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B O M B A y,

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ENGLISH EAST INEilA COMPANY,

AND OF THK

KISS AKD PROGRESS

or TH3B

WAR WITH THE M AH R ATT A NATION.

LONDON:

Printed by W. RitHAHOsONj Strancl,
For J. ROBSON, BookfcUer, Ncwaond-ftrcct.

M.D.CCtXXXI.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

^ H K following narrative was not begun
with a view to publication ; // hath been
continued to the beginning of the Icfjl year 4/
the defire offome refpediable perfons. Mr.
Orme*s hiftory^ and that of the decline of the
Mogul empire by Mr. Dow, together with
the relations of the mojl credible travellers^
have furnijhed fome of the materials ; the
records of the India Company the remainder.—-
7'ruth and impartiality have been the writer^ s
aim — the reader will judge whether he hath
fucceeded.

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r/ii^ Morabah, Btttchabah, and BobageeNaig,
for Uguie r. Uguien.

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A N

ACCOUNT

OF THS

SETTLEMENT AND POSSESSION

O F

BOM BAY, &c.

TH £ ifland of Bombay is the antient
properly of the Engliih Ead India
Company; it hath hitherto been, of
all her fettlements, the moft conducive to
-the grcatnefs of the nation in Afia ; yet^
through the fptendor of atchicvement, great
acquifition of territory, and immenie harv-eils
of wealth in Bengal and the Coaft of Coro-
mandel, it hath been in fbme meafure over-
looked, and, as if in a corner of the world,
unnoticed.

It receives great importance as well from
its fituation, fo advantageous not only in
regard to external trade and the internal in

A the

2 ANACCOU NT

the neighbouring , provinces^ as from the
docks which are the only ones the Company
have in India, and without which therefore
there can be no maritime power in'thofe re*
gions. Hitherto the expence of maintain-
ing hath not been defrayed by the produce ;
byt the prefent fituation of affairs in the
neighbouring provinces, well improved, may
place things on a different foot, and that ex-
pence not only be cleared, but a confiderable
revenue yielded, and a great influence in the
weftern part of Indoftan obtained. Some ac-
count therefore of this fettlement, and of the
events which have offered this occafion of fo fa-
vourable a change, may be ufefiil at this time.

In the midway between Goa and Surat on
the Malabar Coaft, the land from Baffein to
Choul bends into a deep bay, in which lie
the iflands of Salcet» Bombay, Caranjah,
Hog Ifland, Elephanta, and Canary. Salcet
is the moft northern, feparated from the con-
tinent by fo fmall a chaimel that it is called
a river : on the Eaft the diftance is greater,
but the channel is fordable. It is about
twenty miles long and as many broad. Its
waters are wholefome ; its foil fruitful, na^
turally abundant, and capable of great im-
provement ;

\(

OF BOMBAY. 3

provem6nt; the produce is moftly rice; it
was formerly the granary of Goa, Half a
mile to the South of this lies the ifland of
Bombay, about eight miles long and twenty
in circumference. Its diftance from the con-
tinent is about eight miles, and its fituatioii
forms the harbour. It is well peopled, not-
withftanding the water Is bad. Caranjah
produces rice to the value of 60,000 roupies
a year ; Elephanta, of about 8,000 ; the
others are little better than rocks.

In the year 1661, the Portugueze being
then mafters of that bay and thofe ifland s,
t|?ey were given to Charles the Second as part
of his Queen's dowry. But the people fettled
there did not eafily yield poffeflioii"; for,
when a fleet of five fliips, with five hundred
land forces, was fent by the King of Eng-
land, ^yith the proper muniments from ths
court of Lifl^on, entrance was refufed. This
expedition was commanded by Lord Mall-
borough, \y ho, on thisrefufal, carried the fleet
to Swally, which lies to the North of Surat:
the jealouiy of the inhabitants obliged them
to retire ; the only place open to them was

^ A roupie is worth* wheo remitted to Eaglaady from
^ s; to 2 s. 3 d.

A t Ange-

4 AN ACCOUNT

Angediva, an uninhabited iflandtothe fouth-
ward of Goa. Lord Mallborough left them
there, and returned fingly to Bombay, where,
after much altercation, he prevailed to be
admitted, firft to the town, and afterwards
to the pofleffion of the whole ifland and the
bay. But during his abfence the unhealthi-
nefs of the climate, feconded by intempe-
rance, had made havock among the unfor-
tunate perfons who had been carried to An-
gediva ; three hundred of them had periflied ;
the few who remained were admitted in the
year 1664. Their firft care was to make
the ifland defendable. The Portugueze cor-
rupted by eafe and luxury had funk in indo-
lence, and were regardiefs of every thing,
but what contributed to their pleafure : gar-
dens adorned their pofleffions, but fortifica-
tions were totally negledled, Mr, Cook,
who commanded that diminilhed force, was
the firft governor; he was immediately un-
.der the crown ; but this government was not
of long continuance : for the King finding
no advantage to himfelf from that pofleffion,
button the contrary being put to great eX-
pence in fending out fhips, wifKed to be rid
of it. The officers and men fent in thole
. Ihips drove a private trade, which impaired

that

OF BOMBAY, 5

that of the Company ; and their licentiouf-
tiefs often engaged them in hoftilities with
the natives,' for which the Company was an-
fwerable tp the powers of that country. Thefe
real evils, and the advantage to be reaped
from the poffeffion of that illand and bay,
made the Company defire it ; they therefore
requefted, and the King readily granted them :
from that time they have had the abfolute
dominion.

The ifland was at firft governed by de-
puties from the Englifli fadory at Surat.
Diflention foon arofe between tlie civil and
military power, and grew to fuch a height,
that in the y^ar 1671 all was confufion.
To put an end to this, and to fortify the
ifland againft attempts, which he forefaw
a probability of, from the Dutch, then at
war with England, Mr. Ajungier, preiident
of the factory of Surat, being alfo dif-
gufted by the arrogance of the Mogul go*
vernor of that town, changed his refi-
dence and eftabliflied himfelf at Bombay,
where his prudence quaftii^d the diflen-
tions, his good management advanced the
Company's intereft, and his aftivity feciired
the ifland: infoinuch, that in the fpfing of

A 3 1672^

6 AN ACCOU NT

1672, the Dutch attempthig a furprizc,
found the fort fo well guarded, and every
thing in fo good a condition, that they im*
mediately gave over tho entcrprize.

From that period, each day ihewing the
great iniportance of this; fettlement, the refi-
dence of the governor was fixed there, and
the feveral faftories on the Coaft of Malabar,
and in the Perfian Gulph, became dependent
on that prefidency,

Notwithftanding the natural inconveniences
of this ifland in the want of Iprings and
flreams of frefli water, and the poornefs of
its natural produce, from the time of the
poffelliou of the Englifli, its populoufnefs
became confiderable. Many were invited by
the freedopi granted tQ all religions, and the
mjldnefs of the government; (that of the
EngUfh, even when pulhed to what would
feem tyranny at home, appearing gentle to
thofe who had felt Mahoinetan inlblence and
Portugues^e bigotry) infomuch, that from
ten thoufand fouls, the utmpft of its inha-
bitants when in poffeflion of thefe, fhey
were in the yev 1764 augniented tQ fixty
thpufand,

The

OF BOMBAY. 7

The accefs to the harbour and its fafety in
ill feafons, with its vicinity to the country
inhabited by the Maharattas, and the conve-
niency of a pafs over the Gaut ♦ Mountains^
through which the inland parts may be fup-
plied with our nxerchandize, are great ad-
vantages, the lale of woollen and other Eng-
li(h goods there, amounting annually to
fourteen lacks of roupies +• The convenience
of the harbour hath produced a trade of In-
dian commodities with that country, almoft
exclufive ; as alfb a very confiderable one in
the cotton, with which Bengal is fupplied,
whereby the cuftoms bring the Company an
annual profit of three lacks and a half |, The
proximity of Surat gives an influence in that
government, which, if rightly exerted, may
prove of immenie benefit ; as Surat is, next
to Bombay, the great mart for our ftaple
commodities. Through thefe advantages the
trade may fall almoft totally into the bandg
of the Englifh.

What is yet of greater confequence, not
only to the Company but the nation, is th«

♦ Gaut or Gatte means paflage.
t 140,000 1. at 2s. per roupic.
t 3S>o^>^ I* a*^ *• *c common exchange is i s. 3 d. '

4 ^ maritime

Z AN ACCOUNT

maritime power which arifes from this pof-
feffion. Docks ve conftryfted there fuffi-
clent not only for repairing, but building of
Ihips. To thefe it is eafy to bring excellent
timber * from the continent, p^irticylarlj from
Baflein; a number of artificers are fettled
there, fo that every repair and bqilding may
be done as perfedly ^s m England, This
convenience is not to be found in any other
part of that, or the Coromandel Coaft, nor
even in Bengal ; and to this refburce may
in a great meafure be attributed the fuccjsfs
of England in that region during the laft
war. But the great expence attending this
fcttlement hath hitherto counterbalanced thefe
advantages; the profits arifing fronx the terri-
tory, and the great trade carried on, not being
equal to the amount of that e:s{pence. This hath
made fome further advantage in thefe parts
receii'ary, and thi3 neceflky hath been moft
ftrongly felt fince the year 1 768, when there
were great additions made to the fortifications,,
and the piilitaryeftablifliment was augmented; .
a wife meafure ! fo pegeflai^ that it is to be

♦ Th^ Teke tree, called by Fryer th^ Indian oak, grows
in all thofe jrarts. It is better from its durability in water
than our oak. Ships buiic of that wood, and ufed in the
^oputry iiade^ l^ft twenty qr thirty years, aud longer.

* wondered

OF BOMBAY. 9

wondered that no inconvenience arofe during
the long tiipe it remained neglected.

By the great fums then expended, and the
Jafting increafe of that eftablifhment, the de^
feft before-mentioned became grievous, and
moftly when it was necefiary to furnifh in-
veftments for Europe and China, The only
reiiiedy was the acquifition of a territory fuf-
ficient by its revenues to defray the expence
of the eftablifhment. The ifland of Salcet,
Baflein, and its territory, immediately pre-
iented themfelves as the proper objects for
this purpofe, when even an opportunity
ihould offer to acquire them from the Maha-
rattas who were then the pofl'trflbrs of them.
The fituation and nature of Saicet have been
already defcribed ; its produce is fuch that it
almoft fuffices for the fupply of Bombay,
which, v^ith the aid of Caranjah and Bafleiu
may, however numerous its people, be iecure
of provifion of every kind, Baflein is neceflary
to the provifion of timber wanted for the
Company's docks, which, fhould it fail in
the hands of an enemy, or a quarrel arife
with its ppfleflbrs, might become" ufelefs for
want of materials. The importance of thofe
objeds, fo much greater than that of the

fupply

10 ANACCOUNT

fupply of expence, hath fo ftrongly ftruck
the Direftors, that they have repeatedly and
urgently enjoined that prefidency to feize
every opportunity of acquiring thefe poffef-
fions> and to that principally to direfl: their
views and operations : but as the pofleffors
are equally lenfible of thofe advantages, and
confequently of the value of their pofleflion,
there was little profpeft of fuccefs, when, in
the year 1773, the diforders which difturbed
the government of the Maharatta ftate af-
forded the occafion fo much wiflied. That
thefe events may be underftood, it is necef-
fciry to give fome account of the people among
whom they happened : a people who have
hitherto had no regular place in hiftory ;
mentioned only curforily as freebooters or
barbarians, although fettled in a regular go-
vernment, and the moft confiderable nation
in India 5 whether we regard the extent of
their territory, their fituation, or their arms.

The rapidity of fuccefs which fo wonder-
fully extended the empire of the Mahome-
tans, attended thofe who invaded India, The
princes of that immenfe region were in
general overwhelmed : divided among them-
lelves they affifted their conquerors; yet

many

OF BOMBAY. u

many of them, whilft they yielded, pre-
ferved their dominions by paying a tribute^
and acknowledging the Ibvereignty of the
viftors; and others refufing this, by arms
kept up their independence. They, whofe
pofleffions lay in the low, plain, and fertile
part of the country, being lefs able to refifl,
were in the firft clafs ; but they who dwelt
among the mountains, hardy and ufed to
arms, and protefted by the rough nefs of
f their fituation, were not to be eafily fubdued.
They not only refifted, but often baffled the
power of the mightieft emperors : even Ay-
rengzebe found it neceflary to prefer art to
force ; and, by being fatisfied with fmall ac-
knowledgments, prevailed by cunning where
his arms muft have failed. The kingdom
of Vifiapour was thus at laft fubdued by
him ; and the king brought to his court, re-
mained there maintained by a penfion as one
(pf his Omrahs ; but a part of that kingdom
inhabited by a hardy race, who before that
revolution had thrown off the fubjedion to
the king, remained unconquered ; and con-
tinued not only free from the yoke of the
Moguls, but at laft faw that empire tribu-
tary to them.

Thefg

II AN ACCOUNT

Thefe tribes extended from the territory
of Surat to that of Goa along the Tea coaft,
and backward over the naountains to the city
of Vifiapour, and are at this day known by
the name of Maharattas. The hiftory of the
Hindoos gives them great antiquity, even to
the moft remote times *. They have pre-
ierved their original manners and religion ;
fcrupuloua obfervers of that of Bramah, they
never feed on any thing which hath had ani-
mal life; temperate, fpber, indefatigable; al-
ways in arms ; inured to all hardfliips, capable
of refifting heat and climate, A numerous
cavalry mounted on horfes as hardy in their
nature as their riders, is the ftrength of their
army: their marches are incredibly long and
rapid : they avoid general engagements ; re-
treating with a celerity as fudden as that
with which they invaded, they mark the
country they leave with the mifery of plun-
der and devastation ; they return as foon a5
the army raifed by the prince, whofe territory
they invade, hath been difbanded. Thus all
the horrors of this predatory war are renewed,
to the total deftruilion of the. wretched in-
habitants. Hence the difficulty of reaching

♦ Orzne. Dow.

them,

OF B O M 6 AY. 13

them, and th6 detriment arifing from theft
inroads induce the princes of the invaded
countries to purchafe their retreat, either by
a large contribution, or ftipulating to pay an
annual tribute. Their arms have extended
this kind of conqueft even to the gates of
Dehli. Expences in luxury are unknown to
them; and Continually colle^ing from the
countries they pafs over, immenfe treafure$
are brought to remain in theirs; which,
whilft the provinces within their reach have
been ravaged and exhaufted, have continued
'In undifturbed tranquillity. The policy of
the original conftitution of their governit^tit
forbad the extenfion of their territorial do*
minions. This law, notwithftanding the
fuccefs attending their arms, and the incite*
ments of ambition common to conquerors,
continued long inviofete, their views Icadin
them no further than the impofition of a tri
bute they called Chout, one fourth of the
eftimated clear revenue of the countries they
fubdued : this, in a courfe of time, became
general through the greateft part of India#
Their refources of wealth were fimple,- and
unembarrafled by territorial arrangements}
their armies numerous in proportion to their
immenfe revenues, and their country eafy of

defcncet

U AN ACCOUNT

defence. But by degrees the ambitious and
interefted views of powerful individuals"
brought them to depart from this policy, and
to extend their territorial pofleffions. From
that time their government no longer retained
ai confident fyftem of meafures, but became
a disjointed union of different interefts and
dependencies, where eacli chief, accommodat*
Ing the interefls of the ftate to what fuited
his, a£ted folely for his own purpo{e#

The revolution by which thefe tribes be-
came an independent nation *, was owing to
a bold Raypout of the kingdom of Vifiapour,
named Seva or Sava +, who had long dwelt
in the mountains, where he was at the head
of a bold fet of adventurers* This man
was defcended from an ancient line of Rajas,
of the caft of the Bouncelos, a warlike ,and
aftive race. His grandfather, Vanga Gi, waf
high in office under Nizam Shaw the lad
prince of Guzurat ; and by him was Seva*s
father, Shaw Gi Raja, made commander of
Jenneah Gur, where Seva was born, as was
alfo a fecond fon called Samba ; by another

* Fryer.

t He is commonly dilled Sera Gi. This additional fyl*
lable denotes fome rank or honour ; as chief.

wif©

OF BOMBAY. 15

wife he had a third fbn named £kou« Wh^ii
Nizam Shaw was fubdued by Aurengzebe^
Shaw Gi, and bis two younger fons, entered
into the fervice of the king of Vifiapour,
where they were raifed to great employ-
ments ; the father to the command of the
king^s guard^ Samba to a jaguier of tea
thoufand hbrle, and twenty thoufand foot,
with thirty lacks of roupies a year, and
Ekou to one of two thoufand hprfe and eight
thoufand foot, with ten lacks of roupies a
year. Seva would not fubmit to ferve any
prince, but, gathering a party, maintained
himfelf and them by inroads upon the plain
country; fometimes againft the fubjefts of
the Mogul, at others againfl thofe of Vifia»
pour* Nor could he ever be brought by the
iaftances of bi& father and his brothers to
frhange this courle of life, which diibbedience
occafioned fo heavy a refcntment from bis
father, that he excluded him from his fuc-
ceflion. The king of Vifiapour, upon fome
fufpiciohs of machinations againfl him, put
to death Shaw Gi Rajah ; revenge of this
murder furnifhed Seva an excufe for pulhing
on his devaflations. The king fcnt a ftrong
army againfl him, under the command of
Abdul Cawn ; Seva, finding it much fuperior
' to

