ud-dîn 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.

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

A. D. 1792-93.

he was barely able to clear the head of the column and cross the ford ere they reached it, and he entered the fort in safety. As was usual in such cases, great numbers of his troops deserted; among others, many Europeans, whom he had kept in his service against their will, now left him.

In the morning (7th), Col. Stuart took a position quite across the island, in front of Tippoo's garden. Here his troops were exposed to the fire of Tippoo's men, who had advanced under the shelter of walls and old houses. As their ammunition had been wetted in fording the river, they returned it but feebly, till Lord Cornwallis sent them a supply and some more troops. The enemy then retired.

During the day, several attempts were made by the enemy to recover the Sultan's redoubt, which lay within reach of the guns of the fort; but all their efforts were repelled by the little garrison of 100 Europeans and 50 Sepoys. Their commander, Capt. Sibbald, fell, the wounded men were tortured with thirst, and there was no water to give them, and at last their ammunition began to run short. Just then two loaded bullocks happened to stray into the ditch, and their lading, on being examined, proved to be ammunition. The defence was therefore vigorously maintained, and the enemy finally retired. The Mysoreans now evacuated the four remaining redoubts, and the whole north bank of the river was left in the possession of the English.

Preparations for the siege were now made, and the stately cypresses and other trees of Tippoo's garden were hewn down to furnish materials. His palace was converted into a hospital. On the morning of the 8th, Tippoo, who had all through the war been making attempts at negotiation, set Lieuts. Chalmers and Nash at liberty, and gave them letters to Lord Cornwallis, who on reading them agreed to receive his cakeels, and negotiations and military operations went on simultaneously. But Tippoo had recourse to other measures also : on that same day, a party of his horse crossed the river, and next day they approached the British camp, where, being supposed to belong to the Nizam, they were suffered to ride up to the artillery. They there inquired, in a careless manner, of the Lascars, which was the tent of the Burra Sahib (chief-commander), meaning Lord Cornwallis; but the men misunderstanding them, pointed out that of their own commander, Col. Duff. They drew their swords and galloped toward it, cutting down all they met ; but a party of Sepoys turned out, and their fire soon made them scamper off to the hills.

On the 16th, Gen. Abercrombie arrived with the Bombay army. The fort was soon the object of attack. It was of a triangular form, two sides being washed by the river. As the third side was very strongly fortified, it was deemed best, notwithstanding the stream, to make the attack on the north side; and on the night of the 18th, a party was sent to commence opening the trenches, and by taking advantage of a dry nullah, or watercourse, they had formed the first parallel before daylight. Next day, the Bombay army crossed the river, and invested the south side of the fort. The firing of Tippoo's guns produced little effect, and his troops were repulsed in all their attacks. Plenty prevailed in the British camp: Major Cuppage had now ascended the Gujelhutty pass, and Purserâm Bhâo was every day expected. Every

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heart beat high with hopes, for the capture of Seringapatam was regarded as certain. But on the morning of the 24th, orders to suspend operations were issued, 'and instant dejection appeared on every countenance. The Governor-general had concluded a treaty with Tippoo's vakeels.

By this treaty Tippoo engaged to cede one-half of his dominions to the allies, from the countries adjacent to theirs; to pay three crores, thirty lacs of rupees, half down, the remainder in three instalments within a year; all prisoners, on both sides, were to be released; two of Tippoo's sons were to be given as hostages; finally, a treaty of alliance and friendship among all parties was to be formed.

On the 26th, the two young princes, the one ten, the other eight years of age, mounted on elephants gorgeously caparisoned, and followed by a numerous train and guards, issued from the fort under a salute of artillery. Twenty-one guns saluted them as they entered the British lines; Lord Cornwallis received them with the utmost respect at the door of his tent, and promised to be a father to them. Tippoo was so gratified by the account of their reception, that he ordered a royal salute to be fired from the fort.

1

In the arrangement of the definitive treaty many difficulties occurred. The chief related to the rajah of Coorg 1, whose territories the English were determined to have included in the cessions, to save him from Tippoo's vengeance on account of the aid he had given the Bombay army, and for other causes. But as they did not happen to lie adjacent to those of any of the allies, the demand did not accord with the preliminary treaty. Lord Cornwallis, however, would not abandon him. Both sides began, therefore, to prepare for a renewal of the war, the guards of the young princes were removed, and they were sent off, as if on their way to the Carnatic. Purserâm Bhâo, who had now arrived, was sent over the river, where he began to plunder the country. At length Tippoo gave way, and on the 19th March the treaty was delivered to Lord Cornwallis, in due form, by the elder of the princes.

