crossed the ford under the walls without opposition, and proceeded to the east gate of the city, but, finding it shut, marched to an extensive market-place, where they made a great slaughter of the enemy. They were followed by the other party, under colonel Knox, who proceeded to the rajah's garden, and thence to the suburb Shaher-Gangam, the gates of which they forced open, and drove the enemy from all their batteries. The centre division advanced to the sultan's redoubt, which they found abandoned, and afterwards co-operated with colonel Maxweil in defeating Tippoo's right wing. Lord Cornwallis, with the reserve, remained close by the hedge, where the column had first entered, and two hours before day-break was joined by captain Hunter's party; soon after which they were attacked by a strong body of troops, part of Tippoo's centre and left, who, being now recovered from their panic, rallied with redoubled resolu

tion.

The conflict was carried on with inflexible courage on both sides, and it was near day-light, before the enemy was repulsed. Lord Cornwallis then retired to the Pagoda Hill, where he was met by general Meadows. Mean time the left division under colonel Maxwell, after ascending the Carighaut Hill, with little resistance, and marching down to the river, where they were much galled by the firing from Tippoo's right line, crossed the ford and joined the victorious parties, who had got possession of the east extremity of the island. The battle was continued in different parts during the whole of the 7th of February. The most desperate conflict was at the sultan's redoubt, which was defended by a small party under colonel Kelly, against three vigorous attacks, seconded by a heavy cannonade from the forts. The enemy being driven from every post on the north side of the river, the camp was advanced as near to the hedge as the firing from the fort would permit; and a chain of posts along the north and east faces of the fort was formed, so as to invest Seringapatam on its two principal sides. Thus pressed on every quarter, and his whole power reduced within the narrow limits of a citadel, the sultan became anxious to procure peace. He therefore released lieutenants Chalmers and Nash, who had been captured at Coimbettore, and had been well treated, presented the former with 500 rapees and two shawls, and sent a letter by him to lord Cornwallis, requesting he would return with the answer. On the 16th of February the Bombay army, under general Abercrombie, after a fatiguing march, wherein they were much harassed by detached parties of the enemy, joined lord Cornwallis, and afforded a reinforcement of about 2000 Europeans and 4000 natives. Vigorous preparations were therefore made to attack the fort on the north side; where trenches were opened and batteries constructed. Meantime, to draw off the attention of the enemy from these operations, major Dalrymple and captain Robertson, with the seventy-first regiment and thirteenth battalion of sepoys, were sent to attack his cavalry, encamped on the south side of the river. They entered the camp undiscovered, killed with the bayonet above 100

men and 200 horses, and returned without losing a man. On the night of the 19th a parallel and redoubt were completed near the walls of the fort, on the opposite side of the river; which the sultan, next day, in vain attempted to overthrow. He then endeavoured to deprive the camp of water, by altering the course of a large canal, but in this attempt too he was disappointed, a party being despatched under captain Wahab, who soon dislodged the enemy and repaired the

canal.

On the 19th the grand operation of the siege commenced by opening the trenches, and by a heavy discharge from all the batteries: in the mean time the Bombay army crossed the river to invest the west side of the capital. But, in consequence of the application through lieutenant Chalmers, lord Cornwallis agreed to receive Tippoo'e envoys to treat of peace. On the 15th, 16th, 19th, and 21st, Sir J. Kennaway and Mr. Cherry, assisted by vakeels, or envoys, from the nizam and Hurry Punt the Mahratta chief, met with Tippoo's vakeels, to treat of peace, but little progress was made in the negociation. The siege continued without intermission, and general Abercrombie, on the 22nd, took possession of a redoubt and grove between his camp and the fort, but with the loss of 104 men. During the night of the 22nd and 23rd new batteries were erected, and Purseram Bhow, with 20,000 horse, several thousand foot, and thirty cannon, was daily expected. In the mean time, Tippoo had been obliged to send off all his cavalry and camp followers to Mysore, and was in want of every thing, while the British army was well supplied. In this hopeless situation, he was compelled to accept of any terms proposed by lord Cornwallis. These, all things considered, were moderate. Preliminaries of peace were signed on the 23rd of February, on the following terms: 1. That Tippoo should cede one-half of his dominions to the allied powers; 2. That he should pay three crores, and thirty lacks of rupees; 3. That all prisoners should be restored; And, 4, That two of his eldest sons should become hostages for the performance of the treaty. On the 24th hostilities ceased, and on the 26th the two princes, Abdul Calick aged about ten, and Mooza Ud Deen about eight, mounted each on an elephant richly caparisoned, arrived in the British camp, and were received with kindness by lord Cornwalls. On the 19th of March the definitive treaty was finally adjusted and signed.

