Ramjiewaun garrisons Ramnagur for the Rajah. Scheme for the re- Peninfula of India. Efforts by France to recover her ancient poffeffions and fails from the African islands with a frong body of forces for the coaft of Coromandel; takes the Hannibal of 50 guns, and appears fuddenly be- fore Madras, intending to destroy the English fquadron in the road, and, in concurrence with Hyder Alley, to besiege that place by fea and land. Caufes which obliged M. de Suffrein to abandon that defign and put out 10 fea. Is purfued by Sir Edward Hughes, who chaces and takes feveral of the convoy. wind in their favour, direct their whole force to the attack of the rear and a part of the center of the British line. Admiral's fhip, the Su- perbe, and Commodore King's fhip, the Exeter, fuffer extremely, through the great fuperiority of force by which they are attacked. Capi. Ne- phens, of the former and Capt. Reynolds, of the latter, killed. Enemy Juddenly haul their wind and ftand off; are out of fight in the morning. Admiral, on his way from Madras to Trincomale, is joined by the Sul- tan and Magnanime, from England. Falls in with the enemy's fleet. Bloody action off the coast of Ceylon, on the 12th of April. The da- mage on both fides fo great, and fo nearly equal, that the boftile com- manders lie for feveral days within fight of each other, repairing their VOL. XXVI. fbattered battered ships. French fleet proceed to Batacalo, and Sir Edward Hughes to Trincomale. Confequences of thefe naval actions. Great dij. appointment to Hyder, in his expectation of fuch a co-operation on the part of France, as would enable bim speedily to reduce the Carnatic. Major Abingdon arrives with a body of troops from Bombay ut Telli cherry, on the Malabar coaft; where he defeats and takes Sandos Cars, CHA P. III. Colonel Brathwaite's detachment fuddenly furrounded by Tippoo Saib, with figns, affects his conflitution. French Squadron returns from the ifland of Ceylon to the coast of Coromandel, and is followed by the Englß. M. de Suffrein takes on board great reinforcements of troops and artillery men at Cuddalore, with a view of entirely crushing the British naval power in those seas. Appears before Negapatam, to challenge Sir Edrward Hughes. Aion of the 6th of July. French ficet faved by a sudden fhift of wind. Marlellan, of the admiral's ship, killed. Great loss of the enemy. While the fquadron is refitting at Madras, M. de Suffrein joins the Sieur d'Aymar, on the coast of Ceylon, who is arrived there with two ships of the line, gud the second divifion of the Marquis de Bully's troops from the Mau- ritius. Enemy befiege and take Trincomale, pile the British Squadron Sir E. Hughes arrives is detained by adverse winds from its refcue. Superior force, come out to battle. Desperate and well fought action on the 3d of September. Enemy lofe one of their best ships in getting into Trincomale. Lofs of men small, with respect to number; but the three brave captains, Wood, Watts, and Lumley, with other diftinguished offi- cers, are unfortunately flain. Great loss of the enemy. Admirable be haviour of the British commanders, through the whole courfe of this fevere CHAP. IV. Treaty of peace concluded with the Mahrattas, through the mediation of Madajee Scindia. Negotiation conducted with ability by Mr. Anderson. Madajce Scindia the mutual guarantee. Peace fortunate with respect to the feafon of its conclufion, and advantageous in its ftipulations to the English. Boroach ceded to Scindia, Suppofed caufes which delayed the ratification at Poonah. Dreadful hurricane, and deplorable famine at Madras. British squadron driven to fea, and suffer much from bad` weather in their passage to Bombay. Advantages derived by the French fleet from the palellion of Trincomale. Colonel Humberstone's fucceffes on the coaft of Malabar. Penetrates far into the country; but is obliged to retire with lofs from Palacatcherry. Government of Bombay dispatch a body of forces under General Matthews to the coaft, with a view to extricate Humberstone; while Tippoo Saib proceeds with the utmost ra- pidity from the Carnatic, in order to cut him off. Colonel Humberstone gains intelligence of his approach, and retires to Paniany, clofely pur- jued by the enemy. Command of the troops devolves on Colonel Macleod, who is immediately invefted by the enemy. Tippoo Saib and M. Lally attack the British lines with a great force, but are gallantly repulfed with confiderable lofs. Tippo Saib breaks up his camp hy night, and returns to the Carnatic. General Mattbers takes Onore by form. Death and character of Hyder Ally. General Matthews takes Cundapore ; forces the Gauts, and makes his way into the Bednore country. Some ob fervations on the conduct pursued, and the cruelties committed in this ex- pedition. Short account of the ancient kingdom of Canara, and of the royal city of Bednore, er Hyder Nagur, the fuppofed depofitary of Hyder's treasures. Private negotiation and treaty with Hyat Saib, who fur- renders the country and capital to the British forces. Great difcontents in the army, relative to the difpofal of the treasures found in the royal palace. Difference between the general and the principal officers of the King's forces, occafions the Colonels Macleod and Humberstone, with Major Shaw, to quit the army and return to Bombay. Dispatches from the general, containing a goveral accufation against his army. Proceed- ings of the government of Bombay: appoint Colonel Macleod to the com- mand of the army in the Bednore country. Captain Carpenter takes Car- war, with other forts, and reduces the whole Soundah country. General CHA P. V. Retrofpective view of affairs in the West Indies, North America, Africa, parfued pursued in Europe towards the attainment of a general peace. Empress of Ruffia, and the Emperor of Germany, mediators. State and condition of the contending parties. Mr. Grenville fent to Paris. Mr. Fitzherbert appointed plenipotentiary, to negociate and conclude a treaty of peace, with the minifters of France, Spain, and Holland. Mr. Ofwald appointed commiffioner on the part of his Britannic majefty, to negociate a treaty with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, aad Henry Laurens, the American commiffioners. Provifional articles figned with America. Pre- liminary articles of peace between England, France, and Spain, figned at Verfailles, by Alleyne Fitz-Herbert, Efq. the Count de Vergennes, and the Count D'Aranda. Sketch of the provifional and preliminary treaties. [114 Various conjectures concerning the fate and views of the different political parties previous to, and at the meeting of parliament.-Letters from the Secretary of flate to the lord mayor of London refpecting the peace. King's Speech-Debates in both houses on the addrefs.-Reafons aligned by Mr. Fox for the refignation of his office.-Second debate, on expreffions in the Speech refpecting the treaty with America-Queßion put to the first com- miffioner of the treasury in the House of Peers on the fame fubject.- Motion for the provisional treaty to be laid before the House of Commons rejected. --Bill brought in for preventing doubts that might arife refpecting the legislative and judicial rights of the parliament and courts of justice of Ireland.-Caufe of the introduction of the bill, and objections made to it. CH A P. VII. Preliminary articles of peace figned at Verfailles-laid before both boufes fide in fupport of the amendments.—Arguments used in defence of the peace replied to in the fame order.-Both amendments carried in the House of |