16 ANACCOUNt

to any he could raife, whilfl: it was yet at it
great diftance, pretended that he was defirous
of yielding obedience, and requefted his ad-
vancing with a fmall party to a choultry
which ftood between the two armies, that
he might there kifs his feet, and pray him to
folicit his pardon from the king. Abdul too
eafily believed him, and advancing with his
fon, and an inconliderable retinue, came to
the place appointed. Seva waited there for
him, accompanied by few ; but he had placed a
ftrong party in ambufh,'who lay totally con-
cealed. He, feemingly unarmed, advancing
proftrated himfelf at Abdufs feet, and with
tears requefted hi$ interceffion vrith the king.
As they entered the choultry Seva faid,
*^ You, my lord, may execute your plea-
'' fure on me, and eafe me of my life.''
Upon which Abdul, that his fears might va-
ni(h, and to Ihew him an entire confidence,
gave his fword and poynard to his page*
They then begun their conference, when
Seva drew a ftilletto from his fleeve, aind
ftabbed him to the heart. Abdul the fon
flew on Seva and wounded him; but the
men in ambufh rufhed into the choultry at
that ^moment, a fcuffle enfued, in which,
fortunately Abdul efcaped ; and by putting

on

J

OF BOMBAY 17

on a mean drcfs; and, flying through un-
frequented ways, reached his camp ; where
the tragical end of their general was no fooner
known, than all the troops difperfed,

Seva, that he might not lofe the fruit of
his crime, immediately marched to Panala>
a wealthy and ftrong city, hoping to fur-
prize it; but the citizens were on their
guard k He, therefore fearing that a fiege
would be long^ and give time for another
army to be fent againft him, which in the
plain and open country he could not cope
with, endeavoured a ftratagem. Seven hun^
dred of his followers were employed for
this purpofe. To many of their officers hs
publicly gave ill-ufagej they loudly com^
plained ; and, ieeming from refentment hi?
bitter enemies, departed to the town, and
offered their fervice againft him* They were
well received ; and though at firft the in*
habitants ufed caution, yet in a very fhort
time their indolence and luxury drawing
them to confidence in thefe new friends, they
left the guard of the walls moftly to them :
as they had Ibught pleafure more than fecu*
rity, the ramparts and outworks were pleaf-
ing walks (hadowed witlj trees ; under the

B cover

1^ AN ACCOUNT

cover of thefe a detachment of Seva's army
approached undifcovered, and were the fuc-
ceeding night admitted by their friends. The
inhabitants were fbon overpowered, and at
Seva*s mercy, who confidered them as his
fubjeiSs, and made their city his retreat ;
adding to the fortifications, and deftroying
the trees which had rendered the former ule-
lefs : from this place he over-ran the adja-
cent country. The king fbon lent a frelh force
againft him, under the command of Abdul ;
this confifted of the troops lately diiperfed,
and a body of cavalry under Ruftan Gemma^
who had a jaguire of thirty lacks of roupies a
year, for which he maintained ten thoufand
horfe and thirty thoufand foot ; but Seva
found means to gain him. Abdul advanced
gallantly, and with a fmall band of chofen
friends ruflied to that part where Seva was,
calling him aloud to an encounter ; but Seva^
who depended upon more than valour, de-
Ipifed the challenge, anfwering, *' The ralh
*' youth may fall by other hands.'* In the
mean time Ruftan's horie difbanded, and he,
with a fmall party, went over to Seva : Alv-
dul with his few brave friends broke through
and reached Vifiapour, his whole army dif-
perfing, left Seva mafter of the field. Ruftan

advifed

OF BOMBAY. 19

fidvlied Seva to take advantage of the prefent
conilernation, and march diredly to Vifia-
pour; he followed his counfel, and his bold-
iiefs would have fucceeded, had not Siddy Jore
another jaghedar advanced to the relief of
the city, with a body {0 confiderable, his
own troops being increafed by the re-aflem-
blage of the difperfed army, that Seva could
not fiand before it, but was obliged to re-
treat to Panala. Siddy encamped near the
town ; Seva, whofe ftratagems never failed
him, contrived to efcape, and proceeded to
Rajapour, the chief city and fortrefs of Siddy,
where he produced a forged phirmaund *, iealed
with Siddy's feal, whereby it was fignified,
that having exchanged this fortrefs for Pa-
nala, the commander was ordered to deliver it
up to Seva. Siddy, not able to do any thing
^ainft Panala, returned to Vifiapour. The
king fuipe£led him of treachery, yet received
him with a fair countenance, and made him
die ufiial preients upon his difmiflion ; but,
ibon after changing his mind, gave orders
to BuUul Cawn, whom he made com-
mander in chief, to overtake and deflroy him.
Siddy, when Bullul reached him, encountered
and defeated him. The king then marched

* A grant

B 2 in

2b AN ACCOUNT

in p6rfon againft Him, having by fecret
means gained feveral of Siddy's army, who,
not miftrufthig the treafbn, joined battle, in
which, being forfaken, he was flain. This
treatment of Siddy Jore incited Siddy Maf- '
fure, another potent jaghedar, to vengeance;
and thus civil difcord completed the mifery
of this kingdom. In the mean time Seva,
improving the opportunity, fecured feveral
fmall places towards the fea coaft. In the
midft of this confufion the king died without
ifliie ; upon his death his widow afcended
the throne ; and, by the weaknefs of her' go-
vernment, furnifhed Seva further occafion of
gratifying his revenge, and indulging his
ambition. The queen had, during the life
of her hufband, conceived a parental fond-
nefs for a youth named Sikehdar, whom fhe
had educated in the doftrine of Ali, the fe£t
of Mahometans which prevailed in Perfia.
She now adopted him, and gave him the
title of king : this could not fail of being
odious to a people of all others the moft
fcrupuloufly attached to their religion. ' . Seva
was highly efteemed for his valour, and
either from principle or political views, a
flrift profeffor of the Gentoo religion, had
acquired a great intereft among the Bramins.
Improving thefe advantages, he extended his

influence

OFBOMBAY. 21

influence among the Raypouts. The fcruples
of many, and the difcontents of more, in-
creafed his Company of adventurers to an
army, at the head of which he unexpeftedly
appeared. The queen was totally unprepared.
Each advantage improving his force, he re-
duced into his poffeffion the fortreflcs of Ra-
japur, Rafejeir, and a great part of the Ma-
labar Coaft ; in Rafejeir he was faid to have
found great treafures. His fuccefs was fuch,
that the queen, in the year 1674, before
her adopted fon Sikendar could attain his
majority, was obliged to enter into a treaty
with him. By the peace which followed,
he obtained the independent dominion of
the territory and forts which he had con-
quered.

Unfortunately for the queen and Sikendar
this diminution was followed by a worfe.
Pammaich, another of the Raypouts tribu-
tary to her, trufting to the inacceflible moun-
tains which furrounded his country, revolted,
and was fuccefsful ; his faftnefles for a long
time protefting him.

Her principal forces being employed in
the reduftion of this rebel, Aurengzebe feized

B 3 this

%2 A.N ACCOUNT

this opportunity, and marching to the ctty
of Vifiapour^ conquered that and the fortrefs
after a three years refiftance ; the unhappy
Sikendar was taken prifbner. Aurengzebe
carried him to his court, where he refided as
one of his omrahs, enjoying a penfion of a
million of roupies. This revolution hap
pened in the year 1685.

From the time Seva found himfelf efta-
blifhed by this peace, he affumed the title of
Raja Seva Gi, and a regal ftate, had a pom-
pous coronation, and applied himfelf clofely
to make his conqueft a valuable dominion :
he fortified the principal pafles in the moun-
tains, and placed therein faithful lieutenants
and good garrifons. His conquefts extended
to the territoiy of Surat northward, and
fouthv/ai'd to that of Goa : the coaft between
thefe two places became a part of his poflef-
iion. This enabled him not only to harrafs
the country round him by continual incur-
fions, but alfo to Hop all commerce, both
of the Portugueze and the fubjefts of the
emperor, by his depredations, iijlbmuch that
each of thefe powers were happy to receive
his terms. The pofleflion of fo confiderable
a tradl of fea coaft inspired him with the idea

of

O F B O M B A Y. 33

of acquiring a maritime power ; his late fuc-
cefs in his depredations gave probability to
the fcheme; and his a<Stivity in the purfuit
of it was fuch, that in a fhort time his force
was fufficient, not only to refift, but even
to beat a fleet the Mogul emperor had equip-^
ped againft him. Thus both at fea and land
was his dominion eftablifhed.

In the year 1674, the prefidency of Bom*
bay fent an embafly to him to treat concerning
a trade to be carried on through his country ;
in which negotiation they afked the fame
privileges they enjoyed in Perfia and In-
doftan. This was a favourable time for them,
as their gallant behaviour, in repulfing an at-
tack he had made upon Surat, had imprefled
hini with an idea of their valour : he therc-^
fore willingly granted them leave to come tg
Raree, a ftrong hold in the Gatte ^, where
he then refided. They proceeded frona Upper
Choul, a confiderable lea-port in his poffef-
iion, and, gfter many difficulties, came the
fourth day to Punchara, a town at the foot
of the mountain on which Raree ftands ;
there they pitched their tents, and waited for

* Gatte (igntfics a pafs^

B 4 his

44 A N A C C O U N T

his return from a pilgrimage he made to A
famous pagoda called Purtabgur, preparatory
to his coronation, which they were fpeftators
of, and of his fourth marriage. Thefe were
to him fuch ferious matters, that, till all ther
teremonies of fafting and purification were
over (during which he and his family were
ihut up with the bramins) the ambaffadors
could not treat of bufinefs with him perfo-
ftally, but were referred to Moro Pundit his
Pafliwa, or chancellor, who was to report to
him the demands .they made : their prefents
were accepted, and their reception was cour-^
teous. Sava Gi owed his fuccefs in a great
meafure to the influeiice of the bramins ; an
incident, trifling in itfelf^ fhews his attention
to keep well with their tribe, during this
time of his jecefs he was weighed in- gold,
and i6,(X)o pagodas found to be his weight,
were, with 100,000 more, diftributed among
the bramins on the day of his coronation *.

Except

* The great influence of the bramins over the people
gave infinite advantage to thofe whofe caufe they cfpoufed.
They were revered by the higheft. In the hiftory of
Feru{hta, tranflated by Dow, page 4. vol. I. anno 977.
*♦ It was then cuftomary among the Rajas, in affairs of
^^ moment, to afleipble the Double Council, which con-
** iilled of an equal number of the moft rcfpedlable bra-

•* mInS

\

OF BOMBAY. 35

Except making the Englifh coin current
tn his dominions, and reftoring wrecks of
fhips perifhed on his coafts, the whole that
was demanded was granted, with this com-
pliment, that with great fatisfa<5lion he em-
braced our friendfhip, promifing to himfelf
and his country much happinefs by our fettle-
ment and trade.

Seva*8 fuccefs gained him not only terri-
tory but dependents. Many of the Ray-
puts, who were tributaries to the Mogul
and king of Vifiapour, wearied by the ftate
of war in which they were obliged to live,
and feeing an advantage in being under his
prote£tion, as they would for a iinaller tri-
bute paid to him, not only fave their land
from deyaftation, but fhare the benefit of his
manner of maintaining himfelf (the fpoils of
the neighbouring countries) became hi^ ja-
ghedar^ or feudatories ; paying him an an-
nual fum, and ftipulatjng to furiaifli a cet-
tain number pf trpops whenever occaiioa re-

^' mlns, who fat on the right of the throne, and of the
'* nobles, Keitrees, who fat on the left;" but they fcem
only to be advifers ; for there the Raja, to his rijin, againib
|he unanimous opinion of fuch a council^ continued a war
0^afnA the emgetor of Ghizni,

quired;

V

26 A N A C C O U N T

quired : and thus was formed that federal
union which conftitutes the Maharatta ftate^
Each of thefe jaghedars maintains a certain
number of troops, with which, when they are
not engaged in the common caufe, they make
incurfions in the neighbouring provinces i
Sometimes fettling in thofe parts which lie
moft conveniently for their purpofe ; at others^
being iatisfied with the chout or tribute.
As the princes from whom this tribute is ex-*
aded'are impatient of this yoke, to whidi
they yield only through neceflity, the Ma-
hometans, who look on themfelves as tiie
conquerors of India, feeling deeply the in*
dignity of fubmitting to perfbns whom they
look on merely as freebooters, whenever they
find an opportuity of evading thefe payments^
either from any addition to their ftrength^
or embarraffments among the Maharattas,
with-hold them, which the others, as foon
as they find it feafible, fail not to demand
with an armed force ; and thus their troops
are kept up, and their inclination to plunder
gratified.

The dlflentions and war among the fucr
ceiJbrs. of Aurengzebe left thofe of Seva at li^
berty to ftrengthen and eftablifti themfelves :

the

OF BOMBAY^ 27

the luxury of the prince, and infidelity of
the chief omrahs, diflblved the government
of the Mogul empire. In the interval of
time paffed from the year 1 707 *, in which
Aurengzcbe died, to the year 171 8, when
Mahommed Shaw afcended the throne, four
princes reigned, three of whom were exalted^
and then were deprived of life by Ae fadlion
of the Seids, Abdalla Cawn^ and HalSen
Cawn. Mahommed, foon after his acceffion ,
rid himfelf of thefe tyrants, and then funk
in indolence and the pleafures of his haram ;
the omrahs were at liberty to form and execute
icheraes of independence In their govern^
ixients. The moft confiderable amcHig thefe,
for extent of province and number of troops,
were the Nizam ul MuUuck who commanded
in the Decan, and Aliverdy Cawn who com-
manded in Bengal. This omrah by his
arms fobdued the Rajas who were his neigh-
bours, but tamely permitted the Maharattas
to range through the interior parts of the
(Empire. Thefe invafions were fo fuccefsful
in the kingdom of Malava and the neigh^
bouring provinces, that Mahommed, to pur-
chafe their retreat, coniented to pay them

^ Dov's HiAory of the Decline of the Mogul Empire.

the

28 ANACCOUNT

the chout, or fourth part of the revenues of
thofe provinces. Thus did the fucceflbr o£
Tamerlane, and great-grandfon of Aureng-
zebe, become their tributary.

The whole province of Guzurat, ^aild
country as far as the Indus, was in this man-
ner fubjefted to them, and a part of it in
the adual poffeffion of fome of their chiefs
or Jaghedars*

The invafion of the Perfian Nadir, through
the treachery of the Nizam, having exhaufted
the provinces, occafioned the tribute to run
in acrear ; this furniflied the pretence, as the
weakpefs of the empire did the opportunity,
of another invafion. An army of eighty
thoufand horle under the command of Rago
Gi, in 1 740, invaded theCarnatic; having
forced the paffes of the mountains, they fur-
prized and defeated the army of Doaft Aly
the nabob of the province, who with his fon
fell in the action. Sipander the fon, and
Chunda a Saib, the fon-in-law of Doaft Ali, .
were at variance, and, inftead of uniting to
repel this invafion, Ihut themlelves up, tht
fiirft in Vellour, the latter in Tritchinopoli.
Thus left mafters of the province they ^vaged

it,

OF BOMBAY. 29

5t, and raifed heavy contributions. Sipanderfet
on foot a negotiation , which ended in a fU-
pulation to pay them a hundred lacks of rou-
pies, and put them in pbflelfion of the territory
of Tritchinopoly. Sipanderwas acknowledged
Nabob. They then retired ; but fix months
after returned to take pofleffion of the land
yielded to them. Chuhda Saib fuftained a
three months fiege in Tritchinopoly, and
then was obliged to fur render at difcretion.
Madhar Row, who commanded there in the
year 1741, fold it for a fum of money to
AbduUa'Cawn, ond of the .Nizam generals.

In this year they demanded the chout

from the emperor^ who, unable to pay it,

gave them a commiflion to gather it in the

provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and GrifTa,

where Aliverdi had made himfelf independ"

ent. The Suu Raja fent an army of 50,000

•horfe from Sattarab, his capital, to invade

'Bengal, under the condu<3: of Bofcar Pundit ;

they ravaged all the dlftrids weft of the

Ganges. Aliverdi refifted them by arms and

intrigue: he found means to haive their leader

aflaffinated ; the army retreated : but the

• Raja fent two other armies, one by the way

-of Bahar, commanded by BsUa Row, ^nd

another

32 AN A C C U N 1*

Befides this Ipirit of the Gentoo fyfteiri^
Seva was attached to the bramins by. policy.;
to them he owed his firft fuccefs, and from
their influence he hoped yet greater advan*
tages. Of his bounty and munificence, a^
well as deference to them, inftances have
been related on occafion of his coronation
and marriage ; whilft therefore he retained
the enfighs and reality of fupreme dignity,
the power of peace and war, the command
of armies, the difpofal of employments, .. go*
vernments, and jaguiers, and the manage*
ment of the public treafure abfolutely to him*
felf, he inftituted a council of eight peribiis
chofcn among the bramins to affift him in
the adminiftration of the civil governments
They exercifed the principal offices of the
ftate under him, they held thefe offices only
during his pleafure, in procefs of time they
perpetuated them in that caft. Next in dig-
nity to the Raja was the Purtenary^ or dele-
gate, whofe fiat was previoufly neceflary to ,
all adls of flate : but the officer really moft
powerful was the Paifiiwa, or chancellor * ; in
him was the executive power of adminiftra*
tion really lodged; and as the name imports^

* Fryer.

