Chapter 16 – Lord Cornwallis’s Administration – The Third Mysore War, 1786–1793
1785, Sir John Macpherson’s administration of twenty months — 1786, War between Tippoo and the Mahrattas, in conjunction with the Nizam — Lord Macartney offered the Governor-Generalship; endeavours to make terms, and is rejected — Changes in the system of appointing Governors-General — Lord Cornwallis appointed Governor-General — He applies to the correction of abuses — Numerous instances of abuse — 1788, The salaries of the Civilians augmented — 1786, Lord Cornwallis’s arrangement with Oude — 1788, He demands the Guntoor Sirkar of the Nizam — The Nizam resigns it, and demands the full execution of the treaty of 1768 — 1789, Lord Cornwallis’s perplexity; his celebrated letter — Tippoo takes offence at this letter — He prepares for the attack of Travancore — Profligate conduct of the Madras President — 1789, Tippoo attacks the lines of Travancore — 1790, Lord Cornwallis forms a tripartite treaty with the Nizam and the Mahrattas — 1790, Campaign of 1790 conducted unsuccessfully by General Medows — Bengal Division marches down the coast — Colonel Hartley’s brilliant exploit — 1791, Lord Cornwallis takes the field in person — Tippoo’s embassy to Louis XVI. — Lord Cornwallis captures Bangalore — The Nizam’s contingent reaches the English camp; description of it — Battle of Arikera won by Lord Cornwallis — He is obliged to close the campaign, and retire for want of provisions — 1790, Progress of the Mahratta contingent — 1791, It reaches the English camp, as the retreat commences; its grand bazaar — Mahrattas extort 14 lacs from Lord Cornwallis — Movements of the Mahrattas, of the Nizam, and of the English after the retreat — 1792, Lord Cornwallis takes the field with a magnificent convoy — Siege of Seringapatam — Tippoo sues for peace; conditions of the treaty — Remarks on the successive proposals of public men to relinquish territory in India — The normal principle of encroachment in native princes — The position in which the English found themselves placed in India — Explanation of the augmentation of the British dominions — 1793, Reduction of Tippoo’s power.
1793, Lord Cornwallis’s revenue reforms — Line of the Zemindars — 1793, Evils of the revenue systems, 1772–1790 — 1786, Remedy ordered by the Court of Directors — 1793, Question of the proprietary right in the lands; it is granted to the Zemindars — Restrictions vainly imposed on the Zemindars regarding the enhancement of rents — Mr. Pitt determines to make the settlement perpetual — Result of the perpetual settlement — Lord Cornwallis’s institutions for the administration of civil and criminal justice — The Cornwallis Code — Unwise exclusion of natives from power — War between France and England; capture of Pondicherry — 1784, Lord Cornwallis embarks for England — 1787, Progress of Sindia’s encroachments in Hindostan — 1788, He attacks the Rajpoots and is defeated — Appearance of the infamous Gholam Kaffir on the scene — 1788, He puts out the emperor’s eyes; he is himself put to death by Sindia — 1785–1790, Sindia organises a force under French officers — 1790, He gains the battles of Patun and Mairta — 1792, Sindia marches to Poona and invests the Peshwa with the title obtained from the emperor — His mock humility — Severe action between the troops of Sindia and Holier — 1794, Death of Sindia — 1786, Enlargement of the powers of the Governor-General — 1788, Mr. Pitt’s Declaratory Act for transferring power from the Company to the Crown — 1793, The renewal of the Charter — Arguments for continuing the monopoly — Refuted by the experience of three-quarters of a century.
