considered the peace between the English and him to be at an end, since they had actually commenced hostilities. He began from that time to make preparations for war and to treat all the English who came into his country like enemies. The Nabob having no doubt of his designs, from the private information he received from his court, acquainted the Government of Madras of it, and called upon them to make preparations for the defence of the Carnatic, but all to no purpose.

"Mr. Gray was sent by them to Hyder to obtain the release of some English gentlemen who had been made prisoners in his country. The answer Mr. Gray brought from him was sufficiently declaratory of his hostile intentions, but no notice was taken of it. This letter was received the 29th of March, before Sir Thomas Rumbold embarked for Europe, and Hyder invaded the Carnatick in the July following."

[LIEUT.-COL.] PATRICK ROSS to LORD GEORGE GERMAIN.

1782, March 6. Bombay.-Continues his relation of proceedings, from the time of the writing of his last letter. (See p. 364 above.) The Indian news reported from Johanna is confirmed, and news has come of the French fleet of eleven sail of the Line, besides frigates and fireships, with 2,500 land troops, being in Madras Road in the beginning of February. General Coote is in the field against Hyder, who has taken Arcot. General Stewart has lost his leg and Colonel Brown is killed. The Dutch factories on that side of India were all taken possession of by the British on the breaking out of the war, and General Munro and Sir Edward Hughes have since taken Negapatam and Trincamallee. The Bombay troops have taken Bassein Callicut and several other places, and are, it is hoped, meditating a stroke of importance. Begun on the same sheet as the previous letter, and endorsed "Duplicate originals, forwarded from Bombay."

THE SAME to THE SAME.

1782, November 3. Fort St. George.-Transmitting copies of the letters of which the originals were forwarded from Bombay, and giving a long account of his proceedings and of the situation in India. Mentions Col. Brathwaite's defeat in the Tanjore country by Tippoo Saib on February 18; Sir Edward Hughes' action with the French fleet on February 17; Col. Humberston's success over a party of Hyder's troops, at Tricalore; the repair of Col. Horne, Capt. Smith and the writer to interview Col. Humberstone at Tanore near Calicut, their voyage round Ceylon, during which they were chased by the French fleet, and their safe arrival at Madras, where they found things in a very unpleasant situation, the effects of last year's scarcity evident in the feebleness of the inhabitants, the Company's civil servants unpaid, the army in arrears and wanting necessaries, the Treasury without money, and public credit depressed by lack of confidence in those entrusted with the management of the Company's affairs.

The revenues of the Carnatic, entirely under the management of Lord Macartney, are much reduced by the desolating war there; the Nabob, "who once to have seen was to be rich," now dependent on his Lordship for the daily subsistence of himself and his family, and complaining that although the acknowledged Prince, he has not even the shadow of authority left, in spite of his treaty of assignment with the Bengal government.

The preliminaries of the Mahratta Peace have been received. from Bengal with much satisfaction, but Hyder's continuing the war and receiving from Mons. Souffrein the prisoners taken at sea by the French (see narrative addressed to the Commissioners, below) gives rise to apprehensions that he will not ratify them.

General Coote has gone to the southward; Sir Edward Hughes arrived at Madras on July 20, after a third action with the French on the 6th in which he had the advantage; Col. Horne has been taken at sea, going to command the southern army.

October 31.-Sir Edward Hughes has again come in, after a fourth action with the French on September 3 off Trincamallee, of which the French had got possession during his absence by capitulation of the garrison, who have been sent back in cartel ships. They say they were obliged to capitulate for want of shot. Sir Edward has hoisted his flag on board the Sultan, meaning to carry his fleet round to Bombay, and Sir Richard Bickerton has arrived on this coast. General Coote's disappointment in not obtaining supplies preyed so much on his mind, as to give him a severe bilious illness which endangered his life, and he has had to give up the command to General Stuart and return to Bengal. The good news of Lord Rodney's success has been brought in by the Juno.

