180 Chronological Table. 



Admiral contrived, however, to land 2,000 men at Porto Novo. From the 16th to the 

 18th February, Colonel Braithwaite's detachment bravely and perseveringly with- 

 stood incessant attacks from a combined force of French and Mysoreans, under M. 

 Lally and Tippoo ; but was, at length, forced to surrender. Tippoo treated the pri- 

 soners well. Cudd;ilore yielded to the same combined force on the 3rd April. On 

 the 12th April, the French and English fleets again engaged ; and though the fight 

 commenced under most disadvantageous circumstances for the English, they dis- 

 abled the enemy, and both fleets lay for seven days within random shot, unable to 

 assail each other ; they then mutually retreated. Hyder, in June, dexterously 

 manoeuvred with a detachment of his army, and carried off his treasure from Arnee, 

 where it was threatened by Sir E. Coote. On the 29th June, news came of a sepa- 

 rate treaty with the Mahrattas, made by the Supreme Government at Poona, on 

 the 17th May, putting an end to all operations in that quarter. A negotiation was 

 commenced also with Hyder, who again out-manoeuvred the General, and was only 

 prevented from reducing Negapatam, in a plan of combined operations with Suffrien, 

 by the latter again encountering the English fleet on the 4th July ; the French. 

 Admiral was able, however, to retake Trincomalee, on the 31st August, the English 

 fleet heaving in sight, just two days after its surrender, when a gallant action was 

 fought, — and Suffrien broke six of his Captains, for not supporting him. Sir Eyre 

 Coote, by this time, was seriously ill, at Madras ; and the Government there under 

 much alarm: their means were reduced to the lowest ebb, and their food even limited 

 to 30,000 bags of grain, lying in the roads, unequal to a month's supply. At this 

 crisis, on the 15th October, the Admiral quitted them, and the following day, a storm 

 either sunk or stranded the craft containing the grain. Famine now raged awfully : 

 Sir Eyre Coote still sick: no longer equal to command, sailed for Bengal, and General 

 Stnart succeeded to the head of the army, with provisions only for a few days, and 

 its pay six months in arrears. 



On the 7tU December, Hyder Ali died, and Tippoo, (who had been detached against 

 Colonel Humberstone, whom he vigorously attacked in conjunction with Lally, 

 though the Colonel bravely withstood and repelled him,) hearing of his father's 

 death, joined the main army, and was, in a few days, firmly established on the 

 throne. He now took the field in December, with 900 Europeans, 250 Topasses, 

 2,000 Sepoys of the French allies, with countless hosts of Mysoreans — while the 

 English Carnatic force amounted only to 2,945 Europeans and 1 1,545 Natives. 



In Parliament, Mr. Dundas moved the recall of Mr. Hastings ; it came to no re- 

 sult, but on the 3rd May, an address to the King was carried, that His Majesty 

 would be pleased to recall Sir E. Impey, to answer for his conduct in accepting a 

 situation under the Bengal Local Government. — Mill. 



1783. — Madras.— The English army early commenced the campaign ; but found 

 that Tippoo was retiring from the Carnatic, being recalled in Mysore, not only to 

 consolidate his government, but to defend his territories against an incursion of the 

 English, under General Matthews, in Bednore. The General had reached Bombay, 

 from home, with reinforcements for India, and immediately advanced as above. 

 Tippoo suddenly, in April, appeared against him, retook Bednore, cut off the re- 

 treat of the detachment : their resources ceased — and without food or ammunition, 

 they surrendered to him on the 30th April. The General and troops were afterwards 

 cruelly treated. Discussions had arisen at Fort St. George, between General Stuart 

 and the Government, and the army remained inactive till June, when it attacked 

 Cuddalore, and failed. The English fleet offered battle on the 22nd June to Suffrien ,. 

 which the latter seemed to have declined, but immediately landed troops at Cud- 

 dalore, where the French were already more than superior to the English opposed 

 to them. Just as the French were meditating an effective attack, peace was an- 

 nounced from Europe, between France and England — and the French seceded from 

 their operations on behalf of Tippoo. At this period, General Stuart was placed in 

 arrest, by the Government ; but Colonel Fullarton, who, with a separate detachment, 

 was successfully carrying on operations in the southern provinces, was able to 

 threaten, in November, even Seringapatam itself. He was checked only in his suc- 

 cessful advances by negotiations for peace entered into with Tippoo. 



Bengal. — Mr. Hastings was occupied with measures regarding the Vizier of 

 Oude. The English residency w r as experimentally withdrawn, on the 31st Decem- 

 ber, under much asserted intrigue and cabal. 



At home, Mr. Fox proposed a Bill for Indian affairs ; it had in view, the abolish- 

 ment of the Courts of Directors and Proprietors. Seven Commissioners were to 

 be appointed by the Legislature, to manage the political, and nine Directors, to be 

 selected by the Proprietors, to conduct the commercial concerns. It created great 

 alarm, and the King interposed to effect a majority against his Minister. 



SirT. Rumbold, late Governor of Madras, was arraigned before Parliament ; but 

 the doubtful situation of the Rockingham Ministry prevented the proceeding coming 

 to a result. — Mill. 