OF B)0 M B AAV 3^

hd {Mrefided over t^e cbuncll, and was. th9
reigttingi indeed fole,' minifter of the Raja*
The ipirit and . ailivity of Seva Gi was fudi,
that his miniders >cauld aiTuma little or no
J>oiwef : but as by him the ijid^ppudcncc of
his tribe wa$ fettled; .and the . jigh^dars $xed
in their obtedienqe a«d. payment of Jtheir rent>
his. fuccei]K)rs, lik/Qj:.other Iudtdn> princes,
yielding to the foftnfefs of the. climate, and
the allurements of IvfcxUcy, to epjpy theit
pleafure left thej^roiQifltratiqu .to^their mi-
fiifter.. .Similar caufe^. produce, }ik^:effe<9;s
though in difFerent: x^lima,te^; what hap-
pened in the firftlio^ of th4 French mon-
archy : happened here; from tbe iiidolenca
atid inaSi^vity of th)8'pitince> the abilities and
real fervice of the.cchief . minifter i,. the necef-
fity,jto which the. pKinc^ W4S, reduced of be-
ing tateljy in his hands, the influfeiicc of the
peribns; whom the miuifter had woii over to
fpcond him, who in each.ftate were, rulers of
the people's, confciences, the power by de-
grees paffed from the. hand of tht^ prince to
that of the minifter*. The Mayor of the
Palace^ and the Pai(hway to the admini-
ftration of government joined command of
armies ;. fucoefa agdinft forciigu enemies con-
firmoiithfm in that fiommand ; aii4 the of*

. C . fice

34 A^-^ A C C* O' U N T

fice fixed at fir-ft in their perfon for life only^
in time became hereditary in their ftimily,
whllft the priRGe became a mere cypher; and,
latisfied With outward eivfigns of royalty, -led
a life dependent on th^ Will, of him wliohatj
thus ufurptid his authority. In this ftatJd'the
Paifliwa Was aflifted b/ tfee reft of theicoun-
eil, who few by this change the govisniment
fixed in thei bramilir caft'?' the oflSce became
hereditary,^ even when' Uhe Paifliwa left an
infant fori, during whofe minbrity the admi-
niftration was vefted in a- regent and the reft
of the council, and exerbifed in the naijie of
the infant* The comptetion of this change
was owing> to the Raja Sahoo ; in ther. be-
ginning 6f whofe reigfi a bramin called
Wifli-wana' Ballagee, through his great abi-
lities, feconded by dexterity, had (o far gained
his prince's favour and confidence, that he
rofe to be- of the Council^ of Eight, and foou
to the oflSce'df Paifliwa, The Raja, finding
every .day more eafe from his management,
determined formally to in veft him with all
his authority and power, and even Ibme of
the enfigns of royalty, 'From that time all
orders formerly given in the name of the
Raja ifl'ued in that of the Paifliwa- iblely,
whom Sahoo ftiled Pundit Praden, chief or

elefk

OF BOMBAY. 35

cleft of the Pundits *. The only referve
of this tl^oughtlefs prince was the revenue
of a large diftrift, from wjiofe produce he
maintained a confiderabi^ body of troops^
who were his body guard, and fblely under
his comoQand. From, that time, ihut up in
Sattarah, and abandoned totally to his plea-
iures, he appeared no more to his people,
who, through the influence of the bramin
caft, were accuftomed in a Ihort time to this
alteration, ^yhich in reality had no bad ef-
fedls to them. The bramins readily afliAed
in a meafure which fixed the government in
their caft, and gave a chance to each of their
families of ieeing the fupreme power fixed
in it.

This referve and guard makes it probable
that by this ceffion Sahoo did not mean to
diveft himfelf totally ; his intention muft have
been only the attainment of perfedlly un-
difturbed tranquillity in the enjoyment of his
pleafures; but his ahience from bufinefs and
the view of his people gave his fubftitute
the opportunity of fully eftablifhing his power
and influence, infbmuch that the oflSce be-
came not only permanent in himfelf, but

* Learned Bramins.

C z here-

S6 ANA C C*d U N T

hereditary in his family : it is now an eftU*^
bliflied rule, the fucceffor goes to Sattarah;
where the Raja refides, and is invefted in his
bfHce by the delivery of the firpaw *i Such ^
revolutiori muft fecmftrang6, but it muft be
coniidered that the bramiris who compofed the
council had, as moft orders of men, the in^
tereft of their caft principally in view : by this
abdication they faw the government fixed in
it, and each might hope that his own family
would fbme time or 6ther reap the benefit
of it : and their influence over the people
being fo great, they eafily brought them to
fubmit to any government they approved.

Wifli-ana made ufe of his power in ere*
ating dependents, and by degrees fo totally
,obfcured the Rajafhip, that the prince be-
came a mere image' or reprefentaAve of roy*
alty. As Sahoo muft ha\^e been very weak
as well as indolent and luxurious, it is not
furprizing that, like the French monarchs^
he was content with enjoying his pleafures
within his palace, and in time iunk into 4
prilbner ; probably his mind as well as his

• The firpaw is a rich garment "with which the perfoti
who receives a great employment is invefted in the pre*
fence of the prince, or of the minifter who carries it, if the
favoured perfon is then abfent from court.

body

lO Fr B^OjM B AY. 37

body,; dhicvated throitgh fenfual enjoyments,
willingly atquiefced' in this inglorious torpid
fkte. His feclufion from the world totally
bftabliihed the empire of the Paifhwa in the
mind of his people, his perfbn and his go*
vernment were forgotten. Upon the death of
Sahoo, he leaving no children. Raja Ram,
who was only an adopted foil, probably chofen
by Wi(h-^ana to ferve his purpoie, was per-
mitted to fucceed tq this ftate of captive roy«
alty , and hath ever fince acquiefced, and
peacefully obeyed the didsites of the Paiihwa
or bramin council. The genius and circum«
fiances of the refpedive fucceflbrs of Sahoo
and Wifh-ana have £) totally fixed the go-
vernment in the Paifliwa, that every tranfr
a£tion with foreign powers 13 nwr<ely between
that officer and them, withoqt any regard to
the Raja.

Wi(h-ana*s entierpriiing (pirit did not Icuig
fuffer him to reft content with the incu^fious
ufually made by the M aharattas ; he fought
to regain what the valour of the Portugueze,
on their £rft invafion of India^ bad wrefled
froni the inhabitants of that part, of the Ma«
labar Qozii which Jiies between &urat and
<joa; in a fhort time, he became mafter of

C 3 the

3« ANA C GO U ISTT

the principal part bf ih^ ddaft, ' ^nd by hi«
'own brother Oppah coriquetbd Baflfein and
Saicet. Thefe luccefles encouraged him to
attempt becominjg a maritime, power, ahd
turned his thoughts to the eftablifhrnent oiF a
marine.

The neighbourhood of this enterprifing
pteople made it Mecefiary for the prefidency
of Bdmbay to .endeavour, by fome treaty or
agreement, to prevent any dilputes which
taight arife between them, and for that pur-
pole one of their body was deputed to nego-
tiate, who found the ftate in the fituatioii
^bove defcribed, and therefore treated with
the Paifhwa^ by the intervention of Oppah,
with whom fundry articles were fettled*

Wifli-ana was peaceably fucceeded by his
fon Ballagee, more generally known by the
name of Nanah ; during his adminiftration
the government was car'ried on with vigour ;
the military prowefs of the Maharattas efta-
blifhed a tribute, which, under the appel-
lation of Chout, was exafted from all the
countries fbuth of their dominion ; the quar-
rels among the different princes calling them
at fome times to the aid of one ; at others,

the

O F B a,M B AY. 39

the non-payment of the Chout gave them a
pretence of an irruption to gather the ar-
rears ; and thus continually employed abroad,
and at home governing with firmuefs and
juftjce, Nanah reigned without ^ifturbance,
and at his death in 1761, the power and
poft was tranfmitted, as of courfe, to his
fon Madharow, though he was then but four-
teen years old. l^agonath * Row, the bro-
ther of the deceafed Pailhwa, carried on the
government in the name of his pupil, and
by his prudence conduced it fb as to affirm
the power of tlie Paifhwa. The neighbour-
ing princes, particularly the fubah of the
Dtcan, tempted by the youth of Aladharow,
invaded the territory of the Maharjittas, but
by Ragqnath's-aftivity and valour he was foon
repulfed- His care extended to every part
of adminiftration ; valour and conduft re-
pelled foreign enemies; but internal evils
were more difficult to be removed.

Wifh-ana, on the firft eftablifhment of his
power, as he was favoured by the r^ft of the '
council, to give it ftability, found it necef-

7
* Called alfo^ and more generally by the EoglUb, Ra-
gobah.

C 4 fary,

lo A-N' A C do 11 N-T

f* * " ** • . -^ f r

ary^ not only to employ' theni in the civlt

department, but to give them all thq advanr:

^ge of emolument that Could arife from their

offices ; by this they were enabled to acquire

great riches, and increafe their int^reft, and

that of the whole braniliV caft : his fucceubr

continued the fame manner; but probably

Ragob^ ihewed fome inclination to check

this growth of power and wealth ; for, during

jhe minority of Mhadafow, they formed an

intrigue^ the effefts of which have brought

the Maharatta nation to fuch ^ ftate, that

had aiiy pf .the neighbouring ppwefs been in

a condition tq take advantage of it, the whole

jnuft have been loft. The br^mins feared

not only the diminution of power, and of

the means of inpreafing their riches, |)ut the

lofs of thofe riches, always an object' of jea-s^

Joufy to the prince? of that country. They

iaw the fteady adniiniftration of the regent

extended to every part of the nation, that hi$

view was to affirm the powerof the Paifhvya,

^nd make'hini independent of theirs*; and

from the. talents of the young prince doubted

pot but,''through his iiiKruftions, he would

purfue the fame plan, which muft end in

their ruin. It was nepeffary to prevent tfeis,

that-Ragdbah Ihould be removed. To eStd:^

• " this

this would not have beeh etify,^ had « hot a
fevourable cifcumftance diered the eppOt<-^

»■-

4 f

I > M

" Nana had left a Widay, who poffcflid'thtf
art of intrigtae : ihe Was bfcfidcs a cbhllitt^
mate coquette; and, lirtce the death' bf^'hef
huiband, had by her amours given great bf-
fence to Ragobah, who could not, without
refentment, behold fo (hameful a courfe of
life ; he reproached her for it ; this procured
him her inveterate hatred. The minifters
failed not to improve fuch all advantage, and
prompt her to ufe her influence over her (on
to the deftrudion qf Ragobah. This was foc^
cefsful * a coolnefs at firft, was followed by
an open breach , and total deprivation of
power, and ended in Ragobah*s confinement.

I

The fuccefs of this inltngufe at firft threw
the whole power into the hand's of the mj-
nifters j their rapacity knew no bounds ; afi
>hey were the difpenfers of favour, in a coun*
t'fy where prefents make the firft claim, they
could not fail amaffing immenfe riches, and
greatly extending their intereft by the oppor-
tunity they had of niaking creatures, at the
expeftce of the Paifhwa's treafory. It hap-,

pened

4ra AN A C C O UN T

pefloed, that th« northern jaghedars^ feeiD^g
the weaknefs of government, with-held their
tribute, and were in this followed by the
Pundits ; tliey purchafed, for a fmall part of
what they ufed to My, the prote^ion of the
miniders : fo die treafury vifibly diminilhed,
while their Aores incfeafed. But this lafled
not long.

As MadharOw advanced to manhood, he
fliewed all the talents which form a great
prince, and put in practice the inftruftions
he had received from the regent. One of his
firft cares, upon his taking in hand the reins,
was to deftroy this iniquitous combination,
by narrowing the power of the rainifters, and
neftoring that firmnefs of government which
had exifted during the regency of his uncle ;
who, notwithftanding the Paifhwa's penetra-
tion, was llill kept in his difgrace and con-
finement. The ability and aftivity of Mad-
harow made him be refpeded at home and
dreaded abroad, and would certainly have
proved as advantageous to his nation as fatal
to his neighbours, had his life been longer. A
lingering di&:)rder put an end to his defigns
in November 1772. He faw his end ap-i
proach with firmnefs, yet with great anxiety

at

k
I

OF BOMBAY. 43

^ ^ filtUalioti in >^hich he left hii fiittily.
His brother and fuccedbr, Nbron RoW^ was ^
young ind weak, confiding in thofe who
.nattered his paffions and vanity, and totally
under the influence of his mother. The wife
adminift ration of Ragobah recurred to him.
The contraft between which, and that likely
to be under thole diiad vantages, was ftriking.
Senfible that the good he had begun could be
continued by him c«ily, he wifhed to throw
the management of the ftate into his hand.
He knew the hatred of his mother, and the
defigns of the minifters, the confequence of
whole ambition might lofe the Paifhwaihip
to his family, if not extinguifh the office :
at the fame time much was to be feared from
the refentment of Ragobah ; fome marks of
which had appeared in his impatience at his
confinement, projefts formed for his efcape,
and meafures ^ taken to revive his interefls
among his friends ; yet he knew him to be
of a high fpirit, and naturally, not only bold
and enterprifing, but alfb generous ; and as
he had no children, fuppoied he might look
on Naron as his own fon, and moved by the
confidence repofed in him, a<9: as his friend
and parent ; he determined therefore to try
that method ; and calling to him his brother,
ihewed him the dangers that furrounded him

from

44 A^^A A aoa U'lH^T

ff0m itim > jambltioti dad I avaiiiGei mi i the n^m*
JGlws^vaud tihoi iotrjguing ipirit,; wkh thfe irhJ-
fl)^ab!i9i^CQ|>er *of; hi$. jQiojtbec : hditheit liad
H^bahiibrpMght in^ aiiii aftqr iiliabyikidd
^preflions conjuredi hka,, forgstdng! the ill
yfflgle (he iiadrecdwd, tp |)ro6ed: his iie^t^,
^tidiaii.hiiti with hU. coufibdtk ; at the fatrte
timeijr^oQiijieodipgitQ the youog man to be
totally guided' ;by hiflpi, . ai)d to guard agaiiift
<;be iijifluences iO£ his mother, and. the fiiares
of the niiniftersi: each promifing what he
requefted, he joined their hands in tok^n of
inutual friendfhij) a;)d alliance. Soon after
this he expired.- The 6rft aifts. of the 3rouiig
Paithwa^ aftier the death. lof his brother, had
the appearance of a determination to perform
bis piiQUiife. 1 Ij was agrejed that Ragobah
Ihould bf5 naib, or deputy,' and carry on the
adfniniftratioQ of government in. the name of
Naron, . In purfuance of this, when the Raja
invefted hiip with the. firpaw.of Paifliwa,
he conferred the naibihip on Ragobah * Thus
things wore the face^df harmony ; but the
difKsrent iiiterpfts of the perfcais conipofing
t]i>e cabinet, and the reftlefs fpirit of Gopi-
caboy *, who retained all her influence, foon
deftroyed it, . iThe deceafed Pai(hwa had

I .i

* The m^thef of ^s^roo and widow of Nanah.

placed

OF BOM BAY. 4^

pl^ed great confidepce in the Duan^ Sac-^
caram Bapoo, and recommended hitn to thac
of bis fucceflbr. But a young man named
Nanah Furaeze, who had attached himielf to
Gofncaboy, and whoTe age and diipolitions
nearly approached Naron*^^ insinuated him^
telf in his favour^ and. formed the deiign of
making it ferve his ambition* His wealthy
family intereft^ and connexions were* confi'^
derable enough to create a ftrong party, which ^
with the addition of > Gopicaboy, became aa
overmatch for Saccaram : but Ragobah was
an unfurmountable check to their defigns^
and therefore it was abiblutely deternuned tb
remove him from the peribn of Naron^ and
deprive him of his o^ce. The fame ix^ans
which had effected this with Madharow. wece
repeated ; and a particular incident gaye them
a handle for their infinuations. . .:

1 V .

Whether the weaknefs and debauchery x)£
Naron had difgufled Ragobah, or whether he
was fwayed by other motives, he, fome: time
after the death of his nephew, had. adopted
a youth named Furrat Row,: who was nearly
related to Moodagee Bouncelo, one of the
moft powerful and oobfiderable of the Ma*
haratta chiefs^ This adoption, and the con-
: pcxion

46 AN ACCOUNT

nexion confequentto it, were b}!^ Gopic^hoy
ufed M ftrong arguments that Ragobah de^
iigned to eftabliih himfblf in the ofSce of
Pai(hwa9 to the prejudice of Naron. She
reprefented that he had ad:ed contrary to th?
cuftom of the country, which approved nqt
adoptions where there were nephews ; that:
by this the fuccefiion to his wealth was taken
from his family ; and perhaps the high of-
fice of Paiflwyi^ might be fo : that the con^-
nexion with fo powerful a chief as Bouncelp
could have no other view but eftabliihiug
fuch an intereft as might overbalance tbi^
Faiihwa^s power. By theie infinuatioas, and
the flattery of Nanah and his young cpm-
panions, the dying requeft of the late P^iih*
wa, and promife in confequence, were pbii«-
terated^ and Ragobah was once more a pri-
foner; and, on the iith of April i773>
clofely confined, and deprived of the accefs
of his friends.

