l fortifications, while on the other side he had done but
little. So despondent was he, that he called together his principal
officers, and said to them:

"We have arrived at our last stage. What is your determination?"

His advisers took no brighter view of the prospect than he did
himself. They had unanimously opposed the war, had warned Tippoo
against trusting to the French, and had been adverse to measures that
could but result in a fresh trial of strength with the English. The
Sultan, however, while not attempting to combat their opinion, had
gone on his own way, and his officers now saw their worst fears
justified. They replied to his question:

"Our determination is to die with you."

On the day after arriving before Seringapatam, the British attacked
the villages and rocky eminences held by the enemy on the south side
of the river, and drove them back under the shelter of their guns.
General Floyd was sent, with the cavalry, to meet the Bombay force and
escort it to Seringapatam. This was accomplished, and although the
whole of the Mysore cavalry, and a strong force of infantry hovered
round the column, they did not venture to engage it, and on the 14th
the whole arrived at the camp before Seringapatam.

The Bombay force, which was commanded by General Stuart, crossed to
the north bank of the river, and took up a position, there, which
enabled them to take in flank the outlying works and trenches, with
which Tippoo had hoped to prevent any attack upon the western angle of
the fort, where the river was so shallow that it could be easily
forded.

Tippoo now endeavoured to negotiate, and asked for a conference.
General Harris returned an answer, enclosing the draft of a
preliminary treaty, with which he had been supplied before starting.
It demanded one half of Tippoo's territories, a payment of two
millions sterling, and the delivery of four of his sons as hostages.
Tippoo returned no reply, and on the 22nd the garrison made a vigorous
sortie, and were only repulsed after several hours' fighting.

For the next five days, the batteries of the besiegers kept up a heavy
fire, silenced every gun in the outlying works, and compelled their
defenders to retire across the river into the fort. Tippoo now sank
into such a state of despondency that he would listen to none of the
proposals of his officers for strengthening the position, and would
not even agree to the construction of a retrenchment, which would cut
o