his place, and delivered the following Speech:

"GENTLEMEN,

"I have taken your message of the 20th, of last month into deep confideration. In a cafe that involves the honour of the French people, and the fafety of the empire, I thought it my duty to be myfelf the bearer of my answer. The nation cannot but applaud thefe communications between its elected and its hereditary Reprefentatives.

"You have invited me to take decifive measures to effect a ceffation of thofe external affemblages which keep up a hateful difquiet and fermentation in the bofom of France, render neceffary an oppreffive aug mentation of expence, and expofe liberty to greater danger than an open and declared war. You defire me to caufe declarations to be made to the neighbouring Princes, who, contrary to the rules of good neighbourhood, and the principles of the law of nations, protect thefe affemblages, that the nation can no longer fuffer this want of refpect, and thofe fources of hoftility. Finally, you have given me to understand, that one general emotion is felt by the nation, and that the cry of all the French is for war, in preference to a ruinous and degrading pa

tience.

"Gentlemen, I have long thought that our circumstances required great circumfpection in our measures; that having fcarce ly yet weathered the agitations and the ftorms of a Revolution, and in the firft effays of an infant Conftitution, no means ought to he neglected that could preferve France from the innumerable evils of war; thefe means I have always employed. On the one hand, I have done every thing to recall the French Emigrants to the bofom of their country, and induce them to fubmit to the new laws which a great majority of the nation has adopted; on the other, I have employed amicable intimations, I have caufed formal and precife requifitions to be made, to the neighbouring Princes, from giving them a fupport calculated to flatter their hopes, and encourage them in their rath defigns.

"The Emperor has done all that was to be expected from a faithful ally, by forbidding and difperfing all aflemblages within

his states.

the people's injuries; and I am now to inform you of the refolution I have taken to purfue reparation.

"I have caufed a declaration to be made to the Elector of Treves, that if before the 15th of January he do not put a flop within his ftates to all collecting of troops, and all hoftile difpofitions on the part of the, French, who have taken refuge in them, I fhali no longer confider him but as the enemy of France. [shouts of applause and Vive le Roi. I fhall caufe fimilar declarations to be made to all who favour affemblages contrary to the tranquillity of the kingdom; and by fecuring to foreigners all the protection which they ought to expect from our laws, I fhall have a right to demand a speedy and complete reparation of all the injuries which Frenchmen may have received.

"I have written to the Emperor to engage him to continue his good offices, and, if neceffary, to exert his authority as head of the empire, to avert the evils which the obftinacy of certain members of the Germanic body, if longer perfifted in, cannot fail to occafion. Much may undoubtedly be expected from this interposition; supported by the powerful influence of his example; but I am at the fame time making the moft proper military arrangements to render these declarations respected.

"And if they shall not be attended to, then, Gentlemen, it will only remain for me to propole war; war, which a people who has folemnly renounced conqueft never makes without neceflity; but which a nation, happy and free, knows how to undertake when its own fafety-when honour commands.

"But in courageously abandoning ourfelves to this refolution, let us haften to employ the only means that can affure its fuccefs. Turn your attention, Gentlemen, to the ftate of the finances; confirm the national credit; watch over the public for tune. Let yout deliberations, always governed by conftitutional principles, take a grand,high fpirited, and authoritative courie, the only one that befits the legislators of a great empire. Let the conftituted powers refpect themfelves to be refpected; let them give mutual aid instead of mutual impediinent; and finally, let it appear that they are diftinct, but not enemics. It is time to fhew to foreign nations, that the French people, their reprefentatives, and their King, are but one.

"It is to this union, and alfo let us never forget it, to the refpect we pay to the government of other ftates, that the fafety, the confideration, and the glory of the empire are artached.

"For me, Gentlemen, it would be in vain to endeavour to furround with difgufts the exercis of the authority which is con

fided

the zeal of the troops had enabled him to go on, the greatest part of the carriages, load ed with the ftores of the magazine, and a Jarge proportion of the entrenching tools, having been drawn and carried almost all the way by the foldiers,

A few days after, we had the fatisfaction to learn, by private accounts from the army on which we could depend, that Lord Cornwallis had, on the 15th of May, attacked and defeated Tippoo's whole force, taken four of his guns, and driven him, with all his troops, under the walls of Seringa patam. This fingular victory was more honourable to the British arms, as the enemy had been forced from the heights, where he was strongly polled. Lord Cornwallis's account of the action has not yet reached

us.

