The death of the young Paishwah contributed to restore to the Nizam a part of that power and rank among the states of India, which he had lost by the treaty of Kurcl lab, as it occasioned the most serious dissensions among the Mahratta chiefs, whose interests were deeply involved in the succession. The principal minister at Poonah was desirous of placing an infant on the Musnud, to the exclu sion of the legitimate heir. This plan was opposed by the agent of Dowlut Row Scindiah ; and that chief prepared to march to Poonah to support the legitimate heir. Under these circumstances, the minister endeavoured to gain the support of the Nizarn, and for this purpose he resigned all those great cessions which had been obtained from the Ni zam by the convention of Kurdlah. In the mean time, however, Dowlut Row Scindiah, having arrived at Poonah with a force, which gave him a decided superiority, and thus placed the legitimate heir, Badgeron, on the Musnud, a new negociation was opened with the Nizam, not so fa vourable as that which he had just concluded ; for by this he agreed to cede one fourth of the territory, and to pay one fourth of the sum fixed by the convention of Kurdlah. The success of Dowlut Row Scindiali in this important transaction established his influence and ascendency in the Mahratta empire. This was greatly augmented by the death of Tuckojee Holkar, most of whose possessions he usurped, after putting to death his eldest son, and impri soning the other members of his family. He also obliged the Paishwah to cede to him the important fortress of Ali mednagur and its surrounding district, by which he not only obtainecrthe command of the city of Poonah, but the best passage into the territories, either of the Paishwah or the soubhadar of the Decan.
This great and rapid increase of power and influence, especially as it was supported by an army disciplined in a great measure after the European manner, by French offi cers, gave some uneasiness and alarm to the British go vernment of India. Almost the whole of that part of Hin dostan which had been subdued by Scindiah, as well as the establishment and realization of his claims upon the Raj poot states, were entrusted to the management of the French general who commanded his infantry.
In 1798, a treaty was entered into by the British and Saaclut Ali Khan, who had claims to the Musnud of Oude, which the British promised to support ; in return for their assistance, he promised to vest in them the defence of his dominions, and to pay them 76 lacks of rupees ; and in the event of the failure of any of these instalments, the Bri tish were to be put into possession of the country of Oucle, of the value of ten lacks of rupees. Saadut Ali Khan also agreed to pay the amount of any expenee which the British might incur in placing him on the throne, and to cede the fortress of Allahabad. There were several other articles highly favourable to the British, and which were evidently calculated to assist them in obtaining the entire sovereignty of the province at some future period. These were the principal transactions which happened in India during the government of Lord Teignmouth.
On the 26th of April, 1798, Lord Wellesley reached India. Affairs at this time were rather critical for the British interest. The designs of Tippoo to renew the war were undoubted ; a French party prevailed at the courts of the Nizarn and of Scindiah ; the Poonah Mah rattas were entirely under the power of the latter ;.and
the court of Berar was suspected to be adverse to the Bri tish, whom it had long looked upon with jealousy and ap prehension. The territory of Oude was not yet quiet un der the government of Saadut, who still called upon the British for support in the exercise of that power to which they had raised him. The Carnatic, also, over which Om dut UI Omrah ruled, was in a weak state ; and yet it was evident, that in the event of hostilities in that part of In dia, the British must rely greatly on the assistance of its nabob. The finances of the British government had been greatly exhausted by the expeditions against the Dutch possessions in Ceylon and the Spice ew , b derable part of the army of Coromandel wa sent on these expeditions.
Lord Wellesley immediately began a sures and operations, which in his opinion aennythfoerBmriidtiasbhiedoatmtainck by a dominions in In v andsecure n m..
them against nst the a ber, 1798, a favourable treaty was concluded with the N i- disband the French corps in his service and to deliver zam, by which, among other conditions, he promised to over its officers to the British government, whenever the whole of the British force, to be stationed in his domi nions, reached his capital. The British, on their part, agreed to arbitrate,the points that were in between _etween !) M , him and the Poonah and these were not settled, to protect his dominions from any unjust demand made by them. That part of the treaty which related to the dismissal of the French army was of difficult execu tion ; but at length was accomplished by the hrm and de cisive of the British, aided by a mutiny, which at this time broke out in that army.
Lord Wellesley next endeavoured to bring Tippoo to reason ; but his attempts failing of success, in the month of February, 1799, lie directed the British armies to ad vance against that prince, empowering, however, the com mander in chief, General Harris, to treat with Tippoo, if ire sheaved a sincere desire for peace.
The army under General Harris, after having join ed by that of the Nizam, entered the territories of My sore, on the 5d of March, unopposed by the Sultan ; who had, as soon as he saw the preparations of the allies, has tened to attack the Bombay army under General Stewart, which was posted in Coorgah, and ready to co-operate in the reduction of Scringapatam. He was however repulsed in his attack on the Bombay army, with great loss. His next object was to impede the march of General Harris' army. which he met between Sultanpet and Malavilly, on the 27th of March. Here a partial action took place, which ended in his defeat, and instant retreat to Seringa patam. That fortress was a few clays afterwards regularly invested by the combined armies of the British and the Nizam. Tippoo now endeavoured to make peace ; but as he was unwilling to accede to the terms proposed by Ge neral Harris, the siege continued. On the 4th of May, the fort was taken by assault. Tippoo was killed under a gateway, but by whom, or in what manner, is not known ; no individual ever appeared to claim the honour of having slain him, nor was it ever discovered who had obtained possession of his valuable necklace of pearls. A great proportion of the garrison, which amounted to about 8000 men, was slain.