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raise the means of opposition to the British arms.

On the 28th the British commandant, taking personally on himself the command of the flank companies of the army, the cavalry, and 1oyal artillery, with their light guns, made a rapid march, and encamped at night within three miles of the rajah's palace at Travandarum; where the remainder of his detachment joined him on the following day. In this commanding position, overawing the palace and the capital, we will for a while leave the southern army to take a cursory view of the proceedings of the subsidiary force, under its distinguished and able leader.

It has already been shewn, that the enemy had made several unsuccessful attacks, on the first demonstration of hostility, on the subsidiary force at Quilon; the last of which,that has been noticed, occurred on the 15th of January, and was attended with a loss on the part of the enemy of 700 men. It was long after the occurrence of this signal repulse, that he could inspire enough of courage into his troops to venture on a new assault, which was however at length repeated, and with the like result attendant on the previous attack, on the 31st of January. The fresh loss experienced by the enemy is not described, but his defeat was so remarkable, that it seemed to have checked all idea of further enterprise on his part, and to have introduced such dismay into his camp, as to induce almost a daily desertion and diminution of his numbers. Perceiving from this time the inactivity and the despair of the foe opposed to him, colonel Chalmers saw that only one vigorous, offensive measure, was wanting for the entire dispersion of the hostile army, in his vicinity, and he determined on urging it without delay. Having made all the necessary arrangements for the assault of the enemy's lines, colonel Chalmers himself superintended the event of that operation on the 21st of February, a day before the receipt of colonel Sentleger's last dispatches.

lumns, moving simultaneously upon the batteries and works thrown up in front of the enemy's position. The right column, commanded by licutetenant-colonel Picton, of his majesty's 12th regiment, and the left by the honourable lieutenant-colonel Stuart, of his majesty's 19th regiment, were led on with such an irresistible spirit and gallantry, that the batteries were almost instantly silenced and carried, and the works every where possessed by one bold exertion, and, it is with much pleasure added, with inconsiderable loss; the eneiny quitting his posts at every point, without daring to encounter the experienced danger, and almost certain slaughter, of the British bayonet. The right column captured three of the enemy's guns, and the left four, which were removed without opposition to the encampment of the subsidiary force.

Captain J. Grant, attached to the residency, and captain Foote, of his majesty's frigate La Piedmonteise, with a party of seamen, volunteered their services on this distinguished occasion, and partook of the honour of the day.

From this and the preceding gallant operations of colonel Chalmers, the enemy lost all confidence in himself and in his cause, and was on the point of deserting the call of his country in his despair, when he received the command of the king to discontinue his exertions; by the same hands that brought the letters of his majesty, and of colonel Sentleger to the British residency and the subsidiary force. The Travancore camp in consequence broke up, and military parties, in small detachments, repaired to their several homes, in peace with themselves, and without molestation from others.

It is impossible to close this part of the history of the war, without expressing our sincere admiration not only of the repeated acts of ga iantry achieved by this portion of the British forces; but of the cautious and wise system of the leader of the subsidiary force, which enabled him, against fearful odds, unforeseen accident, and a most treacherous assault, not only to The attack was made in two co- sustain his post with honour, but to

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turn the multiplied evils, meditated by the enemy, on his own head.

On the happy termination of hostilities in this quarter, colonel Chalmers prepared for moving forward to the capital, under similar orders from the resident, communicated to colonel Sentleger, to co-operate in the same design, and to effect a junction, if necessary, with the latter officer. Colonel Chalmers moved from his encampment at Quilon on the 26th of February, and arrived at the high ground, within twelve miles of the opposite side of Travandarum,much about the same time that the last-mentioned officer took up his position near that city; having received instructions also, like colonel Sentleger, not to proceed nearer to the capital until further orders. Possessed of all the strong positions in the country, and of the immediate keys to the capital, without any remaining resistance, and without any fear of future attack, it is to be supposed that no reasonable obstacle can present itself to the solicited negotiation of peace; which is suffered now to proceed, but still after a tardy pace, and in a manner not promising any speedy determination, one of the negotiators carrying on this desirable work on board a frigate, laying off the coast; subjecting it of course to interruptions, from the want of constant means of communication.

Pending the protracted negotiation, the different British detachments observed a pacific demeanour; and, as it proceeded, colonel Sentleger embraced the opportunity of disburthening himself of such parts of his force and his equipments, as the occasion would allow.

His arrangements in this respect, though not so showy or interesting, were, nevertheless, not less judicious and important to the interests of his government, than those rapid measures planned and executed by him on bis approaching and entering the Travancore lines, that had effected the business of a common campaign, by a continued series of glorious and successful operations, in the very short period of ten days. In what is the

government and his employers not indebted to him, and his gallant colleagues, for services so singularly distinguished?

