Page:The Marquess Cornwallis and the Consolidation of British Rule.djvu/26

20 to appropriate to themselves some share in a Mughal empire which when at its highest had lasted only a century and a half, and was now crumbling to pieces.

Before dealing with any of the reforms in civil administration carried out by Cornwallis, it is as well to state briefly the result of two campaigns waged against our bitterest and most formidable opponent. Tipú Sultán, the son of Haidar Alí who had supplanted the old Hindu Rájás of Mysore and ruled at Seringapatam. The war began under the auspices of General Medows as Commander-in-Chief at Madras. Tipú had made an unprovoked attack on our ally the Rájá of Travancore, and it was the object of the General, in alliance with the Nizám and the Peshwá, to bring the Sultán to account. But it soon appeared that Medows, though a brave, experienced, and chivalrous officer, had not the strategic qualities which, in a difficult country and against a watchful and wary enemy, were sufficient to ensure success. To add to this, our army was badly equipped and provisioned. The Treasury was empty. The civil government of Madras was incapable. At the close of the year 1790, Cornwallis, the Governor-General, made use of his provisional powers and practically assumed command of the army in the field.

It is creditable to Medows that he displayed no resentment at his supersession, and that he continued to carry out the orders of Cornwallis with