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Rh the territory lying south of the Tungábhadra and Krishna livers then held by the Nizám. This scheme was, however, foiled by the prompt action of M. Raymond, commanding a body of French troops in the Nizám's service. Alí Jáh was taken prisoner.

Tipú next deputed an embassy in 1796 to the court of Zamán Sháh, the Afghán ruler, seeking his aid as a co-religionist, and making magnificent promises of co-operation, with a view to the subjugation of the Maráthás and the expulsion of the English from India. Nor did he confine himself to these overtures. He also used every means in his power to foment misunderstandings between the Peshwá, Sindhia, and the Nizám on the one hand, and the English on the other, so as to sever the connexion of the native chiefs with the British. The previous attempts of the Sultán to bring about a close alliance between the French and himself had hitherto proved abortive; but now that open war had broken out between the two great European states, which had so long been rivals in India, the time seemed to him propitious for renewing negotiations. Among the curious papers found subsequently in the palace of Seringapatam is a document relating the proceedings taken by a body of French citizens in the pay of 'citizen Tipú.' Fired by enthusiasm for the recently constituted French Republic, the Frenchmen assembled to the number of fifty-nine at Seringapatam, and elected as their president citizen Francis Ripaud, who is styled a Lieutenant in the French navy. After passing several