in the city of Bednore. Mathews had been
further weakened by desertion. He had quarrelled with Colonel Mackenzie,
Colonel Mac Leod, and Major Shaw, and these officers had repaired to
Bombay to lay their complaints before that presidency. Tippoo saw that
he was his prey, and he hastened to Bednore to seize him. Mathews threw
himself into the fort of Bednore, but resistance was hopeless, and
Tippoo, having offered very honourable terms, he capitulated. According
to the terms of this capitulation, the general and his troops were to be
allowed to withdraw to the coast; but instead of this, they were bound
with chains and ropes, and thrown into horrible dungeons. After this
success Tippoo passed the Ghauts, and went down to the sea-port town of
Mangalore, into which the 42nd regiment, which Mathews had previously
sent down to the coast, with some fragments of the army who had escaped,
had thrown themselves. Tippoo and his French allies invested Mangalore,
and counted on a short and easy conquest; but they were detained before
its walls for months, and were thereby prevented from engaging in more
important operations.

On the departure of Tippoo from the Carnatic, General Stuart had only
the French and some sepoys to contend with, and these were posted behind
their fortified lines at Cuddalore. Against these he directed his
operations, while Admiral Hughes was to co-operate with him, and
to prevent Admiral de Suffrein from aiding in the contest. Several
encounters took place both by sea and land, but nothing decisive had
occurred, when news reached Madras that a treaty of peace had been
concluded between France and England. On receiving this intelligence a
flag of truce was dispatched to M. Bussey, who agreed to a cessation of
hostilities by sea and land, and also to invite Tippoo to be a party in
these pacific arrangements. Tippoo was alarmed at the prospect of being
left alone in the war, but at the same time he did not show himself to
be anxious for peace. In his reply, he intimated, by his vakeels, that
everything the English had taken from him must be restored, while he
made scarcely any mention of restitutions to the English. At the same
time he continued the siege of Mangalore, and made desperate efforts
to get possession of it. Nor were military operations suspended by
the English ^ for while Lord Macartney sent three commissioners with
Tippoo's vakeels to Seringapatam to treat there, a series of operations
were carri