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Fall of Tippoo Sultaun.

quin, and a number of officers, troops, and Here, as he was crossing the gate, he r musquet ball in his right side, nearly as his breast; he, however still pressed on unti stopped about half way through the arch of way, by the fire of the 12th light infantry fi in, when he received a second ball close to The horse he rode on being also wounded, der him; and his turban fell to the ground of his people fell at the same time, on every musquetry both from within and without The fallen Sultaun was immediately raised of his adherents, and placed upon his palan der the arch, and on one side of the gatewa he lay or sat some minutes, faint and exhau some Europeans entered the gateway. who survived related that one of the soldi his swordbelt which was very rich, and a to pull it off; that the Sultaun, who still sword in his hand, made a cut at the soldier his remaining strength, and wounded him a knee; on which he put his piece to his shou shot the Sultaun through the temple, whe stantly expired! no less than three hundred killed under this gateway, besides numbers so that it soon became impassable, except bodies of the dead and dying.

During the contest, and before the palace poo was actually given up, Major Allan had with a flag of truce, in order to convince the the sons of Tippoo, of the folly of resistance them were alarmed at the proposal; and w cularly reluctant to allowing the gates to b except on the authority of their father, to w desired to send. At length, however, Ma having promised that he would post a guar own Sepoys within, and a party of Europea out side, and having also given them stro rances that no person should be allowed to

Generous treatment of his sons.

palace, except by his authority, and that he would return and remain with them until General Baird arrived, he convinced them of the necessity of compliance, and had the satisfaction of observing that the princes, as well as their attendants, seemed to rely with confidence on the assurance he had given them.

On opening the gate, he found General Baird and several officers and a large body of troops assembled: and he then returned into the palace, for the purpose of bringing the princes to the general. He had some difficulty, however, in conquering the alarm, and the objections which they raised as to quitting the palace; but they at length permitted him and Colonel Close to conduct them to the gate.

The indignation of General Baird was at that time justly raised, by a report which had then reached him, that the Sultaun had most inhumanly murdered all the Europeans who had fallen into his hands during the siege; this was heightened probably by a momentary recollection of his own sufferings, during more than three years imprisonment in that very place; he was nevertheless sensibly affected by the sight of the princes; and his gallantry, on the assault, was not more conspicuous, than the moderation and humanity he displayed on this occasion. He received the unhappy princes with every mark of regard, repeatedly assuring them that no violence or insult should be offered to them, and he gave them in charge to Lieutenant-Colonel Agnew and Captain Marriott, by whom they were conducted to head-quarters in camp, escorted by the light company of Colonel Wellesley's own regiment the 33d, whilst, as they passed, the troops were ordered to pay them the compliment of presented arms.

General Baird now determined to search the most retired parts of the palace in hopes of finding Tippoo Sultaun. He ordered the light company of the 74th regiment, followed by others, to enter the pa

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Search for Tippoo's body.

lace-yard. Tippoo's troops were immediately disarmed and search was made through the various apartments. The killedar, or commanding officer of the palace, being entreated, if he had any regard for his own life, or that of the Sultaun, to inform the British where he was concealed, he laid his hand upon the hilt of Major Allan's sword, and in the most solemn manner protested that the Sultaun was not in the palace, but that he had been wounded during the assault, and lay in a gateway in the north face of the fort, whether he offered to conduct the party, saying that if it was found that he had deceived them, the general might inflict on him whatever punishment he pleased. General Baird, on hearing the report of the killedar, proceeded to the gateway, which was covered with many hundreds of the slain. The number of the dead, and the darkness of the place, made it difficult to distinguish one person from another, and the scene was altogether shocking; but, aware of the great political importance of ascertaining, beyond the possibility of doubt, the death of Tippoo, the bodies were ordered to be dragged out, and the killedar and the other two persons with him were desired to examine them one after another. This, however, appeared endless; and as it was now becoming dark, a light was procured, and Major Allan accompanied the killedar into the gateway. During the search, they discovered a wounded person laying under the Sultaun's palanquin this man was afterwards ascertained to be Rajah Cawn, one of Tippoo's most confidential servants. He had attended his master during the whole of the day; and, on being made acquainted with the object of the search, immediately pointed out the spot where the Sultaun had fallen. By a faint glimmering light, it was difficult for the killedar to recognize the features: but the body being brought out, and satisfactorily proved to be that of the Sultaun, was conveyed in a palanquin to the palace, where

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