UR laft letter left general Matthews, with his whole force collected, in poffeffion of Onore, and under pofitive orders to make an immediate attempt upon the city of Bednure, in cafe the intelligence then just received of Hyder's death proved well founded. In purfuance of thefe orders, the general proceeded to Cundapore, which he reduced after fome flight refiftance, and from thence reprefented, in very ftrong terms, that the condition of the army was not fuch as would warrant the attempt upon Bednure, but that nevertheless he fhould make the trial; and this advice of his intention was conveyed in a letter from Cundapore, dated the 29th of January, and received here the 8th of February.

The general's reprefentation of the danger of the enterprize, and fatal confequences of a failure, was expreffed fo forcibly, that we did not think it proper, after an opinion given in fuch strong terms by the officer who was to execute the fervice, to perfift in exacting a compliance with our above-mentioned orders; and we therefore, though with reluctance, difpatched difcretionary orders to the general to defer the attempt, at the fame time recommending to him to give due weight in the fcale to the advantages Hyder's death would afford him,

which in our opinion more than counterbalanced the objections which might in strict prudence be urged against the attempt.

The fervice, however, had been performed before the dispatch arrived of our orders, and on the 14th of February the prefident received advice in a note from capt. Torriano, commandant at Onore, of our army having forced the Gauts, and gained poffeffion of the city of Bednure. Advice of this important event was fhortly after communicated to you by the president.

Subfequent reports, and intelli gence collected from private letters, made us very impatient to receive a relation of his fuccefs from the general himself, as we foon understood that a treaty of a particular nature had been concluded with Hyat Saib, the governor of Bednure under Hyder Allv, and that he was continued in the government of that city with an authority, little inferior to what he held before we had become maf ters of the place.

On the 26th of February colonels Macleod and Humberston, and ma jor Shaw, the principal officers of his majefty's troops, arrived here from the army, which they left fome days after the furrender of Bednure, but we had ftill no letters from brigadier general Matthews. These gentlemen, on their arrival, each gave in memorials, ftating their rea fons for quitting the army.

Mangalore furrendered by capitulation the 9th of March, after a practicable breach had been nearly effected. Catwar and other forts in the Soundah country, had been likewife reduced by a feparate detachment under capt. Carpenter; and fome ports inland, a confiderable distance to the eastward of Bednure, by other detachments.

In the letter from the general

above mentioned, dated the 4th of March, he taxes the whole army in terms the most fevere and unqualified, but altogether general and indifcriminate, with offences of the highest criminality. He fays, that after the furrender of Bednure, the flame of difcontent broke out amongst the officers, which rapidly fpread from thofe in the immediate fervice of his majefty to the hon. company's fervants, and that this fame being blown by a few zealots for plunder and booty, he was apt to think was one caufe of depriving him at that critical time of the fervice of lieut. colonels Macleod and Humberston. He mentioned in very concife terms, fome points of difference between himself and colonel Macleod, refpecting a claim of rank, and the mode of fupplying his majesty's troops. That the agents for the captors had been loud in their reprefentations of the fuppofed right of the army, and they and the of ficers had done every thing that was difrefpectful and injurious to him which circumstances, fo contrary to good order and difcipline, could not fail to increase the fpirit for plunder in the foldiery, who, encouraged by the practice of officers, were become loofe and unfeeling as the most licentious free-booters.

The general farther faid, he fuppofed col. Macleod would deliver the papers on the fubject of thefe difputes, and called upon us to take meafures to prevent fuch dangerous proceedings: that the troops in Bednure were almoft in a state of mutiny; the enemy collecting a force within thirty miles; the profpect of re-fettling the city every moment more diftant, owing to the dejection of Jemautdar Hyat Saib, who, from the illiberal and indecent expreffions of officers, was filled with appre henfions that made him utterly de

fpond, and rendered him incapable of any exertion.

Such was the accufation against the army, and fuch the materials afforded by the general as grounds upon which government were to take their measures in fo delicate and critical an emergency. Col. Macleod had not delivered the papers, as fuppofed by the general: he had only on his arrival, as mentioned in a former paragraph, given in a memorial, affigning his reafons for quitting the army, and ftating, with candour and moderation, the circumftances of his own rank and fervices, and the complaints of his majefty's troops, which had rendered it impoffible for him to continue to ferve under command of brigadiergeneral Matthews. Thefe circumftances, as well as our refolutions in confequence, will be communicated 'by a future conveyance, only deeming it meterial to mention at prefent, that being of opinion the fervices of an officer of col. Macleod's ability and experince were abfolutely requifite at fo critical a period, we had made a request to him on the 7th of March, to continue to ferve on this coaft until we could receive the determination of the governorgeneral and council, or general Coote, regarding his cafe; giving him affurance, that we would en deavour in the mean time to place him on a footing that might be fatisfactory, in any practicable manner he could point out.

