value of the Coorg province from a strategical point of view.
The Sultán was greatly enraged on seeing that the English army had deliberately cut down, for the purpose of making fascines, the cypresses and other trees in the Lál Bágh, where his father's tomb had been erected; and it must be admitted that this act of vandalism was, though perhaps unavoidable, one that might well rouse his wrath. He vented his rage by firing his guns at the garden, and every other post occupied by the enemy, but seeing the active operations of the British army for the prosecution of the siege, he began to consider seriously the consequences to himself and his capital.
The opportune arrival of the Bombay army, consisting of 2,000 Europeans and 4,000 Sepoys, enabled Lord Cornwallis to arrange for attacking Seringapatam on both sides of the Káveri, and on Feb. 19, General Abercromby took up a position on the south-west of the river. The movement was sharply contested by the Sultán's troops, who were, however, driven back, though they repeated the attack on the 22nd, with a like result.
During the progress of these operations, Tipú had thought it advisable to sound the views of Lord Cornwallis by despatching envoys to his camp, in order to arrange the terms of a convention, and on the 22nd received an intimation of the preliminary conditions which the allies offered for his acceptance. They specified the cession of half his dominions, the
