These powers

have deemed it advisable to entrust to you. necessarily supersede those which I had delegated during the campaign to the Commission appointed to assist Lieut.General Harris in all matters relating to political negotiation. The favourable situation of affairs in Mysore appearing to render my presence at Seringapatam quite unnecessary; I have again taken the resolution of remaining at Madras, and I, therefore, propose to confide to you such a portion of my authority as may enable you, under my orders, to effect a settlement of the country without my presence. Whatever three Members of the Commission shall be present at Seringapatam, on the arrival of this despatch, will proceed immediately to act under the Commission, and to execute the instructions contained in this letter.

The restoration of the representative of the ancient family of the Rajahs of Mysore, accompanied by a partition of territory between the Allies, in which the interests of the Mahrattas should be conciliated, appearing to me, under all the circumstances of the case, to be the most advisable basis on which any new settlement of the Country can be vested, I have resolved to frame, without delay, a plan founded on these principles; and I hope, in the course of to-morrow, to be able to forward to you the Articles of a Treaty, with proper instructions annexed, for the purpose of carrying the abovementioned plan into effect. In the meanwhile it is absolutely necessary that certain measures of precaution should be immediately adopted in order to facilitate the intended arrangement. These measures relate―

1st. To the satisfaction of the principal Musselman Sirdars, and of the Killahdars of the several Forts.

2nd. To the mode of removing the family of Tippoo Sultaun from Mysore with the least practicable injury to their feelings. With regard to the first object, I have already forwarded to the Honourable Mr. H. Wellesley a letter to Meer Allum, and a copy of a letter from the Nizam to me, which I trust will enable you to give a complete satisfaction to Kummer ud Deen; and unless you expect any considerable advantage from his influence at Seringapatam in conciliating others of his religion, I desire that you will take the earliest measures to induce him to repair to Gurrumcondah; with the other leading Musselmans you should immediately enter into

such specific engagements as may preclude the possibility of any alarm in their minds with respect to their situation and prospects under any new arrangements of the country. I rely on your discretion to conclude such an arrangement, with as little burthen to the finances of the Company as circumstances will admit. The whole body of Tippoo's Sirdars ought not to become an exclusive charge upon the Company, they must be employed and provided for by the Allies, and by the Rajah of Mysore collectively. The families of the Sirdars, slain during the campaign, must also be provided for in the same manner.

The Killahdars who have surrendered posts, and those who still hold forts in their possession, should be paid their arrears for the month of April, at least, with their pay for the month of May, and for as long a time as we may leave them in charge of their forts. On dismissing any of them, a liberal gratuity should be given them for the purpose of conciliation; all these charges may hereafter be adjusted between the Allies.

As soon as you shall judge that your arrangements with the remnant of the Musselman interest are in sufficient forwardness, you will proceed to take necessary measures for removing the family of the Sultaun. The details of this painful, but indispensable, measure cannot be entrusted to any person more likely to combine every office of humanity with the prudential precautions required by this 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. I have appointed Lieut.Colonel Doveton to take the command of the Fortress of Vellore, which is destined for the future residence of the Sultaun's family. Lieut.-Colonel Doveton is also appointed Paymaster of Stipends to the family; and he has been directed to make every possible preparation for their accommodation at Vellore. After their arrival, no reasonable expence will be spared to render their habitation suitable to their former rank and expectations; and it is my intention to give them a liberal pecuniary allowance. Colonel Wellesley will judge whether it may be necessary to give, either to the whole or to any branch of the family any specific assur

ance of the exact amount of the sums to be allotted to them respectively, if any such particular explanation should appear necessary for their satisfaction, I authorize you to make the allotment of stipend to each of them, as well as for the establishment of the Zenana, provided that the total sum for the maintenance of the family be not stated at more than three, or at the utmost, four lacs of pagodas. The sons of the late Sultaun may be accompanied by such attendants as they may select, provided the number be not so great as to endanger the public tranquillity, or to form a point of union for the adherents of the late Sultaun. It might be desirable that Alli Reza should accompany the Princes, as he appears to be attached to the interests of the Company, and at the same time to entertain considerable affection for the Princes. The females and children of the several families must follow the Princes as speedily as possible. Colonel Wellesley, in my name, will give the most unequivocal assurances of protection and indulgence to every branch of the family. And at a proper time he will deliver the letters for the four eldest sons of Tippoo, forwarded by the Persian translator to Mr. Wellesley. If Lieut.-General Harris should be at Seringapatam, or within reach of it, I am persuaded that his humanity will induce him to exert every effort to mitigate all the rigorous part of this revolution in Mysore, which I feel myself bound, by every principle of duty towards the British interests in India, to accomplish without delay.

