which I hope will be completed this day, particularly if you send me all the pioneers. "It is absolutely necessary that you should immediately appoint a permanent garrison, and a commanding-officer to the place; till that is done, the people will have no confidence in us, and every thing must be in confusion. That which I arrange this day, my successor may alter to-morrow, and his the next day; and nothing will ever be settled. A garrison, which would be likely to remain here, would soon make themselves comfortable, although it might be found convenient hereafter to change some of the corps first sent in : but these daily reliefs create much confusion and distrust in the inhabitants and the camp is at such a distance, that it is impossible for the officers or soldiers, or sepoys, to get down their dinners. ; "I shall be obliged to you, if you will order an extra dram and biscuit for the 12th, 33d, and 73d regiments, who got nothing to eat yesterday, and were wet last night. "In hopes that you will attend to my recommendation to send a garrison in to-morrow, I will look out for a place to accommodate one or two battalions of Europeans, and three or four of sepoys. In pursuance of the recommendation contained in the preceding letters, General Harris appointed a regular garrison for the captured city, and bestowed the command on Colonel Wellesley. The duties he was thus called on to perform were of a very complicated and delicate nature. The complete overthrow, not only of Tippoo's government, but of his dynasty, and the dispersion of all the public authorities, left him without subordinate functionaries, and made it necessary that he should regulate the details of every department. The office, therefore, was one evidently of the highest trust and responsibility; and though Colonel Wellesley's appointment led to a remonstrance on the part of Sir David Baird, who considered himself to possess a preferable claim, yet there can be no reason to doubt that General Harris, in appointing Colonel Wellesley, was influenced not only by the purest motives, but the soundest judgment. Shortly after this period, a commission was appointed by the Governor-General, consisting of four members, Colonel Wellesley being one. The arrangements for the removal of the family of the late Sultan were particularly confided to Colonel Wellesley. "The details of this painful, but indispensable measure, wrote the Governor-General in his instructions, dated 4th of June, "I am, my dear Sir," &c. 1799, "cannot be intrusted to any person more likely to combine every office of humanity, with the prudential precautions required by the occasion, than Colonel Wellesley; and I therefore commit to his discretion, activity, and humanity, the whole arrangement, subject always to such suggestions as may be offered by the other members of the commission." Subsequently to the partition of the Mysore territory, Colonel Wellesley was appointed to command those portions of it which became subject to British authority. The command was an independent one, for he received orders direct from the supreme government, and made his reports to the same quarter. In forming arrangements to secure the internal tranquillity of the ceded districts, Colonel Wellesley had full opportunity of displaying the sound judgment which al ways distinguished him. He availed himself, whenever practicable, of the knowledge and experience of Tippoo's former functionaries, by re-appointing them to their offices; maintaining over them, at the same time, the strictest vigilance. Under his superintendence, the comfort and prosperity of the people of the ceded provinces visibly improved, and his mild, firm, and impartial administration of their affairs, forming, as it did, a striking contrast to the tyranny under which they had formerly suffered, secur The members of the commission were Lieut.-General Harris, Colonel Wellesley, the Hon. H. Wellesley, and Lieut.-Colonel Barry Close-Captain Malcolm and Captain Munro were appointed secretaries. ed him their gratitude. He personally visited every part of the provinces under his command, repaired roads and bridges, and opened new communications, whenever they promised to be beneficial. In short, the prosperity of these provinces was promoted by every measure which a powerful intellect, prompted by strong benevolence, could suggest. The tranquillity of Mysore, however, was for a time prevented by the irruptions of a freebooting adventurer named Dhoondiah Waugh. This man was a robber, but any one forming an idea of his character and vocation from the petty villanies commemorated in the Newgate calendar, or lives of the highwaymen, would be grievously mistaken. European robbers are mere dealers in rapine by retail, and rarely rise to a dignity exceeding the murder and pillage of a single individual or family. But Dhoondiah was a marauder on a scale much more magnificent. He led to