ralds, and other precious ftones, to an immenfe value, were at the fame time fecured.* The council were far from acquiefcing in this diftribution of the Rajah's treafure. It was repugnant to their expectations, and indeed to the orders of their fuperiors. They confequently arrainged it as a measure which might be followed by the worst confequences. The refolutions which they paffed on the fubject ftrongly marked their diffatisfaction. These were, that the governor. general had not either formally or by conftruction difclaimed, as reprefentative of the Company, their right to the booty found in the fort; that the temerity of the officers in appropriating it was a proof that they did not confider themselves fufficiently fecure by any other claim; that the acquiefcence of government in fuch a measure might establish a dangerous precedent; and that they could not relinquish the Company's right, but would bring the queftion to a legal decifion. They were, however, defirous that the officers would fubmit the whole to the decifion of the * The dividend which took place in the army of this booty, which in cafh amounted to three hundred and twelve thoufand pounds and upwards, was -N. B. Two thirds of the cash were at leaft fuppofed to be dif pofed of in this manner. board. board. In that cafe, it was promised to put the moft liberal conftruction on the letter of the governor-general, which they had urged in their own vindication. It was at the fame time recommended that they fhould accommodate the treasury with a loan, upon the ufual terms, of their refpective fhares, excepting fo much as they would declare upon their honour was neceffary to fupply their perfonal wants. They were required to give in an answer to this requifition in a given time, and formally apprifed that a failure would be confidered by the board as a difobedience of orders, and proceeded upon accordingly, Thus ended the memorable tranfactions of the governor-general at Benares, in the year 1781. These feem to have been undertaken at the inftigation of his own feelings, which he conceived wounded beyond forgiveness by the conduc of this unfortunate prince, and of whofe temerity or inadvertence he took this fignal vengeance," as an example to all the other great landholders under the Company's, governme the Company's government. But if the urgent neceffities of the state are to be admitted as an apology for fuch outrages, it is an inftance in point, how very abortive the feverities of defpotism are ; for the Rajah found means to carry away the greatest part of his treafure, and the remainder was immediately converted, by the army, into booty. Appearance of a French Fleet before Madras-Purfud, and fome of the Convoy captured by Sir Edward Hughes-Partial Fight-The Enemy haul their Wind and are out of Sight in the Morning-The Sultan and Magnanime, from England, join Sir Edward-A bloody Action on the Coaft of Ceylon-Confequences of thefe Actions-Abingdon's Succefs-Peace concluded with the Marrattos-Hurricane-Famine-Operations of the Army on the Coaft of Malabar-Onore formed-Hyder's Death-Canara invaded-Difcontents in the Army-Mangalore-Panic in Gundapore-General Matthews capitulates-Fate of the General and Officers-The French Auxiliaries refuse to fight against the English-Sir Eyre Coote dies at Madras-Succeffes in the Coimbatour Country-Laft Naval Action between the French and English Fleets -Ceflation of Hoftilities. WHILE Mr. Haftings exerted the power of the Company in crushing fome of their moft valuable dependents in the extremities of Bengal, the French meditated an utter extinction of their intereft on the coaft of Coromandel. When Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, after taking Trincomale, arrived in the Madras Road, he was informed by Lord Macartney, the governor, that a French fleet, amounting to thirty fail in all, had appeared on the coaft, captured feveral fhips, and were then fuppofed not above twenty leagues to the north ward. ward. Our fquadron confifted only of fix fail of the line, and had been fo long at fea, that the ships were neceffarily much out of repair. Their crews were debilitated by fickness, and they required large fupplies of fresh provifions. In this condition, and exposed in the open road to the attack of an enemy fo greatly fuperior, the admiral's fituation was peculiary critical. He was, however, fortunately reinforced, on the day following fuch alarming intelligence, by the arrival of Captain Alms, in the Monmouth of 64, accompanied by the Hero of 74, and the Ifis of 50 guns. Every dispatch was adopted and no time loft for rendering the fleet, in fome measure, fit for actual fervice, or in a ftate of preparation to meet the enemy. Sir Eyre Coote, with his ufual attention and alacrity, fupplied the ships with three hundred officers and men. But notwithstanding this expe dition, before the equipment was complete, the French fleet, confifting of twelve fail of the line, including the English Hannibal, and another fiftygun-fhip, fix frigates, eight large tranfports, and fix captured veffels, appeared fuddenly in offing on the fifteenth of February. M. de Suffrein, who had fucceeded to the command on the death of M. de Orves, not knowing till now the acceffion of ftrength which the English fleet had just received, and finding he had nine inftead of five fhips, which he expected to encounter, abandoned his intention of attack; and fuddenly weighing anchor, about four in the afternoon, food off to the fouthward. Gg 2 A pur A pursuit on the part of the British inftantly took place, which continued all night. It was observed, about day-break, that the enemy were now in feparate directions, their twelve line of battle ships, with the frigate, bearing eaft of the British fleet, and about four leagues diftant, while the other frigates with the tranfports, not more than three leagues a-head, made directly for Pondicherry. The only infallible mode of bringing on an action in these circumstances, was to throw out the fignal for a general chafe to the fouth-weft, as the French admiral would undoubtedly endeavour to rescue his convoy, and no fuperiority of number and force could deter Sir Edward from appealing to this iffue. Our fleet foon captured fix veffels, five of which were English prizes, newly taken, with their crews on board. The fixth was the Laurifton, a tranfport of 1300 tons burthen. Its cargo confifted of a fine train of artillery, intended as a prefent to Hyder; a large quantity of gunpowder; a complete affortment of other military ftores; a number of land officers, and three hundred foldiers, from the regiment of Laufanne. The great difadvantage under which the fleet laboured, for want of frigates, was now feverely felt. A few of thefe must have fecured the whole of this valuable convoy; moft of which, on that account, were abandoned in the very moment, almoft, of being captured. For the French fleet, anxious to defeat the fuccefs of fo mafterly a manoeuvre, inftantly bore down for the prefervation of their convoy. This obliged |