I have learned, with the utmost degree of surprise and concern, that the Zenana, in the Palace of the Sultaun, was searched for treasure some time after the capture of the place. I could have wished, for the honour of the British name, that the apartments of the women had not been disturbed.* In the heat and confusion of an assault, such excesses are frequently unavoidable; but I shall for ever lament that this scene should have been acted long after the contest had subsided, and when the whole place had submitted to the superiority of our victorious arms. If any personal ornaments or other articles of value were taken from the women in that unfortunate moment, I trust that the Commander-in-Chief will make it his business to vindicate the

• See Appendix p. 753, for a satisfactory explanation of this charge.

humanity of the British character by using the most zealous exertions to obtain a full restitution of the property in question.

After this observation, it is superfluous to add my most anxious expectation that the utmost degree of care will be taken to secure the personal property of the Princes, and of the women when the period of their removal shall arrive.

You will, of course, apply to the Commander-in-Chief for such an escort as may be necessary to convey the family of Tippoo to the place of their destination; and you will arrange the time and mode of their departure, so as to preclude the possibility of any commotion or escape. It is desirable that some officer, conversant in the language, manners, and customs of the natives, and of approved humanity, should accompany the Princes, until Lieut.-Colonel Doveton can meet them. His qualifications for the trust which I have reposed in him are too well known to require any illustration.

In exercising the general powers vested in you by the accompanying Commission, I desire that you will not interfere in the management of the Province of Canara, until you shall receive further instructions from me. I have directed General Steuart to make a temporary arrangement for the Government of that Province, and until I shall have received his Report I cannot decide the system of measures most eligible to be adopted in that quarter. You will apprise the Commissioners whose power is superseded by this new Commission of my entire approbation of their services, and you will return them my thanks accordingly.

These regulations are founded on an opinion that the Commander-in-Chief may not always be at liberty to act in a political capacity; and that he may not be able to spare more than one of his confidential staff from about his person; my selection of Lieut.-Colonel Close has been directed, not only by my knowledge of his extraordinary talents, proficiency in the native languages, and experience in the native manners and customs, but by my determination to establish him in the important office of Resident with the Rajah of Mysore, as soon as that Prince shall be placed upon the Musnud.

You will observe that the Commission enjoins all the Commissioners and persons employed under them to take an oath of secrecy previously to entering upon their functions. You will, therefore, communicate a copy of the Commission to any

Member who may happen to be absent from Seringapatam when the despatch shall arrive; but the contents of this despatch must not be communicated by the persons to whom it is addressed to any person who shall not have taken the oath of secrecy prescribed in the Commission, excepting Meer Allum.

It has occurred to me that the removal of your meetings to Bangalore might have an useful effect in drawing the multitude of Musselmans from Seringapatam. This would enable the Commandant of the Fort to commence the repair and improvement of the fortifications, and to proceed in clearing the place, and making it strictly a Military Station. I recommend the earliest possible attention to this measure as being of essential importance to our security in Mysore.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,

Your faithful Servant,

[Commission.]

MORNINGTON.

Richard, Earl of Mornington, &c., Governor-General for all the Forces and Affairs of the British Nation in India.

To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

Whereas, the glorious success of the British and Allied Arms in Mysore, under the favour of Providence, has reduced the territories of the late Tippoo Sultaun to the joint power and authority of the Honourable the English East India Company, and of his Highness the Soubah of the Dekkan, their friend and ally: and whereas his said Highness has given full power and authority to the Right Honourable Richard, Earl of Mornington, Governor-General for all the Forces and Affairs of the British Nation in India, to conduct and order the interests of his Highness in the said possessions, and to conclude such an arrangement thereof as shall appear to his Lordship to be most expedient for the security and welfare of the Country, and for the common benefit of the Allies.

Now know ye, that for the more speedy conclusion of such salutary arrangement, and for the restoration of order and tranquillity by the settlement of the said conquered territories, I, the said Richard Earl of Mornington, Governor-General as aforesaid, do hereby constitute, nominate and appoint or any three or more of them to be Commissioners during my pleasure for the settlement of the territories recently conquered from the said Tippoo Sultaun, and to be and be styled Commissioners for the Affairs of Mysore, with full powers to negotiate and conclude, in my name, all such Treaties, and to make and issue all such temporary and provisional Regulations for the ordering and management of the Civil and Military Government and of the Revenues of the said territories, as may be necessary for the immediate administration