Oude-Tippoo's Invasion of Travancore-War resumed with him-Operations of the Army under Gen. Medows -Lord Cornwallis takes the Chief Command-Advance to Seringapatam-Retreat from that City-Reduction of Savandroog, and other hill-forts-Second Advance to Seringapatam-Attack on Tippoo's Lines-Preparations for the Siege-Treaty concluded with Tippoo-Departure of Lord Cornwallis-Sir John Shore, Governor-GeneralAffairs of the Nizâm-Death of Mohammed Ally-Affairs of Oude.

WITH the formation of the Board of Control, a new æra commences in the history of British India. The ministry, and not the Company, appoints the governors at the three Presidencies; the native powers have no longer to contend merely with the often inefficient means of the Company, but with the power of the British empire, and they thus lose all chance of success. At the same time, more of justice and honour is displayed in all transactions with them. The rapacity of the Company's servants, also gradually ceases from want of aliment, or from the greater vigour of the government, and improvement of all kinds ad

vances.

Soon after Hastings had left India, Lord Macartney having, as he had wished, had a successor at Madras appointed, proceeded to Bengal for the benefit of his health. While there he was nominated by Mr. Pitt, on the unbiassed recommendation of Mr. Dundas, to be governor-general. He declined, however, both on account of his health, and his desire to have some changes effected, to accept the appointment at that time; and he sailed for England, where he arrived in January, 1786. In a conference with the chairman of the Court of Directors, he represented two matters as essential for good government in India; the entire dependence of the military on the civil power, and the abandonment of the practice of promoting the servants of the Company by mere seniority, without regard to talent. He would also expect to have the power of deciding against the opinion of the council, and some changes to be made among the higher servants. At an interview with Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas (Feb. 20), he further hinted, that in order to counteract the influence of Mr. Hastings and his friends, it would be advisable to

grant him, what he termed " some distinguished mark of favour," meaning an English peerage, for he was only an Irish peer. The vanity of the two ministers was hurt by this condition, and three days after, Lord Macartney learned that Lord Cornwallis was appointed governor-general of Bengal.

Lord Cornwallis was the nobleman, whose surrender at Yorktown with his army, had been the closing event of the American war, and he is the first instance of a military man sent to govern India. He was furnished with copious instructions for his guidance, both by the Court of Directors and the Board of Control, and he reached Calcutta in September, 1786. As the first years of his government were free from war, he devoted his attention chiefly to internal affairs; and as, unlike Hastings, he had no colleagues to thwart him, and was cordially supported at home, he had none but the necessary and inherent difficulties to

encounter.

The affairs of Oude early claimed his attention, and he made with the Nabob a subsidiary treaty ; the first of those with the princes of India, which afterwards became so common. By this the English undertook to defend his territory, he defraying all the real expense, while the internal government was left entirely to his own direction.

Lord Cornwallis being strictly charged to abstain from war, felt much embarrassed by a proposal from the Nizâm, for an alliance against Tippoo Sultân. He endeavoured to get out of the difficulty, by declaring the treaty of 1768 to be still in force. In this the Nizâm had given the Company the Dewannee of a part of Hyder Ally's territory; but, on the other hand, they had since made treaties with Hyder and his son, as the lawful masters of that territory. In fact, the whole transaction was the very thing most likely to cause, what the English were most anxious to avoid, a rupture with Tippoo Sultân.

Among the allies of the English, included in the treaty of 1784, was the rajah of Travancore, which country, commencing about twenty miles to the north of Cochin, runs to the extremity of the peninsula, lying between the sea and the Ghâts, which last separate it from Tinnivelly. In order to secure his territory from invasion, the rajah had run on his northern frontier a line of defence from the sea to the mountains, consisting of a ditch sixteen feet wide, and twenty deep, a strong

