A History of the Mahrattas v2.c42.43

v2.c42.43

Tippoo repeatedly endeavoured to open negotiations; but his first overtures were for various reasons considered inadmissible; at last, in consequence of the more becoming form and tone of his proposals, together with the intercession of the allies, particularly of Hurry Punt, two wukeels, Gholam Ali and Ali Reza, were admitted to an audience on the 14th February, whilst in the meantime the attack and defence were going forward as if no peace had been meditated. The wukeels were met by three agents, appointed by the allies respectively : Sir John Kennaway, on the part of Lord Cornwallis ; Buchajee Rugonath, on that of Hurry Punt ; and Meer Abdool Kassim, now distinguished by his title of Meer Alum, on behalf of Sikundur Jah. After considerable discussion and many references by the wukeels to their master, Tippoo on the 23d February, the day after his unsuccessful attack on General Abercromby’s division, consented to cede half the territory which he possessed before the war ; to pay three crores and thirty thousand rupees, one half immediately and the rest by three equal instalments within a year ; to release all persons made prisoners from the time of Hyder Ally ; and to deliver two of his sons as hostages for the due performance of the conditions. An armistice had taken place for two days, the hostages had already arrived in the English camp, upwards of one crore of rupees of the money had been paid, and the definitive treaty on the point of being concluded, when Tippoo, who appears to have at first overlooked the circumstance, finding that the principality of Koorg was included in the list of cessions, loudly remonstrated against yielding what he termed equivalent to the surrender of one of the gates of Seringapatam. Appearances indicated his determination to break the truce, but the prompt measures adopted by Lord Cornwallis for renewing the siege and his declared resolution to give up none of the advantages already secured, induced Tippoo to reflect on the consequences, and finally to sign the treaty.¹