DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25987#0212
1% VIEW OF THE ORIGIN AND CONDUCT
foresee, or human care and diligence could provide for, was
neglected in the various and complicated arrangements made for
the success of this important enterprize.*
It has been already remarked, that the Governor-general had
at first to encounter a decided opinion against the measures, he
judged necessary to adopt upon the arrival of M. Malartic's pro-
clamation in Bengal; and although his conduct is now admitted
to have been judicious and proper,-j-yet the unexampled success
of the campaign, and the temporary fall of rain, which affected
the river Cauvery on the yth of May, were circumstances which
gave rise to an erroneous conjecture, " that the campaign had
" nearly failed, and that its success was chiefly to be attributed to
" good fortune/' Such an idea could only have been entertained
by those, who were totally unacquainted with the precautions
which had been taken.
It cannot be denied, that particular circumstances of good fortune
attended the capture of Seringapatam. The death of Tippoo
Sultaun, and the possession of his family, and the families of all
his chiefs, accelerated the entire conquest of Mysore; but on the
other hand, it must be admitted, that the march to Seringapatam
was impeded by difficulties which we had no reason to expect;
and that this disappointment proceeded, not from any defect in the
equipment, nor from opposition on the part of the enemy, but
* At Coorga (vide Appendix, XIX), there were 6,360,000 pounds of rice,
equal to the subsistence of 40,000 men for 159 days ; and at Kistnagheri, Colonel
Read had in store 925,600 pounds, or 23 days allowance. In all, 182 days, or
six months allowance.
t Address from the inhabitants of Madras, Appendix, XXXIV.
foresee, or human care and diligence could provide for, was
neglected in the various and complicated arrangements made for
the success of this important enterprize.*
It has been already remarked, that the Governor-general had
at first to encounter a decided opinion against the measures, he
judged necessary to adopt upon the arrival of M. Malartic's pro-
clamation in Bengal; and although his conduct is now admitted
to have been judicious and proper,-j-yet the unexampled success
of the campaign, and the temporary fall of rain, which affected
the river Cauvery on the yth of May, were circumstances which
gave rise to an erroneous conjecture, " that the campaign had
" nearly failed, and that its success was chiefly to be attributed to
" good fortune/' Such an idea could only have been entertained
by those, who were totally unacquainted with the precautions
which had been taken.
It cannot be denied, that particular circumstances of good fortune
attended the capture of Seringapatam. The death of Tippoo
Sultaun, and the possession of his family, and the families of all
his chiefs, accelerated the entire conquest of Mysore; but on the
other hand, it must be admitted, that the march to Seringapatam
was impeded by difficulties which we had no reason to expect;
and that this disappointment proceeded, not from any defect in the
equipment, nor from opposition on the part of the enemy, but
* At Coorga (vide Appendix, XIX), there were 6,360,000 pounds of rice,
equal to the subsistence of 40,000 men for 159 days ; and at Kistnagheri, Colonel
Read had in store 925,600 pounds, or 23 days allowance. In all, 182 days, or
six months allowance.
t Address from the inhabitants of Madras, Appendix, XXXIV.