A. D. 1788-91.

It

bamboo-hedge, and a rampart with bastions. thus included part of the territory of the rajah of Cochin, who, to save his territory outside of it, had been obliged to become the tributary of Hyder. Tippoo was most anxious to obtain possession of Travancore, which would give him the whole western coast, and bring him into contact with the English at Tinnivelly; and in 1788 he told the rajah of Cochin, that he must reclaim the districts which he had given to the rajah of Travancore, for which he should have the aid of the Mysorean troops. The menaced rajah applied for some aid to Madras, and two battalions of Sepoys were sent from Bombay. In May, 1789, Tippoo descended to the coast, and summoned the Dutch fort of Cranganore, which lay close to the lines of Travancore, and which, with the Dutch fort of Jaycotta, the rajah regarded as the key of his dominions. He prepared to join the Dutch in its defence, and he applied to Madras for more assistance. But the governor, Mr. Holland, replied, that he could only aid him in the defence of his own dominions, and counselled him not to irritate Tippoo. The rajah then purchased those places; but Mr. Holland ordered him to restore them, and Tippoo claimed them as being built on ground belonging to the rajah of Cochin, and therefore part of the kingdom of Mysore. But the rajah of Travancore showed clearly that the Dutch had conquered them from the Portuguese, to whom the rajah of Cochin had been tributary.

On the 14th December, Tippoo encamped within twenty-five miles of the lines, and sent a cakeel to the rajah, requiring him, among other things, to withdraw his forces from Cranganore, and to demolish that part of his lines which was on the territory of Cochin. The rajah refused compliance, and on the night of the 28th Tippoo made an assault, and gained a large part of the rampart. But a panic arising among his troops, they fell back in confusion, and numbers of them perished in the ditch, trampled to death by their comrades. The Sultan himself was thrown out of his palankeen, and suffered personal injuries, of which he never perfectly recovered.

When intelligence of this event reached Calcutta (Jan. 26, 1790), the governor-general resolved to exact full reparation from Tippoo. He had already directed the government of Madras to stop the payment of the Nabob's creditors, and the Company's investment; and he now resolved to form alliances with. the Nizâm and the Marattas, treaties for which were signed the following summer. Gen. Medows, who commanded the Bombay army, was appointed to succeed Mr. Holland at Madras. The plan formed for the campaign was, that Medows should take possession of the Coimbatore country, and endeavour to penetrate Mysore through the Gujelhutty pass, while Gen. Abercrombie, with the Bombay troops, should reduce the coast of Malabar, and join Medows if necessary; and Col. Kelly should remain with a small army, for the defence of the Carnatic, near the principal pass from Mysore.

Tippoo had disavowed the attack on the Travancore lines, in which he had failed. Nevertheless, in March he again appeared before them, and early in May he had reduced them and Cranganore, and seized on the north of Travancore. He was then recalled to the defence of Mysore against

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the British army of 15,000 men, under Gen. Medows, who, having marched from Trichinopoly (26th), were now advancing toward Coimbatore. The forts of Caroor, Aravarcouchy, and Daraporam, were reduced, and the army reached Coimbatore (July 21), whence Col. Stuart was sent against Palligât and Dindigul, both of which were reduced by the end of September; Eroad had already surrendered to. Col. Oldham, and Sattimungul, near the bottom of the Gujelhutty pass, had been taken by Col. Floyd. The English had thus established their line of communication with the Carnatic, and it only remained to ascend the pass, and enter Mysore. Tippoo, resolving to anticipate the enemy, poured his troops down along the pass (Sept. 13), and cannonaded Floyd's detachment for an entire day. In the night the British held a council of war, and it was determined to retreat, and join Gen. Medows. The garrison was withdrawn from Sattimungul, and they commenced the retreat at first in three columns, and then in one. Tippoo pursued, and came up with them next day, and attacked them with every prospect of success. But a report of the approach of Gen. Medows having been spread, and received with cheers in the British ranks, he gave credit to it, and drew off his forces.

Medows, on being joined by the divisions of Floyd and Stuart, sought, but in vain, to bring the Sultân to a general engagement. Tippoo had recovered some of the forts; when, hearing that the army of the Carnatic, which, Kelly being dead, was now commanded by Col. Maxwell, had entered Baramahâl, he marched thither with the greater part of his army, leaving a portion to watch Gen. Medows. Col. Maxwell eluded with great skill all his efforts to bring him to action, and soon after he was joined by Gen. Medows, who had ascended by the pass of Tapoor. For this pass, both Tippoo and the English general now directed their course. The former reached it first, and made at once for Trichinopoly; he was followed thither by Medows, and then turning northward, he made an attempt on Thiagar, but was repulsed by the gallant Capt. Flint, the commandant. He reduced Trinomalee and Permacoil, and then went to Pondicherry, in the hope of gaining the French to his side. Medows followed him to Trinomalee; and being summoned to Madras, he left his army at Velout, eighteen miles from that town (Jan. 27, 1791). While Tippoo had thus been occupied by the army of Medows, Col. Hartley had routed his troops on the Malabar coast; and Gen. Abercrombie having reduced Cannanore, the whole of the Malabar coast, where the Sultân was detested on account of his religious bigotry and intolerance, became subject to the British.

