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2 At length in 1831 the whole machine of government had become so
3 completely disorganized that a rebellion broke out which the troops of
4 the Rajah were unable to quell, although he had armed his officers with
5 the power of summarily inflicting death or mutilation where they might
6 see fit. It was found necessary to summon British regiments, and as
7 the subsidy was unpaid and all the establishments deeply in arrears, the
8 interference # the Company was called for to protect their own interests,
9 as well as the interests of the people whom they had placed under this
10 incapable and mischievous Government. The far-seeing spinit of Lord
11 Wellesley had rendered this task of:interference an easy one for his suc-
12 cessor, who found the course 1o be pursued in the crisis of 1831 expressly
13 laid down in the treaty of 1799 ; and accordingly, when the time had
14 come, Lord William Bentinck addressed a letter to the Rajah, of which
15 the following is a copy, and at the same time two British Commissioners
16 were nominated to take the reigns of Government from his hands.
17 To
18 THE RAJAH OF MYSORE.
19 A fter Compliments.
20 Ir is now thirty-two years since the British Government, having defeated the .
21 Armies and captured the Forts and overrun the Territory of Tippoo Sultan, laid
22 siege to Seringapatam, and that city being. taken, the dynasty and the power of
23 Tippoo was brought to an end. Your Highness is well aware of the generosity
24 displayed by the conquerors upon that occasion. Instead of availing themselves of
25 the right of conquest and of annexing the Territories of Mysore to those of the
26 Honorable Company (and of the Nizam), the sovereignty was restored to the family
27 of the ancient Rajahs of the country, who had taken no part: in the contest, and
28 your Highness was placed on the Musnud. But your Highness being then buta
29 child of three years old, Poorniah was appointed Dewan of the State, with full
30 powers, and, with the aid and countenance of the Officers of the British Govern-
31 ment, he conducted all affairs with exemplary wisdom and success. Up to the
32 period when your Highness approached the years of maturity, through his good
33 management, and as the consequence of his measures, the country prospered, and
34 the State of Mysore attained splendour and exaltation, and the population of all
35 ranks were contented and happy. Further, at the time of his resigning the Govern-
36 ment to your Highness, after having conducted its affairs for ten years, he gave
37 proof of the wisdom and correct integrity of his management by leaving in the
38 Treasuries, for your Highness’ use, no less than 75 lakhs of Pagodas in ¢ash, which
39 is a sum exceeding two crores of Rupees.