a town of Hindustan, in the south of India, situated on the western shore of the Bay of Bengal, at the estuary of the river Panar. The English East India Company obtained a grant of it from the rajah of Gingee in 1681. Here they constructed a factory, which, in consequence of the increasing trade, they wholly rebuilt and fortified in 1702. The town was taken by the French in 1758; but two years later it was recaptured by Sir Eyre Coote. In 1782, after the destruction of Colonel Braithwaite's detachment by Tipoo, it was forced to surrender to the combined forces of the French and Hyder; when the works were greatly strengthened, and a strong garrison sent to defend them. In 1783 it was besieged by the British, who were repulsed with the loss of 942 killed and wounded, in a desperate attempt to storm the works. A few days later, the French general made a vigorous sortie from the fort and attacked the English trenches, but not a single point was carried, and the French sustained a heavy loss. An incident connected with this attack is thus related by Colonel Wilks. "Among the wounded prisoners was a young French sergeant, who so particularly attracted the notice of Colonel Wangenheim, commandant of the Hanoverian troops in the English service, by his interesting appearance and manners, that he ordered the young man to be conveyed to his own tent, where he was treated with attention and kindness until his recovery and release. Many years afterwards, when the French army under Bernadotte entered Hanover, General Wangenheim, among others, attended the levee of the conqueror. 'You have served a great deal,' said Bernadotte, on his being presented, 'and, as I understand, in India.' 'I have served there:' 'At Cuddalore?' 'I was there.' 'Have you any recollection of a wounded sergeant whom you took under your protection in the course of that service?' The circumstance was not immediately present to the general's mind; but on recollection he resumed:—'I do indeed remember the circumstance, and a very fine young man he was. I have entirely lost sight of him ever since; but it would give me pleasure to hear of his welfare.' 'That young sergeant,' said Bernadotte, 'was the person who has now the honour to address you, who is happy in this public opportunity of acknowledging the obligation, and will omit no means within his power of testifying his gratitude to General Wangenheim.'" The sergeant had become one of the most distinguished generals of France, and subsequently, as is well known, ascended the throne of Sweden. Cuddalore is now comprehended in the British collectorship of Arcot, and is the principal civil station of the district. It is 102 miles S.S.W. from Madras, and 15 S.S.W. from Pondicherry. E. Long. 79. 52.; N. Lat. 11. 44. (E. T.)

GUDDAPAH, in Hindustan, a British district within the jurisdiction of the presidency of Madras; bounded N. by the British districts of Kurnool and Gunturo; E. by Nellore; S.E. by Arcot; S.W. by the native state of Mysoore; and W. by Bellary. It lies between 14. and 17. N. Lat.; and 78. and 80. E. Long. Area 12,970 square miles. The surface of the country has a general slope from the western frontier, where it attains an elevation of 1180 feet above the level of the sea, to the eastern boundary of the district, where the average elevation does not exceed 450 Cuddapah feet. All the streams which intersect the country are consequently discharged into the Bay of Bengal. Of these the principal is the Northern Pennar, which though a formidable torrent during the monsoon rains, with an average width of 300 feet, is almost wholly dried up in the dry season. The mineral wealth comprised in the hilly parts of the district consists of iron, lead, and copper; while various tracts are impregnated with carbonate of soda, saltpetre, and culinary salt. The population is by no means dense; its amount, which has been officially returned at 1,451,921, furnishing little in excess of 100 to the square mile. Cuddapah came into the possession of the British government in 1800, under the provisions of a treaty concluded with the Nizam, or ruler of Hyderabad, subsequently to the fall of Tippoo and the partition of his dominions.