By this treaty the English obtained Malabar, Coorg, Dindigul, and Baramahal. Events showed that they had not weakened Tippoo sufficiently; but, beside the moderation conspicuous in Cornwallis's own character, public opinion in England was so decidedly against extent of dominion, or interference with the native princes, that he could hardly have ventured to act otherwise. This excellent nobleman proved his disinterestedness by giving up all his share of booty to the troops, and his example was followed by the noble-minded Medows 2.

The Governor-general proceeded to Madras, and thence returned to Bengal. The following year (1793), as there was now war between England and the French republic, Pondicherry and the other French settlements were taken possession of, no resistance being offered. Lord Corn

1 A mountain-district, to the west of Mysore. Its rajah is described as a man of the most generous, and even romantic feelings. It is remarkable, that when we meet such a character in Indian history, he is almost always a Hindoo. 2 Mill bears willing testimony to the virtues of this officer, and justly praises the harmony that prevailed between him and Lord Cornwallis.

wallis, who had gone to Madras on this account, did not return any more to Bengal, and he sailed for England in the month of August. He was succeeded in his office of Governor-general by Sir John Shore, who had long been in the civil service of the Company.

During his abode in India, Lord Cornwallis made many changes in the modes of collecting the revenue, and administering justice.

We have already given a sketch of the villagesystem of India, as it is now understood by those most competent to judge, in which the sovereign and the village-community are joint-proprietors of the soil. But in the time of Lord. Cornwallis this knowledge had not been attained, and, led by European ideas, the servants of the Company were almost unanimous in regarding as such the Zemindars; this opinion Mr. Francis held most strenuously. The body of the Zemindars were regarded as the proper aristocracy of India; and so strongly was Lord Cornwallis imbued with this feeling, that he would brook no delay for inquiry. The Zemindars of Bengal and Bahar were declared to be the lawful owners of the soil, the ryots were left at their mercy, and a settlement, first for ten years, but almost immediately after declared to be perpetual, was made with them, for the sum which they were to pay the government as land-tax. The government thus parted with its own legitimate rights, as joint-proprietor, in the vain hope of creating a respectable native aristocracy, for such the Zemindars have never become, and the ryots, though secured to a certain extent by pottahs, or leases, against arbitrary acts, were not protected from excessive rents in the pottah.

The financial and judicial powers were now separated, and the collector of a district was no longer, as in Hastings' plan, to preside in its courts. In every Zillah, or district, and in every large town, a servant of the company, with a registrar and one or more assistants, was appointed to be a judge. He was also to be aided by native expounders of the law. To avoid too great a press of business, he could refer to his registrar suits in which the value of the litigated property did not exceed 200 rupees; and native commissioners were stationed in different places of the Zillah, with the power of arbitrating as far as the value of 50 rupees. From both of these inferior jurisdictions there was a power of appeal to the Zillah court ; and from this last suitors might appeal to one of the four provincial courts of appeal of Calcutta, Patna, Moorshedabâd, and Dacca, in each of which there were three judges, with registrar and other assistants. From these courts finally lay an appeal to the Suddur Dewannee Adaulut, composed of the governor and members of council with native assistants.

The judges of the provincial courts were also to act as judges of circuit for gaol-delivery. Their courts were to be held once a month in the four cities, four times a year in the district of Calcutta, and twice a year in each Zillah. From these criminal courts an appeal lay to the Suddur Nizâmut Adaulut, in which the governor and members of council sat at Calcutta. These courts were guided by the Mohammedan law; but for the mutilations which it enjoins were substituted various periods of imprisonment.

For purposes of police, every Zillah was divided

into districts of twenty miles square, in each of which was stationed a Darogha, or constable, with a number of assistants selected by himself. He acted under the judge of the Zillah-court, who was invested with the authority of a magistrate for the apprehension, committal, and, in minor cases, trial of the offenders.

None of the measures of Lord Cornwallis produced the effects he had anticipated. Crime went on steadily increasing, litigation augmented the number of suits to an alarming extent, and it was soon found necessary to make great alterations. The legislator, in fact, was not aware of the difficulty that existed; he forgot that the character of a people cannot be changed all at once, and that the work of many years cannot be achieved in one year.

