Correspondence leading to the Treaty of Peace

November 24, 1783: Warren Hastings, Governor General, to Governor, Bombay

He assured Bombay that there was no intention of superseding General Macleod, and could not intrude upon their power to nominate the commander.

The defence made by Campbell and the garrison at Mangalore deserved the highest honour and public acclaim.

He transmitted the terms for peace with Tipu. If the war continued, all possible aid would be sent, except for money. Bombay could draw bills of exchange for an amount not exceeding Rupees 15 lakhs until the end of April.

September 18, 1783: Tipu’s reply to two letters from the Governor

Strong and binding relations between Haidar and the Company had been ruptured by the machinations of Muhamad Ali (Nawab of Arcot). All Haidar’s attempts to re-establish good relations had failed. So too Tipu’s after Sheikh Ayaz, Governor of Bednur, defected.

The expedition to the Carnatic was caused by an unpaid debt by Muhamad Ali and a fort (Trichinapoly?) which Tipu had a right to demand. Hostilities broke out due to English support for Muhamad Ali. The damages and expenses Tipu suffered were beyond computation. In response to the English proposal for a suspension of hostilities and resumption of peace in compliance with the treaty made in Europe, he wrote he had no enmity against them.

Communication from the English regarding the peace in Europe had been conveyed through Bussy. Bussy had advised Tipu to send his proposals, and order his army to cease hostilities. Tipu had complied by sending Appajee Ram and ordering a cessation of hostilities.

Bussy’s communication had been received just when he destroyed the fortifications of Mangalore fort on three sides, and his troops had reached the ditch and begun filling it. Though it would have taken just three or four days to capture the fort, he had given orders to end hostilities. Campbell then visited him and asked that a bazaar be set up. As a gesture of friendship, Tipu presented Campbell with a khelat and horse, and set up the bazaar. When Macleod arrived from Bombay, he was presented a horse, khelat, palankeen, a place of residence, and other facilities. 

Despite a cessation of hostilities, the English had attacked him in Kadappa. Tipu had ordered his troops to maintain the truce, but repulse aggression firmly.

Prisoners of war were treated well with proper nourishment. They would be released as soon as peace were concluded.

Governor General to Tipu  

He confirmed having received Tipu’s letter of November 23 concerning the peace overtures made by Madras. He had also received Macleod’s letter informing him of Tipu’s sincere disposition for peace, and proposal to proceed to Srirangapatna. He thanked Tipu for the pieces of cloth he had presented and accepted them as a token of friendship.

He recapitulated two points which he was obliged to honour.

In the treaty of peace concluded with the Peshwa on February 24, 1783, it was stipulated that Tipu would restore to the East India Company and to Muhamed Ali all captured territories and prisoners. As long as Tipu abstained from hostilities against them and their allies and maintained friendship with the Peshwa, they would not attack him.

The treaty between England and France stipulated that allies of either country would be given four months to decide whether they would join the peace. In case of refusal, neither England nor France would assist them in any way. Under the obligations of the treaty, Hastings considered peace was already established between the English and Tipu, provided he abstained from all acts of hostility and restored the captured forts and territories of the Carnatic, and delivered up all prisoners of war. Therefore, no further written agreement was necessary.

However, since Tipu wished to enter into a direct and specific engagement with the Company and Madras had deputed persons to Mangalore for that purpose, he would await the outcome. In the meantime, to avoid any misunderstanding, he formally declared, provided Tipu adhered to the conditions of the peace already stipulated, peace was concluded between the English and Tipu.

As a token of friendship, he sent Tipu a present of 6 pieces of muslin and 6 shawls

November 14: Governor General to Madras

Macleod’s testimony indicated Tipu was sincere in seeking peace, and he was agreeable to a separate and specific treaty with him.

The Company would not give consent to a clause stopping it from coming to the aid of another power at war with Tipu as it would be offensive to the Maratha and other friendly States. As long as Tipu abstained from hostilities against the Company and its allies (the Nizam, Muhamad Ali, and the Rajahs of Tanjore and Travancore) the Company would not attack Tipu. Regarding the petty princes on the coast of Malabar allied to the Company, the decision was left to Madras.