Nothing would now seem to be wanting to complete the full satisfaction of the government, but the possession of the object, that had been made the ostensible cause of the war; the pursuit of which is not delayed, though enough advantages are in its power, to leave it nothing to apprehend from private design, or private enmity. The unfortunate Dewân, if not of terror, is still the cause of another passion; which is not to be quieted, often, but with the ruin of its object. A sharp and close search is instituted after the ill-fated minister; stimulated by a large and tempting reward; but not one of the followers of his fallen fortunes can be prevailed upon to betray his solitary retreat. In the wild scene, chosen as his place of refuge, he has less to fear from the savage and ferocious herds, continually howling around him, and watching for their casual prey, than from merciless man, his unappeasable and never ceasing pursuer; the constant dread of whose approach, and the knowledge of whose unforgiveness, preying always on his heart, makes it meditate on the certain means of destruction, to get rid of the haunting, lingering apprehen sions of death, and the pollution that may attend it through the hated hands of an insatiable foe; but who might be expected, if he had not the magnanimity to forgive the living, that he would not profane, with his unhallowed touch, the sanctity of the dead. Misguided man! stay the impious instrument upraised against thy life, and know, that the grave is not always a security against the thirst of mortal Revenge! The steel, alas ! has entered his soul, and the minister, lately commanding an empire, lies now a clod upon his fellow clay, whence he sprung; and to which even his unrelenting conqueror shall, in his turn. be reduced: a lesson that should purge the pride, and the still ignobler passions, rankling in the human bosom !

Intelligence of the death of the

Dewan soon reaches the residency, when new rewards are offered to him who shall bring in the still-persecuted remains of the now unconscious minister; and the blood hounds are warmly laid upon the scent. The lifeless trunk is discovered, drawn from the cave that concealed it, and delivered, a precious gift! to hungering vengeance. That gibbet! erected in the view of the palace, speaks the rest; where the wasting body of the minister, swinging to and fro with the wind, shall, so long as the elements spare it, appal the eye, or grate upon the ear of his master, keeping constantly alive the sense of his own dependance on his magnanimous ally, and scaring away from his employment the honest services of his subjects.

The seal is now put to the treaty.*
Some future historian, with more

ample materials before him, and with feelings more subdued by time, may be led, perchance, to speak of these transactions, and to characterise them as they deserve: it is the humbler office of the annalist to place them before his readers, in the impertect light in which they appear to him; happy if his limited account, or his incidental observations, shall awaken curiosity, or excite an interest to events, that would seem to call for a most serious and seasonable enquiry; which may remove the slander, if it be such, of the reports that have reached our shores; and, with it, the reproach that they would seem to cast upon the national character; or that the country, in its express disavowal and abhorrence of the act, may not suffer its general fame to be stained by the crimes of indivi- . duals.

Since the preceding sheet was sent to press, the editor discovered accidently, in a very recent report, laid on the table of the House of Commons, the following particulars of the treaties of the rajah of Travancore with the East India Company, inaccurately stated at the commencement of this chapter.

"In the year 1795. a permaneut treaty was concluded with the rajah, subject to the ratification or approval of the court of directors, in which it was stipulated that a subsidiary force should be furnished by the company for the service of the rajah,consisting of three battalions of Sepoys, one company of European artillery, and two companies of Lascars, for which a sum was to be paid annually, equivalent to the expense of the

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No payment was made under this treaty till 1798-9. From 1798-9, to 1806 the amount of the subsidy fixed at 42,9147. has been annually realized in the way of set-off in the accounts with the rajah for pepper furnished by him under contract. It is to be ren arked, that in January 1895, another treaty was entered into with the rajah increasing the subsidiary force by one complete regiment of Native infantry and adding to the subsidy to the amount of 45,1861, for the expense of it; but no payment was made on account of the additional subsidy for nearly two years subsequent to the conclusion of the treaty, notwithstanding the remission of half of it for that period."

24 report of the select committee.