the task of plunder a body of 5000 horse, and laid whole provinces under contribution. In short, the individual in question was one of those adventurers who, in the East, have so often subverted empires and founded dynasties. In India nothing is more remarkable than the rapid growth of a predatory force. A single bold adventurer without property, save that of his horse and sword, often forms the nucleus for a whole army of freebooters. Dhoondiah is a case in point. During the reign of Tippoo he committed depredations in the Mysore, was made prisoner, and subsequently liberated by the Sultan, on condition of serving in his army. Either from force or policy he submitted to the ceremonies of the Mahometan faith, but Tippoo having probably detected him in some treacherous project, or being suspicious of his fidelity, again secured his person, and after the capture of Seringapatam, he was found in a dungeon heavily ironed. By a most injudicious exercise of clemency all the prisoners were set at liberty without enquiry of any sort, and Dhoondiah fled, accompanied by other fugitives like himself, without a home, a country, or a master. With talent and energy sufficient to excite confidence in those around him, he became leader of the lawless band, whose strength was daily receiving fresh accessions. He ravaged Bednore with great cruelty, and had already become of such importance, that two strong detachments of the army, commanded by Colonel Stevenson, and Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple, were sent after him. Dhoondiah crossed the Toombuddra, but not without the loss of 600 of his followers. Having entered the Marhatta territory, the pursuit was given up, as strict injunctions had been given that none of the Company's troops should cross the frontier. At this period Colonel Wellesley was appointed to the chief command of the troops serving above the Ghauts,* and he immediately prepared to continue the hostilities against Dhoondiah, who still remained secure and unmolested in the Marhatta territory, whence the Peshwah showed no disposition to dislodge him. On this state of things the resident at Poonah was directed to remonstrate, and endeavour to gain the Peshwah's consent to the entrance of the Company's troops into the Marhatta territories in pursuit of this formidable marauder. After great difficulty, this consent was obtained, and Colonel Wellesley determined instantly to follow and attack him. soon found, however, that the task of exterminating this band of ruffians was by no means an easy one. The troops were harassed by marches and countermarches, and it required all the activity and perseverance of Wellesley to bring the campaign to a successful conclusion. He In June he crossed the Toombuddra, and on the 21st carried Ranny Bednore by assault. He then proceeded to clear the Nuggur country of Dhoondiah's cavalry, after accomplishing which, and receiving the supplies necessary for his army, he advanced to Wirdah. On the 11th of July, he crossed the river and constructed a redoubt for the protection of the boats, and the security of his communication with the rear. Information having been received that Dhoondiah was advancing to offer battle, Colonel Wellesley occupied the town of Savanore, into which he threw his baggage, Ghauts, ranges of mountains which separate the upper or table land in the Deccan and Mysore, from the lower countries bordering on the sea to the east and west. and encamped in front of it. The king of the two worlds, however (for such was the title assumed by this most magnificent of cut-throats), after reconnoitring the position of his opponent, did not venture to attack, but fell back to Hangal, whither on the 14th, he was followed by the British. Dhoondiah, however, did not wait for their arrival, and when the town was carried by assault, he was found to have escaped. Colonel Wellesley continued the pursuit to Luckmasur, but this town also had been abandoned by his majesty of the double hemisphere. The pursuing army, therefore, retraced its steps to Savanore, which it reached on the 17th, and on the day following Colonel Wellesley effected a junction with the Marhatta force under Gocklah. The following letters to Sir Thomas Munro, written in the unreserved confidence of friendship, continue the narrative of events, in a manner far more interesting to the reader. "Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley to Major Munro. "DEAR MUNRO, Camp at Savanore, 20th July, 1800. "I was joined last night by Gocklah's cavalry, and expect to be joined this day by that under Chintamun Rao. This materially alters my situation as it stood in regard to Soonda. In order to get the corps from Hillcah, it must now come to me; and on its route, it may as well clear out Budnaghur, and all that country. I have sent orders accordingly; and if guns are wanted for Budnaghur, they will be furnished from a redoubt which I have upon the Werdah, which is about seven miles from Bancapoor. "Send orders by express to your people, to use every exertion to supply the wants of the corps, and afterwards the same exertions to forward supplies to my troops. I wrote to Mungush Rao this day upon the subject. "Believe me, yours most sincerely. "P.S.