Lord Cornwallis was now at Madras, whither he had come with the intention of taking the command in person. In the matter of finance, he found it necessary to re-establish the assignment of the revenues of the Carnatic, which Lord Macartney had effected, and which the Board of Control, in their wisdom, had set aside; and the Directors highly approved of his conduct. The Nabob made all the resistance in his power, but having no superior now to appeal to, he was forced to submit.

On the 29th, Lord Cornwallis assumed the command of the army at Velout. Instead of taking the same route as Medows, in the last campaign,

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he resolved to enter Mysore by the way of Vellore and Amboor; and by feints having eluded the vigilance of Tippoo, who had reascended the Ghâts, and was watching the ordinary passes, he ascended by the less used one of Mooglee, and thus reached the table-land without encountering any resistance. He immediately marched for the strong fortress of Bangalore. The pettah, or town, which lay to the north of it, was the first object of attack. One of its gates was forced, and the troops poured in and carried it. Tippoo, who was at hand, sent orders to Bahadar Khân, the gallant Killidar of the fort, to recover it. He made the attempt, and the contest was dubious, as long as confined to firing; but when the English charged with bayonets, the Mysoreans broke and fled to the fort, with a loss of 2000 killed and wounded; that of the English was only trifling.

Batteries were now erected against the fort, a breach was made, and on the night of March 20th, a storming party advanced to the attack. They at first experienced little opposition, but the Killidar, in whom age had not quenched his courage, soon appeared at the head of his men. One short hour, however, terminated the conflict, and the garrison fled, leaving 1000 slain, among whom was the brave Bahadar Khân, who fell sword in hand after his men had abandoned him. The victors buried him with every token of respect.

On the 22nd March, Lord Cornwallis marched from Bangalore northwards, in order to form a junction with a corps of the Nizâm's cavalry. This body consisted of about 10,000 men, well-mounted, and armed with the strangest variety of arms and weapons that ever was beheld. But in the field they proved utterly useless. He was also joined by a valuable convoy, and a force of 4000 or 5000 men, under Lieut.-Col. Oldham, and on the 28th April he returned to Bangalore.

Lord Cornwallis was not enterprising by nature, and the want of draft-cattle was such, as almost to preclude the idea of any advance into Mysore. But, on the other hand, the turn which affairs had lately taken in France, made it highly probable, that if Tippoo were not reduced in time, he might get aid from that country; and there was, also, the powerful motive of expense, and therefore the policy of bringing the war to a close as speedily as possible. He accordingly resolved to march for Seringapatam, and leaving Bangalore on the 4th May, and passing through a country wasted and destroyed by the enemy, he arrived on the 13th at Arikera, nine miles east of that capital. Meantime, Gen. Abercrombie had ascended from Malabar, and was now about forty miles to the west of that city.

Tippoo had a well-founded dislike to general actions, which he said had always been fatal to his father. But now urged by shame, and by the remonstrances of his officers, and, as is said, of the ladies of his harem, he resolved to venture on one. He posted his army between the invaders and the city, with its right protected by the Caveri, and its left by a range of hills, while a deep swampy ravine ran all along its front. To attack them in this position was highly perilous; but Lord Cornwallis discovered that it would be possible by marching to the right during the night, and taking another road leading to Seringapatam, to get by daylight between the enemy and the city. Accordingly,

on the night of the 13th, he put himself at the head of a part of his army, and set forth in the midst of a terrific tempest of thunder, lightning, and rain. The difficulties encountered were tremendous, and daylight came before he was able to effect his purpose. He resolved, however, not to abandon it, and descending the heights, made for a hill commanding the left of the enemy; but Tippoo, by highly skilful manoeuvres, anticipated him, and posted a strong detachment on that hill. A division, under Col. Maxwell, however, soon drove them off, and seized it. The rest of the troops had meantime been formed in two lines, the first under Gen. Medows and Col. Stuart; the second, under Col. Harris, and the battle now became general. Tippoo's cavalry made no stand; his infantry behaved gallantly, but were at length driven off, and forced to seek shelter under the batteries of the island of Seringapatam, leaving victory to the English. The victory would have been more complete, were it not for the conduct of the Nizâm's cavalry, who flung themselves in a mass, and on ground where they could not act, even if so inclined, before the left wing of the British, and thus impeded their advance. The fairest construction was put on this conduct at the time; but there is good reason to think that it was designed, and was the result of treachery.