Chapter 18 – Administration of Sir John Shore, 1793–1795
1798, Sir John Shore Governor-General — Guarantee treaty proposed by Lord Cornwallis, accepted by the Nizam — And rejected by the Mahrattas — Sir John Shore’s neutrality — 1794, Tippoo resolves to attack the Nizam — The Nizam claims the aid of the English, under the treaty of 1790 — 1790, Sir John Shore refuses all aid — 1795, Nizam’s European force under Raymond — The Mahrattas attack the Nizam at Kurdla, and totally defeat him — He is obliged to sign a disgraceful treaty — He increases his French forces, and plants them on the English frontier — Remonstrance of Sir John Shore — Revolt of his son and its consequences — Madhoo Rao Peshwa, galled by the restraints of Nana Furnuvese, puts an end to himself — 1796, Great complication of affairs at Poona in consequence — Bajee Rao at length becomes Peshwa — 1797, Nana Furnuvese seized and confined — Plunder of Poona by Sirjee Rae Ghatkay, at the instance of Bajee Rao — 1794, The question of the amalgamation of the King’s and Company’s troops — 1795, Mutiny of the Bengal officers — 1796, The weak and injudicious concessions of the Government — 1797, Sir John Shore superseded; Lord Cornwallis appointed Governor General — 1797, He resigns the office six months after, in disgust — Vizier Ali appointed Nabob vizier of Oude — Sir John Shore discovers his spurious birth, and removes him — Oude considered by the natives a dependency of the Company — 1798, Saadut Ali made Nabob vizier — Sir John Shore created Lord Teignmouth, and retires to England.
Chapter 19 – Lord Wellesley’s Administration – Fourth and Last Mysore War, 1798–1799
1798, Lord Wellesley, Governor General; his antecedents — Extinction of the balance of power — State of India — The Mauritius Proclamation — The Coast army ordered to assemble — Opposition of the Madras authorities — Danger from the French force at Hyderabad — Zeman Shah prepares to invade India — Lord Wellesley’s vigorous policy — Proposed alliance with the Nix= reluctantly accepted — Bindle’s proceedings at Poona — Proposed alliance with the Peshwa declined — Negotiations with Nagpore and Sindia — Extinction of the French force at Hyderabad — Mysore war sanctioned in England — First communication to Tippoo — Lord Wellesley embarks for Madras — 1799, Continued correspondence with Tippoo — His professions of friendship, and his insincerity — Strength of the British force — Judicious selection of officers — Tippoo marches to the western coast, and is defeated — Progress of General Hants — Battle of Malavelly — The British army crosses the Cavery — Commencement of the siege of Seringapatam — Ineffectual overtures of Tippoo — Capture of Seringapatam — Death and interment of Tippoo — Character of Tippoo — Remarks on these transactions — Creation of a new Mysore kingdom; the moving causes; character of this arrangement — Allotment of the conquered territory — Provision for Tippoo’s family — Seringapatam booty — 1799, Peshwa and Sindia plan an attack on the Nizam and the Company during the siege — Peshwa rejects the Mysore territory offered to him; it is divided between the Nizam and the Company — Dhoondia Wang — Cession of territory by the Nizam; enlargement of the Madras Presidency.
Chapter 20 – Lord Wellesley’s Administration (continued), 1799–1802
The principality of Tanjore mediatized — Condition of the Carnatic; the Nabob and his creditors — Exertions of Lord Hobart to remedy the evils; he is recalled — Lord Wellesley’s proposals to the Nabob — Discovery of the Nabob’s intrigues — Lord Wellesley’s resolution to mediatize the Carnatic — Annexation of the Carnatic to the Madras Presidency — 1800, Deputation of a native envoy to Persia, and his success — Captain Malcolm’s magnificent embassy to Persia — Result of this embassy — Depredations of French privateers — Expedition to the French islands frustrated by Admiral rainier — Expedition to the Red Sea — 1802, Peace of Amiens — French armament to Pondicherry; Lord Wellesley refuses to restore the settlement — 1799, Vizier Ali assassinates Mr. Cherry — 1800, Augmentation of British troops in Oude — Nabob proposes to abdicate — Nabob’s remonstrance, and Lord Wellesley’s indignation — Nabob’s submission; second demand of augmentation — 1801, Annexation of half the territory of Oude — Remarks on this transaction — Appointment and dismissal of Mr. Henry Wellesley — 1800, Reorganization of the Sadder Court in Calcutta — Establishment of Fort William College — Abolished by the Court of Directors — Re-established on a reduced scale — Encouragement of private trade, 1793–1801 — 1802, Successful hostility of the India House to this measure — Resignation of Lord Wellesley — Interference of the India House in appointments — Lord Wellesley solicited to remain another year.
