The Sultán’s troops (the Assud Illáhis), there­fore, returned to the city. The valiant Sultán, now strengthened all sides of the fort of Seringaputtun with guns, mortars and every description of fire­arms, and stationed his brave troops in all parts of the works, and with exceeding confidence and a truly royal spirit gave orders that his tents and canopies made of European velvet, the silks of Khotun and China, and the embroidered or bro­caded cloth of Constantinople, should be raised on every one of the towers of Seringaputtun, and the most beautiul Bayaderes, or dancing women, and the best singers,* and musicians being assembled were employed day and night in dancing, singing, and all kinds of pleasure and merriment. The whole of the cavalry was sent towards Mysore, and two days after this Purusram and Hurri Punt, with their troops arrived and encamped in the neigh­bourhood of Char Kooli and Foulad Jung, and Mushír, also with their army encamped on the Mooti Talaub or great Tank.

No sooner did it become evident to all present, that the siege was likely to be protracted to a great length, and the war not likely to be easily brought to a close, except by the sacrifice of multitudes of lives, the fortitude and courage of the Sultán being well known to all, than the three confederated powers each separately in his own place sought the means of making peace. The Sipahsalar of the English army, in the meantime, raised a battery south of the fort, on the side of Gunjam, and another to the east of the fort on this side the river, and held all in readiness for the attack. At this period, however, the Sultán also unwilling to continue at enmity and war with the three power­ful states, by the advice, or at the instance of some of his wise and faithful servants, despatched Vakeels or ambassadors to the English Commander-in-chief and to the Mahrattas, with valuable presents, and they shaking the chain of friendship and union* fulfilled their office, and made known their com­mission. The Sipahsalar (Lord Cornwallis) was delighted with the friendly propositions of the Sul­tán, and determined to accept them. General Meadows was, however, of a different opinion, and did not give them a willing ear, and, after much dispute and contention, he received permission from the Commander-in-chief to attack the battery at Somar-Peeth, which might indeed be called the nose of the fort of Seringaputtun, and of which the intrepid Syud Ghuffar the Sipahdár, had charge. He accordingly attacked it, and that brave man, Syud Ghuffar, planting his feet firmly in the field of manhood, immediately grappled with his adver­saries;— for he advanced and met them in the field, and with the sword, musket, and bayonet, so vigorously repulsed them, that he drove the ball of victory before him with the Chowkan* of valour, and the storming party not having power to stand against him retired.

After about two hours, however, while the Sul­tan’s troops were occupied in cooking their dinners, and had discharged all fear of their enemies from their minds, the brave English, finding an opportunity again, all at once made a furious assault, and with but little trouble dispersed the Sultán’s troops and took possession of the place.* This was, however, no sooner known, than Syud Humíd and Fazil Khán, Sipahdárs, with their troops, arrived to the aid of the defeated Sipahdár (Syud Ghuffar) and together attacking the battery vigorously, they by main force retook it, and again occupied their station in it;— but by this time two thousand English soldiers had measured their length on the field of blood, and those who escaped the sword returned to their army. On this day, General Meadows on returning to his tent, loaded a pistol and fired it off on himself:— the ball, however, did not wound him mortally, but passed through the skin of his abdomen, and he had taken up another pistol (to put an end to himself), when Colonel Malcolm, the Adjutant-General, hearing the report, rushed into the tent, seized the pistol and despatched an account of what had happened to the Commander-in-Chief. Lord Cornwallis immediately visited the General in his tent, and taking him by the hand, returned thanks to God, that he was safe, and after consoling and comforting him with kind words said,— “at this precise period, peace is our best policy, for although taking the fort and making the Sultán a prisoner be easy, and allowing both the Sultán and fort fell into our hands, still, I am not satisfied respecting our confederates, who are sharers with us in all things; for in such a case what good will result to the Company’s Government?*— Indeed, after mature reflection, I am convinced this is the proper time to make peace,” and the General now agreed to the truth of these words.

But to proceed,— by the council and unanimous opinion of these confederated powers, the terms of agreement were arranged on the following basis, viz.— that the Sultán should cede territory to the amount of three krores of rupees and pay a similar amount in money;— that until the pay­ment of the aforesaid money, one of the gates of Seringaputtun should be given up and remain in charge of the English troops, or otherwise, that the Sultán should send certain of his sons, as hostages for the satisfaction of the three confederated powers, to the Sipahsalar of the English army. The pru­dent and clear sighted Sultán, seeing the affairs of his kingdom ruined by the villany and neglect of his ungrateful and traitorous Amírs and Chiefs, of necessity was obliged to accept these terms, and the countries of the Barh Mahl, Suleem Atoorant­giri, Sankli Droog, Dindigul, Kalikote, &c., were surrendered to the English; and the whole of the districts of Kirpa, Tar Puttri, Tar Muri, and Bullari, were given up to Nizám Alí Khán, and all the country on the other side of the river Tungbhudra, was consigned to the Mahrattas, and one krore of rupees in money, with presents and dresses of honour was sent out to the confederates, and agree­ably to the request of the English Commander-in-Chief, Mazuddín Sultán and Abd ul Khalik Sultán, the sons of the Sultán, under the guardianship* of Gholaum Alí Khán, and Muhammud Ruza Khutíb, Arkati, were appointed embassadors, (hostages) and sent off to the General, and these wise and learned envoys, by fair and specious speeches and words of apology, cleared the royal road of friendship and peace from the dirt and rubbish of suspicion and enmity, and, having pleased the confederates with presents and offerings, caused their removal from the city of Seringaputtun.

The confederated Chiefs having, therefore, divided the before-mentioned sum of money between them, returned to their own countries. The Commander-in-Chief of the English army, also, with his princely embassadors, soon arrived at Madras, his attention and kindness to them con­tinually increasing, and Colonel Doveton was appointed Mír Samani, that is, to conduct their household affairs and provide them with whatever might be required; (this office in Persian is called Mahmandari; it is here Mír Samani), and he entertained them with the respect and attention due to their rank. The English infantry now, therefore, were withdrawn from all parts, depend­ing on the Sirkar Khodádád, and marched to take possession of the Barh Mahl, &c.;— and procla­mations of peace were made in all regions.

When the Sipahsalar before mentioned arrived at Madras, a palace in the fort was cleared for the reception of the embassadors, and they were lodged there, and all necessary things prepared for their accommodation; and their friends, servants, and teachers, had permission to go and come as they pleased, particularly Muhammud Khán Surajud­dowla, (who had often written to the world-con­quering Sultán, desiring to make peace with him, and join him), in this matter, (attention to the princes) was most earnest and persevering, and in kindness and courtesy, treated the princely embas­sadors of the Sultán with more respect than he did his own children, and was continually sending them dainties for the table, fruit of the rarest kinds, &c.