For seven years the affairs of India continued in a state of doubtful tranquillity. But from 1796, the sultan of Mysore is accused of having constantly excited the jealousy of the British government. This was in no small degree increased by a proclamation of the French governor of the Isle of France in 1798, which openly mentioned an alliance formed between Tippoo and the French republic, for the destruction of the British power in India. It was also alleged, that Tippoo had sent an embassy to Zemaun Shah, to encourage him in his threatened invasion of Hindostan. Mean time Tippoo professed the most friendly intentions of preserving concord and harmony. The British governor-general, however, giving little credit to these profes

sions, began to strengthen his alliances with the nizam and the paishwa, and in September concluded a subsidiary treaty with the former. In consequence of this, the French army at Hyderabad was surrounded by the English and the nizam's troops, the sepoys were disarmed, and the French officers sent prisoners to Bengal. Matters were in this state, when the news arrived of the French invasion of Egypt, and of lord Nelson's victory. The governor-general, on this, wrote a letter to Tippoo, dated 3rd of November, acquainting him of his knowledge of his connexion with the French republic, and proposing to send major Doveton to adjust all differences. On the 10th of December he sent another letter to the same purpose; and on the 15th received a reply from the sultan, where he expressed the utmost surprise at the military preparations on foot, conscious as he was of having observed the treaty with the most inviolable fidelity. On the 25th he sent another letter to the governor, wherein he congratulates his lordship on the victory over the French; explains the nature of the pretended embassy to the Isle of France, which he says was a mere mercantile adventure, and supposes the French had taken the advantage of it, to spread reports to disturb the union between the two states. To this letter the governor-zeneral returned an answer, again proposing a negociation, and urging the sultan not to delay his reply beyond one day. To this no answer was received till the 13th of February, when a letter without a date arrived, stating, that he was setting out on a hunting expedition, and begging his lordship to send major Doveton slightly attended. Meantime the governor-general, fearing the approach of the monsoon, had ordered lieutenant-general Harris to enter Mysore with his army, and, in his reply to Tippoo, informed him, that general Harris was now the only person authorised to receive his communications, with a view to the restoration of peace.

The reduction of the fort of Seringapatam was in fact the object of general Harris, whose first movement was on the 11th of February. The nizam's contingent, consisting of 12,000 foot, and 6000 cavalry, joined the British army on the 18th, and next day general Harris forwarded the governor's letter to the sultan, published his lordship's declaration in name of the allies, and began hostilities by sending a detachment against the hill forts of Neeldurgum and Auchitty, which surrendered without resistance. On the 7th of March Odeadurgum surrendered to colonel Oliver, and next day Fort Ruttingheri was taken after a slight resistance. The army under general Harris consisted of 31,000 men, besides the nizam's cavalry, all completely equipped. That under general Stuart, on the Malabar coast, was equally efficient. Between the 9th and the 14th of March the army under general Harris changed its positions from Kelamungalum, to Callacondapilly, Anicul, and Bangalore; near which last place about 4000 of Tippoo's horse appeared, but, after a few shots from the British field pieces, drew off. On the 16th the army took the rout of Cankanelli; and on the 20th and 21st encamped seven miles worth of it. They now learned that Tippoo was

within fifteen miles; and on the 23rd, as they approached Sultanpettah, a cloud of dust showed that he was in motion. He had in fact quitted his position on the bank of the Maddoor (where he might have disputed the passage) and encamped at Mallavelly. Instead of opposing the British in this quarter, he on the 6th of March passed his own frontier, and attacked a part of the Bombay army under general Stuart, not exceeding 6000 men; who, notwithstanding Tippoo's force consisted of 11,800 of his best troops, repulsed him with considerable loss.

