"Abstract Statement of the force sent by Generals Malartic, Sercey, and Mengalon, from Mauritius, to be employed in the service of Tippoo: Chapuy, General of the Land Forces, Duboc, General of the Marine Desmoulins, Commandant of the Europeans, Officers of the Artillery, Marine Officers, Ship Builders and others, Officers, Captains, Serjeants, and Linguist. Soldiers of the second description or half-cast, 1 1 1 2 6 4 26 36 22 99 Total of the persons arrived from Mauritius, Exclusive of Monsieur De Bay, the watch-maker, making together one hundred persons. "Return of the naval officers of the French Republic sent by Generals Malartic and Sercey, for the service of the Sovereign Prince Tippoo: SAVOIR. M. Duboc, Capitaine des Vaisseaux de Guerre de la Republique Française une et indivisible, commandant les Forces Navales. MM. St. Génés, Barth, La Rabinais. Lieuts. des Vaisseaux de la Republique. M. Filletas.-Faisant fonctions de Major de la Marine. MM. Petit, Dudemain.-Enseignes des Vaisseaux de la Republique. M. Lelee,-Maitre Directeur des travaux du Port. Onze Personnes, attachés a la Marine. "A Mangalore, le 28 Avril, 1798. In a letter addressed to Tippoo from Rear-Admiral Sercey commanding the naval forces of France in the Indian Seas, dated 4th March, 1798, the following passages occur: "I am extremely concerned that the naval force under my command, is not at present sufficiently considerable to admit of my proceeding to India, to make such a diversion as might forward your interests; but if I should be reinforced as I expect, I shall be very eager to seek our common enemies, and to assist you in their reduction. Previous to the arrival of your ambassadors, I had addressed the government of my country in Europe, on the necessity of expediting this measure, and the day subsequent to their arrival, I dispatched two frigates to France with the new proposals which you offer. It is to be regretted that you did not sooner apprise us of your favourable disposition." In a letter from M. Descomber to Tippoo, dated 5th March, 1798, the Sultaun is urged to form alliances with the several Native Powers: "There is still time, however, to crush this ambitious nation; but it is necessary that the Court of Poonah, the Soobah of the Deccan, the Tartars, the Rajah of Travancore, all the Rajahs, Nabobs, and Soobahs, that all the Chiefs of Asia, in short, should unite to attack, to overthrow, and finally to expel those haughty English: but it is absolutely necessary that the alliance should be founded on good faith, and that it should be skilfully formed; in order that the princes, whose forces are inconsiderable, may not find themselves overpowered, in consequence of a want of concert between the parties: but when the plan shall have been properly arranged, and when the English shall find themselves assailed from every quarter of Asia, their destruction will be inevitable." Tippoo was not slow to respond to these invitations:— 66 Happy moment! the time is come when I can deposit in the bosom of my friends, the hatred which I bear against these oppressors of the human race. If you will assist me, in a short time not an Englishman shall remain in India; you have the power and the means of effecting it, by your free negroes; with these new citizens (much dreaded by the English) joined to your troops of the line, we will purge India of these villains. The springs which I have touched have put all India in motion, my friends are ready to fall upon the English; for everything here relies on my discretion. Your enemies, as I have apprised you, shall be mine."-Tippoo to the Representatives of the People residing in the Isles of France, &c. A letter from M. Ripeaud to " Citizen Sultaun Tippoo" establishes the fact, that General Raymond the commander of the French auxiliary force in the service of the Nizam, had opened a correspondence with the king of Mysore : "I repeat to you, that your interests are as dear to me as those of my own nation; and you may rely on the frankness of my heart; but Raymond appears to make advances to you: do you appear to accept and return this confidence, and allow me to act a part with him. Be assured that he will submit himself to your pleasure: subtle as he is, I will outwit him, and you shall be satisfied.” Among the papers found at Seringapatam were the drafts of several letters in the Persian language, addressed by Tippoo to Zemaun Shah. The following short extract will serve as a specimen : "These circumstances, which are as well known from east to west, as the sun in the centre of the heavens, suggested to my mind that, agreeably to the command of God and his apostle, declared in these words, "Slay the divisors of the Godhead," we should unite in carrying on a holy war against the infidels, and free the region of Hindostan from the contamination of the enemies of our religion.-The followers of the faith in these territories always assembling at a select time on Fridays, offer up their prayers in the words -Oh God, slay the infidels who have closed thy way! Let their sins return upon their own heads, with the punishment that is due to them!'-I trust that Almighty God, for the sake of his beloved, will accept their prayers, and through the merit of a holy cause, prosper our mutual exertions to that end. And through the influence of the words, Thine armies shall conquer,' will render us victorious and successful." The following is an extract of a letter from Zemaun Shah to Tippoo Sultaun : "As the object of your well-directed mind is the destruction of the infidels and the extension of the faith of the prophet, please God, we shall soon march with our conquering army to wage war with the infidels and polytheists, and to free those regions from the contamination of these shameless tribes with the edge of the sword; so that the inhabitants of those regions be restored to comfort and repose be therefore perfectly satisfied in this respect. With regard to your request for deputing two persons to reside at our court, with a view to strengthen the ties of friendship, we have to express our acquiescence. "We have sent a few articles hereunder mentioned, as a memorial of our regard, by your ambassadors, who have explained to us the message with which you had commis sioned them." We have quoted enough to demonstrate the magnitude of the dangers which threatened the British power at the crisis when Lord Wellesley arrived in India, and at the same time to afford an irrefutable confirmation (if further confirmation be necessary) of the correctness of the views of the Governor-General and the wisdom of his proceedings, with reference to the intriguing and enterprising Sultaun of Seringapatam. (4.) Correspondence between Major-General Baird and General Harris respecting Colonel the Honourable Arthur Wellesley's Appointment in Seringapatam. "SIR, TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL HARRIS, COMMANDER- "Having, in a letter which I had this morning the honour to address you, given a detailed account of the assault of the fort of Seringapatam, the conduct of which you did me the honour to intrust to me, permit me now, Sir, to address you on the subject of the events which have taken place since that time. "Having been honoured with the conduct of the assault, and having executed that duty to your satisfaction, I naturally concluded that I should have been permitted to retain the command of Seringapatam, or, at least, that I should not be superseded in it by a junior officer. Judge, then, my surprise, when expecting to have the honour of delivering to you the keys of Seringapatam, in the palace of the late Tippoo Sultaun, and of congratulating you on the most brilliant victory that ever graced the British arms in India, to have an order put into my hands by Colonel Wellesley, by which I found myself instantly superseded in the command by that officer. I am really ignorant what part of my conduct could merit such treatment. "When, on a former occasion, Colonel Wellesley was appointed to the command of the detachment serving with his Highness the Nizam, while I remained in charge of a brigade, you informed me that matters of a political nature made it necessary to have that officer with the Nizam's |