-I have just received your letter of the 15th, and I shall be obliged to you if you will delay the sale of your rice for a short time." "Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley to Lieut.-Colonel Close. "DEAR COLONEL, Camp, right of the Malpoorba, opposite Manowly, 31st July, 1800. "I have the pleasure to inform you that I have struck a blow against Dhoondiah, which he will feel severely. After the fall of Dummul and Gudduck, I heard that Dhoondiah was encamped near Soondootty, west of the Pursghur hill, and that his object was to cover the passage of his baggage over the Malpoorba, at Manowly. I then determined upon a plan to attack both him and his baggage at the same time, in co-operation with Bowser, whose detachment, however, did not arrive at Dummul till the 28th, and was two marches in my rear; but I thought it most important that I should approach Dhoondiah's army at all events, and take advantage of any movement which he might make. I accordingly moved on, and arrived on the 29th at Allagawaddy, which is fifteen miles from Soondootty, and twenty-six from this place. I intended to halt at Allagawaddy till the 31st, on which day I expected Colonel Bowser at Nurgoond; but Dhoondiah broke up from Soondootty, as soon as he heard of my arrival at Allagawaddy, sent part of his army to Doodwaur, part towards Jellahaul, and part, with the baggage, to this place. I then marched on the morning of the 30th to Hoogurgoor, which is east of the Pursghur hill, where I learnt that Dhoondiah was here with his baggage. I determined to move on and attack him. I surprised his camp at three o'clock in the evening, with the cavalry; and we drove into the river or destroyed every body that was in it, took an elephant, several camels, bullocks, horses innumerable, families, women, and children. The guns were gone over, and we made an attempt to dismount them by a fire from this side; but it was getting dark, my infantry was fatigued by the length of the march; we lost a man or two; and I saw plainly that we should not succeed; I there VOL. XLI. NO. CCLV, fore withdrew my guns to my camp. I do not know whether Dhoondiah was with this part of the army; but I rather believe he was not. Bubber Jung was in the camp, put on his armour to fight, mounted his horse, and rode him into the river, where he was drowned. Numbers met with the same fate. "One tandah of brinjarries, in this neighbourhood, has sent to me for cowle, and I have got the family of a head brinjarry among those of several others. I have detained them; but have sent cowle to the brinjarry. I hear that every body is deserting Dhoondiah; and I believe it, as my Mahrattas are going out this night to attack one of his parties gone towards Darwar. They were before very partial to my camp. I have a plan for crossing some Europeans over the river to destroy the guns, which I am afraid I cannot bring off; and then I think I shall have done this business completely. I am not quite certain of success, however, as the river is broad and rapid. "Believe me," &c. &c. "P.S.-I have just returned from the river, and have got the guns, six in number. I made the Europeans swim over to seize a boat. The fort was evacuated. We got the boat and guns, which I have given to the Marhattas." "Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley to Major Munro. "DEAR MUNRO, Camp at Soondootty, 1st August, 1800. "I have received your letters of the 22nd and 23rd. I have sent orders to the commanding officers of Hullihall and Nuggur to furnish ammunition, in moderate quantities, on the requisition of your amildars; in any quantities you please on your own. Do not press Hullihall too much, as I know they are not well supplied there. Take what you please from Nuggur. I have taken and destroyed Dhoondiah's baggage and six guns, and driven into the Malpoorba (where they were drowned) about five thousand people. I stormed Dummul on the 26th of July. Dhoondiah's followers are quitting him apace, as they do not think the amusement very gratifying at the present moment. The war, therefore, is nearly at an end, and another blow, which I am meditating upon him and his brinjarries in the Kittoor country, will most probably bring it to a close. I must halt here to-morrow, to refresh a little, having marched every day since the 22nd July; and on the 30th, the day on which I took his baggage, I marched twenty-six miles, which, let me tell you, is no small affair in this country. "My troops are in high health and spirits, and their pockets full of money, the produce of plunder. I still