An account of the regulation (perhaps capture) of the City of Seringaputtun, with other events of the year 1171. Hijri. A. D. 1757, September 14th.

WHEN Hydur had thus overcome his difficulties in this contest, and had conquered the enemies of the Khodadad, he fulfilled his duty in offering unlimited thanksgiving and praise to the Almighty for his favours; and, on the following day, he sent word to the Raja, that, if it were permitted, he, his servant,* would visit his family in the fort. The Raja with great readiness and pleasure, gave orders to the guards, at the gates of the fort, to admit Hydur; and he himself, under pretence of taking the air, mounted his horse and went to meet him. Having arrived at his encampment, he, to obtain his friendship, showered an abundance of gold and jewels on his valiant head, and presented him ornaments such as bracelets, gorget, &c., set with jewels; bade him welcome, and congratulated him on his victory and good fortune; and invited him to the fort. Hydur, however, cautious and penetrating, considered that entering the fort in company with the Raja would be an act quite incompatible with the prudence and circumspection indispensable to understanding men; and he, there­fore, made an excuse that the day or hour was an unlucky one, and put off his visit to his family, particularly to his son of exalted fortune, (whose valuable existence was in truth the founda­tion of the Khodadad State,) until the next day. Then, having made a present to the Raja of a number of horses, and valuable cloths or dresses, he sent him off to the fort, and remained during that night where he was. The next morning, how­ever, taking with him a strong body of troops, he entered the fort, and posted confidential men of his own on the gates, posterns, and offices of the fort, and even on the gates of the Raja’s Hall of Audi­ence, and his Zanana, he placed his own men. He then went with confidence to meet his family, and enjoyed himself with them in security. Under pretence of transacting some business of his own, he next visited Nundi Raj, and, with the policy and regard to expediency of a conqueror and statesman, having pleased or satisfied him, he took him and his wife, children, relations, and dependents, and placed them in his own house; and, then prostrating him­self before the throne of the all powerful Dispenser of grace and favour, his drums and trumpets made the city resound to their joyful strains.*

In truth, why should he not do so? When he had restored the country of Mysore, already half dead, to new life and vigour! When, many times, purely in supporting this State of Mysore; he, Hydur, had fought with the Mahrattas and other rebels,* and by his great courage and individual exertions and abilities, had defeated them, and had himself regained and brought under his powerful hand the country which before had been taken or conquered! When, notwithstanding all his labours and anxiety, the envious and short sighted con­spired by vain arts to overthrow the house and for­tune of that brave soldier; turned the mind of the foolish Raja against him, excited a tumult to his prejudice; and when all the hardships, and travail, he had suffered in the protection of the country was about to be gratuitously thrown away and scattered to the winds by the designs of his enemies. Then it was, therefore, that God withdrew him from the anxiety and perplexity of plans and schemes for the defence of the country against its enemies; kept him in a place of security, made him a king* in territory and power; and, still more, placed him beyond the stormy sea of worldly interest on the shore of safety, and made him the grateful returner* of praises and thanksgivings to God for the great benefits he had received. Verses. “No man can obtain a crown without courage.”— “Those who aim at exaltation, must waste by the head like a taper.”*

But, to return,— for some days and nights Hydur occupied himself in regulating the broken down for­tunes of the Mysore state, in discharging the disaf­fected, the envious, and the seditious; in levying fines on the corrupt and cowardly civil servants, and removing the dishonest; and in collecting troops, stores, &c., necessary for the commander of an army; and, finally, having administered justice to all, he attracted the hearts of the people, far and near, by his liberality, his favour, his kindness, and his affability, and thereby gained great fame. Indeed, he undertook no measure without the deepest consideration, grounded on his accurate perception of the best policy. His fortunate son, (Tippoo), was now placed under the best masters, who laboured to instruct him in all kinds of learn­ing. The dependencies of Mysore, which are like a flower garden, now received anew the freshness and colour of security, and the hearts of those who were envious of the prosperity of the country and govern­ment became like the flowers of a garden in autumn, faded and dead. Most of the dependencies on the frontier, which had been lost to this state from the incapacity of former ministers and chiefs, by the exertions and abilities of Hydur, that Rus­tum in disposition, were regained by his powerful and grasping hand; and now able men of various tribes and nations, artificers of all countries, and soldiers who, from the want of employment and the neglect of merit by the former rulers of Mysore, had been hiding in corners, like a sword in its sheath; at length had the rust and dirt rubbed off the face of their condition, by the furbisher of appreciation, and, by the aid of their good fortune, like the spear, carried their heads high, and presented themselves erect to Hydur, who employed them in service pro­portionate to their abilities and merit. According to the desire of that cherisher of the people, mer­chants, also, brought precious commodities from every part of the world, with valuable horses, and camels, and, in addition to the prices they demanded for their goods, they received handsome presents; many thousands of pounds being expended on the security of the servants of the state for commission­ing articles of rarity, and soldiers of approved valour, from different parts of the world. In fact, in performing the duty committed to his charge, every one strove with all his heart to ensure its accomplishment. In truth, whenever the only true Lord desires to make one of his slaves worthy of the government of a country, and fit to be the cherisher and defender of the poor, and to provide for and support his subjects, he makes his person the object of the regard of high and low, and his actions the profit and benefit of the world. Verse. “Good fortune comes not by chance as they say it does.”*