under from his neighbours, by which means the treasury of Mysore was
full even to overflowing. The Madras government was warned of its
danger by Mohammed Ali, the Nabob of the Carnatic; but his voice was
disregarded, and no preparations were made to ward off the blow. But
the presidency of Madras were soon aroused from their slumbers. In the
summer of 1780 Hyder Ali suddenly quitted Seringapatam, with one of the
finest armies ever seen in Southern India. This army consisted of
30,000 cavalry, 15.,000 drilled infantry, 40,000 irregular troops,
2000 artillery and rocket men, and 400 Europeans, many of whom were
Frenchmen. With this force Hyder poured through the ghauts or passes,
and burst like a mountain-torrent into the Carnatic. His arms were
irresistible. Porto Novo, on the coast, and Conjeveram, close to
Trichinopoly, were captured and plundered; almost every fortress opened
their gates at his approach; and the whole country north of the Coleroon
submitted to his sway. At his approach the people fled in all directions
from the fire and the sword towards the English presidency; and the
flames kindled by him were seen at night from the top of Mount St.
Thomas, which was only nine miles distant from Madras. Alarmed at
his progress, the presidency was at first unnerved; but fear having
subsided, orders were given to secure some of the strong places held
by Mohammed Ali's troops, on whom no reliance could be placed. Two were
thus preserved; but the rest fell into the hands of the victor. The
next object of the presidency was to call in a strong force of 3000 men,
under Colonel Baillie, from the Northern Circars; and Sir Hector Munro,
the commander-in-chief, undertook to meet them at Conjeveram, about
fifty miles from the capital. In his route Colonel Baillie was attacked
by Hyder Ali's eldest son, Tippoo, with a large detachment; while Hyder
himself interposed his main force between the two divisions of the
English forces. Colonel Baillie defeated Tippoo; and soon after he was
joined by a reinforcement under Colonel Fletcher and Captain Baird,
which raised his corps to 3700 men. Against these Hyder now turned his
chief attention; and he succeeded in surrounding them near Conjeveram
with his whole host, and upwards of sixty cannon. A dreadful battle took
place; and the English, and the sepoys who fought with them, struggled
so manfully, that, after a contest of three hours, victory began to
declare on their side. Hyder Ali w