Karon, thus freed from the controul of
his uncle, gave a full range to his foUy ; his
debauchery, pride, and arrogance knew no
bounds. The confidence was ^Vjm totally
to Nanah and his adherents, and Saf carani
-the Duan nqt only was negleded, but in-

fulted,

OF BOMBAY. 47

folted, and even defigns entertained of de»
priving him of the duanihip. This Go-
picaboy was labouring to effeft, and her
principles were fo known, that it was no^
doubted but his life, if it feenoed neceffarj,
would be quickly faciificed to her thirA of
power and revenge. The apprehenfions rifing
from this knowledge were foon encreafed to
certainty. By the means of Bouncelo, Sac-
caram received notice that a plot was formed
to ai&flinate him and Ragobah; this, in a
mind already inflamed, funk deep, and was
followed by ?i refolution to fecure his own
fafety by any means. The mod obvious was
the death of Naron ; this was inftantly re->
folved : but it was neceffary to go further :
leizing the power into bis hands and that of
his friends was the moft defirable, but whilft
the office of Paifhwa exifted, or Ragobah
lived, this was not eafy. The extinguiih-
ment of the office mighl: reftore the R^a,
and deprive them and tjbeir caft* The death
of Ragohah would open the eyes of all, and
reprefent their aS:, not as a meafure of fafety
and public utility, but inordinate ambition*
On the other hand, .Ragobah, if released,
might look on them as his friends, ai)d pre*
lerve to them their wealth and power : this

determined

48 AN AC GO U NT

determined them to releafe and reinftate Rago^
hahi Ttiis icheme was laid, and carried
into execution by the art of Saccaram, who
prevailed on Mahomet Efoof and Summe^
Sing to procure two Sybadarfi to undertake
the death of Naron : on the i8th of Auguft
1773, they led their party, which conliAed
of five hundred men^ to the I>urbar, undeiT
pretence of being muftered ; the gates were
forced, and the guards put to the fword.
^aron, rouzed by the tumult, faw the full-
neis of his danger^ and at the fame timt the
impoffibility of<e&aping. The prifon, where
Ragobah was confined, ieemed the only re4
fuge, thither he; fled, and throwing himfelf
at his uncle's feet> begged his pnotedion ; and
afiurmg him nothing more ihap imprifon^
ment had ever been defigiiied againft him,
befbught him to afiume the government,
and only fave his life. Before any thing
could be anfwened, the party broke in, and
f6und him in that pofture. Hagobah had
time only to take him in his arms, whicb
ad would have faved him ; but a ilave, whomc
Naron had lately cauied to be (everely whip«N
ped, and who had led the party to this q)art^
tment, ui^ed thfem on ; their weapons were
inftantly directed to the perfbn . of R^obah,L

who.

OF BOMBAY 4^

\vhb, to iave himfelf^ was obliged to aban^
don the wretched youth totheir Iwords*

Thus did a moment determine the ^te
of thefe two princes. The one, who Ian-
guiihed in priibn when he expeded . deaths
was railed to liberty and command : and the
other, in the height of fecurity, fell a vidim
to his arrogance.

Ragobah was inftantly brought out of his
confinement by Saccaram, and by him and
the other minifters faluted Paifhwa. His ad«
opted ion was fent to Sattorah to obtain the
inveftiture of the office, with which he im*
mediately returned, and Ragobah Altered, in
all appearance, peaceably upon the execution
of it.

The conlpiracy againft Naron had been
kept fecret to the moment of its execution i
and as no life was fought but his, Nanah F^ur^
neze, and his adherents, had time to fave
themfelves by flight, Ragobah recalled them^
and, having given them aflUrances, they re-
fumed the exerCife of their offices ; Ragobah

was acknowledged by them, and all the ii^^

D ferlor

50 AN AC COUNT

ferlor offices throughout the Maharatta itate,
and every thing Teemed peace.

Mr. Moftyn, the refident of the Englifli
Company at Poonah, made him the ufual
prefents, accompanied with a proffer of our
friendfliip, which was accepted, and mutual
en^gements were entered into to maintain
the alliance made with his anceftor Badjerow.

But, though every thing at Poonah wor^
the appearance of peace and acquiescence un-
der this efliablifhment, diflatisfaftioh and Year
lurked in the Durbar, and in a ihort time
broke out to the difturbance of the ftate, iatid
ruin of the Paifliwa. ^

The mifchiefs which had Iprung forth
during the firft imprifonment of Ragobah,
were but kept under in the fliort adminiftra-
tion of Madharow, and revived with more
force than ever in that of Naron. Hence Ra-
gobah, at his acceffion, found an exhaufted
treafury, a ceilation of the payment of tri-
bute by the neighbouring princes, and the
principal offices held by perlbns attached to
one or other of the parties which divided the
Durbar. Both united in their fentiments as

to

OF BOMBAY. 51

to him. Even Saccaram an4 his party were
determined, if pdffible, to keep him in fuch
a /late, that he fhould be dependent on
them, or at leaft not of ftrength fufficient to
enable him to call them to an account for
peculation and iniquitous wafte of the pub-
lic treafure* For their freeing him from iiii-
prifbnment, and inftalling him in the Pailh-
tvafhip, was not owing to any afFedion for
him or his family, but folely to the neceffity
of Ihewing fomething of a regard to the pub-^
lici which might cloak their ihterefted views*
Ragobah knew this well: he had already
felt the efFefls of their cabals ; but as he was
now not under the power of any fuperior j
he did not fear influence ; he therefore took
the fhorteft method of mending his affairs
and recruiting his treafury, by requiring the
payment of arrears of tribute from the princes
of Indoftan, at the fame time managing the
revenues of the ftate by his own officers,
without a duan or treafurer : to bring the
former meafure to pafs, he applied to Mo-
dagee Bouncelo^ that fome of the force under
him Ihould join the fmall body he had on
foot, and at the bead of thefe he marched
againft the Nizam of the Decan, to bring
Jhim to pay the arrear due by him^ and en-

D z campad

Sz AN ACCOUNT

camped in his territory. Though he knew
the difpoiition of both parties againft him^
and from the nature of man muft have con-
cluded that Saccaram's difappointment, in
not being Duan, muft have made him a bitter
enemy, he left Poonah, without proper pre-
cautions, accompanied by fome of thofe very
perfons who dreaded his power, and feared,
when thoroughly eftabliflied, it would be
turned againft them. The confequehce had
nearly proved fatal to him : part of thefe re-
tired from his camp, when in fight of the
Nizam's army, and the other concerted mea-
sures to deliver him up to his enemy. They
fucceedcd fo well that in Noveniber 1773,
when the Nizam's forces encountered him,
having been, in the beginning of the adion,
furprized in his tent, to which the Nizam^s
troops had been fiiffered to pafs, he narrowly
efcaped after receiving fome wounds ; a total
defeat of his army followed. But as the na-»>
ture of thofe troops . prompts them foon to
fly, fo it faves many, who immediately again
appear in arms ; Ragobah was therefore foon
again at the head pf an army, which, by
Modagce joining him, amounted to 60,009
horfe ; on the other hand, Shabajee, brother
to Modagee^^ who difputed ynth him the

Raj^lhip

OP BOMBAY. 53

Rajafliip of Berar, joined the Nizam with a
force of 40,000. Ragobah having t^en the
fort of Muldroog advanced to Badar. The
armies lay feveral days in fight of each other;
frequent ikirmifhes enfued : both parties fuf-
fered great inconvenience: Ragobah, from
want of money, and the diftruft of thofe who
remained at Poonah ; the Nizam from the great
exp«nce and the uneafinefs on feeing two Ma-
haratta armies in his territories : they were
therefore eafily brought to treat on the 9 th of
December 1 773, and a peace was concluded.
Ruckna al Dowla, the Nizam^s vizir, promif*
ing on his behalf to pay twenty-five lacks of
roupies *, and to cede fbme fortrefles agreed
on. This treaty was followed by an interview
between thofe princes, in which the Nizam
having convinced Ragobah of his inability to
pay the fum ftipulated ; he, who wanted to
fecure the afllftance of fo powerful an ally,
and expelled much larger treafures from the
Carnatic, and the country of Hyder Ally,
changed the terms of their treaty, and re-
- linquifhed the demand of the money, on
the Nizam's undertaking to furnifli a certain
number of troops whenever he fliould demand
theRif

* About 250,000!. at 2s. the roupic,

D 3 tiavlug

54 AN ACCOUNT

Having finifhed thefe affairs, he direftecj
his march towards the country pf Hyder,
demanding the arrears of Chout, at the fame
time writing to Mahomet Aly Cawn nabob
of the Carnatic, requiring his afliilancc.
Having advanced as far as Cutberge, thirty
cofs * weft of Bedah, he was there met by
Hyder's vaqueel, who immediately entered
into treaty: Hyder paid down twenty-five
lacks of roupies, and in return obtained the
pofleffion of the diftrifts of Mudgvyanny,!
Hanfcotah, ^nd Ohunda Grqqg.

Ragobah then turned his thoughts to the
invafion of the Caruaticj tp demand arrears
of Chout frpn; Mahomet Aly \ his army by
his fuccefs had increaled, and the hopes of
the plunder, whjch is ever the fruit of thofe
expeditions, •'had drawn to him a great num-
ber of horfemen. This boded deftru<3:ion to
that whole pountry, not only from the ra-r
vages of his troops, but an invafion by Hyr
der, who would not have failed to take adr
vantage of thole circumftances. Fortunately
for Mahomet Aly the attention pf Ragobah
was called off by the effefts of the cabals at
Poonah, to which his abfence had furniihed
an pccafion. The party which had io fud-

* A cofs is nearly two miles.

deftly

O F B O M B AY. \ ss

denly changed the fortune of Ragobah, fbon
found that theit hopes of his fufFering them
to acquire . an increafe of riches and power
were vain. They remembered the fteadi-
nefs of his adminiftration when regent, his
determination to reftore the power of his of-
fice, and prevent the mifchiefs which had
given them fuch influence and wealth ; they
now faw the firft fteps of the fame plan, and
with the more likelihood of fuccefs to him
and ruin to them ; as he was not governing
for another, but in his own right, all parties
were equally interefted to prevent the growth
of this fyftem. The principal among them,
Saccaram Bappoo, Nanah Furneze, Hurry
Pcut Furkia, Anunt Seva Gi, and another,
united in a league, which they called The
Five Friends: a§ the hazard was great, fo
the ftrojee was bold; they determined to de-
prive him once more of the Paifliwalhip and
liberty, and feize the government. This
fcheme was thus brought about: Naron had
left a widow called Gungaboy ; it was given
put that fhe was with child, and the 30th
of January 1774, ihe was feized by them,
together with another lady, wife of Suda-
boy, a chief of the Paifliwa race, who pre-
tended to the regency, and, whom they kept

D 4 ^»

56 AN ACCOUNT

in confinement, and carried to the fort oi
Porounder, where five bramin women then
with child accompanied her ; thus they ob«
tamed a great probability that a male child
fhould be born in that fortrefs 2 till his pro«
duftion the government was to be carried on
in the name of Gungaboy, they affuming no
higher title than that of minifters. Every
perfon in the intereft of Ragobah was put
under a guard ; and the Friends immediately
levied troops to fupport this ufurpation,

But notwithftanding all their precautions.
Ragobah was informed of their proceedings^
before their advices could reach the confe-
Iterates they had in his army, and through
whom they expected to feize his perfon : he
faw hU danger in the ftrongeft light ; many
of thofe who furrounded him he knew to be
of the bramin faction, and united with the
minifters, and he judgftd that the tale of the
pregnancy of Naron's widow would feduco
many more, flis firft care was to fecure his,
perfon ; he dift>anded his army, and retired
to Gutty, a fort poflefled by Mora-row Go-
parah, a Maharatta chief, who had great
power and influence in that country, and
comipanded a cojifiderable body of troops.

»
4

OP BOMBAY. 57

Fortunately he declared hlmfelf his friend,
and not only afforded him a retreat where his
f)crfbn was fecurc, but promifed him aflift-
ance to reduce this rebellion. An impolitic
ftep of the Five proved at the fame time fa-
vorable to him. They too foon fhewed the
reality of their views by calling on all the
chiefs to difcharge the arrears they owed ;
this provoked many, and drove them to Ra-
gobah, who by thefe means faw himfelf once
more at the head of an army; that railed
i>y the Five, commanded by Trimbuck Row,
a chief of great reputation, was now marching
againft him ; by the acceffion of Shabagee*s
force it had increafed to 60,000 men ; Sin-
dia, , Holcar, and the Nizam joined in the
league with the minifters : ruin now feemed
inevitable : neverthelefs, as he had now an
army in which he confided, through his opi-
nion of Mora-row who fupported him, he
marched from Dalari on the fouth fide of the
Khriftna, and croffing that river advanced
towards his enemies. A body of troops
from the Nizam had joined them, fo that in
all rcfpefts they were fuperior to him. This
infpired them with a confidence of which he
took the advantage : on the 2 4th of March
he halted at Merks, a pjace within four cofs

of

S& AN ACCOUNT

of them ; in the entrance of the night he placed
a ftrong party in ambufh, and then decamped
with all the remainder of his aim j, leaving
his tents ftanding, and all his heavy artillery ; .
this apparent flight foon reached the ears of
Trimbuck, who led the van of the enemy ;
he, flulhed with the hopes of a viftory fb
eafily gained, haftily marched in purfuit, with-
out waiting for the Nizam and Shabegee who
were in the rear : he met no oppofition till
he had paffed the ambufh ; but then, to his
great furprize, faw Ragobah marching fwiftly
to attack him in front ; at the fame time the
corps in ambufcade fell upon his rear. Trim-
buck endeavoured by valour to repair the
mifchief brought on him by his rafhnefs ;
but it was in vain : his army was totally de-
feated, he himfelf wounded, and taken pri-
foner. Ragpb?dh now advanced toward Poo-
iiah. Holcar and Sindia, who had not fent
their quota of troops, though required by
the minifters, feemed to ftand neuter*

The confternatioii at Poonah was now
great ; flrongly imprefled with the terror of
the return of Ragobah at the head of a vic-
torious army, it was once propqfed, as the
only means of fafety, to releafe the Rajah,

and

OF BOMBAY. 59.

and reftore the antient form of government,
by which proceeding they reckoned to fecure
jthe adherence of moft of the Maharatta chiefs.
Biit thi& was a meafure too replete of danger
to themielves ; they muft have been called
to account for all the nfurpations of their
caft, which from that hour would be de-
preffed ; lofs of wealth, perhaps of life, might
probably follow. A few moments reflexion
induced theim to adopt a lefs dangerous plan,
which the birth of a child in Porounder, of-
fered them an opportunity of executing. Ou
the 28th of April 1774 a male child pro-
duced, as born of Gungaboy, was called by
the name of Madoo Row Narrain, and ac«
knowledged as P^ilhwa,

Although this contrivance was moft grofs,
and attended with every circumflance of
fraud, the firft report of pregnancy arifing fo
ponfiderable a time after the death of Naron,
the fei^ure of the widow, the ftrift care that
none but thpir own confidential dependents
fliould have accefs to her, a fence being
ereded roiuid the fort for that purpofe, but
above all the caufing her to be accompanied
by five women with child, infbmuch that it
was, at the time of her confinement, pub-
licly

6b A N A C C O U N T

licly called an artifice, and treated as fuch
by the Nizam in his propofals for a pacifi-*
cation ; yet, fuch as it was, from it^ nature
it kept many in fuipenfe, and enabled the
contrivers not only to fcreen themfelves, bu^
maintain their powen The doubt that a
fon of Naron's might exift, detached the
friends of the family from the intereft of
Ragobah, and the hopes of becoming confi-
derable in the adminiftration of perfons who
muft embrace every refource that offered, anc^
liighly reward thole whofe fer vices they
needed, induced many, other wife indifferent^
to efpoufe this caufe. Ragobah was now
within four cofs of Podnah, when, on the
13th of April 1774, letters from the Five
Friends to Holcar and Sindia were inter-
cepted by him. The matter and ftyle of
them was fuch as led him to conclude that
a correlpondence was eftablifhed between
them, and that Ibme bargain tending to his
deftruftion was either fchemed or actually
begun. The infidelity naturally to be fu-?
fpefted from Indian chiefs fo feized his ima-?
gination, that he gave himfelf no time ta
examine whether thefe letters might not be
an artifice of the fa^on, and were not pur^
pofely thrown into his band : he therefore

inftantly

OF BOMBAY. 6x

liiftantly determined to leave a place which
teemed with fuch danger, and have recourfe
to the fiiendlhip of others. He immediately
retreated with a body of a thoulaiid horfe,
with which, on the 2 7th of May, he croffed
the Nerbudda, and feemingly direded his
march towards Dehli, to which place his re«
maining friends imagined he would go ; but
wh^n he reached Indoor, he turned fhort, and
joined Govind Row, who was then at the
head of a confiderable army aftually carrying
on the fiege of Broderah. Govind promifed
to efpoufe his caufe, and if their forces had
been joined, they would have found them*
felves at the head of 40,000 men.

If the letters thus intercepted were a de-
vice, it fucceeded even beyond the expeftation
of his enemies. Holcar and Sindia, if be-
come adverfe to him, had thereby a colour
for joining the cabal, and his flight making
his afiairs feem delperate, they law the faireft
opportunity of completing their defection.
Accordingly a treaty was entered into be^ ,
tween them and the Five Friends, who
found it neceffary to eflabliih their fyftem
on a bafis more extended ; and to intereft
the Rayput chiefs in their caufe, vrhich, when

fupported

65 AN AC C O U Nt

fupported by the joint intereft of the bra*
.jnins and warriors,. would become immove-
able. Holcar and Sindia, and five other
Maharatta chiefs, were therefore aflbciated,
and the whole called by , the name oi'The
Twelve Friends. The infant Narrain was by
^them acknowleged Paifhwa, and the iirpaW
. procured for him from the Raja. The prin-
cipal article of agreement among the Twelve
was, the total and perpetual es^clufion of Ra^
gobah from the government.

