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 JVA/^ WITH TIPU 49

them to the level of common men, at the moment when their best concerted schemes are going to be crowned with success. Had Tipii acted with more decision on September 14, by bringing up more guns and pressing Floyd closer, he would probably have defeated him ; or, if not that day, he would un- doubtedly have done it the following ; for not a man of the detachment had eaten or slept for two days, and they could have made little resistance to another attack. The General, who had gone by mistake, for it would be unjust to impute it to design, towards Dhannayakankota, could not have been near to support them ; and after their defeat, he would himself have fallen an easy sacrifice, for he had only three battalions of sepoys, and two of Europeans, without their flank companies ; and even Colonel Stuart would have been fortunate had he escaped with his detachment from Palghat. The Colonel was so much convinced that these things would take place, that, on receiving in- formation from the General of Floyd^s situation, he made preparations for retreating (on the first accounts of the loss of the army, which he expected every moment to learn) with all his force to Cochin. Tipti, fortunately for us, did not act with his usual vigour, and the southern army escaped from destruc- tion.'

Munro's relations, naturally proud of his graphic accounts of the war with Tipu, published one of his letters in a London paper. On hearing of this he destroyed what he calls a long treatise on the war.

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