Chapter 21 – Lord Wellesley’s Administration – Mahratta Affairs, 1800–1803
1800, Death of Nana Furnuvese — The Holkar family; virtues and successful administration of Aylah Bye — 1795–97, Death of Aylah Bye and Tokajee Holkar — 1795, Rise and progress of Jeswunt Rao Holkar — 1801, He defeats Sindia’s army — Bajee Rao barbarously murders Wittojee Holkar — Sindia’s troops defeat Holkar — 1802, Holkar recruits his army — Battle of Poona between Holkar, Sindia, and the Peshwa — Holkar places Umrit Rao in power at Poona — Treaty of Bassein — Result of the treaty; discussions on it — 1803, Discontent of Sindia and the raja of Berar at the Treaty — Coalition of Mahratta chiefs against the Company — Lord Wellesley’s military preparations — General Wellesley saves Poona from destruction — Peshwa restored to his throne — Development of the designs of the coalition — Sindia’s declaration, which brings on the war — Full powers conferred on General Wellesley — Colonel Collins quits Sindia’s camp — Grand preparations for war — Capture of Ahmednugur — Battle of Assye — Capture of Boorhanpore and Asseergur — Occupation of Cuttack — Armistice with Sindia — Battle of Argaom — Treaty of Deogaom with the raja of Nagpore — Sindia’s possessions in Hindostan — Great power of General Perron — Capture of Allygur — Battle of Delhi — Release of the Emperor — Lord Wellesley’s design to remove the imperial family from Delhi frustrated — Capture of Agra — Battle of Laswaree — Treaty of Sirjee Anjengaom with Sindia — Distribution of the conquered territory — Treaties of alliance with the princes beyond the Jumna — The Guickwar — 1804, Abolition of infanticide by Colonel Walker — Reflections on Lord Wellesley’s successes.
Chapter 22 – Lord Wellesley’s Administration (continued), 1804–5
1804, Holkar’s movements; his arrogance — War with Holkar declared — Colonel Monson’s disastrous retreat — Remarks on this calamity — Holkar besieges Delhi, which is gallantly defended by Colonel Ochterlony — Holkar pursued by General Lake — Battle of Deeg — 1805, Siege of Bhurtpore; its failure — Treaty with the raja of Bhurtpore — Menacing attitude of Sindia — Discussions regarding Gohud and Gwalior — Hostility of Sindia; detention of Mr. Jenkins — Proceedings in Sindia’s camp; progress of the settlement — Lord Wellesley’s anxiety for peace — Close of his administration — Remarks on his administration — Disputes between the India House and Lord Wellesley, 1803–05 — Cause and consequence of the alarm at the India House — Lord Cornwallis sent out to save India — 1806, Prosecution of Lord Wellesley by Mr. Paull — Condemnation of Lord Wellesley by the Court of Directors and the Court of Proprietors — Reversal of it thirty years after.
Chapter 23 – Administration of Lord Cornwallis and Sir George Barlow – 1805–7
1805, Lord Cornwallis lands in Calcutta — His view of the state of affairs — His policy — Lord Lake’s remonstrance — Death of Lord Cornwallis — Sir George Barlow, Governor-General — His policy — Negotiations with Sindia — Equipment of the army against Holkar — Peace with Sindia — Pursuit of Holkar by Lord Lake — 1806, Treaty with Holkar — Sir George Barlow adds declaratory articles to the two treaties — Disgraceful abandonment of Jeypore — 1806, Aggressions of Holkar — Remarks on the termination of the Mahratta war — Violence and insanity of Holkar — 1811, Death of Holkar — 1806, Contest for the hand of the Oodypore princess — 1807, Battle between the forces of Jeypore and Joudhpore — Villainy of Ameer Khan — 1809, Rajpoot princes appeal for support to the British Government — 1810, The princess of Oodypore poisoned — 1806–07, Sir George Barlow’s interference at Hyderabad — 1806, He refuses to tamper with the treaty of Bassein — State of the finances — Ministers supersede Sir George Barlow — They appoint Lord Lauderdale; successful resistance of the India House — Lord Minto appointed Governor-General — The Vellore mutiny — Its origin — Recall of Lord William Bentinck — Temple of Jugunnath — Propagation of Christianity in India — The Serampore missionaries — Opposition of the Government to their labours.
