152 



from fidelity and attachment to their officers, they will be found 

 more deserving of applause than reprehension. 



The commander in chief being daily expected in a vessel off 

 Onore, captain Torriano prepared the following letter to be ready 

 on his arrival, which affords a statement of affairs on the 28th of 

 February, 1784. 



" It is with the greatest surprise and regret, I find the re- 

 peated representations I have made of the distress, and alarming 

 situation of the Onore garrison, totally unattended to; and my fre- 

 quent and ardent request that some vessel of force, for various 

 reasons, should lay off this port, not complied with. Regardless 

 of my own fate, I cannot but acutely feel the sufferings of my 

 brave comrades, who although now greatly reduced in number, a 

 prey to disease, surrounded by death, and deceived by fruitless 

 promises of relief, still adhere to me. To enumerate their suffer- 

 ings would swell this letter beyond a prudent size for its convey- 

 ance; I shall therefore only mention, that within the short period 

 of six weeks five hundred persons, soldiers and natives, have fallen 

 victims to a cruel pestilence which rages within these walls. De- 

 sertion nearly keeps pace with death: so serious and so incredible 

 is the former, that among the number lately gone over to the 

 enemy is a British officer. The effect of such conduct on the mind 

 of the now almost desponding garrison, is easier to conceive than 

 describe. Mirza, the sultaun's commanding officer, is daily urging 

 us in the strongest terms and most threatening manner, to capitu- 

 late; assuring us we need no longer indulge any hope of relief; 

 and that if the terms granted by Tippoo Sultaun to the garrison 



