DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25987#0220
VIEW OF THE ORIGIN AND CONDUCT
183
of an obscure individual named Ripaud, * and continued to the
period of the Sultaun's deputation of M. Dubuc to France, towards
the end of the year 1798. There are, also, various other French
papers relating to the connection subsisting between the French
nation and Tippoo Sultaun, at a more distant period, which have
not yet been examined.
* Citizen Francis Ripaud, who commanded a French privateer, was by stress
of weather, obiiged to put into Mangalore in the latter part of iyq6. He was
there apprehended, sent to Seringapatam, and placed under restraint. By these
papers, to which Colonel Kirkpatrick alludes, it appears that Tippoo Sultaun in-
terrogated Ripaud with respect to the disposition and ability of the French to
co-operate in his projected attack of the Company's possessions ; and that Ripaud,
(who is a violent Republican) with a view to excite the Sultaun to hostilities against
the English, by encouraging him to expect a powerful co-operation of the French,
^nd to effect his own delivery, magnified the resources of his nation, and induced
the Sultaun to believe, that a very considerable force was already assembled at the
Isle of France, and only waited his summons.
These assurances had made an early and deep impression upon the Sultaun's
mind : in the Sultaun's own hand-writing are these words ; tc^77/3<rrM7"y /<? my m/mV
" zb /Az'y ; /3 7W%Z7? A^z? FzYzzc^zzzzzzz Kz'p<3M<3? %r <2 —A? y^zzJ Arc# rPzz/zbbzz/zT'
" y^ryezzr %vA% AK'y Fc^zzr^zzzzrzz—^3 yzz/zy/y A%^ mz'zzzA Frc7z<T zzzz/z37z ,*—zzzzz/ /3
" TYyMzr.? C^z'z'y/z'zz/zybrc^y.—az^MyATA^ 25^7 lyqy."
The circumstance of Ripaud's arrival, therefore, evidently suggested to Tippoo
Sultaun, the policy of deputing embassadors to the Isle of France, and eventually
to France ; and it gave rise to a question proposed by the Sultaun to the officers of
his government, for their opinions and advice. This question was not, whether an
offensive and defensive alliance should be formed with the French ; but what should
be the terms and conditions of such an alliance, which the Sultaun seems absolutely
to have determined on. Notwithstanding this determination of their master, some of
his principal officers ventured to express their disapprobation of the plan ; most of
them have expressed their opinions of the little depcndance to be placed upon the
faith of the French nation ; and they all mention Ripaud in terms of abuse and
contempt, and forcibly dissuade Tippoo Sultaun from conducting a negotiation of
183
of an obscure individual named Ripaud, * and continued to the
period of the Sultaun's deputation of M. Dubuc to France, towards
the end of the year 1798. There are, also, various other French
papers relating to the connection subsisting between the French
nation and Tippoo Sultaun, at a more distant period, which have
not yet been examined.
* Citizen Francis Ripaud, who commanded a French privateer, was by stress
of weather, obiiged to put into Mangalore in the latter part of iyq6. He was
there apprehended, sent to Seringapatam, and placed under restraint. By these
papers, to which Colonel Kirkpatrick alludes, it appears that Tippoo Sultaun in-
terrogated Ripaud with respect to the disposition and ability of the French to
co-operate in his projected attack of the Company's possessions ; and that Ripaud,
(who is a violent Republican) with a view to excite the Sultaun to hostilities against
the English, by encouraging him to expect a powerful co-operation of the French,
^nd to effect his own delivery, magnified the resources of his nation, and induced
the Sultaun to believe, that a very considerable force was already assembled at the
Isle of France, and only waited his summons.
These assurances had made an early and deep impression upon the Sultaun's
mind : in the Sultaun's own hand-writing are these words ; tc^77/3<rrM7"y /<? my m/mV
" zb /Az'y ; /3 7W%Z7? A^z? FzYzzc^zzzzzzz Kz'p<3M<3? %r <2 —A? y^zzJ Arc# rPzz/zbbzz/zT'
" y^ryezzr %vA% AK'y Fc^zzr^zzzzrzz—^3 yzz/zy/y A%^ mz'zzzA Frc7z<T zzzz/z37z ,*—zzzzz/ /3
" TYyMzr.? C^z'z'y/z'zz/zybrc^y.—az^MyATA^ 25^7 lyqy."
The circumstance of Ripaud's arrival, therefore, evidently suggested to Tippoo
Sultaun, the policy of deputing embassadors to the Isle of France, and eventually
to France ; and it gave rise to a question proposed by the Sultaun to the officers of
his government, for their opinions and advice. This question was not, whether an
offensive and defensive alliance should be formed with the French ; but what should
be the terms and conditions of such an alliance, which the Sultaun seems absolutely
to have determined on. Notwithstanding this determination of their master, some of
his principal officers ventured to express their disapprobation of the plan ; most of
them have expressed their opinions of the little depcndance to be placed upon the
faith of the French nation ; and they all mention Ripaud in terms of abuse and
contempt, and forcibly dissuade Tippoo Sultaun from conducting a negotiation of