The new Governor-general was one of the most upright and honourable men that ever had served the Company in India. But he was greatly deficient in the energy and in the political sagacity requisite for his high station, as very soon appeared.

The restless perfidious Marattas made a demand on the Nizâm for chout, and on his declining to pay it invaded his dominions; and as it appeared that Tippoo was about to join them, the Nizâm called on the English for assistance, according to the treaty concluded with Lord Cornwallis. But Sir John Shore refused; maintaining the strange principle, that as the alliance was tripartite, the secession of one party relieved the other two from their mutual obligations. The Nizâm was consequently obliged to make the best terms he could with the Marattas. Hurt by the conduct of the British, he now requested that two battalions of their troops which were in his pay might be withdrawn. This being done, he proceeded to organize a large body of regular infantry which was commanded by French officers. M. Raymond, a fierce republican, held the chief command; the tri-colour flag was their standard; a correspondence was opened with the French prisoners in Pondicherry, and a mutiny was excited in a battalion of the English Sepoys. But fortune proved as ever adverse to the French in India. Just at this time, the Nizâm's son rebelled; application was made to the English for aid, and they gave it with such promptitude, that the angry feelings of the Nizâm began rapidly to subside.

In 1795, died Mohammed Ally, the Nabob of the Carnatic, at the age of seventy-eight. He was succeeded by his eldest son Omdut-ul-Omrah. Lord Hobart, the Governor of Madras, chiefly with a view to the extrication of the wretched people of the country from the fangs of that vile brood of English usurers, by whom their very vitals were sucked out, proposed that he should cede certain territories to the Company. The supreme government went still further, and required that he should cede the whole of his dominions. But while Lord Hobart would have employed force, they would only use negotiation; and the consequence was, that things remained just as they

were.

In this year, as the Dutch were now in alliance with the French republic, the whole of their possessions in India and the Indian seas were reduced.

In 1797, the Vizîr of Oude died. He was succeeded by his reputed son, Vizîr Ally, who was

recognized by the British government. But the Governor-general, when, shortly after, on his way to Oude to examine more closely into the matter, was met at Cawnpore by the minister of Oude, who gave him satisfactory proof that Vizîr Ally was not in any way the son of the late Vizîr, but the child of another person by a menial servant, from whom he had purchased him, and then reared him as his heir; and that finally the only true heir to the throne was Saadut Ally, the brother of the late Vizîr. After giving the subject a great deal of consideration, and ascertaining the real sentiments of the people, the Governor declared in favour of the real heir, and Vizîr Ally was reduced to a private station, with an allowance, however, more suited to his usurped than to his real rank. In the treaty with the new Vizîr, the annual subsidy was fixed at 76 lacs of rupees, and the English force in Oude at 10,000 men. The fort of Allahabâd was also surrendered to the British.

The Governor-general sailed for England in March, 1798. He was raised to the Irish peerage by the title of Lord Teignmouth.

CHAPTER II.

Lord Mornington Governor-general-Intrigues of TippooArrangement with the Nizâm - Fruitless Attempts to treat with Tippoo-Invasion of Mysore-Siege and Capture of Seringapatam-Death and Character of TippooSettlement of Mysore-Dhoondia.

LORD Hobart had been promised the government of India, but the appointment, it is not well known why, was cancelled. Lord Cornwallis was then appointed a second time, but his appointment also was revoked; and the choice of the ministry finally fell on the Earl of Mornington, a nobleman in the prime of life, of the most splendid talents, and who, having been for two years a member of the Board of Control, had been induced to make himself well acquainted with the affairs of India. He embarked toward the end of 1797, accompanied by his brothers Arthur and Henry; the former, then Colonel of the 33rd regiment, and destined to be England's greatest general; the latter, as soon appeared, a skilful diplomatist. At the Cape, he met and read the despatches going home from India, and he also met there and conversed with Major Kirkpatrick, who had been resident at some of the Indian courts. He felt himself, therefore, competent on reaching Calcutta, (May 17th, 1798,) to enter at once, and with confidence, on the active duties of his office.

