COOTE. 19 sent with money and a reinforcement of troops, from Bengal to the coast of Coromandel, where he assumed the command of the army. Affairs at that time wore a very serious aspect in India: the government at Madras had been conducted with little or no judgment or vigour. Lieutenant-colonel Baillie had been dispatched at the head of three hundred European infantry, some artillery, and three battalions of seapoys; but, not being supported, had been attacked by a superior force, under Hyder Ally, and after many hours hard fighting, the whole army was destroyed, most of the Europeans and seapoys being killed, and the rest taken prisoners. Hyder had, after this, taken Arcot, and felt confident of being able to drive the English from the country. The arrival of General Coote revived the courage of the army, and after various affairs of inferior importance, he succeeded in bringing Hyder Ally to a general engage ment, July 1st, 1781, near Porto Novo. It lasted eight hours, and was a hard fought day on both sides; the army of Hyder consisted of twenty-five battalions of infantry, 400 Europeans, from 40,000 to 50,000 horse, and above 100,000 match-lock men, Peons and Polygars, with forty seven pieces of cannon. The British army was exceed ingly inferior in strength; but their discipline and firmness, with the skill of their general, overcame a l l difficulties, and their victory was complete. Meer Saib, Hyder's favourite general, was mortally wounded i n the action, and amongst 4000 killed were the Sultan's principal officers. On the British side from 300 t o 400 were slain. This check gave a decided turn t o the war; and the blow was followed u p b y fresh defeats, which compelled Hyder t o submit t o the ascendancy o f the British power. I n 1783, the public service again requiring the assist ance o f Sir Eyre, he, although i n a dying state, left Calcutta for Madras, i n order t o assume the command o f the army i n that quarter. He arrived a t Madras o n the 24th o f April, 1783, and died two days after. His body was sent t o England, and landed a t the jetty head, o n