Colonel Macleod fhewed a readi. nefs in complying with our request, that entitled him to every mark of attention from the company. He recalled to our attention his difficulties in ferving with general Matthews; ftill, however, offering to ferve wherever and in whatever fhape we might command; but in order to avoid all difputes relating to

king's and company's troops, and to enable him to ferve with more efficacy, he fuggefted the neceffity of our beftowing company's rank upon him.

In confequence of the general's reference, we called upon colonel Macleod the 18th of March, for the papers alluded to, who, in return demanded from our juftice an extract of the general's letter, in which thofe difputes on his conduct were mentioned.

Colonel Macleod being furnished with the defired extract, delivered the papers required, accompanied with a letter from himfelf in vindication of his own character, and of the other officers involved in one general accufation. These papers are of too great length to be fent by an overland difpatch; but they contain imputations against the general of a very ferious nature, and fupported by a strong tefimony.

Our want of information from general Matthews laid us under a neceffity of applying to colonel Macleod to furnish us with a detail of the operations of the army from their leaving Gundapore to the furrender of Bednure, and any information he could atord refpecting the nature of the treaty with Hyat Saib, and the proceedings in confequence.

Colonel Macleod in confequence fent in the journals kept by himself and colonel Humberton, and gave us all the information in his power relative to the furrender of Bed nure and the treaty with Hyat Saib. When the refpective details of these gentlemen and general Matthews of the fame event shall come before you, you will doubtlefs make due comparifon.

We are informed that the general, notwithstanding the capitulation, immediately on getting poffeffion of Bedaure, confined Hyat Saib a clofe

prifoner, and that many bad confequences refulted from the alarm and impreffion given by this proceeding. That very great treasures were found in the Durbar, amounting to fourteen lacks and upwards, befides much other treasure and jewels not expofed, which were at firft publicly fhewn to the officers by the general, and declared to be the property of the army. That the breach between the general and Hyat Saib was foon after made up; and in a few days, the army were aftonished to hear that Hyat Saib had claimed all this money, which evidently belonged to the govern ment of the country, as his private property, and that the general had restored it to him on that plea. Colonel Macleod had been detached at his time; but this tranfaction re viving a difcontent and fufpicion occafioned by a former Onore, fome of the other principal officers were carried to Hyat Saib by the general, who prevailed upon him to make a donation to the army of half a lack of pagodas.

affair at

We took the general's conduc. and the ftate of the army under confideration on the 27th of March, and now tranfmit a copy of our proceed. ings on this very difficult and difagreeable occafion.

Feeling the strongest conviction that the fervice could not profper in his hands, we thought it our indifpenfible duty not to continue him any longer in the command of the army in the Bednure country: and we accordingly came to a refolution to remove him therefrom, and to fufpend him from the honourable com. pany's fervice until he can clear up the feveral charges against him.

We appointed lieutenant-colonel Macleod, of his majesty's forces, the officer firft in rank upon this coaft, and who had distinguished

5

him

himfelf by the defeat of Tippoo Saib at Panany, to fucceed general Matthews in the command of the army in the Bednure country; and we alfo defired lieutenant-colonel Humberiton and major Shaw to rejoin

the army.

We had fome days before, on the 17th of March, received advice from Mr. D. Anderson, in a letter dated the 20th of February, of the Mahratta treaty having arrived from Poonah.

The peace had been duly proclaimed at Bombay, and every neceffary step taken on our part for the performance of the treaty. The Ranger had failed the 5th of April, with colonels Macleod and Humberfton, major Shaw, and other of ficers, to join the army. Lieutenant Pruen, the commander of the veffel, having been previously apprized of the peace, and furnished with the fame orders as had been circulated to all the marine, not to commit hoftilities against the Mahrattas; when on the 18th of April we were alarmed by an account given by a Lafcar, who had efcaped, that the Ranger had been attacked on the 8th, three days after the leaving Bombay, by the Mahratta fleet, and, after a moft defperate refiftance of near five hours, was obliged to fubmit to fuperior force, and, with the whole convoy of boats, had been carried into Gheriah.

