DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.644#0104
EASTERN HINDOOSTAN. 81
and was employed on feveral important expeditions. He made
the Frencb difcipline his model; even while in their fervice
he feduced feveral of their men and officers to ferve in his
particiliar corps, which was irregularly connived at by reafon
of the fingular ufe Ayder was to them. In 1770, Stenet, a
Frencb officer, contimied with him.
In 1755 Ayder had the command of fix thoufand men in the
fervice of M. Dupleix. At that time, by the death of his bro-
ther, a ftrong fortrefs, a fertile territory, and a large body of
troops devolved to him ; he returned to Myßre, to his native
prince, and was appointed by him generaliffimo of the army.
He foon fuffercd by the jealoufy of the prime minifter, Canero,
who traiteroufly invited the Mabrattas to invadc the country.
Ayderi furprifed, was obliged to retrcat into Seringapatam^ the
capital of the kingdom ; he encamped before the city, the Mab-
rattas followed him, and the treacherous Canero fhut the
gates againft him, and lefthim to his fate. Ayder convened his
principal officers, told them his ftory, affured them he would
not be the caufe of the deftrnclion of fo many brave men, took
an affectionate leave of them, and difmifTed them, after advifing
them to take fuch meafures as prudcnce might fuggeft. At
midnight he affembled thirty men, on whofe conrage he might
rely, furnilhed each with a large fum in gold, and then, by
fwimming the river, eluded the ftri<5t watch the Mabrattas kept
on him. He went inftantly to Bangalore, where he found his
uncle governor, who received him with open arms. Ayder
immediately raifed an army, and, after varions great aftions,
aflifted by his faithful partifans, he determincd to attack the
• Vot. II. M roval
and was employed on feveral important expeditions. He made
the Frencb difcipline his model; even while in their fervice
he feduced feveral of their men and officers to ferve in his
particiliar corps, which was irregularly connived at by reafon
of the fingular ufe Ayder was to them. In 1770, Stenet, a
Frencb officer, contimied with him.
In 1755 Ayder had the command of fix thoufand men in the
fervice of M. Dupleix. At that time, by the death of his bro-
ther, a ftrong fortrefs, a fertile territory, and a large body of
troops devolved to him ; he returned to Myßre, to his native
prince, and was appointed by him generaliffimo of the army.
He foon fuffercd by the jealoufy of the prime minifter, Canero,
who traiteroufly invited the Mabrattas to invadc the country.
Ayderi furprifed, was obliged to retrcat into Seringapatam^ the
capital of the kingdom ; he encamped before the city, the Mab-
rattas followed him, and the treacherous Canero fhut the
gates againft him, and lefthim to his fate. Ayder convened his
principal officers, told them his ftory, affured them he would
not be the caufe of the deftrnclion of fo many brave men, took
an affectionate leave of them, and difmifTed them, after advifing
them to take fuch meafures as prudcnce might fuggeft. At
midnight he affembled thirty men, on whofe conrage he might
rely, furnilhed each with a large fum in gold, and then, by
fwimming the river, eluded the ftri<5t watch the Mabrattas kept
on him. He went inftantly to Bangalore, where he found his
uncle governor, who received him with open arms. Ayder
immediately raifed an army, and, after varions great aftions,
aflifted by his faithful partifans, he determincd to attack the
• Vot. II. M roval