On the 8th June, some one brought to Calcutta a most extraordinary document. It was a proclamation issued by Gen. Malartie, Governor of the Mauritius, recounting a proposal of the Sultân of Mysore to the French for an alliance, in order to expel the English from India, and inviting citizens of every description to enter the Sultân's service. The whole project seemed so wild and absurdfor who could suppose that men in their senses would thus seek, as it were, to put on their guard those whom they intended to attack ?—that Lord Mornington was at first inclined to regard it as a forgery, and then as an artifice of M. Malartie;

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but inquiry proved its genuineness; and he then, in order to be prepared for action, directed Gen. Harris, who was acting as temporary governor at Madras, to collect the forces of that presidency.

The leading passion of Tippoo's soul was burning hatred of the English name and nation, and the destruction of their power in India was the object of all his thoughts. He had with this view endeavoured to excite Zemân Shâh, the Afghân, to invade India from the north-west; at Poona, his emissaries laboured to detach the Marattas from the English connexion; and at Hyderabâd, his agents, aided by the French officers in the service of the Nizâm, laboured for the same purpose. But it was to France, the fame of whose victories was now blazed through the world, that he looked for most effectual aid. During the late war he had sent, though ineffectually, an embassy to Paris, and now he renewed his efforts on the following occasion.

Some time in the year 1797 a French privateer put into the port of Mangalore to refit. Its captain, named Ripaud, who pretended that he was second in command at the Mauritius, asserted that he had been sent expressly to learn the Sultân's views with respect to a joint-alliance against the English. He was immediately admitted to Tippoo's presence, with whom he had many conferences; and though the Sultan's ministers had ascertained from the crew that he was not what he pretended to be, their infatuated master would not listen to them. It was arranged with the adventurer that he should ostensibly enter the service of the Sultân, who was to purchase his vessel, and send it with a lading to the islands, and with two vakeels on board. After some delay the vessel sailed, and proceeded to its destination. The vakeels were received by the governor with the greatest honours. Their despatches on being opened, contained a plan of joint operation for the conquest of the English and Portuguese possessions in India; for which purpose the Sultân would require them to furnish (so completely had he been duped by Ripaud), a force of from 30,000 to 40,000 men, of which from 5000 to 10,000 should be veteran troops, and the further aid of a fleet! Gen. Malartie, who had no force whatever at his disposal, could only offer to send the proposals to France, and meantime he issued the above-mentioned silly proclamation. In March the vakeels returned to their master, taking with them about 100 volunteers, both white and black, mostly the rabble of the islands. These citizens forthwith formed a Jacobin club on the improved model, of which the Sultân became a member, under the title of Citizen Tippoo. The tree and cap of liberty were raised, the emblems of royalty were burnt, and an oath of enmity to that institution taken, and all the wild fooleries of these vagabonds were viewed with approving eyes by the despot, because they shared his hatred of the English.

Lord Mornington, with the foresight and decision which marks the true statesman, resolved not to allow Tippoo to choose his own time, but to attack him at once, in case of his refusal to comply with the terms he would propose to him. For France at that time, it must be recollected, had a large naval force, and she, who in 1796 sent a fleet and army to Ireland, and this very year another to Egypt, might easily send to sea a fleet carrying troops enough to make Tippoo a formidable enemy;

the Marattas also might join the confederacy, and the Dûranee Shâh pour his troops into Hindustan.

The members of council at Madras hinted at the danger of provoking Tippoo to make, like his father, a sudden irruption into the Carnatic, if they began to make preparations for war. But the Governorgeneral was not to be daunted by such considerations; and he insisted on their reforming and increasing their military establishment at once.

A subsidiary treaty was formed with the Nizâm, and the force to be maintained in his territories was fixed at 6000 men. The French officers and serjeants in his service were to be dismissed, and the corps commanded by them to be broken up; and no Frenchman was to be taken into his service, or allowed to reside in his territories, without the consent of the Company.

The force under the French amounted now to about 14,000 men, only inferior to the British Sepoys, and well supplied with artillery. Raymond was dead, but his successor, M. Péron, was a far abler officer. As it was feared that it would not submit quietly, no attempt was made till a force from Madras had joined the British troops at Hyderabâd. The resident then called on the Nizâm to fulfil that article of the treaty; and when he hesitated, the British troops were marched near to the station of the French, and he was told that they would act without him. Being now compelled to choose between the two, he sent a body of 2000 horse to aid the British. A mutiny soon broke out in the French corps, and the officers, to escape the fury of their men, surrendered. The whole body of 11,000 men (the rest being away on a detachment), laid down their arms on a promise of their arrears of pay and of being continued in the service. The officers were sent to Calcutta, and thence to England, whence they were transmitted to France at the express desire of Lord Mornington, who also took care to secure for them their property and the arrears of their pay.

