NEGOTIATIONS WITH Tll'POO. 119 



these demands, till they should include even the provisional 

 occupation of Seringapatam. 



These terms, certainly not favourable, roused in the proud 

 mind of Tippoo a violent burst of indignation. He raved 

 against the arrogance and tyranny of the English, and 

 declared his determination to abide the worst decrees of 

 fate, and rather to die with arms in his hands than drag a 

 wretched life as a dependant upon infidels, and swelling 

 the list of their pensioned rajahs and nabobs ; he resolved, 

 in short, not to give a reply. But six days afterward, 

 when the parallel had been completed, and nothing remained 

 except the erection of the breaching-batteries, he again 

 brought down his mind to the attempt to gain either delny 

 or mitigation in the conditions of the treaty. A commu- 

 nication was received from him on the 28th, acknowledg- 

 ing the letter of General Harris as a friendly one ; but adding, 

 that as the points in question were weighty and not to be 

 concluded without the intervention of ambassadors, he pro- 

 posed to send two vakeels, or confidential messengers, to 

 treat upon the subject. The general, however, was fully 

 determined not to admit any such overture. In his reply 

 he claimed credit for not making an advance on the terms 

 already proposed, when by non-compliance they had been 

 virtually declined. They were still offered ; but no am- 

 bassadors could be admitted, unless accompanied by the 

 hostages and the treasure ; and the time during which they 

 would be received was to terminate next dav at three o'clock. 

 On perusing this answer, the energies of Tippoo's mind 

 seemed entirely to fail. Yielding to despair and grief rather 

 than rage, he sank into a state of stupor, alternating with 

 paroxysms of extravagant and groundless exultation. He 

 no longer took any steady view of his danger, or rationally 

 followed out the means by which it might still have been 

 averted. 



At sunset, on the 28th, the place was marked out for the 

 breaching-batteries ; and, as they were only four hundred 

 yards from the wall, no doubt was entertained of their 

 speedily effecting their purpose. Two, of six and of five 

 guns, were erected, seventy yards distant from each other; 

 but as only one could be completed by the morning of the 

 30th, its fire was directed, not against the spot intended to 

 be breached, which it was not desirable the enemy #houhl 