Upon this he retreated to Seringapatam, and on the 14th advanced to meet general Harris. On the 25th the British army encamped five miles east of Mallavelly; and on the 27th came within sight of the sultan's. A general engagemeat took place, but was of short duration, the enemy retiring with their guns to the next height. Their loss was estimated at about 1000, while that of the British did not exceed seventy. On the 3rd of April the army came within sight of Seringapatam, and took its position on the 5th about 3500 yards from the west face. That night an attack was made on the outposts, and on the 6th the principal ones were in possession of the British. On the 9th general Harris received a letter from Tippoo, declaring, that he adhered firmly to the treaties, and demanding the reason of the advance of the English army, and of the recurrence of hostilities? The general replied by referring to the marquis of Wellesley's letters. Matters continued in a state of mutual preparation from this period to the 13th, when suddenly a heavy fire commenced from the fort and batteries. Next day generals Floyd and Stuart arrived, and took their ground in the rear.

On the 16th the Bombay army crossed the Cauvery, which was almost dry, and took a strong position which on the 22nd was attacked at all its posts by 6000 of the enemy's infantry, and Lally's corps of Frenchmen, who behaved with their usual bravery; but they were as bravely repulsed, and compelled to retire with the loss of about 700 men. On the 20th general Harris had received, an overture of peace from Tippoo, and on the 22nd it was answered by a draft of preliminaries. The terms proposed were, To cede half his territories in perpetuity to the allies: to pay two crores of rupees; to renounce the alliance of the French for ever; to dismiss every native of France from his service; to receive ambassadors from each of the allies; and to give as hostages four of his sons and four of the principal officers. The enemy's guns on the west face were silenced on the 24th, as well as those of two round towers on the 26th. On the 28th Tippoo acknowledged the receipt of general Harris's proposals, and stated that the points in question were weighty and important, and without ambassadors could not be brought to a conclusion; that therefore he was about to send two gentlemen, who would explain themselves to him. The British general briefly replied, by referring to the terms in his last, as the only conditions of treating. On the 2nd of May, the works being completed, the British batteries began to open, and in the course of the day a breach was made in the fausse-bray wall; the

main rampart was shattered; and, to complete the misfortune of the besieged, a shot having struck their magazine, it blew up with a dreadful explosion. The breach being thought practicable, on the night of the 4th of May 4000 men were stationed in the trenches before daybreak. The assault was led on by general Baird, and began at one o'clock. In six minutes the forlorn hope had reached the summit of the breach, where the British colors were instantly erected. In a few minutes the breach, which was 100 feet wide, was crowded with men. After a short conflict the panic became general in the fort; thousands quitted it, and others laid down their arms. A flag of truce was soon after sent to the palace of the sultan, offering protection to him and his friends upon surrendering unconditionally. The young prince surrendered to general Baird, but Tippoo was not to be found. After much entreaty, enforced even by threats, the killedar affirmed, that the sultan was not in the palace, but had been wounded during the assault, and lay in the gateway on the north face of the fort. There, among heaps of slain, the body of the unfortunate monarch was found, still warm, and covered with wounds.

His dominions were now partitioned among his conquerors, and the Mahrattas were admitted to a share, from motives of policy, though they had taken no part in the war. To the East India Company were allotted the districts of Combatoor and Daraporum, the province of Canara, all the territory between the British possessions in the Carnatic and those of Malabar, with the forts and ports forming the heads of all the passes above the Ghauts on the Table Land, and the fort, city, and island of Seringapatam. To the nizam were assigned the districts of Gooty and Gurrumconda, together with a tract of country along the line of Chitteldroog, Sera, Nundidroog, and Colar. To the Mahrattas were given Harponelly, Chitteldroog, Soondo, Anagoondy, and a part of Biddenore, except the forts on the frontiers. A descendant of the ancient rajahs of Mysore, about five years old, was sought out and placed on the throne with great ceremony (under certain conditions): and the sons and relations of Tippoo were removed into the Carnatic. Thus terminated one of the most important of our Indian wars with equal glory to the British arms, and advantage to the British interests in India; by securing them, at least for some time, against the re-appearance of a formidable enemy.

