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Rh CHAPTER IX.

Hyder forms a Confederacy against the English – War between France and England – Capture of French Possessions in India – Hyder invades the Carnatic – Supine Conduct of the Madras Government – Colonel Baillie's Detachment – Its difficult March to join the Army – Intercepted by Hyder – His Assaults repulsed – Fatal Delay of Colonel Baillie – Formidable Attack by the Enemy – Baillie's Detachment surrounded – Heroic Defence of the Anglo-Indians – Explosion of Tumbrils – Destruction of Baillie's Detachment – Sufferings of the Prisoners – Successful Operations of Hyder – Reinforcement from Bengal under Sir Eyre Coote – He advances against Hyder – Single Combats – Successful Operations of the Anglo-Indian Army – Battle of Cuddalore – Affairs of Polliloor and Sholinghur – Destruction of Colonel Braithwaite's Detachment – Action at Arnee – Death of Hyder Ali and Accession of Tippoo Sahib – Peace between France and England – Capture of Biddenoor by General Mathews – Recaptured by Tippoo – Peace with Tippoo.

Having thus terminated with glory and advantage this great contest with the British, Hyder felt himself better prepared to encounter a still more formidable enemy; the Mahrattas, under Madoo Rao, having entered his dominions with a force supposed to be at least double that of his army, and led by able commanders. It would, however, be departing from the object of this work to follow Hyder and his adversaries through all the fluctuations of this war, which continued for a year and a half; but as the English did not fulfil their engagement to aid the Mysorean ruler in the defence of his dominions, their failure excited the deepest discontent, which rankled in his mind till he found an opportunity of showing them how much he was disgusted with their conduct.

Having abandoned every hope of profiting by such an alliance, Hyder now centred all his prospects of aggrandisement in the destruction of the British; and the Mahrattas, instead of threatening further invasion, having offered to join him, a treaty preparatory to that object