Our next advice was by an exprefs from Lieutenant Colonel Oldham, in which he ftated, that he had received a letter from Lord Cornwallis, dated the 22d of May, adviling, that "the want of forage, provifions, and the reduced ftate of the cattle, had rendered it neceffary for the army to return immediately to Bangalore." Licu tenant Colonel Oldham added, that "his Lordship, for want of bullocks, had been under the neceflity of deftroying the battering train."

We are much concerned to obferve, that the wants of the army had at length forced Is Lordship to relinquifh, in the midst of victory, the object of his enterprize; but, foreseeing that much might depend on immediate exertion, we loft not a moment in iffuing our ordere for collecting all the bullocks that could be procured in the country under our management, and for transporting to Amboor, for the ufe of the army, ample fupply of grain and other provifions.

We advifed Lord Cornwallis of the ftops we had taken for the relief of the army, and expressed our hope, that, by the exertions we were making, added to thofe of Capt. Alexander Read, whom we had before fent with a detachment into the Myfore country to procure fupplies, his Lordship would find his diftrefs confiderably relieved on his arrival at Bangalore.

On the 7th inftant, we were informed, by private advices from Camp the 26th of May, that the Maratta army had joined Lord Gornwallis that evening, and that great hopes were entertained of relief by this means in the article of provifion.

On the Icth instant we received a letter from his Lordfhip, dated the 24th ultimo, ftating that the rapid deftruction which the late heavy rains and the want of forage had occafioned among his cattle, in addition to the very unexpected obftructions to a junction with General Abercromby, owing to the badness and almost impracticability of the U VOL, XIV. No. 84.

fords of the Cavery had obliged him to give up thoughts of attacking Seringapatam be for the fetting in of the Monfoon, but also to defroy the heavy iron guns, which, for the laft feveral marches, had been drawn almoft by the foldiers; that the famine which had prevailed among his followers had likewife increased his difficulties, by creating an alarming deficiency in the public ftock of provifions; which could not be wondered at, when it was underflood that rice fold in the buzar for a Pagoda a Seer, (about 2lbs.) and that under this confideration, it was not to be expected that Maiftries and builock-drivers would be able to withstand the temptation of plundering the bags committed to their charge on every march.

His Lordship concluded by moving, that he had been obliged to remain near Serine gapatam to fecure the retreat of General Abercromby, who had advanced to Periapatam; but that he should march on the 26th to Bangalore and Vencatagherry. He requested that we would order every bul lock that could be procured, to be fent immediately to Amboor, that he might be able, without lofs of time, to furnith fupplies for the troops, and to replace fuch part of the stack at Bangalore as he might be obliged to make ufe of during the march.

We informed Lord Cornwallis, in reply, that, from the exertions which had been made by Government, there was the greateft probability that we should have at Amboor, in the courte of fix weeks, or two, weeks at fartheft, fix thoufand draught and twenty thousand carriage bullocks (the number required by his Lordship) and that there were at prefent in the neighbourhood of that place 1,787 draft and 3,477 carriage bullocks.

A few days ago we received two letters from his Lordship, dated the 31ft ultimo and 5th inftant. By the former we were advifed, that he marched on the 26th to wards Bangalore, but that on coming to the ground where he propofed so encamp, he was greatly surprised to hear that the two Marratta armies, commanded by Hury. Punt and Purfuram Bow, (both of which, he had every reafon to believe was at the diftance of 150 miles) were then actually, within a day's march, and that Purfuram. Bow's fon, with the advanced guard, was in fight: That this unexpected event had naturally occafioned a total change of his plan, especially as he found that the chicts, although they had heard that the attack of Seringapatam had been neceffarily postponed till the conclufion of the rains, enter rained no idea of retreating towards their own frontier, but were difpofed to co-ope rate heartily with his Lordship in diftrefling Tippoo, and cutting off his refources. That

they

they had further affured him, at the first meeting, that they had it in their power to relieve the greatest difficulties under which he laboured, viz. the want of grain and of bullocks. That he felt tolerably confident he fhould procure a fufficient number of the latter in their camp to anfwer his immediate exigencies, but that their supplies of grain, through the means of Benjarries, were fo precarious, and the authority of the Chiefs over thefe people, even if they kept their word in endeavouring to exert it, fo inefficacious, that he was very apprehenfive he fhould be held, for a confiderable time, at least in a wretched dependence on the Maratta Buzar, where he would not only be obliged to pay an immenfe price for a fcanty fubfiftence, but be expofed at all times even to the risk of a total failure.

