To Alexander Hamilton from Jacob Sarly, 17 December 1791
From Jacob Sarly1
[Calcutta, December 17, 1791. The catalogue description of this letter reads as follows: “Long letter describing the military situation around Seringapatam, the British forces under Cornwallis and the strength of Tippoo Sahib:2 ‘… The sensible part of the Officers view him by no means as a despicable enemy, and at present express doubts of success, the taking of Bangalore was merely accidental.…’” Letter not found.]
ALS, sold at Carnegie Book Shop, 1962, Catalogue No. 261, Lot 515.
1. Sarly was a member of the New York merchant firm of Sarly and Barnwall.
2. Tippoo Sahib was Sultan of Mysore. The British had invaded Mysore in 1790 in retaliation for Tippoo’s raids on neighboring territory. At first Tippoo was successful in repelling the British, but he was finally defeated by Lord Cornwallis near Seringapatam in early 1792 and compelled to surrender half of his dominions.