220] 
intelligence given by a Mysorean 
captive of rank. He said that 
Tippoo had convened his principal 
surdars, and had exhorted them to 
make a bold effort to drive the 
English from the island, and to re- 
cover the tomb of Hyder: that 
the chiefs had thrown their turbans 
on the ground, and had sworn to 
succeed, or perish in the attempt ; 
and that the attack was to be made 
that‘ night with the whole force of 
the empire. In consequence of this 
information the troops slept upon 
their arms, and a plan was concert- 
ed for crossing the river to support 
Colonel Stuart; but the night pass- 
ed on in silence, and the morning 
broke without an alarm. It is pro- 
bable that such an enterprize was in 
contemplation, but that the soldiers 
would not second the zeal of their 
officers. They had becbme ex- 
tremely dispirited, and deserted in 
prodigious numbers. Upon mus- 
tering his army a few days after, 
Tippoo found that it was diminished 
by 20,000; of whom net more than 
4000 had been killed by the Eng- 
lish. The fort was now closely in- 
vested on two sides, and Lord Corn- 
wallis was for some time incessantly 
employed in making preparations 
for the siege. A numerous party 
were kept at work in the island, in 
constructing pickets, gabions, and 
fascines. The noble garden of the 
Sultan. was devoted to destruction; 
and the trees which had shaded their 
proud master, and contributed to 
his pleasures, were now to be 
formed into the means of protect- 
ing his enemies in subverting his 
empire. 
Tippoo was now ina very cri- 
tical situation. Of his extensive 
dominions there remained in his 
possession only a single fort; and: 
ANNUAL! REGISTER) 1702. 
that he had reason to fear would not’ 
much longer be tenable. To the 
British: General he attributed his’ 
misfortune; and he now made a- 
daring attempt to extricate himself: 
from all his difficulties, by aiming a? 
secret blow at his life. | His cavalry: 
left the station where they had 
been encamped on the south of the 
Cavery, on the 10th of February, 
crossed the river at Arrakerry, and’ 
found means to get, uncbserved,» 
betwixt the Nizam’s and the Eng-) 
lish army. They then enquired, of 
some Lascars whom they met, for 
the tent of the Commander’ in® 
Chief. Being mistaken for friends, ' 
they were directed to that of Colo- 
nel Duff, who commanded the ar-) 
tillery park. Immediately) they 
drew their swords, advanced ‘to- 
wards it at full speed, and cut down 
several who attempted to oppose» 
them. At last the alarm was given; 
the troops turned out witlvalacrity,’ 
and discharged a volley at them, 
upon which they faced about, and! 
gallopped away in an instant. After: 
this attempt» Lord Cornwallis al+t 
lowed a Captain's guard to protect 
his person. Had those assassins: 
been conducted by a guide, or had: 
their judgment been equal to their 
spirit, it is possible they might have: — 
effected their rurderous purpose. 
The attention of the army was) 
engaged for some days in the for-. 
mation of a junction with the Bom- _ 
bay army. Lord Cornwallis de= 
tached Colonel Floyd with all the; 
cavalry, anda large body of footto 
conduct it in safety to Seringapa= 
This assistance was most sea- 
General 
tam. 
sonable. 
On the forenoon of that day on 
which 
Abercrombie 
had for some days been very much — 
harassed by parties of the enemy,” 
and deprived of part of his baggage. 
