XX 



Hijiorkal Chronicle. 



time ; and being arrivpc^ at my 

 prc-fe'it camp on the iSth, and 

 orrJered the moft expeditio'is 

 meafiires to be taken for tranf- 

 porting the ftores from the 

 head oi the pafp, I fhall com- 

 mence my match again to the 

 wellward. on the aid ; anii,'af- 

 ter calling at Bangalore for the 

 heavy artillery, I fruft that I 

 ftiall find it pradticable to reach 

 Seringapatam before the 12th 

 of next month. 



' No ufefnl purpofe could be 

 promoted by my enumerating 

 the difficulties which I have 

 already encountered in carry- 

 ing on the operations of the 

 campaign ; and it would be 

 equally unprofitable to enlarge 

 at ppefent upon the obftacles 

 which I forefee to our future 

 progrefs ; they are, however, of 

 fo weighty a nature, that under 

 different circumftances I fliould 

 undoubtedly aft with more cau- 

 tion, and defer the attempt 

 upon the enemy's capital till 

 after the enfuing rains ; but, 

 acquainted as I am with the 

 unftttled fituation of political 

 affairs in Europe, and knowing 

 that aprocraftinated warwould 

 occafion almoft certain ruin to 

 our finances, I confider it as 

 a duty which I owe to my fta- 

 tion and to my country, to dif- 

 regard the hazard to which my 

 own military reputation maybe 

 expofed, and to profecute,with 

 every fpecies of precaution that 

 my judgment or experience can 

 fuggeft, the plan which is moft 

 likely to bring the war to an 

 early decifion. 



« I have, at the fame time, 

 been the more encouraged to 

 pcrfevere in the execution of 



my original intentions, as both 

 the Nizam and Mahrattas have 

 ot late ibewn an uncommon 

 alacrity in fulfilling their en- 

 gagements, which, by the fmal- 

 left appearance of backwardnefs 

 on our part, would be im- 

 mediately cooled, ar^l which, 

 I truft, will, in adrition to our 

 own efforts, cflentialiy contri- 

 bute to counteraft many of the 

 difadvantages which the difti- 

 cuity of t!:e march, the riik of 

 (carcity of provifions and fo- 

 rage, and the approach of the 

 rainy feafon.pretent aeainft the 

 undertaking ; and if tbofe ob- 

 ftacles can be overcome, the 

 capture of Seringapatam will 

 probably, in its confequences, 

 furnifh an ample reward for our 

 labours. 



I * A few days after our fuc- 

 cefs at Bangalore, Tippoo re- 

 peated his propofitions to open 

 a negociation for terminating 

 our differences ; but whether 

 with a lincere defire to obtain 



; peace, or with the infidious 

 hopes of exciting jealoufies in 

 our allies, by inducing me to 



I hften to his advances, is not 

 certain. ' The line for my con- 

 duct, however, was clear ; and, 

 conformable to o\ir treaties, I 

 declined, in civil and nioderate 

 terms, to receive a perfon of 

 confidence on his pait, to dif- 

 culii the feparate interefts of 

 the Company ; but informed 

 hini, that if he fhould think 

 proper to make propolitions in 

 writing for a general accommo- 

 dation with all the members of 

 the confederacy, I fhoiild, after 

 communicating with the other 

 powers, tranfmit our joint fene 

 timents upon them. ' 



