SUCCESSION OF TIPPOO. 71 



and sent off under a strong guard, as if by the personal 

 orders of the sovereign. The instant that Hyder ex- 

 pired, his faithful ministers despatched notice to hia 

 eldest son, which reached him in four days. Tippoo in- 

 stantly suspended his operations against the English, and 

 accomplished a march with extreme rapidity across the pe- 

 ninsula. As he approached, and learned that every thing 

 was tranquil, he slackened his speed, and on the 2d Jan- 

 uary, 1783, made a private entry into the camp, where, 

 after the usual distribution of pay and donatives, he was 

 soon recognised as commander of the army and as sove- 

 reign of Mysore. He had now at his disposal troops esti- 

 mated at 88,000 men, and a treasure amounting to three 

 millions sterling, besides a great store of jewels and other 

 precious effects. 



Notwithstanding this studied concealment, the govern- 

 ment at Madras received early notice of the death of Hyder. 

 They immediately transmitted the intelligence to their com- 

 mander-in-chief, urging him to make a rapid movement to 

 take advantage of that disorganization which usually fol- 

 lows such a crisis in an Indian government. Unfortu- 

 nately the most violent insubordination and dissension 

 reigned among the different members of the council at 

 Madras. The dictatorial power, independent of the civil 

 government, intrusted to Sir Eyre Coote, was perhaps 

 necessary under the circumstances of that period, and had 

 been attended with signal advantage in the conduct of the 

 war ; but it formed a precedent to which future commanders 

 were too much inclined to appeal. General Stuart, who 

 had succeeded Sir Eyre, claimed equal authority ; while 

 Lord Macartney required the entire subordination of the 

 military to the civil administration. The former, to vindicate 

 his supposed right, seems to have acted in studious contra- 

 diction to the instructions issued by the presidency. He 

 first expressed doubts of the death of Hyder ; then said 

 that he would move in the proper time ; next declared that 

 his army was in no condition to march ; and, in short, did 

 not undertake any movement till thirteen days after Tippoo 

 was fully established in the sovereignty. 



This state of dissension between the civil and military 

 authorities, each seeking rather to inculpate the other than 

 to promote public objects, could not but be highly injurious 