9. Of British India during the wars with the Mahrattas and to the peace of 1805.-We have alluded to the rise and early form of the Mabratia power in India. In 1795 died the young peishwa Madhurow, and the government was for a length of time distracted by the internal dissensions which followed this event-Bajeerow and Chimnajee, the surviving sons of Ragobah, a fortunate usurper of the middle of the last cenury, being alternately raised to the throne. At this time the peishwa's authority extended no further than the Poonah Sait branch of the Mahratta state, comprising most of the original country of that tribe, but none of their conquests. Yet this branch was recognised as the head of the other Mahratta states. After many vicis

situdes the eldest brother, Bajeerow, was at last fixed on 'he throne by the assistance of Dowlet Row Scindia, who only, however, permitted him to enjoy a nominal sovereignty.

With the peishwa all the British treaties had been coucluded without reference to any of the subordinate Mahratta chiefs. Neither Scindia, therefore, who held previously to this time the whole of Candeish, nor Bhoorsle, the rajah of Berar, were consulted with regard to them, and the former soon manifested a sense of his new importance; in fact, while we were enriching their nominal chief with the spoils of our hardearned conquest of Tippoo, several Mahratta chiefs were afterwards found to have corresponded with and assisted him to the last.

Under these circumstances the marquis Wellesley, in 1802, endeavoured by negociation to effect an improved system of alliance with the court of Poonah. It was at this time engaged in a war with Jeswunt Row Holkar, who possessed the fertile province of Malwa; and on the 25th of October, 1802, the army of Dowlet Row Scindia, combined with that of the peishwa, was totally defeated by Holkar near Poonah; or. the same day he fled towards Severndroog, in the Concan, where he embarked for Bassein, which he reached on the 1st of December; and on the 31st of that month a treaty of perpetual friendship and alliance was concluded between the peishwa and the British government; by the conditions of which the friends and enemies of the one were to be considered in the same relation to the other.

The peishwa now agreed to receive into his dominions a subsidiary force of 6000 infantry, with their usual proportion of field pieces and European artillerymen attached; for the payment of which he assigned districts in the southern quarter of his country. Such was the treaty of Bassein, executed on the 31st of December, 1802, and formally ratified in the ensuing spring.

In the interim Holkar had occupied the capital of the peishwa, Poonah, and major-general Sir Arthur Wellesley, brother of the governor general, was directed in virtue of the late treaty to move on that capital. When he had advanced within sixty miles of Poonah, he heard of the enemy's intention to plunder the city on his approach; he therefore astonished all India by performing this journey at the head of his cavalry and over an almost impassable road in thirty-two hours, and was welcomed by the city as a deliverer.

But Scindia proved a treacherous ally, and to general Wellesley was confided in the course of the summer full power to treat with or declare war against him and the rajah of Berar, as he should find them disposed. In the army of the former was a French officer of great experience, M. Perron, who had procured an im portant assignment of territory from Scindia, on the right bank of the Jumna; which he had in fact formed into a small French state. This was the period of the peace of Amiens, in virtue of which also Pondicherry became restored to France; but lord Wellesley under the existing circumstances determined not to deliver it up,

and, before any enquiry could be instituted into his reasons, intelligence arrived of the renewal of the war between England and France.

It was now evident that three at least of the Mahratta chieftains were hostilely disposed to the British, and an extensive plan of warlike operations was combined, while negociations were for four months very steadily and earnestly entered upon with each of them. In the course of August the governor general put in motion in various parts of the British frontier 54,918 men. Sir Arthur Wellesley, finding no other alternative, took the field on the 8th of that month, and invested and carried in succession Ahmeduughur and Aurungabad. He came up with the allied forces of Scindia and Bhoonsla on the 23rd of September, and, though not at this time at the head of more than 4500 men, he did not hesitate to attack the enemy, who mustered between 30,000 and 40,000, one-third of whom were commanded by European officers, and gained a most complete victory.

General Lake, the commander-in-chief, attacked, near Coel, in the Douab, that part of Scindia's army which was under the command of M. Perron, who rapidly retreated before him, leaving Coel in our possession. The British also stormed and took the important fort of Ally Ghen on the 4th of September, in which were M. Perron and his grand depot of stores; and immediately pushed forward to Secundra and Jebna Nullah, within six miles of Delhi. Here was fought the celebrated battle of Delhi, in which General Lake exhibited that union of talent, courage, and coolness, for which he was distinguished, and the immediate consequences of which were the possession of that ancient capital, and of the person of the unfortunate Shah Alum, the descendant and representative of the Moguls.

