The provisions of the treaty were fully carried out by Tippoo, who required time to repair his losses, and whose natural anxiety for the safety of his children tended to prevent him from engaging in any hostile projects. At the expiration of two years, all the conditions having been fulfilled, the hostages returned to their father, and for four years longer that ambitious prince refrained from molesting his neighbours, although in secret he continued his unremitted preparations for future war.

1793.]

ARRIVAL OF SIR JOHN SHORE.

139

CHAPTER XI.

GOVERNMENT OF LORD TEIGNMOUTH-HIS PACIFIC POLICY-INCREASE OF THE MAHRATTA POWER-VIZIER ALI-ARRIVAL OF LORD WELLESLEY-TIPPOO INTRIGUES WITH THE FRENCH-DISMISSAL OF THE NIZAM'S FOREIGN TROOPS-EXPEDITION TO MYSORE, UNDER GENERAL HARRIS-DEATH OF TIPPOO, AND FALL OF SERINGAPATAM.

1793-1799.

AFTER the five years of his government had expired, the Marquis of Cornwallis was succeeded by Sir John Shore, afterwards Lord Teignmouth, who carried on, during a season of uninterrupted tranquillity, the pacific system of his predecessor. Temptations, however, to break the even tenor of this course were not wanting. The Mahratta tribes, ever restless and disposed for war, had been with difficulty induced by Lord Cornwallis to ally themselves to the Nizam, during the campaign against Tippoo. As soon as that expedition terminated, the old animosities came once more into play. The Nizam, menaced by the Mahrattas, appealed to the English for protection. The governor-general offered his mediation, but seemed indisposed to support this proposed arbitration by an appeal to arms.

At length the Mahrattas, under Doulat Rao Scindiah, engaged the Nizam near Beeder, and gained a complete victory. His favourite minister was carried away captive by them, but subsequently released, in consequence of a series of intestine disputes, which arose among these restless marauders. The condition, indeed, of the Mahratta states has been likened, with considerable truth, to the position of France under the ancient Maires de Palais. The two differed, however, in this, that the

Peishwas, who resembled, at the commencement, the great ministers of the Carlovingian dynasty, had gradually themselves become the puppets of more powerful chiefs.

During the minority of the Peishwa Madhoo Rao, two great rivals disputed together for the ascendency. One of these, Nana Furnavese, a Brahmin, had long been famous, in his own country, as a wily and prudent statesman; the other was Mahajee Scindiah, a distinguished warrior, who held under his control the impotent descendant of the Mogul emperors. Disliking the English, Shah Alim had unwisely entrusted himself to Mahratta protection, and soon found just reason to complain of his new friends. They extorted from him privileges of various kinds, and even, on several occasions, treated the aged monarch with personal violence. The death of Scindiah afforded some opportunities for aggrandizement to his ever-watchful rival, but the heir of that powerful warrior had no sooner reached the age of manhood, than he appeared fully capable of maintaining his ground against the authority of Nana Furnavese.

The harsh conduct of this Brahmin, subsequently impelled his ward or prisoner, the youthful Peishwa, to commit suicide, and his successor in the vacant dignity, Bajee Rao, made several attempts to exercise an independent sway. But Nana, Scindiah, and other leaders, thwarted on all occasions the aspiring spirit of their nominal master, allowing him only the shadow of dominion, and steadily withholding its substance from his grasp.

The Nizam, conceiving that he had just reason to dread a future invasion from his turbulent neighbours, began to seek elsewhere for that aid which the English were unwilling to afford him, during the pacific administration of Sir John Shore. A French adventurer, Raymond by name, had served with Bussy in the Deccan, and now revisited his old abode, imbued with those ideas of hostility to England and universal conquest that animated the first supporters of the French

1797.]

RETURN OF SIR JOHN SHORE,

141

Republic. The Goddess of Liberty might have found more sympathetic allies than an Indian despot, but consistency is rarely compatible with political or religious fanaticism; and Raymond led the Nizam to expect that, ere long, the armies of freedom would sweep the English tyrants from the continent of India.

In the meantime, M. Raymond was not wanting in his efforts to extend the influence of his country.

He enlisted troops, for which the Nizam supplied all the necessary funds, drilled them in the European fashion, and taught the wondering natives to shout forth the Ça-ira, and dance the Carmagnole. At the instigation of Sir John Shore, some English adventurers offered their services to the Nizam, as tacticians, but, being inferior in abilities to Raymond, they were compelled to abandon the field to the astute and skilful Frenchman.

About the same time, some disturbances took place within the Rohilla territory, but by the prompt and energetic measures of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, tranquillity was speedily restored. Upon this followed a disputed succession to the chief authority in Oude. The Nabob Vizier, Assou-ood-Dowlah, having recently died, two candidates appeared in the lists; one being Vizier Ali, the reputed son of the deceased, the other, the late Nabob's brother, Saadat Ali. The justice of Vizier's title was first acknowledged, and then denied by Sir John Shore, who finally established Saadat Ali upon the musnud, with the understanding that several concessions should be made greatly to the advantage of the Company. In other quarters, also, fresh annexations had been effected, chiefly at the expense of the Dutch, whose settlements in Ceylon, and upon the Spice Islands, were occupied by naval armaments despatched from Madras.

In March, 1797, intelligence reached the Court of Directors that the state of Sir John Shore's health would soon render his return to England imperative. After some deliberation, they fixed upon the Marquis Corn

wallis as his successor; but this nobleman being shortly afterwards nominated Viceroy of Ireland, a new election became necessary. No one could have been better fitted for the post than the eminent man upon whom the next choice fell.

Richard Wellesley, Earl of Mornington, had, while at Eton, contracted with Lord Cornwallis a schoolboy friendship, that was destined to outlast the period when such attachments usually dissolve, under the influence of new scenes and more exciting occupations. The removal of his early friend to the supreme government of India induced Lord Wellesley to study minutely the history and customs of Hindoostan; so that when appointed to fill the post of governor-general he was, in every respect, prepared to undertake its onerous and important duties.

In the spring of 1798, Lord Mornington landed at Madras, where he remained a few days, for the purpose of making a nomination to the vacant musnud of Tanjore, after which he proceeded northwards, and reached Calcutta on the 18th of May. Before the 9th of June, copies of a proclamation issued by the governor of the Mauritius, M. Malartie, arrived in Bengal, and their contents created serious apprehensions as to the future intentions of Tippoo Sahib.

During the year 1797 that prince had received at Seringapatam M. Ripaud, the captain of a French privateer, who, probably by way of exalting his own importance, represented to the sultan that a large force was waiting at the Mauritius to co-operate with him in expelling the English from India. Ever ready to gratify his predilections for a French alliance, Tippoo disregarded the advice of his wisest councillors, and despatched two ambassadors to the Mauritius. They landed with considerable ceremony, and the governor, whose republican enthusiasm considerably exceeded his prudence, immediately forwarded their plans to the French Directory, and made public a glowing invitation, calling upon all