The remains of Trimbuck^s army had been
re-ailembled under another general named
Hurry Furkia,^ who joined the Nizam, and
Shabagee : they followed Ragobah in his re-
treat. Ragobah's officers prefled him to at-^

\ tempt an engagement with them, hoping by
a decifive ftroke to end a fervice for which*

.in his circumftances, he was. not able to pay

.them, for his tr?afures were exhaufted. This
ardour made him fulpefl: their fidelity : on
the other hand, the Nizam and Shabagee,

. though they did not feparate from Furkia,r
invented delays, their intention b^ng, not to
put an end to the war, but harrafs. Ragobah,
and draw money from the minifters. This

. afforded him time to naake his . retreat with-

OF BOMBAY. 6^

^out lofs, and to deliberate upon his fu-
ture proceedings. He did not chufe to ven-
ture a battle, but direfted his views to Bram*
pour, hoping that when there ' he might be
able to raife money ; and that if Sindia and
Holcar were well inclined to him, which
he flattered himfelf might be, as the latter
had received him in his retreat, and that
both had quarrelled with the minifters, they
would have it in their power eafily to join
him ; his projeft was then to return into
Berar, till the enfuing rains fhould oblige the
Nizam to quit the field. And if he was not
joined, but forfaken, to go to Sujah ul Dowla,
<the Nabob of Owde, under whom his bro-
ther ferved in a confiderable command.

Union could not long fubfift among his
enemies ; each claimed a fuperiority over the
others. Some endeavoured to get Raja Bam,
whom they kept confined at Sattarah, and
who had no children, to adopt a fucceflbr,
•whom they would have recommended ; but
this he refufed.

This uhfettled ftate of affairs at Poonah
not only gave Ragobah time to breathe, but
opened the eyes of many who Were originally

well

1

64 AN ACCOUNT

well inclined to him, and encouraged fooM
to affifl: him with their force. He was now at
Indoor, where Holcar and Sindia lent him
confiderable bodies of men. Govind Row
was his declared friend ; ib that he was once
more at the head of a numerous army. Hurry
Furkia having left a confiderable detachment
near Poonah, marched with the remainder
towards Aurengabad. Shabagee retired to-
wards Berar; the Nizam in difguft with*
drew, and remained till the rains were over
at Dowletabad, which was to be delivered Co
him.

«

On the 27th of June, Saccaram, Nana,
and Gungaboy, in the dead of night, fieW
precipitately from Sharpoor, where they were
to have refided during the rains, to Poroun-«
der : they pretended they had then found the
truth of a treachery which they had long
fuipeded, that Morabah Batchiabah Bob-
bagee Naig, whofe fon had married Rago*
bah's daughter, were to have feized them :
that Batchiabah was to have executed this
fcheme. Being difcovered, he retired towards
Jezeray: Morabah who, through his great
intereft among the people, thought himfelf
fecure, remained at Poonah; the others went

to

OF BOMBAY. 65

to Baramooby. During thefe troubles Hyder*
Bugatta Jung, and Morarow Gopperah re-
duced the countries on their fide of the Car-
natic, and laid fiege to and took feveral forts
belonging to the Mahrattas.

Before thefe laft events, however greqt
the appearance of ifuccefs, Ragobah thought
it prudent to ftrengthen himfelf by an alli-
ance with the Englilh. In the nxonth of
Auguft preceding, he, through his Vaqueel
at Bombay, had made overtures for that pur-
pofe : the requeft on his fide .was a body of
troops ; but the advantages he offered in re-
compence did not come up to what the in-
tcrefts of the Company and the repeated or-
ders of the Directors obliged the council to
require* The acquifition of Salcet and Bal-
fein were the firft, almoft the fole obje<3: ;
the ceifion of either of thefe was what he
could not then think of. The importance
and revenue were great ; the evident policy
of that ftate was to reftrain within very nar-
row limits e*ery power in the weftern part
of their ddnotuiions. The Englifh from their
ftrcngth and refources were of all others the
mofi: dangerous neighbours ; and the bra-
jiiins, by the honour of their family, were

£ bound

66 AN ACCOUNT

bound to preferve the poffeffion of thefe terri-
tories ; they made . part of the partrcular
demefne of the Paifhwas. The great Chim-
«agee Oppah had conquered them from the
Portugueze, and it was the , only exifting
conqueft made by the natives of Indoftan
upon Europeans. Thefe reaforls, and the
flourishing ftate of his affairs, induced him
to rejed: the conditions propofed by the Bom-
bay council, the principal whereof were the
ceflioii of thefe two valuable poffeffions.
They waited till time in its revolution (hotfld
offer thd wiflied-^for opportunity : it Was
now come. The infiddiity df fome, the
incOAftancy of others, atid the continual
dread of a reverfe of fortune, turned his
thoughts towards th« Euglifh, whom he now
looked oil a« the only allies who would and
could efieflually affift him; he therefore
now made a lecond application to the coun-
cil of Bombay, which, as lie was in greater
waift of their a/fiftaftce, contained offers af-
fording a profpe^ of attaining the long
wifhed-for pofieffion of Salcet* To judge
iproperly of this trahilai^ott it; ^18 necefikry
to Gonfider the fifuaticfti, ciiiottrtiftsmces, con-
nexions, and views of the pnm^ who ift-
i^ited ^t part of Ibdo^n. It hath been

already

O P B O M B A Y. 67

already mentiprifd that the Ma^hratta nation
confift^ ,of Jtoany tribes governed by Rajas,.
acknowledging the fovereignty of the chiet
Raja, who retides at Sattarah, and paying a
rent to hioi ; in other refpefts they arc like the
ancient feudatories in Europe, independent ;
^ch governir^ his own lubje£l:s, being at
the head, qf arables, and doing theitifclves
juftice upon any wrongs offered by their
neighbours, but bound to a certain fervice
when called on by the chief Raja, and fur-*
niihiDg a number of troops both to defend
kinx againfl enemies, or to ^lA him in ex-
pedi'tions into the neighbouring provinces.
Each of thefe princes adually maintains a
confiderable body of mea^ according to his
means ; thefe armie3 do not coniifl merely
of Teal Mahrattas, butalfo of fuch adventu-
rers as being deftitute of pofleffions feek by
foidiery to better their fortunes. If a man
can purchafe a horfe fit for military fervice,
he offers bimfelf to fome of the powers,
whether Mahometan or Hindoo : tlius their
armies are ibon formed. From the nature of
^uch circumAauce$ their chiefs are feldom
unuted ; each purfuies tlie line which fuits his
intercfts, policy, or i)ften paffioa or prejudice :
their unions AOd reparations are fudden and
uuejq]e£ted.

£:» Th*

68 A N A C C O U N T

The moft confiderable of thefe chiefs, as
well from the extent of his territory, as the
number of his troops, was the Bouncelo*
The Raja was then an infant, adopted for a
fon by the laft Raja Jonnagee ; he was_his
nephew, the fon of his younger brother
Moodagee, who, as father of this minor,
claimed the regency ; but he had a brother
named Shabagee, who being elder than he,
in that right claimed it alfo. Ragobah had
efpoufed the caufe of Moodagee, and had be-
tides by his adoption of Furrut Ras ftrongly
attached him to his intereft; the Five of
courfe ^efpoufed the caufe of Shabagee. The
embarraffment of the affairs of thefe princes
obliged them to remain neuter. The terri-
tory of this Raja extends from Orixa to Gu*
zurat.

The Guycawars poffefs the whole Guzurat,
and the country as far as Danaum. It was
won from the Mogul by Piilagee, the grand- .
father of the prefent Raja ; he held it for fome
time in independency^ but Domulgee his fon
was by Nanah compelled to yield fomeplaces
in it, to pay a rent, and bind himfelf to fur-
aiifli a certain quantity of troops .when
wanted. The revenues . of their pofleffions

amount

O F B O M B A Y. 69

amount to eighty lacks of rupees, and their
army to near 30,000 horfe. Inteftine divi-
lions reigned in the family during the admi-
nift ration of Madoorow. Futty Sing had
through his bribes to the governing braming
obtained the government ; on the acce/fioii
of Ragobah he was by him deprived of it in
favour of his brother Govindrow ; this pro-
duced a virar, which had lb far turned out
to the advantage of Govindrow, that Futty
Sing was driven into Broderah, where he
was belieged by him.

Holcar and Sindia had confiderable power ;
they had for a long time with-held the pay-
ment of their rent, and their view was to
profit by the dilbrders that reigned among the
bramins; eonlequently, though they had join-
ed with the Five, and even become members
of the confederacy, they had not continued
that union, they found it to their advantage
to aift otherwife; policy requiring that Ra-
gobah ihould not be totally deftroyed.

Morarow Goparah poffefled the fort of
Gutti, a ftrong place, and alfo a very con-
fiderable diftridt which bordered on the coun-
try of the Nizam. He had age and cxperi^

E 3 ence

70 AN ACCOUNT

ence, and fought principally the prefervation
and quiet pofleffion of his jaghirc, wifhing
to fide with neither party, and watching the
opportunity of making an advantage of the
broils of his neighbours.

The real as well as apparent intereft of
the Ni?am was, that the| diflentiocis at Poo-
nah fhould not ceafe. He had already ob-
tained advantages from Ragobah, by the cef-
lion of fome diftrifts, and had alio received
confiderable fums from the Five Friends.

The interefts of Hyder were the fame ;
he was bufied in reducing the forts yielded to
him by Ragobah, and feemed rather inclined
to favour his caufe ; but the probability was
that he would affift neither party ; yet his
attention to feizcany advantage which might
offer, made him much to' be dreaded. He
had lately ftrengthened himfelf by an al-
liance with the-Dutch, concluded with their
amhafladors, Samuel Conftantind and Charles

Robert ; the firft article of which was a

» , - ^

mutual erigagemient to affift eacH other againft

^ny powe^ 'With t^'hom eath (houH be at

war ; the force ta be ftirnilhed by each in

<afe of requifition was fettled^ as was the

' pay

OF BOMBAY-' 71

pay they were to receive ; the gavernqr of
Batavia was to furnifh thU force.

By the eighth article Hydcr required,
that (hould Mahomet Ally, or the Engliih,
wage ivar againft him, the Dutch (houl4
affift him with all the force they had in
India ; and if they defired to recover their
country in Tanjore, he would affift then^
with all his force ; the Dutch were to havQ
the preference in his dominions for fandal-
wood, pepper, cardamoms, and • rice, for
which tliey were to give iron and brafs can-
non, and all military ilores. ,

The Company was at peace on every (ide :
the war with the RohiUas concluded to their
advantage ; the fettlement in Bengal in a
|louri(hing condition ; an army well difci-
plined, a treafury every day increafing, and
the former errors of government and mifma-
nagement of individuals almoft' obliterated,

Ragobah was now at the head of 4.0,009
horfe ; and fuch wer^ the circumftances of
the country round, when h^ applied for th?
affiftance of the, Englifh^ and in i-^compcijp?
pilfered th$ pofleflioi? of Salcet, Baffein, an^

E 4 it^

74 A N A C CO tJ NT

ftored to the Mahratta empire without the
interference of the Englifh, either by the
dcftruftion of Ragobah or that of his ene-
mies, not only thefe pofleffions would not be
-ceded to them; but the colleftion of Chout
Would be renewed through all India, All
parties arc ready for an union on the pro-
po^l of thefe expeditions : probably the pro^
vince of Bengal, molt undoubtedly the Car^^
natic,^ would have felt this.

The ti'eaty concluded, fuch troops as could
then be Ipared were embarked for Surat,
whence, as circumftances (hould permit,
they were ordered to join the army of Ra**
gobah. Thefe were 2500 men under the
command of Colonel Keating. The plan
was to aflift in the redudion of Broderah,
then beficged b'yGovindrow; and, after hav-

richer of the churches were declared to belong to the
king, and were applied to public ufes : tho admtDtAratiQO
ofjufticewas put on a firm footings and carried on by
perfons fent from Lifbon, unconne6led with the inhabitants
of Goa ; the ranks of the clergy and military fettled ; and
that every thing might look to the encouragement of this
fervice^ the denominations of that rank were taken from
military names : thus a biibop had the rank of a brigadier
general* The force af^ually in Goa coniifted of four regi-
ments of infantry, amounting to 2240 men ; one of ma-
rioesy 800; tbrec of natiTQs^ i^^oop; aod 6990 £spoys.

O F B O M B A Y. 75

iiig put him in poflcffion of that important
place, and* thereby (ecured a friendly coun-*
try in thfe rear, to march direftly to Poonah^

This treaty, or the preparations in conse-
quence, cotrld 'not • be carried of j with that
fecrecy nedeflary to fecurtf the effefts of them.
Hurry Punt Futkia, one Sf-fhe confederates^
who comm^iided their army, was apprized of
Ragbbah*ft applicition, and* determined to at*
tack him -whUft the fuperiority was on their
fide: he ^- tRerefore, without lofs of time,
direded^'hiS inarch to Broderah, This obliged
Ragpbah to raife the fiege, attd retreat to the
Mahi, a river neat CanibSy^. ' Fiitty Sing
joined the coiifeflerate armj^jand, knowing
the ceuntryi -'fed'-^them! ib fexpeditioufly, diat
eroding the MaBrV /tlliey came unexpectedly
upon ^hfe • tSMter ' of the army of Ragobah,
An a^on e^fuedy''*in which Ragobah for
fome time defended hlmielf well, till, by
a party of Arabs who had engaged in the
fervice of- Govindrow, refulihg to charge,
he thought hitrifelf betrayed'^ and quitting
the field, rSitired with one thoufand horfe to
Gambay. His general Phaukrea, with the
beft of his troops, retreated to the fort of
Copperwange, about one hundred and fifty

y6 A N A C C O U N T -

cofs from Cambay, where Govindrow and
Cpndah Row joined himf From Cambay,
Ragobah proceeded to Surat, where the force
lent from Bombay found him ; here he ratified
the treaty. His general gave him notice of
his retreat to Copperwange, with his allies ;
of their fafety and numbers, and of the pof-
libility of effedting a junction with the Eng-
lifti force (hould they advance to Cambay.
Upon this it was determined our army fhould
proceed there, the tranfport by fea was eafy,
and feoure ; on the 1 8 th of March they ar-
rived, and proceeded to joi^ithe army of Ra-
gobah* The confederate army lay between
them ; yet, by a motion happily concerted
between the commanders, the Engliih got
poileffion of a fecure poft beyond the confe-
derates, and a junction was formed on the
1 9th of April 1775. The whole of the army
thu3 combined amounted to 37,500; of
which 2500 were Englifh troops.

Fortune, or rather the ill-timed rapacity
of the confederates; once more favoured Ra-
gobali. Deeming his ruin compleated by
the laft defeat, they haftened to fill their trea-
fury. Orders, were fent to Hurry Punt Fur*
kia, dieir general, to feize Modagee Sindia,
the jaghedar of Uguir, and fend him to Poo-

nah

O F BO M B A Y-- 77

nah to fettle his accounts ; he had intelli-
gence of this, and knowing the conlquences
of fuch an imprifonmcnt, he determined not
to venture it, and fuddenly left the confer
derate army with 12,000 ^horfe ; the pre-
tence was, that troubles had arifen In his
province, which his prefence was neceflary
to compofe. Colonel Keating loft no time
in advancing towards the enemy, who,
though fuperior in numbers, carefully avoided
an engagement, conftantly retreating as he
advanced^ and fometimes fb as might be well
termed flying. Ragobah had ibme parti-
cular reafons to wifti that our march (hould
be direfted norrfiward, but the deftination
and exprefs orders required that the march
ihould be to Poonah.

The confederates were ftruck with the dc-
iertion of Sindia ; it gave them room to
fufpeft the fincerity of Holcar, their other
northern ally ; . the Nizam, not withftan ding
the ceffions made, and fubfidies granted by
them, fent no troops to their affiftance;
their ally Shabagee Bouncelo had been lately
Q\xt off by his brother Modagee^ fevera^
chiefs, on whofe afliftance they had reckoned,
now grew coldt and did not join them ;

pfobably,

^8 AN ACCOUNT

probably, if R^dbah marched with viftary
to Poonah, would follow his ftandard. The
weight which the ^ftance of. the Englifli
would throw into the (bale, the extent
whereof yet was uncertain ; all thefe cir-.
cumrtances dctermiiled the Confederates ta
hazard an engagccr^nt ; ' li tliey were vl&o^
rious it would ftop" ^e ^urre^lt, and prepared
the way for a negotiation with u$, which Sac-
caram Bappo and Nanah Furneze were then
fneditating ; if it^ey were defeated^ the ruin
turn inevitable watt' dfidy 'decelerated. They
therefore fent orders to Hurry Furkia to rifle
an engagement.