Chapter 24 – Lord Minto’s Administration
1807, Lord Minto’s antecedents — He pardons the Vellore mutineers — Anarchy in Bundelkund — Lord Minto’s vigorous policy — Career of Runjeet Sing, 1780–1808 — 1807, The Sikh states of Sirhind — Lord Minto takes them under protection, and checks Runjeet Sing’s ambition — Government embark in foreign alliances to check the designs of Napoleon — 1808, Embassy to Runjeet Sing; Mr. Metcalfe — Mr. Metcalfe orders him to retire from Sirhind — 1809, Mr. Metcalfe’s resolute conduct — Treaty with Runjeet Sing — 1808, Embassy to Cabul; Mr. Mountstuart Elphinstone — 1807, French embassy to Persia — Sir Harford Jones sent on an embassy by the Crown to Persia — 1803, Colonel Malcolm sent by Lord Minto to Persia — Failure of his mission — Military expedition to Persia — 1810, Sir Harford Jones concludes a treaty with Persia — 1809, Second mission of Colonel Malcolm to Persia — Collision between the two envoys prevented — Ameer Khan’s attack on Nagpore. — Interference of Lord Minto — Defeat of Ameer Khan — 1811, Change of policy at the India Louse — 1807, Sir George Barlow, Governor of Madras — 1808, Case of Mr. Sherson — Sir George’s interference with the Carnatic Commission — 1809, Mutiny of the European officers of the Madras army — Causes of the mutiny; abolition of the tent contract — Resentment of the officers fixed on Colonel John Munro — Violence of the Madras Commander-in-chief — Violence of Sir George Barlow — Outburst of the mutiny — Firmness of Sir George — 1810, Extinction of the mutiny — 1811, Recall of Sir George Barlow — 1809, Suppression of piracy in the Eastern seas.
Chapter 25 – Administration Of Lord Minto (continued), 1809–13
1809, Occupation and abandonment of Macao — Depredations from the Mauritius, 1800–1809 — 1810, Naval disasters — Capture of the Mauritius — 1811, Expedition to Java — Strength of the French force in Java — Attack and capture of Fort Cornelis — Revolt and submission of the native chiefs — 1812, Supersession of Lord Minto — The Pindarees; their origin, 1690–1800 — 1808, The Pindaree leaders — Dost Mohamed — Wassil Mohamed — 1811, Kureem Khan — Cheetoo — Their system of plunder — 1812, They attack the British territories — Lord Minto’s representations to the India House — 1813, Review of the Permanent Settlement — Condition of the ryots — Distraint and subletting — The Ceded and Conquered provinces — Settlement of the Madras Presidency — Civil jurisprudence — Criminal jurisprudence and police — Dacoity — Remarks on the Cornwallis system.
Chapter 26 – Charter of 1813 – Lord Hastings’s Administration – Nepal War, 1814–1816
1813, Negotiations for the Charter, 1809–12 — Question of opening the out-ports to import trade — Growth of manufactures and commerce between 1793 and 1813 — Lord Castlereagh introduces the India Bill — Opposition of the India House; evidence brought forward — Speeches of Lord Wellesley and Lord Grenville — The missionary question — Speeches of Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Marsh — Remarks on the Charter — Lord Hastings Governor-General — State of India — Description of Nepal — Rise and progress of the Goorkha power — Goorkha encroachments on British territory — 1814, The Goorkhas determine on war — Loan from Lucknow — Plan of the Goorkha campaign — General Gillespie’s division — General Gillespie slain — Division of General J. S. Wood — General Marley’s division — General Marley’s flight. Incompetency of his successor, General George Wood — 1815, Effect of these reverses in India — Operations of General Ochterlony, 1814–15 — Fall of Almora; success of General Ochterlony — 1816, Second Goorkha campaign and peace — Remarks on the Goorkha campaign — Insurrection at Bareilly — Capture of Hatras.
Chapter 27 – Transactions With Native Princes, 1814–17 – Pindaree and Mahratta War, 1817
1814, Patans and Pindarees — Irruption of the Pindarees — Representations to the Court of Directors, 1813–15 — Proposed alliance with Nagpore and Bhopal — Sindia and the raja of Nagpore attack Bhopal — Interference of Lord Hastings — 1814, Poona; proceedings of the Peshwa, 1803–14 — Trimbukjee at Poona — 1815, Murder of Gungadhur Shastree — Lord Hastings’s second representation to the Court of Directors — 1815–16, Pindaree irruption; sack of the Guntoor Sircar — Description of their ravages by Mr. Canning — 1816, Subsidiary alliance with Nagpore — Attempted alliance with Jeypore — Mr. Canning rejects the proposals of Lord Hastings — He gives his assent to them — 1816–17, Pindaree irruption on the Company’s territories — Determination of the Supreme Council to suppress the Pindarees — Sindia agrees to co-operate in putting them down — 1817, Hostility of Bajee Rao — Treaty forced on him, June 5th — Lord Hastings’s defence of this measure — Proceedings at Holkar’s court, 1811–17 — Distracted state of India — Lord Hastings proceeds to the North West; he forms a general system of alliances on his own responsibility — Extent of his military operations — Treaty with Sindia — The cholera — Arrangement with Ameer Khan — Treaties of alliance with the native princes, 1817–18.
