isolated parties, and, when least expected, charge fiercely upon the enemy. Sometimes they were known to ride up to the very muzzles of the guns; and when impelled by ungovernable passions, no exploit is deemed too bold for them. They fear less for themselves than for their horses, from which they derive subsistence, rank, wealth, and honour. They scour across immense tracts with incredible activity, levy contributions on the peaceful inhabitants, and every where, like the robber-knights of the middle ages, leave marks of their devastating career. When bearing down upon a broken square or column; and, when seen at a distance with their turbans and various coloured dresses, their horses richly caparisoned, with their gay air and lively action, they have a wild and picturesque appearance. Some of the superior class are mounted on strong bony horses; those of the lower on animals so very inferior, as to be wholly incapable of making an impression upon regular troops.*

In this mixed character lay the cause of their weakness and discomfiture; and fewer numbers, with stricter discipline, would have proved more dangerous to the British power. With regard to the country in which the battle was to be fought, the advantage was upon the side of the native powers, the roads being generally difficult for regular bodies of troops, and not unfrequently impassable. Broad tracks over vast and level plains; narrow defiles, rocky mountain-passes, and deep jungles, render ample supplies, patience, caution, and prodigious labour in the conveyance of baggage and heavy artillery, absolutely ne

cessary.

The rivers at certain seasons, when every stream becomes swollen into a torrent, present no less serious obstacles. Forts and castles commanding the roads and passes were capable of delaying, if not arresting, the progress of an enemy. These

* Besides the large and small horses, they have, like us, others of an intermediate size. The best of this kind are highly-spirited and beautiful creatures, rising from thirteen to fifteen hands, and make excellent roadsters, and are used for travel and the chase, but not in the field.-Sherer's Military Memoirs, pp. 10, 15, 25.

were mostly built of solid stone, with walls of prodigious height; and it required considerable time to reduce them. The trials and sufferings of a protracted campaign in such a country need not be described. They are not the result only of geographical position, or the surface of the soil; and their effects are too often experienced in the early fate of those exposed to them. Burning suns, sudden changes-heat, cold, unwholesome dews and wet, try the strongest constitution; while long marches, hunger, thirst, and weariness, are only part of the soldier's lot during an active campaign. These were felt in all their severity by the different British armies in the progress of those wars, forced upon the Company by French intrigues, and the ambition of native princes in the Carnatic, the Mysore, and the Deccan, previous to the close of the last century.

The previous conquests of the Company had been obtained at the expense of much blood and treasure; and it had now again to enter the field against a formidable power, prepared for action, and supported by a growing confederacy. The Mahratta chiefs were invited to make common cause against us; our alliances in the Deccan were threatened, and Zemaun Shah was to invade our territories from the north. The court of the Peshwah at Poonah, was becoming subservient to the league; that of the Nizam to French agency; while the Rajah of Berar, was no less secretly hostile than was Scindiah; and the stern Holkar, bent only upon plunder, hung aloof, like the vulture, ready to join the rising confederacy, and seize the quarry when hunted down by his neighbours.

Such were the foes against whom the Governor-general resolved to strike a decisive blow, before their designs were matured. He had prepared, for some time, the armies of Coromandel and Malabar; strengthened our alliance with the Nizam, and succeeded in surprising the French officers in his command. So promptly were the troops assembled under General Harris, that they reached Hyderabad on the 10th of October, surrounded the French force, and disarmed the sepoys. The whole affair

was conducted with so much spirit and address, as to call forth the liveliest marks of approbation at the different presidencies, and create fresh confidence in the measures of the new government.

Sept. 1798.-Meanwhile, the 33d regiment, which had been placed on the Madras establishment, was encamped at Wallajahbad, awaiting the arrival of General Harris, to take the command of the army at Vellore. During this interval, Colonel Wellesley lost no opportunity of improving its discipline and efficiency. By constant attention, he had rendered it one of the finest corps in the army; inured it to the rules and all the combined field movements requisite for an Indian campaign, and at the same time, improved the health and appearance of the men. His system of supplying the bazaars-the Indian commissariat -was the best adapted to ensure a cheap and constant provision, and to obviate all chance of peculation; and so highly were his merits here appreciated, that after reading the reports of the departments, the commander-in-chief published a general order, publicly to express his approbation of the arrangements which Colonel Wellesley had adopted. He had been equally attentive to what he considered his other duties; in extending his information both military and political, and devoting the hours he could spare from society and the exercise of his troops, to professional studies and the perusal of history.

