SUPERSTITION OF TIPPOO.

15

in the advanced trenches, to support the assaulting troops, if necessary.

The attempt was not to be made till one o'clock of the afternoon, when it was hoped that, in accordance with the usual custom of the East, the besieged would be reposing from the burning heat of the sun after their mid-day meal. But this movement had not escaped the notice of the brave and sagacious Seyed Ghaffar, who had the general charge of the angle attacked, and he immediately sent information to the Sultaun. The mind, however, of Tippoo was not what it had been in his earlier days: though he feared not to face death, all moral courage had forsaken him ; he refused to see the danger, and would only believe his own wishes and the voice of his flatterers; his constant expression on such occasions being, "Who can take Seringapatam?" Superstition, too, contributed its share in blinding him; he trusted to his amulet and his astrologers, and the more all earthly hope seemed to abandon him, the greater was his confidence in Heaven. There was about him that strange infatuation, mixed up at the same time with an irritable impatience of ill tidings, that so often precedes the fall of greatness; and when we see Tippoo, in his very last hour, refusing to hear of any peril, we are involuntarily reminded of Napoleon at Moscow, sternly turning a deaf ear to the messenger of his disasters.

Tippoo was sitting under a small tent, at his usual station on the northern rampart, when news was brought to him of the death of Seyed Ghaffar. For the moment his apathy or his fortitude was strongly shaken, and he yielded to emotions by no means usual with him. Still he continued his mid-day meal, till

16

STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM.

intelligence came that the assault had actually begun. Immediately he ordered the troops about him to stand to their arms, and, followed by his personal servants, that carried his own carbines, he hastened along the ramparts towards the breach.

The news, that had interrupted the Sultaun in the midst of his last earthly repast, were indeed true. At the appointed hour of one, General Baird was the first to step from the trenches, and drawing his sword, exclaimed to his gallant soldiers, "Now, my brave fellows, follow ME, and prove yourselves worthy the name of British soldiers." Both columns instantly rushed forward into the bed of the river, and, regardless of a tremendous fire of musketry and rockets, in less than seven minutes planted the colours of England on the ramparts. Here for a moment the courage even of British troops wavered; below, within the outer wall, was a second ditch full of water; but fortunately a detachment of the 12th regiment discovered a narrow slip of the terre-pleine, left for the passage of the workmen, over which they passed, driving the enemy before them, till they at last reached the flank of the traverse, which was defended by the Sultaun, who, as we have just seen, had hastened to the support of the flying troops. For a long time Tippoo remained on foot, encouraging the men by his voice and example, firing upon the assailants with his own hand, and doing the duty rather of a common soldier than of a general. At length one of his legs, which had been wounded in early youth, grew so weak, and caused him so much pain, that he was compelled to order and mount his horse. Instead, however, of escaping, which, from the proximity of the water-gate, would have been easy, he

DEATH OF TIPPOO.

17

made for the inner fort, his intention probably being to drive out the few British troops that had got possession, and there make a final stand. Even this last hope failed him. Two shots struck him in

succession on the right side, about the level of the breast, and his horse being wounded sank under him. In this state he was raised by his faithful followers, and placed sick and exhausted in his palanquin under the archway, when a soldier came up, and, attracted by the glitter of his sword-belt, attempted to tear it from him. The dying Sultaun, indignant at this last insult, struck at the ruthless plunderer, and wounded him on the knee. In such a man there was no mercy; he levelled his piece, shot the Sultaun through the temple, and his victim immediately expired.

It was now dusk, and Seringapatam was fully in the power of the assailants. But the death of Tippoo was not yet known to them; and such was the dread of him, that they scarcely felt their victory complete while they supposed the Sultaun might still be living. The killadar was commanded, as he valued his own life, to say where his master was concealed, when laying his hand upon the hilt of Major Allen's sword, he solemnly avouched the death of the Sultaun, and led them to the gateway. There, amongst a hideous pile of the dead and dying, rendered yet more ghastly by the torch-light, the corpse was at length found and recognised the eyes were wide open, the features retained their wonted sternness, and the body was so warm, that, for a few moments, Colonel Wellesley, who had by this time joined the victors, doubted whether he was not still living. He felt his heart, and all doubt was over.

There is something melancholy in the fate of this

C

18

RECOGNITION OF THE CORPSE.

intrepid but ferocious chief, thus deprived of life and empire in the same hour. He died like a prince and a soldier, bravely defending to the last gasp the inheritance of his father, although it cannot be denied that his power had been built up and maintained by blood, and that his fall was a lasting benefit to his people. By this event they exchanged a heavy yoke for the mild and equitable rule of the English; and if he were at all regretted, it could have been only by his Mohammedan subjects, themselves the tyrantconquerors of the Hindoo population.

But even those, who deny all pity to the fallen despot, will hardly refuse compassion to his children. Soon after dawn of the next day, Abdul Khalick, the second of Tippoo's sons, was brought in to General Baird, when a scene took place, which few will read without emotion. The General, willing, as it seems, to break the melancholy tidings to him gently and by degrees, inquired if he knew what had become of the Sultaun, his father. He answered in the negative, and earnestly entreated to be informed of the worst at once. Upon being told that a corpse, supposed to be the body of his highness, was lying in the next chamber, he replied, "that may be easily ascertained," at the same time requesting permission to send for an aged servant, who, if it were true, would not fail to recognize his master. The old man came and visited the chamber of death. He returned

bathed in tears. For an instant the young prince gazed steadfastly at him, and then, laying his finger upon his lips to impose silence, he turned to the General without uttering a syllable, the sad though calm expression of his face alone signifying that the body was his father's.

RESTORATION OF ORDER.

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Beatson, the historian of Seringapatam, has thought proper to stigmatize this conduct as indifference. Had a Roman so acted, it would have been called fortitude, and his name would have been inscribed among the heroes of antiquity. But such is human judgment; the good of one age is the evil of another, and that which to-day is crime, to-morrow may be elevated into virtue.

CHAPTER II.

1799-1803.

Arrangements in Seringapatam.-Defeat and Death of Dhoondiah. -Intended Expedition to the Isle of France or the Mauritius.--Illness of Colonel Wellesley, and return to the Mysore.-March to Poonah.-Extensive Civil and Military Powers entrusted to Major-General Wellesley.-First Mahratta War.-Siege and Capture of Ahmednuggur,

EARLY the next morning, the command of the fort was given to Colonel Wellesley, who found the soldiers indulging in all the excesses of military license. His efforts to repress these disorders were stern and indefatigable. Four of the plunderers were seized by his orders, and given over to the provost-marshal for immediate execution: he himself went to the houses of the principal inhabitants, placing guards for their protection; and such was the general confidence inspired by his proceedings, that the inhabitants, who had fled during the night of the storm and slept in the fields, now returned without fear to their homes and occupations. Provisions and merchandize again abounded in the bazaars; and in a few days only, the main street was crowded to