There is great anxiety lest the present distresses of the Settlement should be increased by famine, the sad effects of which are every day seen, and will be greatly increased if the grain vessels cannot be protected from Mons. Souffrein. Dated November 3 at the end, and evidently written at various times.

[To] the Right Honourable the LORDS COMMISSIONERS for the management of the affairs of the EAST INDIES.

1782-1784.-Unsigned paper so headed, being the narrative of an English officer who was on board the Hannibal, Captain Christie, going out to Madras to join the squadron under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, when she was taken by the French on January 22, 1782. Relates the sufferings of the English officers during the five months they were imprisoned on the French ships, their delivery by the French Governor at Cudalore to Hyder Ally, and their subsequent treatment and hardships. Many died on the march to Bangalore, which occupied six weeks, from want of food, drinking stagnant water, and lying at night in the open air exposed to a deluge of rain. At Bangalore they were confined in close prisons, with their legs heavily ironed. In October, 1782, certain of their number, viz.: Messrs. Drake, Masters, Le Sage and Austin, midshipmen, captured in the

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Hannibal, Messrs. Hudiman, Wilkinson (alias Wilkins) and Randall Cadman, midshipmen, captured in the Resolution (armed store ship), and Mr. Willey, of the Fortitude, Indiaman, together with about twenty of the youngest people, were sent to Seringapatam. The rest remained where they were; their bed the floor of their prison, and their food unwholesome rice and water, until they were given up on the 25th of April, 1784, to Lieut. Dallas, of the Company's troops, who escorted them to Madras.

XVI.-MINORCA.

LIEUT.-GOVERNOR JAMES MURRAY to LORD GEORGE GERMAIN.

1776, August 27. Minorca.-I cannot sufficiently thank you for your kindness to my friend, Major Caldwell. "I may now congratulate your Lordship on the reduction of America. Sir Guy Carleton will have it in his power to reinforce his army with 10,000 Canadians, and the Indians to a man are at our devotion. The Lakes Champlain and George we should be masters of. The summer will be very well employed in establishing the Army at Albany, filling the maggazines there with everything which will be wanted next summer, and securing the communications with Canada. That being done, I shall be disapointed if the winter doeth not produce Chart Blanche from the rebels. If they persist in their obstinacy, I see nothing to make me alter the opinion I wrote last year to the Secretary at War . . . I ever thought the offensive war was to be pushed from the side of Canada. I take the liberty to enclose a copy of that letter. "I think your Lordship should know that a great number of American ships come up the Mediterranean with impunity. We have only a 60 gun ship and four frigates from Lisbon to Constantinople.' Fifteen or eighteen vessels belonging to this Island could be employed, if they were commanded by Lieutenants or inferior experienced officers. "Our neighbours, though both nations have equipped squadrons this summer, I believe do not mean to disturb us; I am, however, much upon my guard. A most perfect harmony subsists betwixt the German and English troops, and I am particularly happy in possessing the affection of the garrison and the inhabitants, . . . but unless we soon finish the business in America our neighbours cannot be so much wanting to themselves as not to strike."

Enclosing :

Extract from a letter from himself to Lord Barrington (Secretary at War), dated 1st July, 1775, giving his views on the best mode of prosecuting the American War.

THE SAME to THE SAME.

1777, Sept. 6. Mahon.-Enclosing a copy of a letter from his brother, Lord Elibank, releasing him from the payment of

a debt amounting to sixteen thousand pounds. The General proceeds: I am glad the Howes have avoided a general engagement. The fate of battles at the best are precarious. When Burgoyne gets over the lakes, and Sir John Johnstone penetrates with his Indians, Sir Wm. Howe's detachments co-operating with them, must open the eyes of the deluded, unshackle the constrained, and accomplish your most sanguine wishes without much bloodshed. I take it for granted the only men in arms which Washington can depend upon are the emigrants from Europe who have not yet been mollify'd by an American possession. The native American is an effeminate thing, very unfit for and very impatient of war. I dare say

everyone of them are praying for peace, and will be happy to be liberated from the oppression of the usurpers. I hope you'll hang the French renegadoes to terrify their countrymen from the like practices hereafter."