We were under great anxiety and uncertainty, for a confiderable time, regarding the fate of colonel Macleod and the other officers, which was not entirely removed till the 23d of May, when the prefident received a letter from him, dated at Gheriah the 5th of that month. In this letter the colonel mentions he had made feveral unfuccefsful attempts to convey advice of his miffortune, and then relates fome cir1783.

was

cumftances of the engagement, referring, for a more particular account, to lieutenant Pruen. The account, colonel Macleod gives is, that on the morning of the Eth of April, they found themfelves near the Mahratta fleet belonging to Gheriah, which without fpeaking. or ceremony, attacked the Ranger with great fury. Lieutenant Pruen fought his veffel with the greatest courage. Their defence was defperate, and ceafed not till they were almost all killed or wounded Major Shaw was fhot dead; colonel Humberston was fhot through the lungs ; lieutenant Stuart of the icoth regiment, was almost cut to pieces on boarding; lieutenant John Taylor, of the Bombay troops, fhot through the body; lieutenant Senton, of the Bombay artillery, and lieutenant Pruen, commander of the veffel, were wounded with fwords on boarding. In the beginning of the action, colonel Macleod received two wounds in his left hand and fhoulder; and, a little before it was over, a mufquet ball paffed through his body, which pierced his lungs and fpleen. Lieutenant Pruen's account likewife proves, that the Mahrattas began the attack, and that he received a number of fhot be fore he returned a gun. Their force confifted of two large fhips, a ketch and eight gallivats, with which the Ranger, carrying only twelve guns, twelve-pounders, fuftained a clofe engagement of four hours and a half; and for the last hour, the two flips and the ketch were lashed a long fide of the Ranger, in which fituation the engagement was continued with mufquetry only; and the brave defence of the officers and crew prevented the enemy from entering the veffel, till, from the number of killed and wounded, and moft of the mufquets being render(M)

ed

ed unferviceable, the fire of the Ranger was fo much reduced, that the commander was under a neceffity of ftriking; and the inftant the colours were down, the enemy rufhed on board, and cruelly cut and wounded feveral of the officers and men, while others jumped overboard, to avoid immediate death. The fame night the Ranger was carried into Gheriah, where the fubedar and officers difowned all knowledge of the peace, and refufed to release the veffel and officers without orders from Poonah.

We are concerned to add, that colonel Humberstone died at Gheriah, the 30th, of April, of the wound he received in the action. color. Macleod's recovery was long thought impoffible, but he is now perfectly restored to health, Lieutenants Stuart, Taylor, Seton,

and Pruen are alfo recovered.

The Ranger, with colonel Macleod and the other furviving officers arrived here the 29th of May, having been releafed from Gheriah the 27th, in too difabled and defpoiled condition to make her way to the fouthward.

Our last letter from Mr. Anderfon is dated the 19th of May, upon receipt of the intelligence of the capture of the Ranger, which he immediately communicated to Mhadajee Scindia, and required him in Arong terms to give fome explanation with regard to this outrage, and the measures which he intended to purfue in vindication of his own honour, which was thus brought into queftion. Scindia declared, that none of his late letters from the minifter gave him the leaft reafon to apprehend any finifter intentions in the Mahratta government, and he affur. ed Mr. Anderson, that he had written in ftrong terms to the minifter to punish with death the perfon who

committed this act of hoftility, and to make full reftitution of the ftores and effects taken; that if they complied with thefe requifitions, he would undertake to reconcile the English government, but if they refufed, they must take the confequences: that for his part, fince fo enormous an outrage had been committed after the conclufion of the treaty, he must confult and adopt the inclinations of the English.

So far from punishing the officer who committed the act of hostility, we are affured by colonel Macleod, that he received from the minifter public marks of approbation and honorary rewards for his conduct. Colonel Macleod was invited to the ceremony held on this occafion, and fome of the officers were actually prefent when the fubedar exhibited in public durbat, according to the cuftom of the country, the honorary ornaments which had been fent to him from Poonah.

By this time matters to the fouth. ward had taken a very unfavourable turn. The latter end of April we received advice from the felect com. mittee at Madras, in a letter dated the 12th of March, that Tippoo had fent the greatest part of his army out of the Carnatic through the Changamah pals, and that they concluded he himself would foon follow, in order to ufe his utmost efforts to recover his valuable poffeffions in the Bednure country.

General Matthews fent repeated advice of the enemy's approach in force, and requifitions for reinforcement. Under the 20th of March he writes from Mangulore of a body of 50,000 men, with 25 pieces of cannon, being to the caftward of Bednure, and that he fhould fet off for that place next day, when he faid he may poffibly collect 1,200 fepoys and 400 Euro

peans,