The English were victorious, but their victory was of little use. An old officer quoted Coote's words on a similar occasion, "I would gladly exchange all these trophies, and the reputation of victory, for a few days' rice." In want of supplies, and in still greater want of cattle, they marched to the ford at Caniambaddy, and there Lord Cornwallis resolved on retreat. He sent orders to Abercrombie to retire also, and on the 26th, having destroyed the whole of the battering-train and heavy equipments, he began to march for Bangalore. Toward the close of the first day's march, a large body of horse was seen to the right, and supposing them to belong to Tippoo, Col. Stuart, who commanded in the rear, prepared to engage them. But they proved to be their Maratta friends, accompanied by a British detachment. They had sent forward more than a hundred messengers to announce their approach, every one of whom had been intercepted by Tippoo's light troops.

The Marattas had sent two armies to the field, the one commanded by Hurry Punt, the other by Purserâm Bhâo. The latter had been joined by a British detachment from Bombay, and they had reduced the fort of Darwar, and all other places north of the Toombuddra. Their junction now, though rather late, was most welcome; for they brought a supply of bullocks, and abundance of all necessary stores. The armies marched together, and on the 11th June they reached Bangalore. On the march the plan of the next campaign was arranged, for which Lord Cornwallis was obliged to engage to lend the Marattas twelve lacs of rupees, to obtain which, he sent orders to Madras to take the treasure out of the China-ships, and coin it, and send it to him. Had Hastings ventured on such a measure as this, could any thing have averted his ruin?

Hurry Punt and his army remained with the governor-general; that of the Bhâo, with the Bombay corps, commanded by Capt. Little, went off to Sera, to act in the north-west; the Nizâm's

A. D. 1791.

cavalry was to join his other forces, and to act in the north-east; while the army of Lord Cornwallis was to keep between the enemy and the Carnatic.

In order to secure the Policade pass, Lord Cornwallis moved against the forts of Orsoor and Rayacottah, which commanded it. The former was evacuated at his approach; the latter was taken by a party under Major Gowdie. The minor forts all surrendered; and the pass being now free, a convoy that was waiting at Amboor, the largest sent as yet to an English camp in India, ascended to the table-land. In order to keep up the communication with the Nizam's army, it was deemed necessary to reduce the various hill-forts to the north of Bangalore. The chief of these, named Nundidroog, was situated on a graniterock of great height, and every means had been employed to increase its strength; Major Gowdie was sent against it; and having, with excessive labour, got his guns up the side of the rock, he effected two breaches. On the approach of Lord Cornwallis with the army, orders were given for the assault (Oct. 19), and after a spirited, but brief resistance, the place was carried. Col. Maxwell was now sent with a detachment into Baramahâl, where he reduced the mud-fort of Penagra, but he failed in an attempt on the rock of Kistnagheri, where, however, he burned the pettah. Having driven the enemy out of the whole district, he rejoined the main army, which now reinforced from England, and from the other presidencies, was preparing to march once more against Seringapatam.

Between Bangalore and that city, about eighteen miles from the former, lies one of the strongest hill-forts in India. It is named Savandroog, or Death's-rock, either from its strength, or rather from its noxious climate. It is a huge mountain of granite, rising from a base about eight miles in circuit, to a height of half a mile; at about twothirds of its altitude, a chasm divides its summit into two parts, each of which forms a separate citadel. Around the base, to an extent of several miles, lay a thick forest or jungle, chiefly of bamboos, through which ran a winding road, its only approach. The surrounding atmosphere was so pestilential, that Tippoo undertook to prophesy, that one-half of the besieging army would perish by it, while the remainder would, he expected, be slain in the attack.

