Lord Mornington, however, being averse from engaging unnecessarily in an expensive and uncertain campaign, had entered into a friendly correspondence with Tipú regarding certain claims preferred by that ruler to territory in Wainád (referred to in the first of the extracts above given), which, after due examination into the facts, he ordered to be surrendered to the Sultán. In writing to Tipú on November 8, 1798, Lord Mornington took the opportunity of referring, but in an amicable way, to Tipú's endeavour to bring about an alliance with the French, notwithstanding his repeated expressions of friendship for the English. He suggested that, in order to remove all causes of distrust, Major Doveton should be deputed to explain the Governor-General's views, and to establish cordial relations for the future. No answer was received to this proposal[1]. Lord Mornington then addressed to Tipú a second communication, pointing out the desirability of considering promptly the request made in his previous letter, and intimating that he was on the point of proceeding from Calcutta to Madras.
On November 20, 1798, before the first of these letters had reached him, Tipú wrote expressing his
- ↑ The contemptuous way in which Tipú treated some of the Governor-General's letters, till compelled by circumstances to answer them, is a well -ascertained fact. The writer remembers seeing one of these communications, which had been preserved in the family of one of the Sultán's chief officers, and on which Tipú had endorsed 'jawáb na dárad,' i. e. 'no answer.'
which influenced the Governor-General's policy, will be found in Malleson's memoir of 'Wellesley.'
