A y d e r A i .i ,
s o m e A c c o u n t
OF,
viftorious againft every-well-planned baftion, and every defence
the genius o f Fippoo could invent for the prefervation o f empire,
fubje&s, and the endearing connections of parental love.
Would my pen could rife to defcription adequate to the fubli-
mity o f the various fubjeft.
In juft defpair of attaining thefe heights, I return to my
peaceful pen. I attempt the origin o f the humbled city, fome
farther traits, and the defcription in its moil fplendid Hate. It
is faid to have belonged to a pious Polygar Rajah, who, taking
a pilgrimage to Ramijferam, entrufted the care to his neighbor,
the prince of Myfore, who, on the good man’s return, refufed
to give up the trull, and it continued in his race during three
centuries *. Through indolence, the Rajahs latterly appointed
a Vifier, who fultained for them the cares of government, ahd
the office became hereditary. In 1747, the Vifier of the time
depofed his mailer, appointed in his place an infant of the royal
family, and affumed the reins o f government: he paid all re-
fpe£t to the nominal Rajah, who was venerated by his fub-
je£ts, as is the prefent. They are kept in great Hate, and lhewn
once or twice a year to the people.
Ayder is firlt mentioned in aftive life appearing in the year
1750, at the age o f twenty-two, at the head of a fmall body of
forces in the army of N azirfing, and was in the battle in
which that great Souhab was alfaffinated. He is faid to have
learned the rudiments of war among the French troops, whom
he looked upon as the firft o f men. He ferved long with them,
* Mr. .Home.
and
and was employed on feveral important expeditions. He made
the French difcipline his model'; even while in their fervice
he feduced feveral of their men and officers to ferve in his
particular corps, which was irregularly connived at by reafon
of the lingular , ufe Ayder was to them. In 1770, Stenet, a
French officer, continued with him.
In 1755 Ayder had the command o f fix thoufand men in the
fervice of M. Dupleix. At that time, by the death of his brother,
a itrong fortrefs, a fertile territory, and a large body of
troops devolved to him ; he returned to Myfore, to his native
prince, and was appointed by him generaliffimo of the army.
He foon fuffered by the jealoufy o f the prime minifter, Canero,
who traiteroufly invited the Mabrattas to invade the country.
Ayder, furprifed, was obliged to retreat into Seringapatam, the
capital o f the kingdom; he encamped before the city, the Mah-
rattas followed him, and the treacherous Canero Ihut the
gates againft him, and left him to his fate. Ayder convened his
principal officers, told them his ftory, allured them he would
not be the caufe o f the deftruilion of fo many brave men, took
an affe£lionate leave of them, and difmifled them, after advifing
them to take fuch meafures as prudence might fuggeft. At
midnight he alfembled thirty men, on whofe courage he might
rely, furnifhed each with a large fum in gold, and then; by -
fwimmirig the river, eluded the ftriff watch‘the Mabrattas. k ep t:
on him. He went inftantly to Bangalore, where he found his :
uncle governor, who received ¡him .with open .. arms.' Ayder -
immediately railed an iarmy, and,, after various great a£tions;i
aflifted by his faithful partifans, :,he- determined to attack the
Von. II. M royid