The Treaty of Peace: Negotiations and Analysis

The peace commissioners, Sadlier, Staunton, and Huddleston, reached Mangalore on February 4 with a large contingent of soldiers and attendants (AJMR 1818: 161-176, 347-354, 393-396, 450-455, 597-610, 662-672). Huddleston revealed intimate details of the negotiations 34 years later when he made a spirited defence of his conduct in response to Wilks’s narrative of the episode in the second volume of his history. Wilks alleged that Huddleston and Staunton had planned to escape to the ships if the negotiations broke down. Lieutenant Dallas, the chief of the military escort, quoting Jackson, the secretary to the embassy, added to the controversy with his version of events. The negotiations were conducted in a tense atmosphere, with the gibbets erected for the execution of Rustum Beg and others still standing. Strained relations between Sadlier and the other two commissioners, with Sadlier often being in a state of intoxication, added to the tension.

The negotiations

The negotiations were conducted in the durbar tent, connected to Tipu’s tent by a short passage. Tipu was represented by Purnaiya, Krishna Rao, and two Muslims. Unknown to the commissioners, a man who understood English perfectly but remained silent was among the attendants. He stayed back after each meeting to learn their views. The English camp was sited about four kilometers away. Three ships anchored offshore ready to respond to the slightest hint of danger.

The pace of the negotiations picked up only after February 20. The first two drafts sent by the commissioners, on February 24 and 27, were rejected. The final terms were agreed three days later, and the treaty was signed on March 11.

Analysis

The terms of the treaty sought the release and safety of all Europeans and Indians who had sided with the English or who were otherwise identified with their cause The treaty particularly mentioned Abdul Wahab Khan, taken at Chittoor, and his family. It also sought the release of all former inhabitants of British territories in the Carnatic and Tanjore who had been taken away by Haidar Ali and Tipu, and all subjects of Mahomed Ali Khan and the Rajah of Vencatagherry. Further, Tipu would not molest the Rajahs or Zemindars of the West Coast who had favoured the English in the late war.

      The treaty was totally silent in respect of Kanara Christians, a clear admission that they played no role in the conflict sufficient to identify them with the English cause.