Governor of Bombay the possibility of creating a diversion of Zemaun Shah's force, by affording certain encouragement to the nations occupying the Delta, and lowest parts of the Indus. These suggestions were repeated somewhat more in detail in a letter of the 24th of October, from the Governor-General to the Governor of Bombay.

"In pursuance of these directions, Mr. Duncan lost no time in dispatching an agent to Scinde. He preferred employing, in the first instance, a native agent, who was accordingly furnished with suitable presents for the different chieftains in that quarter, and with necessary instructions for the regulation of his conduct.

"Abul Hassan, the native agent deputed by the Governor of Bombay to Futtah Ali Khan, the Prince of Scinde, was favourably received by that chieftain; in consequence of which Mr. Duncan was instructed to encourage and cultivate the amicable disposition manifested by Futtah Ali Khan, and to endeavour to settle a factory in Scinde-not so much with a view to commercial as to political advantages. He was desired at the same time to pay attention (whenever such a factory should be established) to the best means of facilitating a communication with it; and directed to enter into no engagements with Futtah Ali Khan, which might impose on the British Government an obligation of supporting Zemaun Shah to any greater extent than by furnishing him with arms and ammunition.

"The inclination of Futtah Ali Khan having, in consequence of these general directions, been sounded by

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the Governor of Bombay, and that prince having appeared to be as well disposed to the re-establishment of our factory and to the introduction of an European agent as could be wished, Mr. Crow, a civil servant belonging to the presidency of Bombay, was appointed to that situation, and dispatched to Scinde in the month of May last.

"It is satisfactory to perceive by the documents received, that the establishment in Scinde, independently of the commercial benefits which, with proper management, are likely to be derived from it, promises at least to open to us a far better channel of intelligence relative to the motions and designs of Zemaun Shah than any other which we have been hitherto able to strike out, if it should not even place within our reach the means of materially annoying Zemaun Shah, in the event of his resuming at any future period his hostile designs against the possessions of the Company and their allies in Ilindostan."

CHAPTER XII.

Lord Mornington leaves Fort William for Madras.-Received by Lord Clive the new Governor.-Change in the Sentiments of the Madras Government respecting the Governor-General's Plans. Intelligence that Zemaun Shah had advanced to Lahore.-Sir Alured Clarke detained at Calcutta in consequence.-Army of Observation under General Sir J. H. Craig on the Frontiers of Oude.-Tippoo Sultaun's Delays to reply to the Governor-General's Expostulation.-Letter from his Highness to Lord Mornington.-Tippoo's Account of the Embassy to the Mauritius. He evades Lord Mornington's Propositions.-The Governor-General replies, and points out the dangerous Consequences of Delay. Further Correspondence.-Lord Mornington receives Intelligence of a fresh Embassy from Tippoo to the French, embarked at Tranquebar.-Orders the Army to advance in Mysore.-Military Arrangements. Letter from Tippoo, saying that he was going on a Hunting Expedition.- Declaration of the Governor-General in the Name of the British Government and the Allies.-Various Private Letters written by Sir Alured Clarke, from Fort William, to Lord Mornington at Madras, during the Progress of the Military Operations.

LORD MORNINGTON now resolved to remove to Madras to hasten the preparations in progress; and in order that he might have the means of more easy communication with Tippoo Sultaun. His Lordship was received at Fort St. George by Lord Clive, who had recently assumed the office of Governor at that presidency. His admirable dispatches and skilful measures, together with the presence of Colonel Wellesley at Madras, had, Mr. Lushington assures us, wrought so great a change in the feelings of the leading men in

the settlement, that when he arrived at Madras in December, he had the satisfaction of seeing all hearts and hands united for the furtherance of his wise and vigorous counsels.

Before his departure from Fort William, intelligence had reached his Lordship that Zemaun Shah had crossed the Indus at Attock, and had reached Lahore with a large army. This movement compelled the Governor-General to leave the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Alured Clarke, in the charge of the government at Calcutta, and to concentrate an army of observation on the frontiers of Oude, under the command of General Sir J. H. Craig.

Tippoo took no notice of the Governor-General's letter of the 8th of November, till the 18th of December; under which date he addressed a communication in reply to Lord Mornington, which was not received at Fort George till the 25th of December. In the Sultaun's letter the following is the account given of the embassy to the Isle of France: "In this Sircar there is a mercantile tribe who employ themselves in trading by sea and land. Their agents purchased a two-masted vessel, and having loaded her with rice, departed with a view to traffic. It happened that she went to the Mauritius, from whence forty persons, French and of a dark colour, of whom ten or twelve were artificers and the rest servants, paying the hire of the ship, came here in search of employment. Such as chose to take service were entertained, and the remainder departed beyond the confines of this Sircar; and the French, who are full of vice and deceit, have perhaps token advantage of the departure of the ship to

put about reports with the view to ruffle the minds of both Sircars." With respect to Lord Mornington's proposition to depute Major Doveton to discuss with Tippoo a plan calculated to promote the mutual security and welfare of all parties, the Sultaun replies" It has been understood. By the blessing of the Almighty at the conclusion of the peace, the treaties and engagements entered into among the four Sircars were so firmly established and confirmed as ever to remain fixed and durable, and to be an example to the rulers of the age; nor are they, nor will they ever be, liable to interruption. I cannot imagine that means more effectual than these can be adopted for giving stability to the foundations of friendship and harmony, promoting the security of states, or the welfare and advantage of all parties."

On the 9th of January, 1799, Lord Mornington addressed another expostulation to Tippoo Sultaun, recapitulating the various circumstances connected with his intrigues with France, and replying to the various points in the Sultaun's letter of the 18th of December. "I trust," remarks his Lordship, "that your Highness will favour me with a friendly letter in reply to this; and I most earnestly request that your reply may not be deferred for more than one day after this letter shall reach your presence. Dangerous consequences result from the delay of arduous affairs." On the 11th of January Lord Mornington received a brief complimentary note from Tippoo, written on the 2nd ; it, as usual, professed solicitude for peace and tranquillity, but made no allusion to the proposed negotiation. On the 16th Lord Mornington forwarded to Tippoo