*F 2

CHAPTER IV

Policy of Sir George Barlow not altered in the interval, or by the events of the war-dis affection most prevalent in Travancore-examination of the causes of discontent, and dispatches of government in relation to it-explanation given to the army on the 6th of February-orders of that date examined-abortive attempt at private conciliation with major Boles-lieutenant-colonel Martin detained in India-loses his passage-allowed to embark on a succeeding ship-major Boles not permitted to proceed to England-ships sail-permission granted to him-Secretary of Military Board suddenly removed-Sir George Barlow's private invitations generally refused-removal of officers on that account-favourable reports made by Sir George Barlow to Lord Minto, who inclines in consequence to the subordinate government-on the 20th of February his lordship approves of the release of lieutenant-colonel Munro, and suspension of general Mac Dowall-silence as to major Boles-memorial to the governor-general prepared, but abandoned-address to major Boles-these acts resented, and made the grounds of the order of the 1st of May, suspending numerous officers, and femoving many others from their commands and staff officesthis order considered-orders of the 2nd of May, directing several other removals on summary grounds-resentment shewn by the Hydrabad subsidiary force, of the compliment paid to it, in the order of the 1st of May-declaration of that force-general irritation of the army acknowledged by Sir George Barlow, who solicits the interposition of the gover nor-general to allay it, which produces the letter of the 27th of May, approving all the foregoing measures of Sir George Barlow, and vindicating the reasons of them-ordered to be printed-the grounds of the vindication examined-the impression of this letter on the army and the government-general combination at the different stations of the army-the honourable colonel Sentleger, major Boles, and captain Marshall, ordered to embark, at a few hours notice, for Calcutta-removal of officers at Masulipatam from the staff-others, with detachments from the European regiments, ordered to serve as marines on board the fleet-regular committees formed here, and at other places-undisguised revolt of the officers at Hydrabad, Masulipatam, Seringapatam, and other stations -the Native troops not acquainted with the existence or cause of the revolt-colonel Malcolm sent by Sir George Barlow to Masulipatam-fails in his negotiation-colonel Close fails in a like manner at Hydrabad-lord Minto hears of the revolt of the garrison of Masulipatam, on the 10th of Julyresolves on proceeding to the coast-on the 20th, publishes an order to the Bengal armyleaves Calcutta the 5th of August-attempts of Sir George Barlow to procure addresses-suggests a test to the officers of the company's service-generally refused--officers removed from their employments-replaced by the king's officers civil and military-measures devised for subduing the revolt-the latter not generally carried into effect-attack on the Chittledroog battalions-operation of lord Minto's order of the 20th of July-submission of the Hydrabad subsidiary force, and of the troops generally-amnesty granted by general Pater to the garrison of Masulipatam-lord Minto arrives at Madras on the 10th of Septemberdevelopes the policy which he means to adopt-publishes, on the 25th of September, his

smnesty to the army, and announces the cases, 21 in number, excepted out of it-examina tion of the order of the 25th of September-court-martial appointed to assemble at Bangalore-d-fence of the parties involving the character of the government-lieutenant-colo❤ nel J. Bell and major J. Story, cashiered by the sentence of the court-martial-lieutenant-colonel Doveton acquitted--sentences sent back for revision-accompanied by a letter from the Judge-Advocate-the court adheres to its first opinion-observations on the preceding act-conclusion.

THE great display of zeal and energy by the army, in the conduct of the war in Travancore, shews that all private resentment, if any part of it could be supposed to attach to the military body employed there, was sacrificed to the public cause. It will hardly be believed, that this precise spot was regarded by Sir George Barlow as the hot-bed of disaffection, and that its growth was imputed to the very season which produced the fairer fruit of a generous emulation in enterprise, and devotion to the public service.

The interval embraced by the Travancore war was brilliant, yet short; but it was long enough, in its duration, to have afforded the means, if they had been embraced by a congenial spirit, for the renunciation of an obnoxious policy on the one hand, and the abandonment of acrimony on the other. But Sir George Barlow does not appear to have relaxed for an instant the rigid principle of his government: and as long as the influence and operation of it should continue, it was not to be reckoned, that the passions of the army, which it excited, would cease or abate. If the governor had reviewed his measures in the interim, the re-consideration had no other visible effect, than of confirming him in his primary judgment, instead of inducing him to tread back the steps that had raised so general a jealousy. From this moment, as if he had gained new strength, or confirmation from the pause, he is seen advancing in acts, that had already stirred the fiercest passions, and could not have any other tendency, judging by the past, but to drive them to excess.

What, it may be asked, is the fresh necessity, that requires the new exertion-The dispatches of the Madras government, at this time, may be supposed to speak, both the sentiments of

of the offence imputed to the army. The latter is not described, in the public correspondence in question, to amount to more than an alleged and indistinct clamour about the abolition' of the tent-contract, and the interruption, by the act of the government, of the prosecution of the quartermaster-general. To these, indeed, is added a complaint against the late commander-in-chief of the army, who had now left the peninsula, and against the adjutant and deputy-adjutant-general of the army, who are represented to have shared, but more by implication, than any direct deduction, in the fault of their superior. But these questions immediately concerned but a comparatively small number of persons, though they might relatively interest, if pushed beyond the present instances, the whole circle of the army. No insinuation, derogatory to the general body of the army, is stated in this official correspondence. It is, therefore, to be concluded, that with the excep tion of the partial discontent, which is noticed in it, that the other part of the military community was yet as free from taint, as from accusation; a circumstance that should have awakened the caution of the governor, to prevent the disease of the few from communicating to the many. This natural caution is no where to be observed in the proceedings of the government; but a spirit, it is feared, may be traced in them, equally indignant of opposition, and careless about the provocation of it. All delicacy in respect to the use of its authority, is henceforward thrown aside. If no new power be brought into action, it is, that its ultimate resources have already been exhausted. It may be communicated to fresh objects, and may be varied in its application, but it is still the same power,

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