128 Lieut. -Colonel Briggs Translation of the 



" Hitherto we have been solely occupied in military operations, securing 

 " the country ; but not one rupee of cash has been raised on it. The 

 " tribute due from Harponelly and other places, however, has been realized, 

 " and I have obtained eight or nine lacs of rupees more by bills. The 

 " main objects o fthe war have been nearly accomplished, and very little 

 " remains to be done. Hyder Kuan, however, still possesses his own 

 " original country untouched. 



" With regard to our future operations, this is the state of the case. It 

 " was originally agreed on, that the Nawab Nizam Ali Khan should march 

 " and co-operate with our troops. He still writes he is coming, coming. 

 " This is in the true JVIogul style, ever slow and lazy to the last. I have 

 " recovered for him Banu and other places belonging to Besalet Jeng, 

 " who from being formerly connected with Hyder, and being at present in 

 " the Nizam's camp, favours the enemy by throwing obstacles in the 

 " advance of the Nizam's army, and by endeavouring to persuade his 

 " brother, that more will be attained by negociating than by fighting.' The 

 " Nizam however has actually left llaidriig, and is I believe advancing at 

 " last. Were it not for Rukm-ud-Dowla (who is an excellent person) all 

 •' our affairs in that quarter would go wrong. We must contrive to keep 

 " him on our side and in good-humour, and entrust all our concerns to him 

 *' alone. Had the Nizam co-operated with us at first, we should liave con- 

 " eluded the business before this time. Had he even declined to do so, we 

 " could have continued our own operations without reference to him ; but 

 " as it is, we are hampered owing to the delay. Tiiere is no probability of 

 •' the Nizam uniting with Hyder against us ; but the latter, calculating that 

 " both our armies will not remain here during tlie monsoon, seems hanging 

 " back to see with whom he may negociate with most advantage in the end. 

 " He has promised to pay the pcs/i /rush (a sum of money) to tlie Nizam, on 

 " condition of his breaking off his alliance with us ; and to me he engages to 

 " pay down thirty lacs of rupees if we relinquish the territory we have 

 " recovered ; but the forts we have taken are strong, and if they are given 

 " up, we shall not take them again so easily. Of these, some are hill-forts, 

 " which we must not relinquish. This is the point for which I am at present 

 " contending. Hyder is aware that the N'zani is advancing, and has some 

 " apprehension on that score ; still I do not think peace is likely to be con- 

 " eluded immediately. If Hyder is to be farther reduced, we must take 

 " Bangalore, and even advance on Seringapatam. At all events we must 



