Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-06-23
Foreign Articles.
The conquelt of Seringapatam.

( \ The importance of the fall of Seringa
PataTn 10 the power and commerce of Great
Britain IS not within the reach Of ordinary cal
culauon. From every appearance of its i'm
proving Rate, the cultivation of the country, the
number OF its inhabitants, and the advancing
progress OF It's military eaablihment, that cap
'tal would, IN ihort time. have been impregoa
bic, and tie power of Tippoo Sab would have
been al Leaf equal to the combined Rrsngth Of
the European settlements in India.
" The kngilh army, On its approach to Ser
ingaPatam, filtered very little inconvenience
from the Sultan having detroyed the villages
and aid waite the country IN it, front nor from
the attempts that had been made to potion the
water in the ranks becau(e, contrary to Tip
p o's expectation, we had, by deviation 70 the
LETT, gained a hourilhing, highly cultivated
country. and got poGriIion OF the large fort Of
Sociliy, wach was full Of cattle grain and for
age Even 20 the very vicinity of Sc ingapa,am
Gen. Harris had the choice Of bis route 70
that he was enabled to Get down b-fore il with
all its 'eiource. for the liege undiminilhed. The
evil mott 10 be dreaded was famine The whole
q our draft and carriage bullocks died, and
rice had raen 10 three rupees the pound, on The
DAY when the city was formed 70 that if We
had not fdcceeded in our attempt, the COME
q@nce would have been fatal 70 the army and
that We were not repulfed, was owing TO The
incompatible conduit and intrepidity Of the
troops a. we'll to the judicious means en-
Poyed % tupport and prorea their extraordna
~ efforts. II may be proper to remark, that,
notwithstanding the errors committed BY the
Sultan N defence Of the place, nothing lefs than
The Wait combined army in our fei vice could
have crowned The enterprife with fuceefs.
The hour OF attack was fortunate, as nun
Der OF Ihe enemy, and even the Sultan himfelf.
had gone to take retrelhment On hearing the
alarm, ne hattened back : when, finding that
the 6rtnadiers had entered the breach, and fee.
ing his PeoPle falling all ound him, he made
ior 4 tAlJ port where, amidR crowd of fugi
uves, he was over AIKEN and l4in. ltis not vet
known by VII 4 hand this tytant Of the EAT
was aid low; ana i IS fuppoied that the Jewels
winch ne always wore about his perfon, and
which were now become the'fPoil Of the fortu-
nate folder. whoever he might he. are two
precious TO be halli,y acknowledged. II was
i4id that he CO R4,tly wore a ruby ring, which
was eitremed ny him IS the MOT valuable in
ms treaiury; his tn Ban a 70 was always adorn
e. with jewel of great value and a pearl
folAry was continual ornament Of bis perlon
The pearl Of which It confted were of IN
common fize and beauty. They had been The
collection o. many years, we're he pride of
b oreis. Mel her of rhef- p ccious articles have
appeared fuce he Su.t4n's death. His bodv
vas found late the evening benea h heap
OF others, ought together in one pronif-uous
Laughter IL had necn fhot 10 the temp Is,
and oihsrwiie wounceI, as i. appeared, with a
bayonet.
lie rooted and barbarious antip7thy which
this tyrant m4artNte1 againf European Or fon.
es OF all raaks, il 4 former war, feems to have
accompanies him 10 the laR. Above twenty
unhAPPy itra2glers from our army had fallen
into 81, HANDS 10 the courfe IF our march, whom
~ ordered 10 ne put to death; and among
them lit,l- drummer boy Of the Scoth brigade
Even his imall motley benI cf French auxilia.
res execrate his memory as 4 noit cruel tyrznt,
ana rsPreient, with bitter lmprecarions, the ig-
nomlny and hdrdfhP 10 which he lubjeaed
them
The carnage on this location was much lefs
than might have been expected in a large city
entered by torn, and filed with people Whole
oPpohtion was continued in the Areets and from
the houies. By the efforts Of the General and
othtrs' The efuiion Of hum n blood was foon
reltrdlned nor, in The courl- of thar plumber
which the laws Of war allow in certain cafes.
was any defcnoelefs inAabitant killed, nor any
woman treated with mon brutality.
The Plunder Of be town was very great
and macy OF the folders, both native and Eu.
ToPean, Podeaed ihemlelves Of very precious ef-
:eets ~ gold and leweh. Confederate fortunes
alc fuPPoied to have been made by pc ions Of
higher rank, II The way Of Purchafe. The houf
s OF the chlet Sirdars, as well a. Of the a1etch
ants and lhroHs, were completely pilaged
while the women, a!armed for heir perlonal
iafety, emPtiel their Golfers, and brought forth
whatever jewels hey poGeG-d.. Fortunately.
however Tor the army in general, the p4la e
was iecu'ed. The quantity of money yet hl.