His Lordship thought it, however, fo great an object to keep 30.000 Maratta horfe in the neighbourhood of Tippoo's capital, that it was to be attempted almoft at all hazards; and that he had already in his converfation with the chiefs paved the way for leading them toward the Sera country and the vicinity of Bangalore, as foon as the fafety of the fupplies, which were following Purfuram Bow, thould admit of his moving fo much to the left.

His Lordfhip added, that several letters had been written to him by the Maratta Chiefs during their match, to give him notice of their aproach, but that no letter from either of them had reached him until the day of their arrival, which he confidered fingularly unfortunate, as he would have adopted a very different plan of operation if he had known eight or ten days before that he could have depended upon the junction of fo powerful a force.

The concluding paragraph of the letter ftated, that General Abercromby had marched from Periapatam on the 23d of May, and was proceeding towards the head of the Gaut, without any interruption from the enemy, leaving four iron eighteen pounders, which his cattle could not remove, and which he could not totally deftroy, at Perlapatam, as well as a mall quantity of provifions and flores; and that the General expected to defcend the Gaut on the 27th.

Lord Cornwallis's letter of the 5th instant advifes us, that it was his Lordhiy's intention to move the next day towards Negamungalum, to which place the Benjarries of the two Maratta armies were to direct their march, and which, as well as the roads leading to it from the northward, it was confequently very neceffary to take great care to protect. That Tippoo ftill remained with his whole force near to Seringapa tam, and that no judgment could be formed until the Cavery was on the point of becoming unfordable, which would be the cafe

in a few days, whether he (Tippoo) would determine to make head against the confe derate armies in that quarter, or endeavour to difturb the fouthern provinces.

His Lordship prefled us not to lofe fight of the great object of providing bullocks and grain, and of fending fupplics of arrack and camp equipage to Amboor : That these, and various other meafures, he conceived to be abfolutely neceffiry, upon the fuppofition that the war might continue longer than we expected; for that although Tippoo had repeatedly expreffed an earneft defire for peace, his Lordfhip was by no means convinced that the enemy was prepared to make the facrifices that the confederatas might think they had a right to expect.

Lord Cornwallis proceeded to inform us that his wants in money would be prefing and extenfive; that the supply of the army during the rains and its equipment for the field, exclufive of the corps under General Abercromby, could not be estimated at lefs than between thirty and forty lacks of rupees; and he defired us therefore to take our measures accordingly. He added, that he would have us confider whether it would' not be advisable to take fome affiftance frony the treafure fent out on the Company's fhips, which was deftined for China; and that whatever we might resolve upon, would have his fanction. In the mean time he defired that we would fend feven or eight lacks of rupees to Vellore, to fupply the wants of the army, as foon as the communication was fecured,

It was a peculiar fatisfaction to us at this time to reflect, that we had actually in our treafury the full amount of what his Lord, fhip reprefented to be neceflary for him during the rains, and for the fubfequent e quipment of his army, notwithstanding the ample advances made for your investment.

We have been thus particular in detailing to your Honourable Court the tranfac tions of the war, because the fubject is important; and we can readily conceive the anxiety you must feel to receive advices by every opportunity.

We have the pleasure to inform you, that the fort of Copoole furrendered to the Nizam's army on the 17th of April.

Extra of a Letter from the Prefilent and Council at Fort St. George, in their Political Department, to the Court of Directors, dated July 14th, 1791.

We fhall now resume the narrative of the military operations on this coaft fince the 21ft ult. the date of our last address on this fubject.

On the 30th of last month we received a letter from Lord Cornwallis, dated the 14th, in which he informed us that the Cavery ri

1

ver had rifen very confiderably, but was ftill fordable: that Tippoo had not only brought his whole force across the river, but a confiderable quantity of artillery and ftores, from which his Lordship fuppofed that it was the intention of the enemy to give evety difturbance in his power, to interrupt our fupplies, and in particular to prevent, as much as pollible, the equipment of our part of the army, from which he (Tippoo) well knew he had the moft ferious misfortunes to fear.

