112 CONQUEST OF MYSORE. 



seignior, transmitted through Mr. Spencer Smith, and also 

 that monarch's declaration of war against the French. At 

 this stage of the proceedings attempts were made to work 

 upon the Mohammedan zeal of Tippoo, and to induce him 

 to resent the attack made by that people upon the head of 

 his religion ; at the same time the reception of Major Dove- 

 ton was again pressed. After a long silence, there arrived 

 at Madras, on the 13th February, 1799, without date, the 

 following short and singular epistle : — 



" I have been much gratified by the agreeable receipt of 

 3 r our lordship's two friendly letters, the first brought by a 

 camel-man, the last by hircarrahs ; and understood iheir con- 

 tents. The letter of the prince, — in station like Jumsheid, 

 with angels as his guards, with troops numerous as the 

 stars ; the sun illumining the world of the heaven of em- 

 pire and dominion ; the luminary giving splendour to the 

 universe, of the firmament of glory and power ; the sultan 

 of the sea and the land, the King of Room (the grand 

 seignior), be his empire and his power perpetual ! — ad- 

 dressed to me, which reached you through the British en- 

 voy, and which you transmitted, has arrived. Being fre- 

 quently disposed to make excursions and hunt, I am ac- 

 cordingly proceeding upon a hunting excursion. You will 

 be pleased to despatch Major Doveton, about whose coming 

 your friendly pen has repeatedly written, slightly attended. 

 Always continue to gratify me by friendly letters notifying 

 your welfare." 



This strange epistle might certainly have created a doubt 

 whether it was not designed as an evasion, or even an in- 

 sult. Yet Colonel Wilks afterward learned from the Myso- 

 rean chiefs, that it was meant for a real consent, though 

 somewhat forced and ungracious. The letter of the 9th 

 January had fully opened Tippoo's eyes to his alarming 

 situation. He was thrown into a state of violent suspense 

 and agitation, venting imprecations against all who had 

 been concerned in the mission to the Isle of France, and 

 exclaiming, " the fractured mast of Kipaud's worthless ves- 

 sel will cause the subversion of an empire." He made, 

 however, a reluctant movement to the eastward, with the 

 view of meeting Major Doveton. But Lord Wellesley con- 

 sidered the time as passed when such an arrangement could 

 be advantageously admitted. The monsoon, which begins 