The conduct of the siege was committed to Col. Stuart. With immense labour a way was cut through the jungle, and batteries were erected against the eastern citadel (Dec. 17). In three day's a breach was effected, and orders were given to storm on the morning of the 21st. The storming-party formed four divisions, one to mount the breach, another to scour the works on the western summit, a third to act in the chasm, and the fourth to follow and support the third. Other parties were to go round the mountain to prevent the escape of the besieged. At an hour before noon, the signal of two guns was fired from the batteries, and the first party advanced to the breach, the band of the 52nd regiment playing Britons strike home. A panic seized the garrison, and they attained the eastern summit without encountering any resistance. The commander of the western citadel having made a sally to take

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them in flank, met the second party among the rocks; the Mysoreans instantly turned, and were pursued by the English, and a sergeant having shot the man who was closing the first gate, the whole party rushed in and gained the summit. And thus was carried in the space of less than an hour, and without the loss of a single man, the boasted impregnable fortress of Savandroog! Another strong fort named Ootradroog was carried a few days after by Col. Stuart, also without loss, though he met with a much more obstinate resistance.

While the main army was thus engaged, the Nizam's troops, or, properly speaking, the English detachment with them, had reduced some fortresses. In like manner Capt. Little's detachment, which was joined with Purserâm Bhâo's Marattas, reduced the strong hill-fort of Hoolymore and some other places. They then moved toward Simoga. A force of 8000 men with ten guns had here taken a remarkable strong position in a jungle, in order to fall on their rear while they should be engaged in the siege. Though Capt. Little had not more than 1000 Sepoys, he resolved to attempt to dislodge them. By great efforts he succeeded in driving them from their post, with the loss of three of their guns, and in the pursuit he captured the remaining seven, and dispersed the entire corps. The Marattas, who had not been of the slightest use in the action, meanwhile plundered the enemy's camp in the most perfect manner, and such was the quantity of arms they got in it, that good muskets were offered for two rupees a piece in the camp-bazaar. Simoga surrendered when summoned, and soon after the Marattas proceeded to join Lord Cornwallis before Seringapatam, where they arrived at a time when there was little or no occasion for their services.

During these operations Coimbatore had been defended against Tippoo's troops in a most gallant manner by Lieut. Chalmers; Major Cuppage, who commanded in these parts, deeming this place untenable, had removed the heavy guns and stores to Paligât, whither Lieut. Chalmers, who was left with a company of Topasses and some of the Rajah of Travancore's Sepoys, under a young French officer named Delacombe, was directed to retire on the appearance of the enemy in any force. Ere long the place was invested by a Mysorean army with eight guns: Chalmers, who had contrived to mount three old guns, and thought himself able to defend it, refused to surrender. ring two months the enemy contented himself with firing on the fort, making approaches, and summoning the garrison. At length an assault was made at five different places. The principal attack was where Delacombe commanded, and he was near being overpowered, when a combustible parcel (one of those prepared for the purpose) being thrown among a mass of the assailants, exploded. The enemy instantly gave way and retired, leaving more dead than the number of the garrison.

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Major Cuppage now exerted himself to drive away the enemy, and he sent a company of Sepoys under Lieut. Nash to join Chalmers, who was losing no time in repairing the works of the fort. A large force with fourteen guns and four mortars soon appeared, led by Kummur-ud-din, one of Tippoo's ablest generals. Having erected batteries, they opened a heavy fire on the fort. Major Cuppage was advancing to its relief, but Kummur

ud-din having marched away with a part of his forces in order to get into his rear and occupy a pass which would enable him to intercept a large convoy of corn for the Bombay army, Cuppage fell back, and having, after a sharp conflict with the enemy, secured the pass, returned to Paligât. The defence of Coimbatore being now hopeless, a surrender was made, on the condition of security to private property, and the garrison being permitted to retire to Paligât. But in Tippoo's usual manner the capitulation was violated, and the whole garrison was marched to Seringapatam.

Lord Cornwallis, having sent orders to Gen. Abercrombie to ascend the Ghâts again from Malabar, and being joined by the troops of the Nizâm, put his army in motion and marched from Ootradroog. Instead of advancing in one long column, as had been the practice hitherto, the army moved in three parallel columns, the battering guns and heavy carriages going in the centre along the great roads; the infantry and field-pieces one hundred yards to the right; the light carts and camp-followers on the left. The troops of the allies followed; and on the 5th February, 1792, they beheld Seringapatam and the Sultan's army encamped before it.

