The energies of the Council of Bengal were patriotically great under these perilous events. Casting an eye towards that distinguished Veteran, Sir Eyre Coote, he was with one general voice called forth to retrieve these calamities. He accordingly embarked from Calcutta, with a force, while some seapoy battalions marched from Bengal to the Carnatic. General Goddard was directed to transport a detachment from his army acting against the Mahrattas, and Sir Edward Hughes, with his fleet, was solicited to block up the ports of Hyder, on the coast of Malabar. The Government of Bombay was likewise ordered to alarm his dominions. Sir Eyre Coote quickly restored its wonted lustre to the British arms by a series of brilliant efforts, during 1781, that enabled him, after the destruction of Hyder's naval force at Calicut and Mangalore, by Sir Edward Hughes, to send an adequate detachment for the reduction of Negapatam, which was committed to Sir Hector Monro, who assumed the command of the troops in the Tanjore Country, and who was enjoined to co-operate in the attempt with Admiral Hughes and his squadron. Hyder Ally had placed a strong garrison in the Fort, and occupied many strong holds within that Province and on its borders. Preparatory for this object a number of the Company's troops reached Nagore on the 21st of October, which were soon headed by General Monro, who landed from the Superbe. Sir Edward Hughes disembarked his Marines, consisting of 443, on the same day, and a battalion of 827 seamen upon the 22d. The looked for shift of the Monsoon, and lateness of the season prompted the most active measures. Owing to a heavy surf the cannon and all necessary implements were conveyed by rafts to the shore, in which the zeal of our Sailors, under the superintendance of Captain Ball, was most praiseworthy. The enemy having thrown up strong lines flanked by redoubts, to defend the approaches to Negapatam, they were stormed and carried on the night of the 29th; much of the success and glory of which very justly attached to the Seamen and Marines, whose intrepidity was never more conspicuous. They also evinced an unrelaxed zeal in prosecuting the necessary works of labour. During the siege two sorties were attempted by the garrison, which originally consisted of 8000 men, but in each they were quickly repulsed. After a severe and well aimed fire, from the 3d to the 12th of November, the Dutch proposed terms which were accepted. During the whole course of this fatiguing service, 17 Seamen fell, and 27 were wounded, and the detail of Marines was 13 killed, and 29 casualties, most of whom died; besides a number of both who became victims to sudden cramps, the effects of hard duty amidst the rains. The happy results of this conquest were the immediate evacuation of every post in the Tanjore by Hyder's troops, and the return to allegiance of all those petty Princes who had been seduced, by him, from their obedience to the Nabob of the Carnatic.