"We are persuaded that the tendency of the French plans cannot in the present days escape your Majesty's penetration and notice, and that no manner of regard will be given to their deceitful insinuations on your side and whereas the Court of Great Britain is actually at war with them, and our Sublime Porte engaged on the other hand in repelling their aggressions, consequently the French are enemies to both; and such a reciprocity of interests must exist between those Courts as ought to make both parties eager to afford every mutual succour which a common cause requires.

"It is notorious that the French, bent upon the overthrow of all sects and religions, have invented a new doctrine under the name of liberty, they themselves professing no other belief but that of Debrees, (Epicureans or Pythagoreans); that they have not even spared the territories of the Pope of Rome, a country since time immemorial held in reverence by all European nations; that they have wrested and shared with others the whole Venetian State, notwithstanding that fellow-republic had not only abstained from taking part against them, but had rendered them service during the course of the war, thus effacing the name of the republic of Venice from the annals of history.

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There is no doubt that in their present attempt against the Ottomans, as well as their ulterior designs (dictated by their avaricious views towards oriental riches), tend to make a general conquest of that country (which may God never suffer to take effect!) and to expel every Mussulman from it under the pretence of annoying the English. Their end is to be once admit

ted into India, and then to develope what really lies in their hearts, just as they have done in every place where they have been able to acquire a footing.

"In a word, they are a nation whose deceitful intrigues and perfidious pursuits know no bounds. They are intent on nothing but depriving people of their lives and properties, and on persecuting religion wherever their arms can reach.

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Upon all this, therefore, coming to your Majesty's knowledge, it is sincerely hoped that you will not refuse every needful exertion towards assisting your brethren Mussulmans, according to the obligations of religion, and towards defending Hindostan itself against the effect of French machinations. Should it be true, as we hear, that an intimate connection has taken place between your Court and that nation, we hope that by weighing present circumstances, as well as every future inconvenience, which would result from such a measure, your Majesty will beware against it, and in the event of your having harboured any idea of joining with them, or of moving against Great Britain, you will lay such resolution aside. We make it our especial request that your Majesty will please to refrain from entering into any measures against the English, or lending any compliant ear to the French. Should there exist any subject of complaint with the former, please to communicate it, certain as you may be of the employment of every good office on our side to compromise the same; we wish to see the connection above alluded to exchanged in favour of Great Britain. "We confidently expect, that upon consideration of all that is stated in this communication, and of the

necessity of assisting your brethren Mussulmans in this general cause of religion as well as of co-operating towards the above precious province being delivered from the hands of your enemy, your Majesty will employ every means which your natural zeal will point out to assist the common cause, and to corroborate by that means, the ancient good understanding so happily existing between our empires.

"(A true copy.)

N. B. EDMINSTONE,

"Persian Translator to Government."

How Tippoo responded to this appeal we shall see hereafter the arrival of Buonaparte on the Egyptian soil appears to have inspired him with the highest hopes, and to have strengthened him in all his antipathies to the British.

CHAPTER XI.

Landing of the French Army in Egypt.-Designs of the Directory of France on British India.-Effect of the Intelligence in India.-Buonaparte's Projects for the Invasion of British India.-Circumstances favourable to them.-Proposes to cross the Euphrates and the Indus.— Alexander, Tamerlane, Nadir Shah.-Friendly Disposition of Persia.Zemaun Shah prepared to co-operate with Tippoo Sultaun and Buonaparte.-Buonaparte's Letters to the Sheriffe of Mecca and Tippoo Sultaun.-Bourrienne's Account of Buonaparte's Plans.-Conversations in St. Helena.- Battle of the Nile and Defeat of Acre.-Buonaparte's Proposals to the Emperor Paul.-The Marches of Generals Lord Keane, Nott, Sale, and Pollock through Affghanistan.—Boland and Kyber Passes.-Tippoo's Correspondence with Zemaun Shah.Account of Zemaun Shah.-His Power and Hostility to the British.— Remarks of Lord Mornington and General Sir J. H. Craig, respecting Zemaun Shah.-Effects of the Victory of the Nile.-Lord Mornington's Plans for annoying the French in Egypt.-Letter to Lord Nelson.-Precautions in Scinde against Zemaun Shah.-Memorandum relating to Scinde.

ON the 18th of October the Governor-General received intelligence of the landing of the French army under Buonaparte in Egypt; in less than a fortnight from that time the particulars of Nelson's victory at the Nile were brought to Fort William by one of the Admiral's lieutenants.

Notwithstanding the destruction of the French fleet in the Mediterranean, Lord Mornington did not relax any part of the naval and military preparations which had been commenced under his orders, being still ignorant of the fate of the French army and uncertain

whether the Directory had smuggled out ships singly and unobserved, with water and provisions from France to Suez,—whether they had sent orders to the authorities at the Isle of France to forward the frigates at that station, and the numerous privateers and other armed vessels belonging to the island, to meet Buonaparte's army on the shores of the Red Sea,-or whether any shipping or small craft might be found at Suez, or Cosier, or any other of the ports, sufficient to transport a few regiments to the coast of Malabar. Lord Mornington, in this instance too, completely anticipated the wishes of the Court of Directors, as we find it expressed in a letter from the India House to his Lordship, dated 26th of November, 1798 :-"Since the date of our letter of June last, above alluded to, the landing of Buonaparte in Egypt has been fully confirmed; and although, by the glorious victory of Admiral Nelson over the French fleet near Alexandria, and the opposition made to their progress through Egypt by the Arabs under the authority of the Porte, the designs of the French have been considerably impeded; yet if, contrary to our hopes and expectations, he should be able to establish himself in Egypt, we cannot but still be under apprehensions for the safety of our Indian possessions. These apprehensions are considerably increased in consequence of some hints lately suggested by the Right Honourable Henry Dundas, that if the French should be able to subdue Egypt, and to establish their authority in that country, it is likely their next progressive measure would be to secure the communication of the Red Sea with the Gulph of Cambay, at the narrow Straits of Babelmandel;

VOL. I.

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