100 CONQUEST OF MYSORE. 



the most vigorous efforts to retrieve it. By the advice of 

 Poornca his treasurer, he announced that two lacks of ru- 

 pees would be distributed among the troops as the most 

 effectual mode of alluring back the numerous fugitives. He 

 urged his soldiers to recover if possible the positions in 

 which the British were not fully established ; and several 

 of their attacks, being supported by the artillery of the fort, 

 were very formidable ; but they were all finally baffled by 

 British heroism. 



It was no longer possible for the sultan to conceal from 

 himself that his crown and kingdom were in the most ex- 

 treme peril] and indeed that a peace dictated by his enemies 

 could alone save them. The English force under Corn- 

 wallis had singly defeated his army and besieged his capi- 

 tal ; and that force was now about to be increased by the 

 corps under General Abercromby, by another from the 

 south, which had ascended the pass of Gujelhutty, and 

 even by the Mahrattas under Purser am Bhow, who had at 

 length been shamed or frightened out of his predatory 

 course. There was nothing, therefore, as Colonel Wilks 

 observes, but the general uncertainty of human things, 

 which could leave a doubt as to his approaching downfall. 

 He accordingly determined to seek peace on almost any 

 conditions. Two English officers, Lieutenants Chalmers 

 and Nash, who had been taken at C'oimbetoor, and made 

 prisoners contrary to the terms of capitulation, were still 

 detained at .Seringapniam. They were sent for, and the 

 first was asked if he was not an officer of rank, and a near 

 relation of Lord Cornwallis. Notwithstanding his reply in 

 the negative, he was released, and desired to convey to that 

 commander the sultan's earnest wish for peace, and the 

 proposal to send an envoy to treat for it. His lordship's 

 answer, though it expressed deep dissatisfaction at the treat- 

 ment of the prisoners, contained an acceptance of this 

 overture. An officer of distinction, Gholaum Ali, arrived 

 in the camp, and several days were busily spent in negotia- 

 tion, to which the alius, though they had been so entirely 

 useless, were admitted on equal terms. The following 

 was at length fixed as the ultimatum to be delivered to 

 Tippoo : — The surrender of half his dominions, taken from 

 districts contiguous to the territory of the allies ; the pay- 

 ment of three crores and thirty lacks of rupees (about 