LIEUT.-GOVERNOR JAMES MURRAY to LORD GEORGE GERMAIN.

1778, March 18. Mahon. The importance of the subject must be my excuse for troubling you with the enclosed papers. If Wright obtains the patent [of the living of Ciudadella] for Olivar I shall be able to prove simony, which by Minorkeen laws makes it null and void. "If I am baffled in this business I shall loose all credit with the people, and then any other person will carry on the government here better than I can do."

Enclosing:

Papers and copies of letters from himself to Lord Weymouth and others concerning the attempts made to interfere with his right of recommending to the "Pabordership of Ciudadella, and the offering of bribes to Mr. Johnson and Mr. James Wright, his own and General Mostyn's secretaries, on behalf of persons anxious to obtain the living.

THE SAME to THE SAME.

1778, November 14. Minorca. I have had no earlier opportunity of thanking you for your letters received from Sir William Moor, who has arrived, but narrowly escaped being taken by a French frigate. The enemy's cruisers surround the island, and the only chance of communicating with the continent is when a neutral ship drops in. "I am now perfectly convinced Lord Weymouth meant me no injury in the affair of Olivar's living. The candid proceedings of that noble man in this business must for ever attach me to him.. It is now all very well. The law is taking its course with Mr. Olivar, and I knew it was impossible for me to govern here had I acted otherwise I set out by governing the people by their laws; they had been so little used to that mode of government, it was some time before they could be convinced I was sincere; at last I acquired their confidence, but had Wright succeeded I must have been totally overset..

"Lord Amherst's promotion makes me very happy for many reasons. I love and esteem the man, and I think him the fittest person for the great task he has to perform of any of our generals, and is, into the bargain, a very great favourite of Fortune, which the Romans, I believe very justly, thought a necessary ingredient in their generals. Until his late appointment to the command in chief, I never could account for his not being sent to America when General Gage was re-called. The salvation of Great Britain is of more consequence than the restoration of peace to the Colonies."

LIEUT.-GOVERNOR MURRAY to LORD GEORGE GERMAIN.

1779, March 14. Fort St. Philip.-Sending the copy of a letter to Lord Amherst, for whose behaviour he cannot account. He little thought he would have to suffer by his Lordship's exaltation, but if he survives the siege, he will retire with great satisfaction.

Enclosing:

Letter to Lord Amherst of the same date, declaring that he cannot do justice to his King and country unless his authority is supported. On taking the command his Lordship made it a rule to attend to the recommendation of the Colonels for the vacant ensigncies, yet the ensigncies in the 13th regiment of foot have been filled up from the recommendations of the Lieut.-Colonel while his own are neglected. He has this day heard of General Mostyn's death, but as he cannot get an ensigncy for a friend in his own regiment, it would be ridiculous to expect the government of Minorca. Fears a successor cannot arrive before the fate of the Island is decided, as Fort St. Philip may be invested before the 15th of April, but hopes, if he does come, he will find that everything possible has been done for the defence of the place. No exertions of his own shall be wanting to assist the new Governor in repelling the enemy.

GOVERNOR MURRAY to THE SAME.

1779, October 15. Minorca.-Requesting his interest with Lord Amherst in favour of Sir James Murray (son of Sir Robert Murray and of the writer's sister), who is the writer's heir and the only object of his care, and who can only be honourably extricated from the West Indies by promotion to a regiment at home. Wishes that supplies of money and provisions could be sent. A re-inforcement of men they do not dream of till they are once more masters of the seas, which they flatter themselves may be the case next spring. Till then he believes the Island will not be attacked, as it is too late to attempt St. Philip's Castle by a regular siege, and the winters there are boisterous to a degree, which will secure them from annoyance from the enemy. In duplicate.