Letter to President and Council of Bombay, commenting on Tipu Sultan's plans, 22 October 1783

Bombay Castle

Honourable Sir and Gentlemen,

Mr. Sibbald having proceeded some days ago in the Mercury will probably arrive before this can reach you. Immediately before his departure he was a good deal alarmed by a packet from Tellicherry which he instantly communicated to me. It contained a letter from Mr. Hutchinson at Anjengo to the Resident and Council at Tellicherry enclosing, one from Mr. Hippesley at Tanjore which announced the recommencement of hostilities with Tippoo Sahib on the other coast. On looking at the date of Mr. Hippesley's note I immediately discovered the whole to be a false alarm. It was written from Tanjore the 1st of August, and says that they had lately heard of the recommencement, of hostilities from the Select Committee at Madras. Thus, allowing a few days for the time of going between Madras and Tanjore, this recommencement must have happened about the beginning or middle of August. Now the cessation of arms concluded by Major Campbell at the requisition of the Select Committee of Madras took place on the 2nd and was not finally settled till the 15th. All the operations of Fullarton's army were to depend on Tippoo's ceasing his attack on Mangalore, so that the news of that having happened could not have reached Madras when they sent that advice to Tanjore.

But though this alarm is not well founded, I have to acquaint you of another which is very serious, which has induced me to quit the Nabob that I may endeavour to prevent the evils which threaten.

For a long time Tippoo has shown a great unwillingness to leave Mangalore in our possession, his martial pride is hurt at the idea of having been baffled, and he is, I now find, determined to take it either by open force or treachery. I have no fear of his succeeding by the former method, but he has adopted a mode of treachery that will certainly accomplish his purpose, if we don't take the most vigorous steps to prevent him. By a most material article in the treaty of cessation, Tippoo was bound to give us a bazaar where we might purchase ten days provisions of every kind which the country could afford at a time, and of those articles which his bazar could not afford we were to be allowed to receive a months consumption at a time from the shipping. With respect to fresh provisions and admitting salt meat, bread and arrack, he has not behaved very ill, but every obstacle and hindrance possible has been thrown in the way of the Company's purchasing rice: for a long time they pretended they had none, on which I sent to Tellicherry for a supply, which arrived here with Mr. Sibbald. At first the Nabob promised to admit it, but he afterwards stopped it; I wrote to him, I went to him, I reasoned, I entreated, I threatened--all to no purpose. I got the French Envoy, who was witness to the treaty, to do the same; he always promised fair, but I constantly found he had given contrary orders to his people. By having lived always since the cessation on our original stock, there is not now in the fort more than 20 days rice as full allowance; by going to half allowance it will last six weeks; if in that time they are not relieved they must fall. This is the more distressing, as Brigadier General Mathews sold to the Arabs more rice than would have victualled the garrison for two years from the public stores. I enclose a copy of a letter of instructions which I left this morning with Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, which will explain to you partly my views and the situation of things. I despatch this boat with my Aid-de-Camp Lieutenant Seton to implore and beseech you to send down the three battalions of sepoys or more immediately, if you can prevail on Captain Bussy to come also with the two 50-gun ships, these with the Hanoverians, will enable me to try at least to force the entrance of the river and throw in men and provisions. If the Admiral arrives on the coast in the meantime, or any considerable part of his squadron, I will endeavour to obtain his assistance. This induces me to remain on the coast between this and Tellichery, that I may meet the squadron and secure its help, and as. I can have no doubt of your making as great exertions on this letter as on any personal representations. The consequence of Tippoo's taking Mangalore, will not only be the loss of that place, but it will enable and encourage him to dictate the peace or prolong the war. The saving Mangalore will enable us to make a good peace, or to renew the war with advantage. I now know every environ about the place, and think if I am supported I shall relieve it. When the troops come, a considerable supply of provisions of all kinds should be sent with them to be ready to be thrown in on the first blow. I enclose a paper of signals agreed on by Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, and me, which will explain the most material points to any ships passing on to the fort.

I also enclose a plan of Mangalore (not included), and Mr. Seton is well qualified to give you any further information. I have only to add that I understand Mr. Tippoo is using the same means of starvation to reduce Onore.

I have ever the honor to be,
Honourable Sir & Gentlemen,
Your most obedient & humble Servant,

NORMAN MACLEOD.

From: Forrest, George W., ed. Selections from the Letters, Despatches, and Other State Papers Preserved in the Bombay Secretariat. Home Series, Vol. II. Bombay: Government Central Press, 1887, 286-287.