We cannot detail the less important operations. In Bundlecund the forces of Shumshere Bahadur, a chief nearly independent but nominally acknowledging the peishwa, were defeated by colonel Powell, and the whole province submitted to our arms. Agra was ultimately taken by general Lake, and Sir Arthur Wellesley followed up his recent victory, by chasing before him Bhoonsla; while colonel Stephenson took the important fortresses of Boorhampoor and Asseer Gheer. The battle of Laswaree followed on the part of general Lake, in which he engaged and defeated 9000 infantry and 5000 horse, and terminated the campaign. In December both Scindia and Boohnsla were anxious to make peace; the former ceding the whole of the Douab, all his territories north of Jeypoor and Judpoer, Baroach in the Guzerat, and Ahmednughur in the Deccan: and the latter the province of Cuttack, including the fort and district of Balasore, to the British; who thus, in a brilliant campaign of five months, dissolved a formidable confederacy of the native powers, and obtained every object of the war.

But military operations were continued against Holkar, who, in fact, was the soul and strength of the late confederacy. He was, on the peace above mentioned, offered the liberty of retiring unmolested to his own states; but he immedi

diately began to plunder the Jeynaghur territory. It was not until late in 1804, however, that active operations were commenced against him. On the 13th of November in that year general Fraser attacked and defeated a force of this chief's amounting to twenty-four battalions of infantry, a body of irregular horse, and 160 pieces of ordnance, but at the expense of the valuable life of the British general; and lord Lake advanced upon the great body of Holkar's cavalry, which was posted at Furruckabad, and totally defeated it; Holkar himself escaping with difficulty. At this period, however, a new treachery on the part of the British allies, that of the rajah of Bhurtpore, unexpectedly prolonged the war. This chief suddenly received and supplied Holkar with whatever of military power he possessed for further depredations, until in April, 1805, a separate peace was made with him, and Holkar fled.

Such was the situation of British India, at the period of the marquis Wellesley's return to Europe; he had conducted our affairs in this quarter of the globe with an oriental magnificence of design, and perhaps of expenditure; but he seems fairly to claim the merit of having crushed in a most masterly manner the alarming combinations of Mahratta and French enmity, and entirely to have laid the basis of the measures which lord Cornwallis only arrived in India to complete.

This was in July, 1805. Holkar was without ally or territory, but still in arms; and Scindia, dissatisfied with the late peace, had imprisoned our resident, and was apparently only waiting an opportunity to break out into hostilities. The finances of the Indian government were also in great disorder.

Lord Cornwallis scarcely lived to act in his new and arduous office of fully restoring tranquillity and confidence. He had indeed taken a masterly view of the general state of affairs, suggested various retrenchments, and provided for the existing wants of the troops; but on travelling towards the army he only reached Gazypoor, in Benares, where he died October the 5th. Sir George Barlow, the second in command, who had accompanied him, happily pursued his suggestions, and 22nd of November a satisfactory arrangement was made with Scindia, and on the 24th of the following month with Holkar.

10. British India from 1805 to the end of the Burmese war in 1826.-The peace, concluded under the directions of lord Cornwallis, lasted without any open rupture until the end of the year 1814.

The following year was occupied with the Nepaulese war, and several reverses at first attended the British operations in the bill But the perseverance of general Sir David Ochterlony soon brought this dispute to a close; and obtained as the result the cession of the whole country from Kemaoon to the Sutlege.

country.

This year, at the opposite extremity of the peninsula, the king of Kandy was likewise made to submit to British prowess, and the whole of Ceylon became annexed to our Indian empire See the article CaYLON,

In October 1815, and March 1816, two expeditions of the Pindarees, a predatory band of native robbers, disturbed the peace of the Madras presidency. They were a species of Cossack, or light cavalry, formerly attached to the native armies, and having their horses well trained to long marches and hard fare. Armed with a bamboo spear, from twelve to eighteen feet long, every fifteenth man carried a matchlock; about 400 out of every 1000 were well mounted; of the remaining 600, 400 were indifferently mounted, and the rest were slaves and campfollowers, keeping up with the corps as they best could. About the year 1814 these bands comprised about 40,000 horse, who subsisted wholly on plunder.

