restricting at present, their collection of the revenues of these lands, to the arrears of the last year only. This, as a temporary arrangement seemed satisfactory, and Purneah returned to his camp to put it in force.

In the course of conversation, the possibility of an arrangement was hinted, for the establishment of a Hindoo Government, in favour of the ancient family of Mysore, but Purneah cautiously evaded entering into this idea, in the slightest degree. The Mahomedan interest is so intimately blended with every department of the State in this Country, that no plan by which it is set aside in favour of an Hindoo Prince, could produce the very desirable effect of restoring tranquillity, and reconciling the troops, and most powerful class of the inhabitants to the change of Government.

I have the honour to be, My Lord,

Your most obedient and faithful Servant,

G. HARRIS.

No. III.

The Earl of Mornington to Lieut.-General Harris.

Fort St. George, 14 May, 1799. Having judged it necessary to entrust the conduct of all political affairs in Mysore, until my arrival at Seringapatam, or until further orders, to the exclusive management of my private Secretary, the honourable Mr. Henry Wellesley, and of my military Secretary Lieut.-Colonel Kirkpatrick, the services of the Commissioners appointed under my instructions of 22nd February are no longer required. That Commission is, therefore, now superseded.* I request you to express to the members of the commission my entire satisfaction in the zeal, ability, and discretion with which they have discharged the trust reposed in them in every part of their proceedings, of which I have hitherto been apprized.

I am, &c.

MORNINGTON.

The instruction conveyed in this letter, was not to take effect until the arrival of Mr. Henry Wellesley at Seringapatam, which will account for the apparent discrepancy of the letter dated May 20th 1799, [see next page] addressed to the members of the Army Commission, for a specific purpose.

No. IV.

The Earl of Mornington to the Resident at Hyderabad.

SIR, Fort St. George, 17th May, 1799. Although his highness the Nizam has unreservedly committed the interests of his government in the final adjustment of the concerns of the triple alliance to my charge, yet being desirous of consulting him in the present important conjuncture of affairs, as far as is consistent with a prompt and efficacious arrangement, I desire that you will, without delay, intimate to his Highness and the Minister my wish to be informed of their sentiments, not only with respect to the general arrangement of affairs in Mysore as affecting the combined interests of the triple alliance, but also with regard to his Highness's particular views and pretensions. You may assure his Highness of my entire disposition to meet his wishes to the utmost extent compatible with the general objects and interests of the alliance; and that it is with a view to consult his wishes, as far as may be practicable, that I now solicit his sentiments and opinion. You will obtain his Highness's and the Minister's reply as early as possible, and forward it, in duplicate, to me to Fort St. George, and to Seringapatam.

I am, &c.
MORNINGTON.

No. V.

The Earl of Mornington to the Honourable Colonel Wellesley, and the Members of the Army Commission.

GENTLEMEN,

Fort St. George, 20th May, 1799. I have great pleasure in expressing my entire approbation of the manner in which you have hitherto executed the powers entrusted to you. Unexpected circumstances, for which I could not make a particular provision, not only justified your deviation from the letter of my instructions, but would have rendered an adherence to their letter inconsistent with their spirit. You very properly considered that my first objects must be (as I had expressed it,) in all cases, the safety of the army, and the success of the expedition; and that

these important considerations must always be paramount to the strict execution of any special instruction.

I am desirous of learning the nature of all the steps taken to conciliate the various Leaders of Troops dispersed in Mysore. Effectual measures of conciliation are absolutely necessary to the restoration of tranquillity in the country, and to the establishment of a final arrangement.

I desire that you will immediately ascertain and report to me the condition of the late Sultan's family, and the characters, dispositions and views of his sons respectively, and their connections with parties and politics, either foreign or domestic.—This enquiry will naturally lead to the question, how far any of the sons of the Sultan had either entered into his views of establishing an alliance with France, or had disapproved them. The state of the family of the ancient Rajas of Mysore, and the characters and description of the persons composing it must also form an immediate object of your investigation to be reported to me.