An attempt was made to conclude a similar treaty with the Peishwa; but it proved a failure, chiefly owing to the influence of Sindia.

Lord Mornington proposed to obtain from Tippoo the following securities against his hostile intentions: the cession of the whole of his possessions on the Malabar coast; payment of the expense caused by the preparations for war; the admission of residents from the allied powers at his court and the expulsion and continued exclusion of all Frenchmen from his service and dominions. When intelligence of the destruction of the French fleet at Aboukir by Lord Nelson arrived, it was communicated to him to show him how futile was his reliance on French aid. He was requested, but in vain, to let an English officer proceed to his court to explain the views of the allies. A letter from the Grand Seignior, calling on him to aid him against the French, was inclosed in one sent to him by the Governor; but he made no reply, and it was discovered, that an embassy from him to the French Directory was about to sail from the Danish port of Tranquebar. Lord Mornington, who had come in person to Madras, now resolved to suspend all further negotiations till the army should have made some impression on his territory.

As it was deemed expedient that Sir Alured Clarke, the Commander-in-chief in Bengal, for whom the command of the army in the Carnatic

had been destined, should remain at Calcutta, lest Zemân Shâh should invade India, the chief command was entrusted to Gen. Harris. The army contained 21,000 men, of whom about a third were Europeans. Corps under Lieut.-cols. Brown and Read were to act to the south of Mysore, to collect and convoy provisions. and convoy provisions. The Bombay army, of about 6000 men, under Gen. Stuart, was to advance from Malabar.

Toward the end of February, the Bombay army ascended the Ghâts, and in the beginning of March the army of the Carnatic, joined by the contingent from Hyderabâd, and by the troops of the Nizâm, which raised it to 37,000 men, ascended from the east, and entered the territory of Mysore. As the Bombay force was the smaller, Tippoo resolved to direct his first efforts against it, and on the 6th March, he suddenly attacked, in front and rear together, a division of three battalions of Sepoys, stationed at Sedasseer, under the command of Col. Montresor. Never was a more gallant resistance offered; for hours they stood and repelled the repeated charges of the enemy, till at length Gen. Stuart came up, and after a sharp conflict, drove off the troops that were acting on their rear, and then those in front. Tippoo then drew off his forces, and advanced to oppose Gen. Harris.

On the 9th, the allied army entered the territory of Mysore; and so slow was its progress, in consequence of the great quantity of artillery and of stores of all kinds which accompanied it, that it did not advance at the rate of more than seven miles a day, and it was not till the 27th that it reached Mallavelli, within forty miles of Seringapatam. Here they found Tippoo occupying some heights, whence he cannonaded them; and a general action ensued, in which the Sultân was defeated. Supposing they would advance by the road taken by Lord Cornwallis, and on which he had destroyed all the forage, he moved now so as to be able to act on their rear on that route. But Gen. Harris took a more southern direction, and crossing the Caveri some miles to the east of Seringapatam, entered a country which had not been wasted. When Tippoo heard of this movement, a chill struck him to the heart, and he said to his officers, "We have arrived at the last stage. What is your determination ?” "To die with you," was the reply; for despondency had seized on all.

Though the British when they crossed the river were only twenty-eight miles from Seringapatam, owing to the want of a sufficient number of draftbullocks, they were five days marching thither. At length, on the 5th April, they arrived on the ground to the south of the city, occupied by the Bombay army in the late war. Tippoo had there formed a new line of entrenchments, which could be supported by the guns of the fort, and his infantry lay between it and the river. The next day Gen. Floyd was sent with a strong division to bring up Gen. Stuart. The Sultân tried in vain to prevent their junction, and on the 15th the Bombay army joined that of the Carnatic.

On the 9th, Tippoo had written to Gen. Harris, asserting that he had strictly adhered to treaties, and demanding the reason of the advance of the English armies. The general referred him for a reply to the letters of the Governor-general, which he had not answered. The works of the besiegers were advanced every day. They had