think, however, that a store of rice at Hullihall will do us no harm; and if I should not want it, the expense incurred will not signify. "Believe me," &c. "Extract of a Letter from Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley to Major Munro. "DEAR MUNRO, Camp at Kittoor, 7th August, 1800. "I arrived here on the 5th. Dhoondiah had gone even to the sources of the Malpoorba, where he passed, and his baggage is following him. Colonel Stevenson is after them, and will cut off part of the tail, I hope. I have halted here in the neighbourhood of a bamboo jungle, to make boats, which I must have upon the river, in order to keep up my communication with my rear." "Extract of a Letter from Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley to Major Munro. "DEAR MUNRO, Camp on the Malpoorba, 16th August, 1800. "I wrote to you on the 7th, and informed you of the manner in which Dhoondiah had escaped. A detachment from Števenson's corps followed his track, and the road was covered with dead camels, bullocks, and people; but we got hold of nothing. Bowser has since crossed the river Malpoorba, and has advanced to Shawpoor; and he tells me, that he found many dead cattle and people of all ages and sexes on the road. The people of the country beyond Shawpoor plundered 4000 brinjarries. I am now employed in crossing the Malpoorba, and I hope to be prepared to advance in two or three days. I shall leave something on this side, in case Dhoondiah should double back." "Extract of a Letter from Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley to Major Munro. "DEAR MUNRO, Camp at Jellahaul, 1st Sept. 1800. "Unfortunately the Malpoorba fell on the 24th; and Dhoondiah crossed it on that night and the next day, at a ford a little above the junction with the Kistna. Lieut.-Colonel Capper was then at this place; and although I had desired the Mahrattas to push on for the very place at which Dhoondiah passed, and Colonel Capper entreated them to attend to the orders I had given them, and promised to follow with all expedition, they would not move from the camp. If they had occupied that place, Dhoondiah could not have passed there; he must have returned to look for another ford higher up the river, and would then have fallen into my hands. He is gone towards the Nizam's country; and left behind him, on the north side of the Malpoorba, a tandah of ten thousand brinjarries, which I have got. I likewise took and destroyed five excellent guns and carriages, some ammunition, tumbrils (Company's), arms, ammunition, &c. &c., which he had left in charge of the Jalloor poligar. "I have crossed the river, and I am going to the Nizam's country immediately." "Colonel the Hon. A. Wellesley to Major Munro. "DEAR MUNRO, Camp at Yepulpurry, 11th September, 1800. "I have the pleasure to inform you that I gained a complete victory yesterday, in an action with Dhoondiah's army, in which he was killed. His body was recognised, and was brought into camp on a gun attached to the 19th dragoons. After I had crossed the Malpoorba, it appeared to me very clear, that if I pressed upon the King of the Two Worlds, with my whole force, on the northern side of the Dooab, his Majesty would either cross the Toombuddra with the aid of the Patan chiefs, and would then enter Mysore; or he would return into Savanore, and play the devil with my peaceable communications. I therefore determined, at all events, to prevent his Majesty from putting those designs in execution; and I marched with my army to Kanagherry. I sent Stevenson towards Deodroog, and along the Kistna, to prevent him from sending his guns and baggage to his ally the Rajah of Soorapoor; and I pushed forward the whole of the Mahratta and Mogul cavalry in one body, between Stevenson's corps and mine. "I marched from Kanagherry on the 8th, left my infantry at Nowly, and proceeded on with the cavalry only; and I arrived here on the 9th, the infantry at Chinnoor, about fifteen miles in my rear. "The King of the World broke up on the 9th, from Malgherry, about twenty-five miles on this side of Raichore, and proceeded towards the Kistna but he saw Colonel Stevenson's camp, returned immediately, and encamped on that evening about nine miles from hence, between this place and Bunnoo. I had early intelligence of his situation; but the night was so bad, and my horses so much fatigued, that I could not move. After a most anxious night, I marched in the morning and met the King of the World with his army, about five thousand horse, at a village called Conahgull, about six miles from hence. He had not known of my being so near him in the night, had thought that I was at Chinnoor, and was marching to the westward with the intention of passing between the Mahratta and Mogul cavalry and me. drew up, however, in a very strong position, as soon as he perceived me; and the victorious army stood for some time with apparent firmness. I charged He |