On the first of their present expeditions they crossed the Nerbuddah in a north-west direction, and, dividing into parties, penetrated to the Kishna. They were only deterred at this time from crossing into the presidency by the swollen state of the river; but, in their return along the line of the Godavery and the Wurda, they passed the British positions, making good their retreat with an immense booty.

The second expedition crossed the Nerbuddah, on the western frontier of the district of Masulipatam, under the Madras presidency, on the 10th of March. Next day they marched thirty-eight miles southward, plundering ninety-two villages, with almost unheard of cruelty, and, on the 12th, they marched thirty-eight miles, plundering fifty-four villages. By the middle of May they had all recrossed the Nerbuddah, loaded with spoil, and with very little loss. During twelve days, which they had remained within the British territories, it was found that 182 persons had been put to a cruel death, 505 were severely wounded, and 3603 had been put to various descriptions of torture. A defensive line of posts was now therefore extended along the Nerbuddah, and across the country for about 150 miles, and, when this was penetrated by new expeditions, a very different account was soon sent homeward. By the activity of the British corps employed, almost all of these expeditions were intercepted, and very few of the plunderers made good their

retreat.

It was resolved however, in the year 1817, to commence offensive operations-to hunt the enemy into their native holds, and either to exterminate them, or to drive them from the position which they occupied, in the very centre of India. By the end of the rainy season of that year a numerous army took the field for this purpose. The plan was, that the armies of the different presidencies should advance southward, and, gradually converging to a common centre, hem in, on every side, the territory of the robbers.

While the Indian government was occupied with this plan, their old enemies were not idle. Bajee Rao, the existing peishwa of Poonah, made a fresh attempt on our forbearance. When all the British troops had moved southward, with the exception of a brigade, he first declared himself by attacking this small body. He was however repulsed at all points. This was on the 5th of November. On the 13th the brigade was

joined by general Smith's division, which had advanced on the Godavery. The enemy's camp was attacked next day, but it was found deserted, and that general had to undertake a sort of personal pursuit of the peishwa, who was hunted from place to place, until he at length surrendered -was deposed-and resigned the whole practical government of his dominions to the British.

Appa Saheb, the rajah of Nagpoor, and Holkar, pursued similar plans, and the result was the same. In November and December both were overcome; and placed their territories under British protection: nor was the main object of the British plans materially delayed by these occurrences; the Pindarees were driven first out of the province of Malwa, and, retiring as the British advanced, were at length hemmed in, and the greater part of them destroyed. The rest were humbled to complete submission, and their three most influential chiefs surrendered, on condition of being spared a military execution.

We have noticed under the article BURMHAN EMPIRE our first dispute with that important native power. The late rupture was of a far more serious character. It arose in an unfounded claim of the court of Ava to the island of Shapuree; in pursuit of which the Burmese chiefs in Arracan attacked and drove off the island a small party of British troops, stationed there for police purposes. An explanation being demanded and refused, and further agressions being made on the states of Cachar and Jynteea, then under British protection, the governor-general declared hostilities to have commenced in the spring of 1824. Rangoon soon submitted to a British expedition; then the islands of Cheduba and Negreis; and before the close of the campaign we were masters of Tavoy and Mergui, the most valuable possessions of the Burmese on the Tenasserim coast. A slight check was experienced by our army, however, at Rameo, on the Chittagong frontier; and a mutiny took place among the native troops at Barrackpore, which at first excited considerable alarm. But the prompt and able measures of general Dalzel and his officers soon terminated this last interruption; twelve ringleaders of the mutiny were executed, and the regiment in which it occurred broke up. The general results of the war in 1824 were decidedly in our favor.

Throughout the year 1825 hostilities were continued against the Burmese, and with considerable, but not decisive success. The fort and pagoda of Syriam fell early in the year; then the defences of the enemy on the Lyng, Donabew, Prome, and the whole of Arracan. In September an armistice was concluded, and negociations for peace were opened, in the course of which the prisoners on each side were exchanged, and the armistice continued until the 2d of November. The Burmese had at this time an army of 60,000 men in the field; and their system of laying waste the country subjected our troops to considerable difficulty in obtaining provisions.

In the terms of peace proposed, the ministers of the king of Ava principally objected to the cession of territory, and the indemnification in