and with this view Mr. Andrews, a member of Council, was deputed to negotiate. He arrived in the camp of Hyder Ali on the 18th of February, 1769, and quitted it on the 21st, with proposals to be submitted to the Governor and Council, having previously concluded a truce for twelve days.
The Government of Madras had every reason to desire peace; for so great was their distress that the Company's investments were entirely suspended, and it was stated that their resources were insufficient to carry on the war more than four months longer. Hyder's proposals were, however, rejected, and hostilities recommenced. Colonel Smith watched the movements of Hyder with unceasing vigilance, and frequently counteracted them with admirable skill; till at last the bold Mysorean, with equal judgment, energy, and presence of mind, turned the flank of his opponent, with a body of six thousand chosen cavalry; and, making a rapid detour of one hundred and thirty miles in less than four days, appeared to the astonished Council on the 29th of March within five miles of Madras, when they imagined him to be at least a hundred miles distant.[1]
Effectually roused by this sudden apparition, the Government of Madras agreed at once to the demands of Hyder that Colonel Smith should be ordered to suspend operations; and that Mr. Dupré, nominated as the future Governor, should be deputed to attend him, to settle the basis of peace. In the actual temper of the belligerents, the negotiation was neither long nor difficult; a treaty was concluded in April, 1769, on the condition of placing
- ↑ "His first approach was announced about seven o'clock in the morning, by seeing all the villages blazing on every quarter, within view of this garrison, and as many of the inhabitants as could escape with their lives flying towards us in immense droves; their cries and lamentations were distinctly heard a full mile off, being closely pursued by those inhuman barbarians, who brandished their bloody swords as they galloped along. Aged parents borne like Anchises from the flames of Troy, upon the bleeding shoulders of their offspring, who were wantonly mutilated; mothers bewailing the loss of their helpless infants that had fallen a sacrifice to the fury of the enemy on the first surprise; and innocent virgins clinging for protection to the arms of their lacerated brothers." – Munro's "Operations on the Coromandel Coast."