Chapter 28 – The Pindaree and Mahratta War – Miscellaneous Notions, 1817–1822
1817, Outbreak of the Peshwa — Battle of Kirkee — Flight of the Peshwa — downfall of his power — Events at Nagpore — Battle of Seetabuldee — 1818, Deposition of Appa Sahib — Escape of Appa Sahib on his way to Benares — 1817, Progress of events in Holkar’s camp — Battle of Mahidpore — Operations against the Pindarees — extinction of this predatory power — 1818, Result of the campaign — Remarks on these transactions — Battle of Korygaum — Restoration of the Satara family — Battle of Ashtee_ — Surrender of the Peshwa — Large pensions paid to his family — 1818, Capture of forts; Talneir; Mallygaum — Capture of Asseergur — Mr. Canning’s qualified commendation of Lord Hastings’s measures; the hostility of the Court of Directors — Encouragement of education, 1816–1818 — Publication of the first native newspaper at Serampore — Lord Hastings’s liberality towards the press — disapproved by the Court of Directors — Settlement of land revenue at Madras — 1821, Fraudulent sales of land in the North West — 1818, Disturbances in Cuttack — 1822, Improvement of the finances and increase of territory during Lord Hastings’s administration — 1819, Settlement of Singapore — The Company’s mercantile fleet — The Civil service — Death of Warren Hastings and Philip Francis — Hyderabad affairs; the contingent — Administration of Chundoo Lall, 1808–20 — 1820, Mr. Metcalfe’s reforms disapproved by Lord Hastings — Messrs. Palmer and Co. — Sir W. Rumbold joins the firm — Various loans from the house to the Nizam — Great power of Palmer and Co. — 1822, The debt due by the Nizam paid by the Government of Calcutta, and the house becomes bankrupt — Thanks of the Directors and Proprietors to Lord Hastings — Remarks on his administration — 1825, Debate at the India House — Vote of censure on Lord Hastings — 1827, His death, 24th August.
Chapter 29 – Administration of Mr. Adam and Lord Amherst
1822, Lord Amherst appointed Governor-General — 1823, Mr. Adam Governor-General ad interim — Proposal to pay off the debts of the civilians — Persecution of the press; Mr. Buckingham — Mr. Adam dies at sea — Lord Amherst assumes the Governor-Generalship — Rise and progress of the Burmese power, 1753–1815 — British embassies to Ava — Further conquests of the Burmese, 1815–23 — Origin of the Burmese war — 1824, Arrangements of the campaign — The strength of the expedition — Disaster at Ramoo — Capture of Rangoon — 1824, Sickness and mortality of the troops — Actions of the 7th and 15th December — Conquest of Assam — Campaign in Cachar — 1825, Conquest of Aracan — Second campaign of Sir Archibald Campbell — Death of Bundoola; capture of Prome — Negotiations for peace — Conditions proposed by the British commissioners — 1826, Final engagement and peace — Treaty of Yandaboo — Remarks on the Burmese war — 1824, Mutiny at Barrackpore — General spirit of disaffection in the country — 1825, Transactions at Bhurtpore — Difference between Sir David Ochterlony and the Supreme Government — His death and character — Proceedings of Doorjun Saul, the usurper — Sir Charles Metcalfe decides the policy of Government — 1826, Siege and capture of Bhurtpore — Disgraceful plunder of the raja — Effect of this capture in India — Honours conferred on Lord Amherst — 1828, Financial results of his administration — His liberality to the press — 1827, Death and character of Sir Thomas Munro — The galaxy of talent in India in the first quarter of the century — 1828, Lord Amherst returns to England — Mr. Bayley Governor-General ad interim.
This collection transcribed by Chris Gage