1 78 Chronological Table. 



by which much of the acquisitions of the English, in that quarter, was relin- 

 quished. 



Col. Leslie, commanding the Bengal force, having died the year before, General 

 Goddard assumed the command, and after much difficulty, and under conflicting or- 

 ders, marched 300 miles in 19 days, across India, reaching Surat on the 30th Janu- 

 ary. He was now invested by the Supreme Government with full powers, to treat 

 with the Poona Ministry. After much ineffectual discussion, hostilities were re- 

 sumed at the close of the year. 



Sir Eyre Coote succeeded General Clavering, as Commander-in-Chief at Bengal, 

 and Member of Council in April. 



The Supreme Government disapproved of Sir T. Rumbold's acts at Fort St. 

 George ; he indignantly repelled the interference. 



The French settlement of Mahe taken by Col. Braithwaite. 19th March of this 

 year, although Hyder Ali remonstrated against the act ; Mahe being useful to him- 

 self.— Mill. 



1780. — General Goddard carried Ahmedabadby storm, on the 15th February ; and 

 on the 3rd April, surprised the camp of the Mahratta confederates, and dispersed 

 them. 



In the rainy season, Scindia and Holcar withdrew into their own countries. But 

 the most brilliant event of this year was the assault and capture of Gualior, on the 

 3rd August, by Capt. Popham, with a small detachment, intended to augment the 

 forces of Goddard. 



A duel took place between Mr. Hastings and Mr. Francis, the latter having been 

 accused of breach of faith — he was wounded : he embarked for England on the 9th 

 December. 



Hyder Ali, who for some time had been regaining his power, consolidating his 

 means, and disciplining his army, by means of French officers, incensed at the cap- 

 ture of Mahe, contrary to his wishes, put his troops in motion, in June, and had en- 

 tered into a treaty with the Mahrattas, against the English. The Government at 

 Madras were struck with alarm, being without troops, money, or military means. 

 Hyder's army now advancing was 100,000 strong ; 20,000 of them disciplined, and 

 commanded by the French. They spread devastation and ruin, around the precincts 

 of Madras, while Sir Hector Munro had no force, to make head against them. Ar- 

 cot was invested by the Mysoreans. Col. Baillie's detachment was overpowered and 

 cut to pieces on the 9th September ; and Sir H. Munro, who had advanced to his 

 relief, forced back to the mount, from Conjeveram. The Supreme Government now 

 interposed. It sent round Sir Eyre Coote, by sea, in October, with treasure and 

 troops, detaching a body of Sepoys by land, Mr. Whitehill, who had succeeded Sir 

 T. Rumbold, as Governor, on his removal in April, was suspended by the Bengal 

 Government, Mr. Charles Smith taking his place, Sth October ; and Sir Eyre Coote, 

 notwithstanding Arcot had by this time fallen, soon was prepared to enter into ope- 

 rations against the formidable enemy now opposed to the British. — Mill, and others. 



Ac Bombay, the Government, under considerable financial difficulty, was obliged 

 to contract new debts, to enable General Goddard, with his contingent force, to act 

 with efficiency. In October, he moved from Surat, with reinforcements of Europeans 

 from Madras, against Basseen. On the )0th December, when a practicable breach 

 was nearly effected, the fort made an offer of surrender, which was carried into 

 effect on the following morning. — Mill. 



This year an act was passed at home, similar to one of the preceding session, 

 permitting a dividend of 8 per cent, for the year, reserving the surplus profit for 

 the future disposal of the legislature. 



At Bengal, the new Supreme Court, from its constant pretensions and attempts, 

 for some years, to extend its jurisdiction, had occasioned much inconvenience to 

 the Government, and subjected the native community to distress, by the introduc- 

 tion of legal proceedings, affecting the property and persons of inhabitants of re- 

 mote provinces, never contemplated to be amenable to its power. The situation of 

 the Company with native princes, and the treaties with the Nswab or others, 

 were utterly disregarded by the Court. The Cauzee of the Patna Court, in 1777, 

 was seized for acting upon the regulations of Government ; and the decision of the 

 Company's Court reversed. The Cauzee died under imprisonment. In the same 

 year, a process was violently served on the Dewan of the Foujdaree Court, at Dac- 

 ca, and some members of the Foujdar's family dangerously wounded in the affray. 

 At length, 1779, a suit was commenced against the Rajah of Cassijurah, writs were 

 issued, and the Rajah's zenanah forcibly entered, and his effects plundered. The 

 Government now summarily interfered ; the Military at Midnapore were ordered 

 to intercept the Sheriff's party. Matters were thus at once brought to issue. A 

 summons, on the Governor General and Council, was served on them individually, 

 and they, of course, refused, by their counsel, to submit to any such proceeding of 



