196 | 
encroachments. In 1786,LordCorn- 
wallis was sent out to Bengal in the 
double capacity of Governor Gene- 
ral and Commander in Chief. The 
accumulated difficulties of immense 
military and civil arrears, naturally 
arising froma long and expensive 
war, had been surmounted through 
the sage economy adopted by his 
predecessor in the government of 
Bengal, Sir John Macpherson. A 
reform was effected in the public 
expenditure, which, according to 
the ministerial reports in. parlia- 
ment, of the state of our affairs in 
India, saved upwards of a million 
sterling per annum. Questions of 
great nicety, relative to the inter- 
pretation of certain articles in the 
treaty of 1784, had been adjusted 
pacifically with the French go- 
vernment in India, which counter- 
acted the plans of new aggression 
that France had in contempla- 
tion there, and which have since 
been developed by the memoirs of 
the Marquis de Bouillé. The na- 
tive states of Asia had been con- 
ciliated to the establishment of Bri- 
tish power, and left to their own 
internal intrigues and contests: 
and the plan of Mr, Pitt’s new admi- 
nistration under the Board of Con- 
troul, had been accommodated 
without much opposition to the 
prejudices and habits of the Com- 
pany’s servants: so that Lord 
Cornwallis, on his accession to the 
chair of India, in September 1786, 
found the different presidencies in 
rising prosperity. He availed him- 
self with moderation, firmness, and 
temper, of the best arrangements of 
his predecessors, and introduced se- 
veral new regulations that contri- 
buted farther to the public welfare. 
About the same time that Lord 
Cornwallis was appointed to the 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1792. 
highest military and civil offices. in 
Bengal, Sir Archibald Campbell 
was invested with similar powers 
in the presidency of Madras. 
The revenues of both provinces 
were greatly augmented without 
any new impositions on the sub- 
jects of the government. That of 
Madras rose from 900,0001. a year, 
‘to 1,400,0901. a year. The fortifica- 
tions were every where strengthen- 
ed, and the troops brought into the 
highest state of discipline. 
But, from the machinations of 
Tippoo, most was to be apprehend- 
ed for the Carnatic.’ If a war 
should break out, it was here that 
the troops must assemble; and from 
hence that they must receive the 
necessary supplies. Here, accord- 
ingly, the preparations for defence 
were most extensive and most vigo- 
rous, Granaries were established 
on the frontiers and other stations, 
containing supplies for more than 
30,000 men for twelve months. A 
complete train of battering and of 
field-artillery was prepared, far sur- 
passing any thing that had ever 
been seen upon the coast. A store 
of camp-equipage was provided for 
an army of more than 20,000 men. 
The principal forts were repaired, 
and more amply supplied with guns 
and stores. The cavalry were with 
infinite difficulty completed to their 
full establishment, and a general 
uniformity in disciptine and move- 
ment was established in the cavalry, 
the infantry, and the artillery. 
In 1787, four regiments of infan- 
try had been raised in Britain, and 
sent out to India; so that there 
were now, at least, 9000 Europeans 
in the country, in addition to the 
Company’s establishment. Every 
thing wore a pleasing aspect. 
The states north of Mysore, too, 
were 
