HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



231 



to intercept them. In others, the 

 head quarters were surrounded by 

 a mihtary force. — In the mean 

 time every act was used on both 

 sides, to gain the sepoys, .who 

 were thus made sensible, that in 

 their hands was the balance of 

 power between the civil and mili- 

 tary government. The govern- 

 ment, assured by their agents or 

 agitators, that it might depend 

 on the sepoys, who did not seem 

 inchned to run a great risk in what 

 was only the cause of their officers, 

 issued an order for removing more 

 than three-fourths of the com- 

 pany's officers, on account of their 

 refusal to subscribe the test, from 

 their respective battalions. This 

 order was carried into effect at 

 Trichinopoly, Bangalore, Nundy- 

 droog, Travancore, and the whole 

 center division of the army. The 

 places of the recusant were sup- 

 plied by king's officers. 



But at Seringapatara, an attempt 

 being made to execute the order 

 of the Madras government, the 

 king's troops were dismissed from 

 the garrison, and the place was 

 promptly occupied and held by 

 the insurgents. It was soon after- 

 wards invested by the Mysorean 

 and a detachment of the king's 

 troops, and all communication cut 

 off with the surrounding country. 

 Two battalions of native troops from 

 Chittledroog endeavoured to re- 

 lieve it in the middle of August.but 

 they were attacked and routed by the 

 Mysorean and European cavalry. 

 It may be doubted, whether even 

 in these circumstances, submission 

 would have been made to Sir G. Bar- 

 low, between whom and the officers 



commanding native 



the 



-ji ..-w,^ corps, 

 contest was embittered by a kind 

 of personal animosity. But the 

 officers entertained u profound 



respect for lord Minto, governor- 

 general of India, a person high in 

 rank, and higher in character, 

 whose arrival was daily expected 

 at Madras, according to his lord- 

 ship's proclamation, towards the 

 end of July. The subsidiary force 

 at Hydrabad and the garrison at 

 Masulipatam, sent their submis- 

 sion to Madras, to be presented to 

 lord Minto, on his arrival. This 

 example was followed by the gar- 

 rison at Seringapatam. The sub- 

 mission of all the officers was un- 

 conditional ; but to the governor- 

 general, not to the governor of Ma- 

 dras. By lord Minto's generous, 

 noble, and wise conduct, the autho- 

 rity of government was completely 

 restored, and at the same time the 

 wounds healed which had been un- 

 fortunately opened. 



The Madras government in its 

 tottering state, also received aid 

 and support from that of Bombay. 

 His majesty's 56th regiment of in- 

 fantry was sent to Madras, which 

 was a very seasonable aid indeed 

 at that time, when besides the re- 

 volt of the native troops, it had on 

 its hands hostilities in Travancore, 

 provoked by the departure of the 

 Madras government from an 

 agreement to take contributions 

 in pepper instead of money. 

 These were soon terminated by 

 a corps of native infantry under 

 the command of colonel St. Leger. 



The conduct of Sir G. B. which 

 no doubt displayed firmness, vi- 

 gour, and much dexterity or 

 cunning, was approved by the 

 court of directors : though they 

 blamed his suspension from the 

 service of major Boles and colonel 

 Capper. But why did thej' ap- 

 prove it ? Not, it ma}' be presumed, 

 for its wisdom, but because it was 

 lucky. He boldly risked the British 



empire 