Hastings empowered Madras to conclude a treaty with Tipu on two conditions:

The first objective should be the recovery of the English prisoners, and those of Muhamad Ali. The restoration of captured places like Coimbatore and Cuminum, lying near the borders of the Carnatic, should not come in the way of achieving this. The Company was willing to surrender Mangalore and the other captured places to recover the prisoners. Tipu was to be told that all concessions made by the Company were optional, for as per existing treaty Tipu was bound to make restitution, but there was no reciprocal obligation on the Company. However, in view of the urgent commands of the Court of Directors and the ground situation, the Company was willing to yield as much as required to achieve a peace agreement. This was left entirely to the discretion of Madras.

While agreeing to the reciprocal restitution of prisoners, a peremptory refusal should to be given to any demand for delivering Hyat Saib (Sheikh Ayaz) “since he has acquired a right to our protection by the faith of a sacred engagement which cannot be broken or cancelled.” The like refusal ought to be given to the demand for surrendering any other persons who assisted us or received our protection during the war, either at Calicut or any other place on the Malabar Coast.[1]

February 19, 1784

Bombay received news of the surrender of Mangalore fort from the Resident at Karwar.

March 17, 1784: Commandant at Honavar to Macleod

He had been offered the same terms on which Mangalore capitulated, but not accepted as he had no instructions to do so. Provisions were low, and they needed immediate relief.

February 2, 1784: Tipu to Peace Commissioners Sadlier, Staunton, and Huddleston, letter dated January 30

They accused Tipu of disrupting communication between them and their government. Therefore, a ship had been kept ready to sail for Europe until it was known whether peace or war would prevail. Colonel Fullarton’s army had been ordered to be in readiness at an hour’s notice.

Tipu accused the Company of taking Palghat and Coimbatore despite the armistice, and plundering their treasuries. In contrast, he had ceased hostilities despite being on the verge of capturing the fort of Mangalore. Campbell had now with his own free will delivered up the fort of Mangalore and sailed to Tellicherry. His army was ready for all eventualities.

February 12, 1784: Peace Commissioners to Tipu, camp near Mangalore

They had come from Madras with authority to negotiate a peace. Hearing that Colonel Fullarton had resumed hostilities after the armistice was signed, and had taken Palghat and Coimbatore, they had ordered him to return to the pre-armistice positions. The fort and province of Cumbum had been returned to Tipu when his commander had issued an order for the delivery of Chittapet to the Company.

They had faced various difficulties in Tipu’s territories, chiefly in not being allowed to meet the prisoners.

Near Mangalore, they had learned that Campbell had surrendered Mangalore as Tipu had failed to supply provisions as per the armistice terms. Honavar had been subjected to a similar fate. Despite this, they wanted to establish peace on fair and honourable terms.

They informed Tipu that as per the treaty made between the Company and the Marathas on October 28, 1783, Tipu was required to evacuate the Carnatic and release all English prisoners. This treaty was binding on Tipu as he had agreed to its terms on July 29. Unless Tipu complied, therefore, the Marathas were required to join the English in a war against Tipu, and neither of them could make a separate peace with him. The new treaty, therefore, had no other object than to ensure the fulfilment of the first treaty which Tipu had delayed for so long.

Similarly, the treaty made in Europe required that he evacuate the whole of the Carnatic, and release all the prisoners within four months, that is December 2.

They were authorized to cede to Tipu the several places, and this was to be considered separately from the evacuation of the Carnatic or the release of the prisoners. If the prisoners were not sent to the nearest English garrison, Tellicherry, or Goa within a month, they would consider it as meaning Tipu had broken off negotiations, and intended to continue the war. The English would evacuate Honavar and Karwar as soon as 100 English prisoners were released, half of them officers. Dindigul, Caroor, Auracoureny, and Daraporam would be evacuated as soon as all prisoners, and particularly the family & servants of Muhamad Ali were restored.

Peace treaty: public announcement in Bombay

On April 16, 1784, the establishment of peace between Tipu and the Company was publicly announced in Bombay, before an assembly of officials, principal European and Indian inhabitants, and garrison troops. Three volleys were fired and a salute of 21 guns given. 

[1] emphasis mine