It is also my wish to receive the opinion of the Commission with respect to the most eligible settlement of the Country of Mysore, in every possible view of that extensive and intricate question. I request, therefore, that you will, immediately, take this important subject into deliberation; if unanimous in your opinion, you will report it collectively; and if you should differ, you will each of you report your opinions separately, in writing, on the question, and transmit them to me for my consideration. As you may be assured of the most liberal construction, on my part, I shall expect that you will be perfectly unreserved in your communications and sentiments upon this momentous subject. My judgment is perfectly without prejudice on any part of the question, and I am anxious to learn the result of your observations, with a view to assist me in forming a correct opinion.

I will, however, state a few general points which may serve to explain the considerations requiring immediate attention in the examination of this question:

1st. That mode of settlement is to be preferred which shall unite the most speedy restoration of peace and order, with the greatest practicable degree of security for the continuance of both.

2nd. For this purpose not only the interests of the Company, but those of the Nizam, of the Mahrattas, and of the leading Chieftains in Mysore must be conciliated.

3rd. The Military power of Mysore must be broken; or absolutely identified with that of the Company.

4. Seringapatam must be, in effect, a British Garrison under whatever nominal authority it may be placed.

5. The Company must retain the whole of the Sultan's territorv in Malabar, and also in Coimbatore and Daraporam with the Heads of all the Passes on the Table Land.

The 4th and 5th of these points are properly matters of detail, but I consider them to be so essential to the stability of any new settlement, that I have stated them here as fundamental articles in every possible view and modification of the question.

I have, &c.

MORNINGTON.

SIR,

No. VI.

The Earl of Mornington to the Resident at Poonah.

Fort St. George, 23d May, 1799. Although the Peishwa's conduct, since my declaration was signified to him has been such as to forfeit every claim upon the faith or justice of the Company, I have determined to allow him a certain share in the division of the conquered territory, provided he shall conduct himself in a manner suitable to the nature of his own situation and of that of the Allies, and shall not attempt to disturb the Settlement which I shall deem most expedient for the affairs of Mysore.

The Peishwa's sudden determination to take the field, accompanied by the tacit acquiescence of Scindiah, and by the orders which you state to have been forwarded to Purseram Bhow appears to me very suspicious. It is possible that before the 10th of May, the Peishwa might have been apprised of the fall of Seringapatam; and his own preparations together with the orders of Purseram Bhow, may have been intended to favour the seige of Bednore, or of some other part of the late Tippoo Sultaun's dominions, with the view of securing the dominions seized in defiance of the consent of

the Company and of the Nizam. Such a proceeding could not be viewed with indifference by me, and ultimately must prove injurious to the interests of the Peishwa, by compelling the Company to renounce his alliance altogether, and to recover, by force of arms, the territory so unjustly invaded. I desire that you will take the most effectual measures in your power to discover the intentions of the Peishwa with respect to the treacherous design which I apprehend him to have formed; and that you will employ such representations or other means as may appear to you most likely to prevent the execution of this design, if really entertained. You will apprise Lieut.-General Harris at Seringapatam, and Lieut.General Stuart (now occupying the late Sultan's dominions on the coast of Malabar,) of any movement which you may apprehend from the Mahrattas towards the dominions of Tippoo Sultaun. It is almost superfluous to state to you that the whole Kingdom of Mysore, having fallen to the arms of the Company and the Nizam, is at present to be considered as a part of their Dominions by right of conquest, and consequently any invasion of the Kingdom of Mysore must be deemed, on the part of the Mahrattas, an aggression against both the other Members of the Triple Alliance. Peishwa can derive no right to the conquered territories under an alliance of which he has violated both the letter and spirit. Whatever benefit he may eventually be permitted to derive from our recent conquest, will flow from the mere generosity and liberal policy of the British councils.

The

Although I have not yet completely arranged in my mind the portion of territory which I mean to cede to the Peishwa; I can now state to you generally, that I expect it will consist of the Territory of Anagoondy, Harponelly, and a part of Rydroog, to this may possibly be added a part of Bednore; but the extent of that addition must depend upon circumstances on which I am not at present prepared to give a decision. It is evidently for the Peishwa's interest to await the quiet cession of the considerable territory which he will acquire under any possible modification of the settlement of Mysore, rather than incur the hazard of provoking that power which has so recently given a signal instance of its vigour and efficiency.

The Peishwa must be aware that the Nizam will not wil