In every W^r, wh^hei* e^itternal or civil,
there are inconveniencies on each fide^ which
fiirnifh great advantages to the adverlary:
ejtperienced perfoiis kndw than they are in-
herent in the nature of human a^airs, and
irom that experience conclude chey extii : it
Was ib here, Ragobah laboured Ai»>der the
want of laredufe; wheni be wais fiii^ifod
bnd forced toreiteat to Cambay^ all heoould
carry with him was the valiae of fix lacks iof
foupies in jewels; the remainder of his ¥a*
iuable ejSeSb, w^di had not fallen into daie
pofieffion of his eneinies, was iecuied in the

fort

Q F B O M B A ¥• 79

fort QfDhar^ where his family had Pttirtdf
and wa^ not then within his reach. Thcfe
iix lacks were infifted on as a pkdge of hb
performing his engagements to the Com*
pany. The refource of borrowing from the
Shroii^ or ^noney-kiiders at Surat CMkld be
but weak whilA: his afi&irs {kx)d ia a preca*
rtous fituation^^his own fecuritj wa>B tiot (uf^
ficient to procui'e their tnift^ and it was a
^p too bold for the couaciil of Bombay to
enq^age the credit of the Company,: tbia
<di(br^3 was well IcitQwn at Pooaah { and
that the Ihdian troops^ if not paid regularly,
or hare liot iome^proiped of imniediate fatii^
fadioa, will not fight, or if they are brought
to face the foe do it faintly; and the eonk-^
derates hoped fome advantage would arile t9
them from it during an entitlement; any
fert^nate turn, the ackreffion of £>£ae chie^^
would fo change the afpe£l: of a^irs as to
make th^e difadvantages vanijfh : thia wa»
anod»2r ^great inciteqatont to th^ir determina-
tion of hazarding a battle^

Ragobah!^ wifti ^vas to have penetmtad
kioithward to Ahmedavadt where he hoped
to have pnocured money » which be ilood {q
emch in ti»pd of; 'but this fcheme waa {oon

found

So A N A c cb UN r

found by Golonel Keating to be replete with
jnconveniencies,. not only as it delayed the
principal objed in view, which was his efta-
blifhment at Pooirah, but from the nature
of the march Itfelf, as moving fouthward
would oblige the enemy to foll<Jw, and the
(boner bring them to an a<Stion : he therefore
infiftcd on bending their march that way.
This had its efFe<9t ; the minifterial army fol-
lowed, and on the 1 8 th of May came up
to the rear of the Engliih, as they were at
the entrance of a village where there were
fbme defiles ; their commander havhig est-
pefted this, his troops were very foon formed
to receive them well, and though they at-
tacked with great refolution, they were re-
pulfed with a very great lofs on their fide,
and very little on that of the Englifli, till
unfortunately the firft company of European
grenadiers, by an ill judged movement to the
right retreated too precipitately from their
ground ; they were followed by the Madras
infantry, and thefe by fome fepoys ; their
movement, though too rapid^ was regular
till they reached fome hedges with openings
at intervals ; crowding to get through theie
occafioned confufion, during which they were
charged with fuccefd by ^ body of horfe*

They

OF B O'M B A V. «i

They then fled, nor could they be rallied^
even by the comtnander himfelf ; their flight
haviiig cleared the ground of them, the
artillery played with fuch fuccefs on that
body of horfe, that there remained not more
than ten. This unfortunate motion was
owing to an order given by the coninlander'
to leize fome guns of the enemy, which tnuft
have been improperly repeated and ill un-
derftood : many officers were killed on that
ocGtaiion. This was the only lofs on the fide
of the Englifh ; that of the enemy was very
greatj the artillery having deftroyed great
numbers of men ^ horfes, and fome elephants;
many periflied in their flight, and every day's
news increafed their tofs. ' Thus the event
was fortunate to Ragobah, and fo damped
the fpirit of his enemies, that the confederate
afmy never from that time was brought to
ftand another attack ; they retreated, with-
out even making life of the advantage of
iftahy defendable pofts which the country
offered. On the 19th of May Colonel
Keating pafled the Mahi in purfuit of them,
but could not reach them till the loth of
June,' when, at the pafs of Bowapier, they
crofied the Nerbedah j the Eiiglilh army
there came up to their rear, which they at-

F tacked

82 A jNT A C C O U rst.T

tacked with fuocefs : many were \dliddf their
cannon w^re loft in the river, and many
men, horfes, and camels drowned ; they re-
treated from thence with precipitation, leav-
ing great quantities of provender and pro^
vifion that they had not time to. . dcftfoy ;
- which, with fome horfes and an elephant, fell
into the purfuers hands : and thus the pro-
vince pf Guzurat was evacuated^; ,To cora-
pletp their misfortune, in their retreat, when
they came to the Tappy , near Golow^ it was
fo fwelled and rapid, that in pafling it they
loft a thoufand horle# A little time before
this the Mahrattas from Baftein had made
an attempt on Salcet, \y here they landed
with 35 OP m^n, but were repulfed with
great Iqfs on their /ide.

^The monfbons near approach made ^ fur-
ther progrefs fbuthward dangerous : it waa
necef&ry therefore to fufpend that part of the
operations; but what remained of the fair
feafonwas employed in the reduftion of Dub-
bay, a fortified place fituated between Ba*
roach, and Broderali ; this . poffeliion pro-
duced confiderable advantages. Our army
could winter there, and the proximity of
Baroach made it eafy at the opening of the
' feaibn

OF BOMBAY. 8j

fealbn^ 'f6r futfh reinFo;-c^tnonts and fupplies
as migfrt /Be 'fent froni Bombay to join the
army J tfecnte the fidge of Brodera might be
tzCily undertaken. The poffeffion of that
place was neceflaty to fedure the country be-
hind, When the arniy flioiild proceed to Poo-^
nah, the great objeft of the expedition. Other
incidehts then began to incline the balance to
khe caufe of Ragobah, and the particular ad*!-
vantage of the EngUfli.

* It hath already been' mentioned that Futty
"Sing, one bf tHb GfWicawars, had been ap-
pointed gaveirnbt df^the cbyntry of Guzurat by
the confederates ;';'a^- his "advancement was
owing to the mouey he had given them, he did
not Ibok on it 'as binding hin^ to their caufe,
which he had efpoufed fblely with a view of
preventing^ the ravage of his country; the cef-
lions made by Ragobah to the Englifh, fliewed
him things in^a difFereut light; he had, even
at the time he joined the confederate army,'
made diftant overtures to him, the retreat of
Furkia made therii ferious and earneft. The
appearance of fuccefs was totally on this
fide; if the reality followed it, all chance of
his retaining any part of what he now pof^
felled, was loft ; he had therefore recourfe to

F 2 the

84 an: a c .c o u.n.t

the mediation of the Englifli. r^to whom he
not only confirnied thofe grants which Ra-
gobah had made in the country uadpr his gor
vernment, but rnade further ..Cf^au^ t;o thp
amount of i 78 ,000 roupies * a ye^r-Thrbugti
this mediation a treaty was made, ivitb Raj-
goba^; Futty Sing fubmit|^d to p^y hii^
the ufual tribute, and, furnifli. hiiii the aid
claimed by the Durbar of Poonah; and whaf
was of rnoft importance at that time, pro-
mifed the payment of twenty-fix lacks within
the.fpace of fixty days* Ragobah found
means to fatisfy Gpvi^di:ow> aud concjiud*"
ed this advantageous treaty 9!" peace rand aL-
liance in the month of July 1775.

J « ^> -ik

The profpe£t of the affairs of the Coip-
pany had not a lefs favourable appearance at
fea. In the beginning of the year the Mah-
ratta officer who commanded at Geriah had
equipped a. fquadroix coofiderable for that
country: it confifted of .five fhips ;. one of
forty-fix, two of tbirtyrtwo, and two of
twenty-fix guns, b^fides ten Gallwats, or
fmaller yeflels, alio arnaed. , Commodore
John Moore, with the Reveuge and ther Bom»

• . '

■<••■• •

* i7,8ooK at 2s. the rowpic. ,. '

bay

V B O MB AY. 85

hay grab, coming into thefe feas, immedi-
ately flood toward this fleet, which bore
away ; he ordered the grab to chace the ad-
miral's fhip, which was that of forty-fix
guns : . the grab engaged her ; this gave time
for the Commodore to come up before (he
cDuId run afhore: after an engagement of
two hours the Mahratta admiral blew up,
and was entirely deftroyed ; her commander
and moft of the crew perifliing. The trade
along the Malabar coaft was now efFeftually
protedxjd.

The caufe of Ragobah feemed now trium-
phant ; befides the acccflion of Futty Sing,
which enabled him to pay his troops, his
friend and ally Moodagee Bouncelo now in
full and undiftnrbed pofieffion of his domi-
nions, was advancing to join him at the
head of a very refpexSable fc^rce. Ifhmael
Gawn was in march to join him with 4000
horfe. Appagee Gunnis, who commanded
at Ahmadabad, entered into treaty to fur-
render the place to hii-n. The pofleffion of
this fecured him from any enemy to the
north of Nerbedah. A detachment was'
ai^ually fent to receive it.

F 3 The

8^ A N AC C O U NT

The confederates' had made gredt ^vaticcs '
to the Nizam to engage him to Ifend them
affiftance ; they offered to cede to him the
important fortrefs^ of Dowletabad with Bur-
l^ampore Aflery, and fome diftrifb. which
the Mahrattas had conquered* Thov^h he:
treated their pretenfions, and the infant
Pailhwa they had fet up, with the greateft
contempt, the advantages offered were too
great to be rejefled ; the poffeffion of thefe
cefiions once gained, a dexterous fiding with
the viftorious party would confirm it. If-
fortune Ijept the balance even, whilft it did
fa he was fure of the continuance of this
poiJeffiou; he therefore, entered into treaty,
and piade a folemn engagement to afiifi
them, and in confequence they evacuated
Powletabad, and gave orders to their troops
to withdraw from the other ceded places :
but now he faw the time was come when to
retain thefe he mull abandon his new allies ;
the Englilh having efppufed the caufeof Ra-
gobah, had changed the face of affairs : appli*
cation was therefore, made through the Na-
bob of Surat for the Nizam to be admit-
ted into the alliance. He required the con-
firmation of what had been ceded to him,
and that the Engliih (hould guarantee this

pofl'effion :

O F B O M B AY.- 87

poffeffioft : in return he offered his whole force,
confifting of 50,000 horfe, 15,000 fepoys,
and a train of artillery : at the fame time he fent
his vaqueel to Ragobah to propofe a general
accommodation on this plan, that Ragobah
fliould enjoy all the honours of the Paifliwa-
ihi'p, and fufficient revenues to maintain his
jdignity, that the government fhould be car-
ried on in the name of his adopted fon Fur-
rat Row, that the adminlftration fliould be
in Marabah Furne^e as Duan, and the con-
federates fully pardoned, and fecured in the
poffeffion of their efiefl:s, and the ceflions,
as juft now mentioned, were to be confirmed
(o him.

As the caufe of Ragobah advanced, that
of the confederates declined* Sindia and
Jlolcar had dgferted them, and the * lofs o£
their ailiftance was a fatal blow, for on that
they principally depended. Nanoo Oppah
governor of Poonah, whofe reputation and
private chara<9:er gave their party credit, was
dead : Morabah Furneze whp was one of the
minifters, and a man of confideration, had
not from the beginning joined the confede'»
racy, though he had fubmitted to ad under
the governmei^t it had eftabliflied : and yet,'

F 4 ^

?« AN ACCOUNT

. fo much were they afraid of his influencd,
that they left him unmolefted. Shabagee
Bouncelo ^ was no more, and death had
taken from them another very ufeful friend
in fhe perfon of Ruckna ul Dowlah, the
minifter of the Nixam, to which accident
they attributed his leaving them, and treating
with Ragobah. But the union of the Eng-
lifh was the moft fatal ftroke; refinance to
this was. by moft of tlie confederacy conli-
dered as vain in the end, and this defpoUr
dencv, which made each man folicitous for
his own fafety, and anj^ious for fecurity of
liis perfon and wealth, made him fufpicious
of his neighjbour, and defirous to prevent
him in treating either with Ragobah or his
allies; add to this," that from the known ra-
pacity of the bramins, their fuccefs was
dreaded, even by their friends; that vice had
infeifted and deprefled their affairs from the
beginning. ♦ The feveral Mahratta chiefs who
had been drawn to fupport their caufe by
promifes of large fums, were fruftrated : the

^ Thprc was a contefl between Shabagee and Mona-
gee ; a battle enfued ; in this Monagee was defeated and
taken prifoner, and the next morning Shabagee was found
4ead in his bed : Monagee >vas reftprcd ^nd proclaimed
p.aja of Berir,

public

^

j'-r^

O F B O M B A Y. 89

public treafure leflened by their partial ma-
nagement, and now exhauftcd by what rfiey
had lent the Nizam, could fumiih no more;
and though the bramins had great fums of
their own, their avarice overcame their policy,
^nd prevented their lacrificing any thing to
the common caufe; each, when applied to,
referred to the treafure expefted from the Sir-
cars. The nature of their troops prevented
their being relied on when oppofed to re-
gulars with a well ierved artillery; for each
man had two fears, that for his horfe being
as ftrong as for himfelf, and as thifty are con-
tinually clamorous for their pay or other
reward of leryice,the greateft advantage may
often be loft for want of a fufficiency to fa-
tisfy them. Furkia was ever in dread of
fbme accident of this kind ; he law the dif-
fatisfadtion among the chiefs, and every tno-
ment was at the eve of being forfaken, per-
haps feized an3 delivered up to the enemy.
This had induced him, even in his flourilh-
ing ftate, to try diftant overtures for peace ;
during his retreat the evil increafed, the
men. n\ Ho had loft their horles openly com-
plained, and demanded their pay of their
leaders, who in their turn prefled their com-
mander : to f^tisfy their demand was im-r

^ pollible;

■t-

^v AH A C C O U N T

I

m

' The "news pf the treaty witK Ragobah^
and of the march in con&quence, arrivred at
Calcutta the lattjsr end of May 1775. Far
from meeting with tlie approbation of the
governor and council there, it was condem-
ned by allasa meafuire impolitic, unjufV,^ and
unauthorized ; impolitic, as tlirowing the bur-
den of the war on the Company; unjuft, as no
injury had been received from the Mahratta
ftat^; and unauthorized, as the a£t of par^
liament vefted in the Supreme Council the
authority of treating with the powers of In-
doftan. The manner of carrying on the
war in confequence of the treaty was no lefs
reprobated than the treaty itfelf. Sending
the Company's troops at fuch a diftance from
Bombay was called. a rafh ftep, which might
be attended with fatal confequences. The
governor general, in his minute of the 31ft
May 1775, painted thefe fuppofed evils in a
very flrong light, though at the fame time he
prefented many difficulties attending the exe-
cution of any orders they jmight give in con-
fequence of this reprobation ; and' therefore
profefled that be was much embarrafled in
bis. choice of what meafures might be moft
proper to be taken. That as tbingt could not
be replaced as they originally ftood, fo the

diftance

OF BOMB AY.-. ^j

diftance they were at prevented fhem fron
knowing the exaft* fifti^ion of them at that
time ; that it miglkt 4ie fuch -that the with-
drawmg our jDroc^ from Ragobah might be
attended ^th many -difficulties, perhaps dan-
gersJ He therefore propofed that the preii-
deut^and boi^cil of Bombay Ihould be - en-
jointed to: caneel the treaty with 'Ragobah,
and withdiiaw the dietachmeht within the
lines rof the Engliih poifefiionsy unlefs i^
ffaduld appear, in the firft place, that they
had ^ obtained ibme coniiderable advantage %
or, ibbondly, that it (hould be dangerous to
recall thd detachment; or, thirdly, that a
negoclation Ihould have taken place between
Ragobah and his opponents.

Mr. Barwell concurred with the governor
general in the exd^ption propofed, and voted
againft die recall of the army ; but General
Ciavering, Colonel A^onfbn, and Mr. Francis
were totally againfl any exceptions whatfb-
evo;; and it was voted by that majority, that
the treaty -ihould be cancelled, and the troops
abfblutely recalled. • It was determined to'
eoter into a direA negotiation with the party>
at Poonah, and to fend Colonel Upton to
Ueat with them in the name, of the Supreme

Council :

94 A.N A CC O U NT

CoubcU ; the pucp^t of the inftrb^n^ ib
be given to him w^s^ M the firft pkce^ td
exprefs a regret for the hoftile^ ineafures ad^*
opted by the couocil.of Bombay iu concurs
rence with Ragob^^ .the Siipr^e .Cbxincil's
difapprobation of: that treaty , their de&ro
of re^eflabli(hing a (incere and lalHhg peaccy
to excufe the feizure Qf<.$ali$t :a9 stintefiini
only to prevent ita f^Uiag i|)to.the. haodii of
the Portuguese^ and to allbdge the impDffi4
bility of reftoring it without the peritifliott
of the DirefkdrBi to iAform tiiexa:of the Qr4
ders given for the withdrawing idtartroqpa
from Ragobah^ a^d to endetivauc to iutlttda
him in the tre^y ^

< 1 w

In the mean time letters were written tp
Saccaram BappoO aC Poonah, dfmouiicing the
departure of Colonel Upton^ expreffing a dif^''
approbation of the meafures ' purfued by th^
council of Bombay, and inforaiing them 00
the orders given in coniequence* Saccanmoi
was an extraordinary perfon ; he h»l riim
from an ori^nal {bite of poverty^ which pre?
vented the firil rudiments of education^ h]{r
a natural addrefs which fupplied that; waolv
he had by degrees advanced hit fortune fix
9S. to attain the principal officets of the ibte^'

his

OF BOMBAY. 9S

his experience ieconded his^ talents^ but not
knowing how to write or read he was obliged
to make ufe of and truft others. His'prin-
cipal coritidant was a bramln called Lakr^
who had been governor of Concan, ^ proviticd
including Salcet and Ba£ein, and had rcafott
if that party prevailed, to hope a return to
that government. Saccaram knew the trud
interefts of the Mahratta ftate, and therefor©
was naturally averfe to any ceffions of terri-
tory, and every meafure which could tend
to give power and ftrength to the Englifli ;
this inclination muft have been greatly
ftrengthcned by the reprefentatioft of Lalar,
who, by the ceiHons propofed, would be fo
great a lofer; this letter wis therefore too
favourable to. their views, Hot to produce
great efFe£b. The firft was, frefli ihftruc-
tions immediately fent to their Vaqueels at
Bombay^ which arrived before they had de-
clared in form the purport of their miffion :
this now appeared very different from the
humility which accompanied thiir firft ap-
plication I they demanded that 'the perfbn
of Ragohah (hould be delivered up t6 thetn ;
the-.reiftorationdf Salcet, and other acquifi-
tions vsrhich were then in aftual pofleffiou of
the Engllfh ; and the rellnquifhing all thought

of

96 AN A C C O U N T

of Bafiein, in return for wHich they conde^^
fcended to defray the charge and expence hi-
therto incurred : yet at this very time, in all
refpe(3:s, other than the change likely to hap-
pen by the refoiution of the Bengal council,
the affairs of the confederates were in a fitu-
atjon almoft defperate ; Morabah Furneze
had fent a trufty perlon to Ragobah with:?af«
iurance, that he and four of the moft power-
fijl men at Pooiiah were ftrongly attached to
his interefts ; and information that Furkia
was at Aurengabad, having fcarce 5000 men
under his. command ; that the' whole force
of the confederates did not exceed 12,000,
and thofe npt daftly affembled, or worthy of
dependance pa them ; that .Saccararh and Na-* .
nah Furneze had fecured themlelves in Po-
rounder foit, fearing to go from it ; that Mo-
rabah himielf vvas actually coUefting a force
from the troops lately paid off by the confe-
derates, which he doubted not, by the time
the aljies could afcend tlieGauts.*, w^uld
amount to 10,000 horfe, with which fhe*
would join Ragobah, and carry himt without
bloodihed to Poonah. At the fame time die
news from the . fouthern parts were equally

* Gauts, Goats, or Gattes, arc paffcs through the
mouptaios.

favourable;

OP BOMBAY. 97

favourable : Beeii Singi the Raja of Marwar*
fent his Vaqueel with information, that he
was oh his inarch to join hitn, that he was
within forty-five cofs of Aurengabad, and that
his force confided of" lo^ooo men.