Seringapatam lies in an island about four miles in length, formed by two branches of the Caveri, in the same manner as that of Seringham. Its western extremity was occupied by the fort, its eastern by the palace and garden of Tippoo. The town lay in the intermediate space. Beyond the river on the north and south ran the usual boundhedge of bamboos and prickly plants. The space included between the river and that on the north side was about three miles, and from half a mile to a mile in width. In this lay Tippoo's army of 5000 cavalry, and from 40,000 to 50,000 infantry, with 100 pieces of cannon, beside the heavy artillery in six strong redoubts; and in the fort and island which formed the second line of defence, there was at least treble that number of guns. Within the hedge were rice-fields, a large tank or canal, and a winding stream. Tippoo commanded the front and right of his line in person, and it was his plan to protract the siege till want of supplies should oblige the invaders to retire.

The bold and judicious plan of Lord Cornwallis was a sudden attack by night, and without artillery, on the enemy's camp. At six o'clock on the evening of the 6th, the troops, on being dismissed from parade, were ordered to fall in again with arms and ammunition, and at half-past eight they were on their march, and moving in silence beneath the beams of a brilliant moon. The army was formed in three columns, the centre column commanded by Lord Cornwallis in person, the right by Gen. Medows, the left by Col. Maxwell. Nothing could exceed the amazement of the allies when they learned that a handful of infantry, and without cannon, was advancing to attack Tippoo's camp, and Lord Cornwallis gone to fight, as they expressed it, like a common soldier.

The centre column on its march met Tippoo's grand guard escorting a party of rocket-men, to annoy the English camp during the night. The horsemen galloped back to give the alarm, while the rocket-men tried to impede the march; but the troops pressed on at a quick pace, and reached the hedge in fifteen minutes after the horsemen. The

column consisted of three corps, of which the front one was directed to make for the island, and try to enter it with the fugitives, while the centre one was to clear the right of the camp, and then make also for the island; and that in the rear was to form a reserve, under the Governor-general in person. The first corps having penetrated the hedge under a heavy but ill-directed fire of the enemy, driving them before them, reached the ford and crossed it close to the fort. The first party who crossed, under Capt. Lindsay, hoped to be able to enter it with the fugitives, but found the gate closed, and the drawbridge raised. They then marched to the southern side of the island. The second party, led by Capt. Knox, proceeded to the eastern end of the island, took the pettah there, and seized the batteries commanding the eastern ford. A third party, under Capt. Hunter, next crossed, and took post in what was called the Rajah's garden. The enemy, some time after, having brought two pieces of cannon to the opposite bank, before they could unlimber them Hunter and his men dashed across, forced their way through, and joined Lord Cornwallis at a critical moment.

The centre corps having moved to the right, encountered a large body of the enemy's horse. They fired on them, and when the smoke cleared away, they saw that they were gone. They then advanced to the Sultan's redoubt, which they found abandoned. Leaving some men to defend it, they proceeded and completed the defeat of the enemy's right, which Col. Maxwell's column had turned.

The rear corps had formed near the Sultan's redoubt, and was anxiously expecting Gen. Medows from the right. It had hardly been joined by Capt. Hunter, when a large body of Tippoo's troops advanced against it. It returned their fire, and then charged with bayonets. The enemy returned several times to the charge, and was not finally repulsed till near daybreak.

Gen. Medows had been directed to penetrate the line to the east of the strong Mosque-redoubt, which he was not to attack; but by a mistake of his guides, or by an ambiguity in his orders, he came to the hedge, close to that very place. Meeting with no opposition, the head of the column under Col. Nesbit wheeled to the right, and began to ascend the hill of the redoubt. They were received with a heavy fire, which they returned, and then rushing forward, drove the enemy before them, and finally carried it. Leaving a force to defend it, Medows, as the ground inside was swampy, led his men outside of the hedge, and round to the Carigât hill at its other extremity, where he joined Lord Cornwallis and the left division, which, under Col. Maxwell, having taken the works on that hill, had advanced under the fire of the enemy, and joined the Commander-in-chief. The right column and part of the centre then remained at the Carigât hill, while the left and the remainder of the centre crossed the river under the command of Col. Stuart, and entered the pettah, where Capt. Knox had just secured the batteries in time. They were there joined by those who had passed over during the night.

Tippoo, who had just finished his evening meal when the alarm was given, immediately mounted his horse. By the light of the moon, he saw the column of the English crossing his camp, and making for the ford. No time was to be lost, and