the 1st of April, at Bednure, and advifed, that Tippo Saib, with 1000 French, 12,000 horfe, and as many infantry, with a few guns, were arrived within 45 miles, and purpofed pafhing on without delay. We foon after received an account from Captain Matthews, the general's brother, dated at Cundapore, of a fmart action having happened, in which the company's troops gained confiderable advantage. 'This account was not diftinct, and only collected from the country people. Our next accounts informed us of the lofs of the two posts the general had established at the Gauts, by which the communication between Bednure and the fea coaft was cut off. The principal poft, which had been reprefented as very ftrong, appears to have been loft after a very flight defence, by the mifconduct of the officer in command. The fugitives who efcaped from the Gauts communicated fuch diforder and panic to the garrifon at Cundapore, that little elfe but an efcape was thought of, in attempting which numbers of men and horfes were drowned. Large magazines of Bores and provifions which were depofited at Cundapore, were immediately fet fire to in the confufion, and a large field of artillery difabled or left to the enemy, who, it is to be obferved, had not even made their appearance, when this fhameful flight and deftruction of a poft faid to be tenable took place. A part of the garrifon efcaped to Onore, which is under the command of Captain Torriano, who, by his refolute and prudent conduct, prc. vented the panic from infecting 5 his garrifon, and made an effort to recover the poft at Cundapore, in which he did not fucceed. Thefe accounts were foon followed by others ftill more unfavourable, of the lofs of Bednure; and that part of the army which was above the Gauts under the command of General Matthews in perfon. The most authentic informarion we have received of this difafter is from Major Campbell at Mangalore, and the particulars given by him are as follows: "The 12th of May, the Intrepid had hardly failed, when a Sepoy arrived from Bednure with the diftreffing accounts of the general, after fix days employed in fettling the articles of capitulation, having marched out of the fort the 3d inftant with his whole garrifon, with all the honours of war, in expectation of being allowed in the fame manner to come here; but, as naturally might be expected from an enemy by whom faith is fo feldom kept, the brave but unfor tunate garrifon was no fooner got out of the gates, than they were furrounded by both horse and foot, and forced to lay down their arms, and are now detained prifoners. The melancholy account is again confirmed by another perfon, a Sepoy, who was alfo in Bednure Fort when it was given up: he corroborates every part refpecting it; both Sepoys agree that there was a confiderable quan tity of water and provifions in the fort." Under the 19th of May, Major Campbell writes, "I have nothing further to add to my last difpatches than a painful confirmation of the furrender of Bed. nure, nure, the cause unknown, but the confequence is, that Tippo Saib is now encamped with his whole army in our front, his rear is juft arrived, fo that I expect an attack to-morrow morning. A Madras foldier has come in to us, and fays the number of the French Tippo has with him does not exceed 300 the rest of his army not lefs than 100,000 fighting men." The force General Matthews had with him at Bednure, and the posts above the Gauts, confifted of detachments of the 98th and 102d regiments, and of the 100th regiment of his majefty's troops, the greater part of the Bombay infantry, originally 300 rank and file, the 2d grenadier battalion of Sepoys, and the 3d, 11th, and 15th battalions, except fome detachments from them, and the Bombay Europeans, which were at Onore and other forts. According to Colonel Macleod's computation, for we have no returns to guide us, our lofs in this unhappy affair, amounts to about 600 Europeans and 1600 Sepoys, We before mentioned the force the general fuppofed he should be able to collect, It was fome relief to us in this misfortune, and gave us confidence and hopes of retrieving it, that juft at this time we received advice, by the way of Baffora, ef the preliminaries of a general peace having been figned at Paris the 20th of January. There is ftill a very refpectable force remaining at Carwar, Onore and Mangalore. We are apprehenfive for the fafety of Onore, in cafe it fhould be vigorously at 'tacked, but truft the troops at Carwar and Mangalore will be preferved. At Carwar, and the pofts dependant, there is one battalion of Sepoys; and at Mangalore, the 42d regiment, and fome fmall detachments from other regiments, and company's troops, amounting all together to about 400 men, befides artillery, and upwards of four battalions of Sepoys, giving, on a return dated the 8th of May, near 3000 men. There is also a fufficient ftock of provifions, and a number of able officers in the place, which is under the command of Major Campbell; and we have strong hopes that the firength of the garrifon and the approach of the monfoon will baffle the attempts of the enemy. This force will prove a good foundation for a new army; and we truft, notwithstanding our late lofs, we fhall be able, with proper affiftance of money, and a body of European infantry, to renew and continue a powerful diverfion on this coaft (Malabar) against the dominions of Tippo Saib. The peace in Europe, and with the Mahrattas, will now enable this prefidency, without danger, to furnish a strong body of Sepoys, and a refpectable detachment of artillery, in addition to thofe now to the fouthward. Left you should not have received advice of the early return of the French fleet to the other coaft, and an account of their proceedings, we think it right to infert a paper tranfmitted to us by the Select Committee at Madras, with their letter of the 12th of March, being intelligence given [7] 3 by prefent practice admits, to be laid My Lords and Gentlemen, The fcarcity, and confequent high price of corn, requires your inftant interpofition. The great excefs to which the crimes of theft and robbery, in many inftances accompanied with perfonal violence, particularly in the neighbourhood of this metropolis, has called of late for a strict and fevere execution of the law. It were much to be wifhed that thefe crimes could be prevented in their infancy, by correcting the vices become prevalent in a moft alarming degree. able to frame fome fundamental laws, which may make their