The council at Bombay were firuck witK
amazemement at the refolutions of the Su-
preme Council, and the celerity with which
they a£ted in confequence* They deputed
^r. William Taylor, one of their body, to
Calcutta, to reprelent the motives which had
induced them to z&i the confequences of
what they had done ; the happy fituation of
the affairs of the party they had elpouled ;
the benefits that would refult to the Com-
pany from the ceffions ftipulated by their
treaty with Ragobah ; the danger of reducing
him todefpair, by abandoning his caufe; the
difgrace that would attend a breach of a
treaty fo folemnly made ; and the neceffity
they were under to make it, if they would
obey the orders of the Directors to omit no
occafion that (hould offer of getting Salcet
and Baflein into pofl'eflion.

Mr. Taylor arrived in the beginning of
October 17 75 5 and, on the 9th, prefented a

G memorial

^8 A N A <!! C O U N T

'memorial to the Governor and Council, re-
prefenting thefe fevSral matters, and proving
the fatal confequences of fending any perfcni
diredlly from Calcutta to Poonah.

After defending the meafures of the Bom-
bay council, by fhewing the advantage ac^
cruing from this treaty, and the neceiSty of
afting in conformity to the orders of 'the
Diredors, the danger attending the alteration
of meafures, and forfaking Ragobfeh, from
the circumftances of the neighbouring princes;
the dcfgrace neceffarily following the breach
of a treaty, which, though perhaps refcind-^
able by the S uprehie Council, if the fettk-
tnmt by the late aft of parliament was fuch
as to invalidate in every cafe, the afl:s of
ful^ordinate prelidencifes when not confirmed
by that council ; yet as to the powers with
whom it was 'made, unacquainted with
thefe new arrangements, and confident thk
W'hen they tr^afted with the Bomba!y coun-
cil, they treated with the Company, muft
be looked on by them as having force, and
not to be refcinded without a breach of
good faith ; the policy of keeping up thcr
prcfent mode of adminiftratton in Poonah
without running the hazard of . having the
"tramins difpoffeffed, which might happen if

by

^ BOMBAY. 99

byt^e deilruftlon of Ragobah that part/
^l)k}'W^nt a chiefs ^d mud end iti re«
eft^btifhi})g the Raja in power, and put an
end to all diiSentioii, the confequences of
which mui^ be fatal to the peace of all the
i^ed of Jndia.

Thac as the letter written to Saccaram was
woxtledy imply ing that the Supreme Council
WQce un^quairited with the acknowledge
m&it of Ragobah as Paiihwa previous to the
treeatyv it kft it yet in their power to chufe
wbajt meifures they would take; he there-
fore 'eri^ated them to warrant and affift the
cdui^il of Bombay to fulfill their engage-
ment with the Pai(hwa, as the only fafe
and hpnourable expedient in ' this junfture,
aivl probably the laft opportunity of attain-
ing the end propoied by the Directors, and
e{labli(hing the affairs of the Company on a
firoa and iblid bafis. But whatever might
he their ultimate refolve, as to treating at
Poonah^ he moft earneftly recommended that
the orders for withdrawing the army from
Ragobah (hould be revoked ; it would have
at leajl this good effeft, that all parties would
bo .kept in fufpence until it (hould be finally
jtiiQWh, whether the prefent conteil ihould

G 2 be

jco A N A C C O U N T

be decided by treaty tor arms ; it would pre-
vent the bad confeqiiences of a defertibn of
Ragobah, \?yhich muft be that of hi« allies,
and inevitably of the Englifh ; that • wHat-^
ever judgment might be formed of the origin
of the meafures, even though the council
had unneceflarily engaged in a war, yet the
continuance of it, as things flood, was ne-
cefiary to the fafety of the Company. If it
fhould be pbjefted, that this war was a vio-
lation of engagements formerly entered into
with the Mahratta ftate, and of a neutrality
recommended by the Diredors, the anfwer
was plain : thefe engagements* being with the
acknowledged chief of that nation and its
leg*al reprefentative, could not be a violation,
but were in truth a continuation of the old ;
that on one fide honour, acquifition of re-
venue, and influence in the firft ftate in
India, muft be the confequence of purfuing
the enterprize ; on the other weaknefs,
diigrace, and ruin muft follow the retreat
of the army before the accommodation
which fettled the interefts and fecured the
fafety of the feveral parties fhould have taken
place. Before Mr. Taylor prefented this
memorial he had conferences with the Go-^
vernof General, and each of the njembers of

the

OF BOMBAY. loi

tW council. ; The Governor, whofe long
refidence in and experience of- the affairs of
India, made him a more competent judge^
was foon convinced that the ftep was preci-
pitate ; Mr. Barwell joined with him. In-
deed he had from the beginning oppoied the
withdrawing of the army ; but the three
members lately arrived from England had
adopted a principle of peace in all events,
and therefore over-ruled every expedient pro-
pofed by the Governor for complying in Ibmo
meafure with the reprefentation ojf Mr^TayloK,
and fb determined Was their refqlution, that
an anfwer was returned to his. memorial the
very day it was prefented. All thefe things
happened in 0£tobex i 775 *i

In confequence of the refolutions taken by
the Supreme Council, pofitive orders wcxe
lent to the council- of Bombay, that the
Englifli " army Ihould immediately with-
draw withui.the limits of the Compan/&
poffeffions ; that if Ragobah defired a retreat,
they fliould afford it him ; that until the treaty

ihould

* It may be proper to place in one view the fevcral
peaces ceded to the Compapy by the treaty between them
and Ragobah, with their produce to^the Company.

G 3 Salcet,

/'<. ' •---,. •' «k.

, , . :v.v.,., V'--,.

'. ■ ,s -i ^ n 1. »■ i , -.^ . ' » j

- ■ i.- '.

ro2 ANA C C<? U N T

fliould be fettled between Golonel Upton am!
the governnieht ^ at Poooah, they ihould ret
tain the poflefJion of Broach, Coriab, Chicke*

• . \ t ■ ■ '

^ t « « . •• •

Salcct, Caragah, Elephanta, Hbg Itotfd^ Rs*

and Canary produce a yeat* '-r-: 85Q,Ooo '

^afTein, with its dependencies, — 400,000

Orpad '-^ ' — ' -r-* -r* 35<5>oc>o *

jambofier -rr i — ; -?* 4PO*ooq . ,,,\ .

The .Gwjcaw^r^ Share of Preach •, 3S9>oo<>
To be paid ^fnnually from Qcclaiier 75,000

1 1 ■ III

< ^ J

Which, at.25. the roopie, is £.192,500
• '^ndat2§.3rf. thec6mmob '
,. /C5u:bange,,i? L. 216,562 .{

Pr^fented to the Cpinpany ■

fince the treaty by Rago-
bah, a&d i*otty Sing .on •
the coaciufion of their . ^
treaty, ' Es.

Coriab, near Broach, 50,000

CilicbeJyi pear Sprat, . io'o^ooo, ^
Yeriow, near Surat, ; 2,B^ooo

Ahipood, adjoining BrtJacb^ '156,000 * . " '^
' -* ■ :■ . . •! • 1 f. V ■ ^ ■ ^■ - >3 28,00a :

Total ceded for ever

2,?53jQ9o

|l«maipiqgfefcurily fprJthO^ V L. 225,390 at 2§.

,payment.ofthefubfidy 5^ • _orL. 253^442 at 2s.3d,
ReijiaindeV of the fcyennc ^ Rs.' -

:,iof Ooclafier 110,000

Hanfooc —

Verfaw — —

. . . ,

^ptal f^curit j

•# /

r— • j27,ooQ
rr 100,000

337»ooft

T 4.» » » '

^

OF ]^ O B4 9 A Y. 103

ley, aiid Yerfaw, but carefully avoid all ho-
ftilities with the Mahratta army. Colonel
Upton was to perform his jourqey to.Poonah
by land. Though this was ^td' ta^e up a
great length of time, no inconvenience was
fbrefeen, as it was fuppofed that, vpon a cef-
lation of arms, every thing would remain
quiet and in the fame ftate, and that paflpoits,
as well as conveniencies of travelling, would
be procured for him during his whole route
by the provifion of the Pbonah gover/iment.
The Colpnel fet out on the 1 0th of July
1775, with a proper accompaniment, hav-
ing with him Captain Allen Macpherlbn," Sir
James Paterfon, Dr. Sutton Banks a phyfi-
cian , and Captain Benjamin ^ Wroe : and on
the 24th of September had proceeded as far*
as Benares: he there received letters from
Saccaram, the contents whereof gave him
no great encouragement; and whofe flyle
was fuchj, that he complained of it to the
Supreme Council, who thereupon wrofe to
Saccaram ; and at the fanae tirtie to the co-
lonel, that h^ fhould take advantage qf the
fituation of the army under Colq^el Keating,
by telling the Poonah miuifters, that it now re-
mained inactive near Surat, but that it fliould
a<^ acc9rding to their behaviour ; if they made

G 4 . ^ ^uy

I04 A N A C CO U N T

any motion with their troops, that army
ihould likewjfe move, and the Supreme
Council would not think thetpfelves bound
to keep terms of amity with them : that as
the Council meant to a(3: with good faith,
they expefted the fgme treatment in every
inftanqe.

The eq^rneftnefs of the Englifli for peace
had appeared plainly in the beginning; for.
the ceffatioA of arm3 had been pubiiflied, and
taken place in the month of Auguft ; and
now, notwithftanding the prefling inftances of
Ragobah, that the army Ihould not yet with-
draw fropa him, as it would* produce fuqh a
coldnefs amongft all his friends, who wouid
give yp his caufe as loft and himfelf as
ruined that he Ihould be immediately aban*
doned by them, the arm/i on the 20th qf
.Oftober 1 775, began itg march fromPubbay
to retire into the Pergunnah of Surat ; and
on the 1 3th of November were withjn fixr
teen cofs of that city. Ragobah dared not
remain without their prote^jon, and there-
fore y/lth his troops followed their march ;
with hope, that from the reprefentations
xaadp at Calcptta, the Council might be yet
ini^uped to favour his cayfe.

The

OF BOMBAY, 105

The Nabob of the Carnatic, fearing the
inr6ads of the Mahrattas when once iShcy
fliould enjoy peace at home, deilred to have
a (hare in any treaty which fhould be con-
cluded by Colonel Upton with them ; and
for that purpofe that he might fend a Va-
quefel to Poonah ; the Council confented
that Mr. Chambers fhould* go from him to
be affiftant to Colonel Upton in what regarded
his intereft ; but he was not to treat himfelf
with the miniilers, or af2 in any; other. nian-*
ner than thi'ough the Colonel, who alone was
to manage all matters with them. Colonel
Upton in proceeding on his journey did not
find the efFed:s expe£ted from that readi-
ness in the Poonah Durbar, which the majo-
rity of the Supreme Council flattered them-
felves with. On the 25th November he
wrote from Bopaul, which is feventy cofs
from Burhampoor, that he met many oblla-
cles ; that the country was in arms ; that
he had yet received no paflport from Poonah ;
at the fame time the miniftry wrote to the
Supreme Council, that they had given orders
for having every thing prepared, fb that Co-
lonel Upton might have a free paflage; but
that they had not then heard of his approach.
The ftyle of this letter fhewed no pacific in-
clinations ; they complained that the Bombay

council ;

.,o8 AN ACCOUNT

fomuch, that in the beginning of February he
had no hope of concluding any thing with
them. The detail of what pajSed between
him and them from that time to the conclur
lion cannot be interefting* After many en^
tanglements got over, at laft, on the i ft of
March 1776, ,a treaty was^ figned at Poroun-
der by Colonel Upton, on the part of the
Company, and Saccaram Bappoo and Balkr
gee Pundit, on that of the infant Paifh^a.
By this it was, in the firft place, mentioned,
that peace between the Company in general,
apd the Bombay council in particular, and
the infant Paiftiwa and his minifters, Sac-
caram and Ballagee, on the part of the Mah-
rattas fhould be fu]ly eftabliihed. That this
peace on each fide fhould be forthwith pro-
claimed. That the Mahrattas being anxious.tp
recover Salcct, would in return give the Com-
pany a country producing three lacks of rou-
pies, in the neighbourhood of Broach ; but jt
was to be left to the option of the Supreme
Council whether or no to accept this equiva-
lent. The advantages to the Englifti were ;

^ I ft. All right to the city and pergunnah
of Broach was to be ceded to the Company
free irom. all demand whatfoever; they were
to have likewife a country of the yearly pro^

ducQ

OF BO M B AY- 109

duce of three lacks adjoining to Broach, the
bounds whereof; ihould be detercained by two
perioq« for the Company, and two perfons
for the Mafarattas : and for the expeuces of
the war, the Englifh fhould be paid twelve
lacks ; lix within iix months, and fix within
two years.

In return for this, all and every part of
the Onxurat country which had been ceded
by Ragobah to the Englifh (that only fettled
OH them by this treaty excepted) was to be
reflored ; and all the country ceded by Futty
Sing to the Company was to be given up to
the Mahrattas, upon their producing proofs
by the letters and funnuds * of the Paifh-
was, that Futty Sing was not authorized to
make fuch a ceffion. Befides,

All treaties made by the Bombay councl^
with Ragobah were declared to be annulled, asf
was alfb that with Futty Sing. In confequence
the Englifti troops were immediately to march
within the limits of their prdidency. Ra-
gobah was to difbaiid his army, and all his
adherents but four (who were by name ex-
cepted) were to have a full and free pardon ;

* Sunnud is a grant under feal.

if

if lie ritfefed CO ii^Msd^ the Biigiidi wercrtd
p^e iiiift HI}! «£BAaaoev bonrvMiidiiafw* frQcnj

Ite was to ii2Cire> a)^ train ef aldnilabd iabrier^'
afiA It pi:op0mDtml juimber cX ibiDt, v^hidh;
fti^ld be' paid ksy due FbooBikeEb gDvornm^^t*
as well as two hundred domeAics.; mid be
was to receive three lacl^ pf roupies a year,
Vf msnthfy pa^afieids i huo: iw was to ixefide
^ Cdop»gidnge, ^milinot dionge ius reiodfeBc^
without iicaacse fiom die Paifhiiraii The
Bngiifki were AM >^ aidiDr stfHft in anif naaa-
Her^ either Stagotcdtw my f&x&m SsSsmh^
ing the peac^ of the^ Mcd&asttA^ dommions :
t^hefe cof^naitts isreie tt> be: mvitual ^.

Thd^9f£^th&iaD<iteiaaliailiiciesio£ diss treaty
which was ratified* at B^igaii, by the refo-
lution of the ipajority ; the prefidency of
ficoiQfba^ msde. very '^vem tftriiSbices ^2)n it,
which they'&)i;wardi»i-to Bei^d* Ragobah
looked m^cm^ ik sS' his imim; the £mjg of his

* The^d^airtjqaos^oJtheCoa^paiiyflgrthii treftQr were
in point of revenue as foUowetb ;
' Salcet — — — 350,000
: €ityiaiBii:porguixitib4lf Broflith 500^000
. XIauiUfy a4^olaIpg:to:Bio9ch ^oo,oqo

i^ioo^ooo L. 110,000

at 2S.

« <

refidence

OV BOMB AT. Ill

refickb^e at Coopergmgt iit otmfkfeitd tfs
an knpt^onn»nt, ^4 the tboHfand Korft,
and pro^ortiooal ]t)iii»l)er of Iniantry wfatdi
wefe to he paid fcy the Btionah govtsrn-
ffieiity as a guard f^t \]|>oti hkn, «k^er . to
•keep him in that prifon^ or idielk^r hitn
\o thek paymafters; and he decla^, tbaft
it was better for him to Iry hi^ for-
tunes Wi& the few frlis&ds that might re-
main firm to him, than fUbmit to ^cept
fiich tetjtas. He afleftcd, that ^cmfiding in
the prdte^ion of the £ngliih liationi he had
rejefted offers made to him by the Nizam :
he defired that he might ^ceialce hk appeal to
that nation, and in theisfte^ntiinet^eiheher
in Bombay^ that his peribn might be ux
'fafety.^ .

