Beatson, Alexander: A view of the origin and conducts of the war with Tippoo Sultaun: comprising a narrative of the operations of the army under the command of Lieutenant George Harris, and of the Siege of Seringapatam (London, 1800)

PREFACE.

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my judgment, a system of political and military arrangement,
so perfect in itself, as seemed not to admit of the smallest
amendment, and excited in my mind the strongest sentiments of
admiration. I lamented that a more detailed account had not
been given of transactions highly honourable to all concerned;
and of which very little information could be gathered from the
public prints of India. The Governor-general himself, indeed,
was undoubtedly the best qualified to discharge this duty; but
his Lordship had not leisure, for what must have required a con-
siderable degree of labour and application.
After I had completed the examination of the papers, I drew
up an Abstract, and added the most material events of the war
from my own military journal; together with such information
regarding the character and government of the late Sultaun, as
had been transmitted to the Governor-general after the fall of
Seringa patam.
Having thus brought under one view, every circumstance that
appeared worthy of notice, I arranged and divided the subject into
chapters. This Prospectus, or Table of Contents, comprizing the
heads of every occurrence, from June iyq8, until the partition
and settlement of Mysore, together with a few chapters, com-
piled from the abovementioned papers, having been shewn to the
Governor-general, received his approbation. From that moment