connection with Great Britain a bleffing to India; and that you will take therein proper measures to give all foreign nations, in matters of foreign commerce, an entire and perfect confidence in the probity, punctuality, and good order of our government. You may be affured that whatever depends upon me, fhall be executed with a fleadiness, which can alone preferve that part of my dominions, or the commerce which arifes from it. It is the fixed object of my heart to make the general good, and the true fpirit of the conftitution, the invariable rule of my conduct, and on all occafions to advance and reward merit in every profeffion. To enfure the full advantage of a government conducted on fuch principles, depends on your temper, your wifdom, your difinterestedness, collectively and individually. My people expect these qualifications of you; and I call for them. The liberal principles adopted by you, concerning the rights and the commerce of Ireland, have done you the highest honour, and will, I trust, enfure that harmony, which ought always to fubfift between the two kingdoms. I am perfuaded, that a general increase of commerce throughout the empire, will prove the wisdom of your measures with regard to that object. I would recommend to you a revision of our whole trading fyftem upon the fame compre-tiful and loyal fubjects, E, your majefty's most duhenfive principles, with a view to its utmoit poffible extenfion. The regulation of a vaft territory in Alia, opens a large field for your wifdom, prudence, and forelight. I trust that you will be The humble Address of the Right Die Jovis 5° Decembris, 1782. the lords fpiritual and temporal, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty our humble thanks for your most gracious speech from the throne. part of the British forces, computed at 616 Europeans, and 356 Sepoys, killed, wounded, and miffing. This happened on the 13th ult. On the 25th, the enemy made a fally from the fort, and advanced_clofe up to our works, commencing and fupporting the affault with great fpirit and intrepidity; but they were repulfed, with the lofs of about 200 Europeans, and their Colonel D'Aquitaine taken prifoner. On or about the 20th ult. there was an engagement between the British and French fleets near Pondicherry, but I do not learn any decifive blow was ftruck by either fide. Monfieur Suffrein returned to Cuddalore, and Sir Edward Hughes is fupposed to have stood towards Madras, as it was reported he was in want of water, and his people were very fickly. The fouthern army, acting in the Carnatic, under the command of Colonel Lang, had made an irruption into the Coimbature country, fubduing Caroor and Dindegul, when the colonel was recalled to join the grand army before Cuddalore, and Colonel Fullarton invested with the com mand, who with great fpirit and activity had pushed on to Darampore, which fell to him the 21st ult. He was then within fix days march only of Paliagacheri, towards which place his further progrefs was totally barred, by an order from General Stuart, to move back to Cuddalore. He is now on his return again to the Cuddalore country, ftrongly reinforced. A detachment of 300 Europeans, together with a fupply of powder and provifions, are fent from Madras to Mangalore in his majefty's fhips Brifol and Ifis. A further reinforcement is deftined for the fame part, with an intention of enabling Colonel Campbell to take the field, in cafe it should be expedient. No accounts are yet received of the expected fleet, which was to have left England in January last. I have the honour to be, with the greateft respect, Gentlemen, Your faithful and obedient humble fervant, JOHN HUTCHINSON. Anjenjo, 19th July, 1783. from the prefent fcarcity of corn; and for preventing, as far as poffible, the crimes of theft and robbery, which have lately prevailed to a very alarming height. We beg leave to exprefs our fa-, tisfaction at the meafures which have been adopted with refpect to Ireland, for fecuring its rights and commerce, which, we truf, will have the effect of enfuring that harmony which ought always to fubfift between the two kingdoms; and we do affure your majefty we fhall be ready to direct our attention to a revision of our whole trading fyftem, guided by the fame liberal principles which your majefty has been graciously pleafed to commend. We are deeply impreffed with a fenfe of the important fubject which the fate of our national concerns in the Eaft Indies offers for our most serious deliberation; and your majefty may be perfuaded, we have a' due impreffion of your royal goodnefs in thus extending your anxious regard to the good government of the diftant territories in Afia, and to the welfare and happiness of the people there we will, in return, thew ourfelves zealous to anfwer your majefty's gracious expectations, by affitting to frame fome fundamental laws which may make their connection with Great Britain a bleffing to India, and may give to other nations, in matters of foreign commerce, an entire confidence in the probity, justice, and good order of the British government. Allow us to exprefs, in the most fervent and grateful manner, our warmest gratitude for your ma jefty's gracious affurances that you will make the general good, and the true fpirit of the conftitution, the invariable rule of your majefty's conduct, and that you will, on all occafions, advance and reward merit in every profeffion. Your majesty may rely with the utmoft confidence, that every measure will be adopted on our part, to fecure the full advantages of a government conducted on fuch principles. His Majesty's most gracious Answer. My Lords, This very affectionate and loyal addrefs affords me the highest satisfaction. Your approbation of the foundation I have laid for the peace between Great Britain and America, and of the measures I have taken towards a general pacification, as well as the earneft zeal which you have fo unanimously expreffed for carrying on the war with vigour, if the negociations fhould unexpectedly break off, must be attended with the best effects, both at home and abroad. Your affectionate acknowledgment of my conftant difpofition to make my own conduct conformable to the wishes and opinions of my people, touches me moft fenfibly. Upon that principle, I can never regret the facrifice I make of every confideration of my own. I accept, with pleafure, your affurances of fupport to a government, conducted on principles equally agreeable to my own ho nour, and the public good, The |