onsequence closely and completely invested. The
first parallel, with a large redoubt in the rear, was finished by
the 21st of February, and two days afterwards the second parallel was
completed, and breaching-batteries were commenced and furnaces prepared
for heating shot. In a few days Seringapatam would have been taken by
storm, but Tippoo seeing his situation hopeless sent a _vakeel_ to sue
for peace. The treaty which Tippoo was forced to accept contained the
following articles:--That he should cede one-half of his territories to
the allies: that he should pay three crores and thirty lacs of rupees to
indemnify them for the expenses of the war; that he should release all
his prisoners; and that he should deliver two of his sons as hostages
for the due execution of the treaty. The young princes were conducted
to the camp of Lord Cornwallis with great ceremony on the 26th of
February, and were received by him with all possible demonstrations of
kindness and affection. But though Tippoo had delivered his sons into
the hands of Lord Cornwallis as pledges of his good faith, he still
reluctantly fulfilled the articles of the treaty. His chief objection
was the cession of the principality of Coorg, nor would he consent to it
until Lord Cornwallis had sent off his hostages in the direction of the
Carnatic, ordered his guns to be replaced in the batteries, and made
preparations for renewing the siege. Then, when he saw that there was
no alternative, on the 19th of March Tippoo signed the definitive
treaty which was delivered to Lord Cornwallis by the young princes, his
hostages, with great solemnity. By this treaty the English obtained all
the dominions of Tippoo on the coast of Malabar, a district surrounding
Dindigul and some territory on the western frontier of the Carnatic;
the Mahrattas recovered possession of the country as far as the river of
Toombuddra, which had once been their frontier line; and the Nizam
had for his share all the country from the river Kistna to the Pennar,
including the forts of Gunjecottah and Cudapa. When the princes were
delivered into the hands of Lord Cornwallis some of the money exacted
from Tippoo was paid, but the whole not being forthcoming they remained
under the safeguard of his lordship for sometime longer. Out of the
money paid by Tippoo the commander-in-chief made a spontaneous gift to
his troops, equal to six months batta, in order to soothe them for
the disappointment of their expect