Lord Mornington had personally superintended the preparations at Fort St. George, whence he addressed fresh remonstrances to the Sultan, to which he received no reply (9th Jan.)* within the period from the expiration of which, active hostilities were to commence.

Upon the 3d of February, General Harris received orders to enter the Mysore territory; but, with every exertion, it was found impracticable to prepare for its march so large a force, exceeding 20,000 men; of whom, 2600 were cavalry, and 4300

* These, with a recapitulation of all other grievances, are to be found imbodied in the subsequent declaration of war.

Europeans, before the 11th of the month. It was joined on the 18th by the British force in the service of the Nizam, amounting to 6500, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Dalrymple; and the contingent furnished by the Nizam of the same strength, including the Sepoys under British officers, led by Captain Malcolm, and a body of native cavalry under Captain Walker. These had reached Chittoor before the arrival of the Madras army from Vellore. The Bombay army, under Lieutenant-general Stuart, was ordered to co-operate from Malabar, and marched from Cananore; (21st Feb. ;) while information of these movements was sent to the different allied courts, and to the British admiral; and war with Tippoo Sultan was formally announced throughout the different presidencies.

The Nizam's force, under the superintendence of Meer Allum, was further strengthened by the addition of the 33d regiment, and intrusted, with the British battalions, to the command of Colonel Wellesley. This appointment was made at the express wish of the Nizam's minister, as well as of General Harris, and was ultimately of great importance in promoting the friendly relations between the government and the court of Hyderabad. Upon entering the field, therefore, Colonel Wellesley found himself at the head of a respectable force, comprising his own regiment, several British battalions, two brigades of artillery, the Nizam's infantry under Captain Malcolm, and a body of cavalry. The entire army, under General Harris, consisted of upwards of 30,000 men, well equipped, amply provided with every necessary, and in an excellent state of discipline; and under officers, in all its departments, distinguished for their skill and ability. A finer army never took the field. Along the western line, General Stuart was at the head of nearly 7000 men; there was a force under Colonel Brown, and another commanded by Colonel Read, marching upon the seat of war from the southern districts of the Carnatic, each amounting to nearly 5000 men. The commander-in-chief was invested with unrestricted

power,* and provided with a political and diplomatic commission, of which Colonel Wellesley was a member; but which was not entitled to act except in obedience to the orders of the general.

After the different armies had received orders, and were already upon their march, there arrived a letter from Tippoo Sultan, (13th Feb.,) to which the reply returned by the Governor-general expressed a sincere regret that the friendly intimation contained in the letter of the 9th of January had produced no effect. (22d.) This letter was accompanied by a declaration from the government and its allies, the Nizam and the Peshwah.

It was evident, by preparations upon so extensive a scale, that it was intended to destroy the power of the ruler of Mysore. As little as possible was left to depend upon casualties, and what is usually termed the fortune of war. Vigilant superintendence and provident foresight, had prepared materials for a brief and decided campaign. It commenced in the spring of 1799; and, on the 8th of March, General Harris crossed the frontier, and encamped upon the territories of Tippoo Sultan. He forwarded the Governor-general's letter, issued a declaration of war, and commenced the reduction of some of the forts. Most of the garrisons abandoned them without resistance as the allies approached.

Tippoo also passed his own frontier, and advanced boldly in

* General, afterwards Sir George Harris, was an excellent commander, and early distinguished himself. He was the eldest son of a clergyman, and was educated by a friend of his father for the army, which he entered at the commencement of the American war. His bravery and intelligence recommended him to the notice of Lord Moira; he received promotion, and more than fulfilled the expectations which had been formed of him. His services in the West Indies, and subsequently in our Eastern Colonies, soon raised him to the rank of general, and at length he succeeded to that of commander-in-chief of the British forces in India.

It was composed of Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley, Lieut.-col. Barry Close, Lieut.-col. Agnew, and Captain Malcolm; Captain Macaulay, secretary.