ed on by the British troops in the very heart of the obdurate
nabob's dominions.

While General Stuart was carrying on operations against the French at
Cuddalore, Colonel Fullarton, who had arrived from England with some of
the reinforcements at the end of the preceding year, was making a rapid
progress in the country beyond Tanjore. Fullarton had taken the fortress
of Dindigul by storm, and had captured the fortress of Daraporam, in the
province of Coimbntoor, which opened one of the roads to Soringapatam,
and was only about one hundred and forty miles from that city. At this
point he was recalled to the aid of General Stuart at Cuddalore; but
when the news of peace between France and England arrived, and when it
was found Tippoo showed no signs of a desire for a cessation of arms,
Lord Macartney reinforced him with 1000 sepoys, and directed him
to resume his campaign. Fullarton first turned his arms against the
numerous polygars of Tinevelly, who had thrown off all allegiance to the
company at the commencement of Hyder's invasion; and having reduced
them to complete submission, he continued his march to Dindigul and
Daraporam. He had neither money nor supplies with him; but his wants
were well supplied by the Rajah of Travancore, and by other rajahs on
the Malabar coast, who were all interested in the overthrow of Tippoo.
On arriving in the neighbourhood of Daraporam, Fullarton halted for
a short period, in order to receive intelligence from the three
commissioners sent to Seringapatam. On the receipt of a letter,
however, from the residency of Tellichery, informing him that Tippoo had
recommenced hostilities at Mangalore, Fullarton took immediate measures
to resent the insult. His first operations were against the fortress of
Palagatcherry, which was considered one of the strongest in all India.
This fortress was captured, and the English found therein 50,000
pagodas in money, together with a large supply of grain, ammunition, and
military stores. Fullarton next directed his operations against the fort
of Coimbatoor, which likewise fell into his hands. All the strongest
fortresses in the country were now captured, and another ten days of
march would have brought him before the walls of Seringapatam. This
would have been accomplished without any difficulty, for there was no
Mysorean army in the neighbourhood capable of withstanding his forces;
and every rajah bordering on the territories of Mysore was favourable
to hi