That the neceffity of his Lornfhip's regulating his movements in concert with the Mahrattas, and protecting their fupplics, would keep him to much to the westward, that it would be certainly poffible, and he by no means thought improbable, that Tippoo, who could have no apprehenfion for Seringapatam for the next four months, might make a rapid march to Ouffore, and from thence pafs into the Barampaul and Carnatic.

His Lordship added, that we might be affured he would give us the earlieft intelligence of fuch an event; but he defired us, in the mean time, to be upon our guard, and, amongst other precautions, to reinforce the garrifon of Arnee, and take every means in our power to tranfport the ftores and provi fions, that were not wanted for the use of that garrifon, from thence to Vellore, and, if poflible, to Amboor.

We received a letter from Lord Cornwallis of the 25th ult. ftating that the Mahrattas, having now no further apprehenfions about their communications, or fafety of their diftant detachments, acquiefced in his Lordfhip's beginning to move to the eastward on that morning; and that unless after minutely reconnoitring the strong hill Fort of Severndroog, (about twenty-five miles to the weftward of Bangalore) he should be encouraged to attempt the reduction of that important poft, he fhould probably, in four or five days, reach the neighbourhood of Bangalore.

Ilis Lordfhip added, that an outline of his future plan of operations had been explained and concerted with the Mahratta Chiefs that they had agreed not to feparate from him until the war was brought to an honourable conclufion: and that he should take an early opportunity of communicat ing to us the particulars of what had paffed between him and thofe Chiefs at fome of his late conferences with them.

We have received letters from his Lordfhip, dated the 21st and 24th ult. The first, ftating that he had been obliged, for reafons he could not then explain to us, to promife a confiderable loan to the Mahrattas; and defiring, therefore, that we would immediateJy take the amount of twelve lacks of rupees out of the China fhips, notwithstanding any 3U2

orders to the contrary that we might bave received, and coin it into rupees, with as much difpatch as poffible.

His Lordship, in the fecond letter, res quefied we would inform the Supreme Coun cil, that he thought it would be highly expedient for the public fervice that the Swal low Packet fhould fail from hence for England in the very beginning of the month of September; and that he therefore recommended it to them to tranfmit their difpatches either by land or water, in such time as would early enfure their arrival at Fort St George by the 31st of Auguft.

In reply to his Lordship's letter refpecting the loan to the Mahrattas, we obferved, that the fum of twelve lacks of rupees would be held in readiness to answer any call which he might have for it.

We have very fincere pleasure in reports ing to your Honourable Court, that Capt. Alexander Read, whom we had fent into the Myfore country, with a detachment to col lect fupplies, arrived lately at Bangalore, with a very large convoy of bullocks, theep, and grain for the use of the army; a circumance particularly fortunate at this juncture, when the troops were reduced to fo much diftrefs for all kinds of provifions.

We understand that his Lordship has expreffed, in general orders, his acknowledg n.ent of the fervice rendered by Capt. Read. The whole fupply, collected by that active and zealous ofhcer, amounted to 1752 un loaded bullocks, about goco load of grain brought by the Benjarries, 14,567 sheep, and 100 horfes.

As the fervice performed by Capt. Read had been conducted throughout with great ability and judgment, we expreffed to him our warmeft approbatien of his conduct; and we refolved, in order to enable him to defray the extraordinary expence which he had fuitained on this occafion, and as a further teftimony of our acknowledgment of his fervices, to give him a gratuity of one thousand pagodas.

As the intercourfe with the army was opened by Lord Cornwallis's movement to the eastward, we thought it might be effen-, tial to his Lordship's plan to inforin ium of the exact state of our Treasury, which stood on the 4th inftant as follows:

In the Caf Cheft, Star Pa-
godas,

In the Treafury, in Pagodas
and Rupees,
Ditto in Bills,

Ditto in Porto Novo Pagodas,
Ditto in Dollars,
In the Mint, in Arcot Rupees,

2,41,469

3,84,232 8 528 1,44,206

2,55,768.

1,49,686