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182 hope for much success. While nominally participants in the treaty which Lord Cornwallis effected in 1790, the Maráthás had rendered little assistance in the first campaign. On the other hand, although Tipú had sent a special emissary to the Peshwá Bájí Ráo, adjuring him to get rid of Náná Farnavís, and urging an invasion of the Nizám's territory, he received in reply nothing but empty promises. Náná Farnavís though secretly hostile to the English, was too astute to relinquish his ascendancy over the Peshwá. He held aloof from any open recognition of either side, while Sindhia was averse from active military interference, striving only to prevent the Peshwá from giving full effect to the treaty of 1790. At the utmost, Lord Mornington could only expect, amidst these conflicting aims, that the Maráthás would observe a strict neutrality.

Fully aware of the danger which threatened the English from the ill-disguised hostility of Tipú. the Governor-General directed despatches to be sent early in June to the Madras Government, requesting them to consider the means of collecting a force should circumstances require it, and to state what number of men could be at once got together. The Madras Council vehemently remonstrated against any 'premature' attack upon the Mysore ruler, urging their disabled condition from the lack of supplies and draught-cattle, the low state of their finances, and previous failures. Even General Harris, the acting Governor, was to a great extent imbued with the