There was fome reafon for ^Ragobah to
have entertained hopes that his coiiidition
woald have been bdtt^r than it proved in rhe
treaty : for iM>t long before the conchifi^n
of it Colonel Upt-en h6m feveral unto^vwd
ci^eumftarices, fuppofcd the negotiation t«-

^ tally bpoken off, and bad ^written hi$ opinidn
to the S«pFeme Council , who^ coiieluding^l t
ticftlly 4iyy -had ih <:onfequenGe written ^lo

'%6ai^ff that they might in that caie .^.e

prepared

112 A N A C C O U N T

prepared to renew hoflilities, and had it^
written to Ragobab^ promiiing in that event
an effedlual afliftanee to reinftate him. They
had befides applied tp feveral other princes,
Hyder, the Nizam> Modagee Bouncelo, Sin-
dia, and Holcar^ to fupport his caufe; if
they declined this, intreating them to remain
neuter. At, the fame time they had concerted
meafures with regard to Owde, and ordered
a brigade to march to the frontiers of Corah,
neareft to the Pafs of Culpy; but all this was
put an end to by the figning of the treaty.

Another accident which happened about that
time helped to raife his hopes whilft it embar-
rafled the minifters. There was a perfon of
the Paiihwa race, called Subahi, or Subadah,
the fbn of Chimnagee Oppah and brother of
Badgeero^v, who was reported to have been
killed in a battle near Panniput in 1 7 6 1 .
A long time after a man appeared at Poonah,
who allbrted he was that identical Subadah
or Subahi : he produced many proofs of that
identity, but the government at that time
looking upon him as an impoftor, had con-
fined him in thefortofRutnahGeriah. This
man had now efcaped from thence, was
joined by feveral chiefs with fome troops,

and

OF BOMBAY. 113

and Row Dullop who commanded the Mah-
ratta fleet, had declared for him ; he claimed
to be regent either fingly or jointly with Ra-
gobah. Thefe circumftances might induce
Ragobah not yet to difband his troops ; a
more fpecious reafbn was given, that he had
not money to pay them. He followed our
army with them when, they marched from
Dubbay ; and now they had moved to the
environs of Surat, it was thought neceflary,
with the troops lately under Colonel Keat-
ing*s command, to reinforce the garrifbns of
Surat and Broach, left fome accident (hould
happen from fuch a neighbourhood. Whether
this excited a jealoufy that fomething was
fcheming between the Englifti and Ragobah,
or that the minifters were chagrined at not
having him in their power, they complained
to Colonel Upton, that the Bombay council
had not reftored the places which were to be
ceded by treaty ; that they had fupplied Ra-
gobah with military ftores : adding, that Hy-
der had purfued proper meafures in inforcing
his treaties by arms ; and that if, in thefe
particulars, fatisfadion was not given them
they would carry fire and fword through all
the Company's territories. The Bombay
council denied thefe aflertiojis ; they faid,

H that

1^14 AN ACCOUNT

that as 'to the places ceded, they had fent or*
ders to Surat and Broach to have the per*
gtmnahs delivered up upon the appearance of
perfons properly authorized to reteive them ;
that no fuch had appeared ; that remon-
finances had been made to Ragobah, but his
inability to pay prevented his diibanding his
forces: that their garrifoning Surat and
Broach was an aft of neceffity , no way in?-
coniiftent with peace, fince it prevented ac-
cidents which might happen from the neigh-
bourhood of the troops of either party ; that
thejr were fb far from plotting to renew the
war, that when the Nizam had lately of^
fered his aiiiftance to Ragobah , if the Englifh
would engage not to take part with the
Mahrattas, they had declined giving any
fuch promife. They on their fide com-
plained, that r>o good efFefts had yet ap-
peared from the treaty, that to the great de-
triment of the Englifli, no communication
or intercourfe was jet permitted with the
Mahratta dommions ; which prohibition was
ib rigid that no perfons were permitted to
come from the ndghbouring ports to Bom-
bay, even to fell vegetables or other provi*
lions ; that the Mahratta fleet had taken fix
¥e£lels coining from Goa under Engliih co-
lours

O F B 6 M B A Y. 115

lours which had been feparated by a ftorm
from their convoy, and carried them into
Gheriah ; that they had refufed fending a
Vaquecl to Bombay to explain the reafon of
this behaviour ; that it was not poflible to
execute that part of the treaty which related
to the country ceded by Futty Sing, be re-
demanding this from Ragobah, upon this
ground, that the conditions of the treaty
with him wera not performed ; that he de-
nied that the Poonah government had any
right to demand them, or any thing to do
tvith tbefe revenues, all that related thereto
having been fully fettled in the year i759>
when a divifion was made of the Guzurat
country between Poonah and the Gwicawars.
Thus each party ftarted difficulties^ and the
treaty remained without any article of it being
fully carried Into execution. A whole year
was fperit in altercatiorts ind mutual com-
plaints, when the year 1777 opened a new
icene.

In the beginning of April a French fliip ar-
rived at Collaby, a place at the entrance into
the river of Ghoul, whicli landed feveral
gentlemen, who fending notice of their arrival
to Poonah, had not only leave given them to

U 2 go

116 A N A C C O U N T

go thither, but were received in great pomp,
there being an efcort ordered of twenty-five
Arab fepoys with an elephant, twenty ca-
mels, a palanquin, and feme horle. The
perlbn who appeared to be chief among them
ftyled himfelf Chevalier de St. Lubin, a man
already well known in the Englifh fettle-
ments in India for his intrigues*

This man, on the i yth of April, Xvas re-
ceived and had long conferences at Poroun-
der. Mr. Moftyn who now refided at Poo-
nah, on behalf of the Englifli remonftrated
againft his admiffion to the Durbar, but he
was anfwered that his prefent reception was
in confequence of an application made two
years and a half before., and that matters had
then fo far advanced, that his reception could
not be now refufed. The Ihip was brought
vip to Choul, where her loading, confifting
of artillery, fire-arms, copper, and cloth, was
landed. St. Lubin affured the Durbar that
two ffiips more would foon arrive, for which
he demanded permiffion to v/inter in their
harbours. On the 8th of May he had an
audience of the Paifliwa, in which he pre-
fented credentials from the king of France.

It

OF BOMBAY. 117

It was much doubted, not only by the
Englifh, but by the French refident in In-
dia, whether St. Lubin had any commiffion
of the kind he pretended, or was at all au-
thorized : Monf. Belcombe, commandant at
Pondicherry, refufed to acknowledge him as
ambaflador, but the French agei^t at Surat
anfwered his draughts : the perfons who ac-
companied him fufpefted him. The truth,
from the information of the principal among
thefe who had fallen out with him, and took
refuge with Mr. Moftyn the Englifh refident
at Poonah, appeared to be, that St. Lubin
had jointly with Monf. Dumas, an officer
of rank in the Canada army laft war, and
governor of the Ifle of France, obtained
Monf. de Sartine's approbation and confent
to a plan they had formed, which was, that
St. Lubin (hould embark at Bourdeaux, on
board a (hip called L^ Paix, as minifter ple-
nipotentiary in the department of commerce
to the Mahratta court ; Monf. Dumas was
to embark at Breft on L'Indien at the head
of 1500 men, which were to be joined by
1000 to be (hipped on board La Paix, the
whole 2500 to be under the command of
Dumas, who was to have the department of
war in the expedition, as St. Lubin had of

H 3 comr

xi« AN A C C O U NT

commerce, and 500 more were to be lande<f
at the Ifle of Franoe hf a private merchant
fljip. Monf, dc Sartine aiSually vlfitpd the
ports where the Ihips lay. St. Lubin, who
wanted to be at the head of all, by his prir
vate infinuations prevailed on him (unknown
to Dumas, who then thought hito gone tq
Lyons to take leave of his friends) to con-*
fent that he fhould fail in a private Ihip frotn
Bourdeaux,. that he might prepare all thing?
for the reception of the force which was to
follow under the command of Dumas ; this
was to join the Mahrattas, after which they
-were to flrike fome great ftroke. St. Lutj,ia
had the powers of infinuatjon to a great
degree; plaufible, aflbmuig, and re?kdy of
^)eech, he gaye what he faid an airof truth,
yet he was fuperficial, and ever ready tq
iiicrifice truth and every thing to his in-
tereft, even to the detriment of his own na-r
tion. By his repreientations of the mighty
advantages th^t would refult to France iq
general, and in particular to thofe perfbn?
who embarked with him, he carried out
fome gentlemen from Bourdeaux, who fooi^
after thpir arriyal in India, faw they were
the dupes of their credulity, and that thing?
at Poonah were in reality very different frona

what

OF BOMBAY. 119

what he had rcprellented them to be. By the
lirfl: packet he fent to France, which was to
go by Suxat^ they wrote to their friends
what they iaw : thcile letters he opened, and
from that time became their enemy ; and fo
violent was his perfecution, that he prevailed
on Nanah to order one ofihem, Monf. Cor-
celle, to be put to death, after liaying him-
fclf attempted to kill him : another perfoa
was feized by miftake, and would have been
thrown under an elephant's feet, had not a
bramin found he was a Dane. The pro-
tection granted to this Monf Corcelle and
Mr^ Madget by Mr. Lewis, the then Eng-
lifli refident, was made a fubje<^ of com-
plaint, in the bickerings' which followed.
For from that time the Englifli refident met
with a treatment, which fully (hewed the ef-
fed of St. Lubin's negotiations and promifes.

Nanah Furneze, then the afting perfon
in the Pailhwa's miniftry, entered into con-
fidence with him on his undertaking to bring
a confiderable military force to Poonah^
cpmpletely furnifhed with artillery and ftores;
and an alliance v/as to be concluded between
France and the Mahratta nation. That his
promifes might be effbaed, Nanah gave hin\

H 4 ^^^

I20 AN ACCOUNT

the free ufe of the port of Choul. At this
time Saccaram and Nanah were the princi-
pal minifters at Poonah ; Saccaram was old
and infirm, and refiding in Porounder, afted
moftly in the care of the perfon. of the infant
Paifliwa. Nanah, about the age of fifty,
aftive and enterprizing, afpired to the chief
rule, likely to devolve upon him at the death
of Saccaram,

From the proteftion he had afforded Mr*
Bolts before the arrival of St. Lubin, and his
connexions fince with that minifter, it is
apparent his difpofitions were not favourable
to the Englifli. Another perfon, who might
be looked on as a minifler at Poonah, was
Morabah, nephew of Nanah, a man of
great influence and ability, and alfo of great
prudence ; till that time avoiding interfer-
ence in thofe troubled fcenes ; inclined to
Ragobah,

Sindia and Holcar who hold the country
extending from Guzurat to the banks of the
Jumma, originally paid a tribute, but in the
prelent weaknefs of government are grown
independent. A rnoiety of Guzurat and Sal-
cet, BafTein, and the country of Broach, be-
longed

OF B O M B A Y, 121

longed to the Paifhwa family ; the Bouncelo
family poflefs Berar and Nagpoor in perfeft
ibvereignty*

The intereft of St. Lubin ^t Poonah was
an alarming circumftance. It was fo high
with Nanah, that, in order to prevent any
opportunity the Englifli refident might have
of procuring intelligence, he prevailed on
him to place guards upon his houfe. This
was not the only infult ; on his complaining
of this treatment, he was anfwered, that all
Europeans fliould leave Poonah; that if the
Englifh defired to have an agent there, a Car-»
coon (that is an inferior perfon) would an-
fwer the purpoie, and Nanah exprefsly de-
fired he would inform the Bombay prefidency
of this. This meflage was highly refented
by them, and a difavowal of it infifted on,
but in vain ; on the contrary, the reftraint
was increafed.

Other circumftances concurred to fhew
that fome fchemes againft the Englifli were
forming. The French agents and chiefs were
buiy every where. General Belcombe had a
^xty-four gun fliip ready, in which he was
to be carried to the cpafl ,of Malabar, with

a com-

laa AN ACCOUNT

a company of Europeans^ a large fuite^ and
ibme arnas ; Mahi was the pkco named, anii
it was given out he was only going to vifit
that fettlement ; but the real view was to
bring to maturity the plans formed between
St, Lubin and Nanah ; this appeared fully
by the proceedings which followed*

The diflenfions among the minifters at
Poonah were no\Y confiderable, Mr. Moftyn,
the Englifh refident there, had for ibmc time
perceived the feeds of a revolution. On the
loth of December 1777, the council of
Bombay received advice that Saccaram, Mo-
rabah, Butchaba a man of confiderable in-
fluence, together with Holcar, had confe--
derated to remove Nanah from his erajdoy-
ment, and reftore Ragobah, provided the
council of Bombay would join them, and
with a military efcort condud: him to Poo-
nah. That each of thefe chiefs had the com-
mand of 10,000 horfe, and that Sindia, who
was then abfent at the diftance of fixty leagues
from Poonah, was fuppofed to be in the
lame intereft. At this time Furkia, the
commander of the Mahratta forces for the
minifters, was on the bonders of the Cania-t
tic^ where he had invaded. Hyder Ally, lyho

ia

/ ^

OF BOMBAY- 123

{n two engagements had totally defeated him.
^nd Raja Ram, the nominal fovereign of
the Mahratta empire, died thp beginning of
January,

The council of Bombay thought great ad^
vantage in the prcfent circumftance might be
reapeii from this confederacy ; but as by the
treaty of Porounder Ragobah was totally cx-
cludedjit was judged proper that Saccaram, who
was the principal aftor in that treaty, fhould,
jointly with the other confederates, fend the
propofal in writing and under feal ; this done,
they proniifed the concurrence defired, The
1 2 th of December they advertized the Su-
prenae Council of the whole matten The
governor general looked upon this as a fa-
vourable opportuni^v of counterafting the
operations of St. Lubin, and therefore pro-
pofed upon thpfe conditions to authorize the
Bombay council to conclude fuch an agree-
inent, and promife them affiftance in men
fjnd money; the ^^efolution pafled, and ten
lacks of roupies in bills; were immediately
forwarded to Bonibay ; and that council was
exprefsly enjoined to adhere to the requifition
that Saccaram and the other peribns (hould
fend the propofal ii^der their j(eals and figpa-

tures.

124 A N A C C O U N T

tures, and by no means to aft, unlefs that
condition was complied with. This was done
in February 1778.

As it was judged that the council of Bom-
bay were not of ftrength fufficient fingly to
carry fo great a defign into execution, nor to
withftand the efFedt of St. Lubin's intrigues, .
Ihould they fucceed fo far as to introduce a
French army into the Mahratta ftate, it was
thought prudent to have a force at hand'
ready to acSt as occafion fhould require. The
country between the Ganges and Bombay
and Poonah was how well known, and no
more thought impaflable for an army ; the
governor general therefore propofed to fend
a detachment under Colonel Leflie, an of-
ficer of ability, through the inland country
towards Bombay, which might be at hand
to a6t as occafion fhould require. It can-
fifted of fix battalions of fepoys and one
company of native artillery, which were
to be joined by a regiment of cavalry and a
body of horfe from the province of Owde ;
thefe were all to afiemble at Kulpee, near the
Jumna, and from thence proceed, through
the countries of Eoondelchund and Berar, to*,
wards Bombay,

On

f^

4;

-t

I
1

OF B O M B A y. t^^

Colonel Leflie hid ferved in the htc-^s^at
under General WqlfCf and by Ijis ;;eal aii4
v£dvity had fo far recoaunended himfelf to
the favour of that fuperior judge of military
merit, that he was among the few dii^in^
guifhed friends to whom the general had by
his will given honourable tokens of hi^ >re**
gard. This reputation he had fupported 10
the courfe of his fervice in India^ he had
particularly dliHnguifhed himfelf in the Rp^
hilla war by a judicious attention and unre^
mitting exertion in the duty of qporter^
mafter-general, though part of thei tia>e la*
bouring with the gout< Hisinflru^ooswcr^f
*^ To proceed- by the moft pra^cabld xoqte
to Bombay 9 or fuch other. parts as he ihould
be direfted to by the committee of that pre-^
fidency ; he was to prefer the route through
the Boondelehund country and .provinoe of
.Berar, but if refufed by that Rajah, Qot tp
.periif):, but according to his judgment and
the refult of his enquiries vary his roiijE?^
making it his firfb care to reconcile the chiefs
to his pafTage through their countries , but at
all events to profecute his march, from th«
^beginning of which be was to obey fuch
orders from Bombay as were not contrary to

the tenor of his inftruAions. \He was ad-^

■ *

vifed of the feveral letters written to tte

ebidff^

ii6 AN 'A-dc t) U k ^

* W^. Elliot was brotto tt) the i5rcfent Sir Gilbert El-
liot, anS* was a y^uog man of furprizing knowledge, abi-
lity, and diligence ; unfortunately for the ^Company and
his country, he dred before he tdoid cXccdte his coib-
c s^iTioQ* "■ .

chiefs,- and particularly the Rajah of Bei^ar^
to proctire paflpbrtfe^atrd fuppiies of pr6vi-
fions ; and it was recornniended to him tc^
cultivate a good underftandin^ ^^ith them;
particularly tlie latter ; he Was authorifed tof j

life every expedient neceflary for the fafety
and liipply of the detachment withbut in-
fringing the peace fubfifting with the Mah-
tatta ftate, and to adhere to the trfeaty of
Porounder: the ftridteft order and difcipUhe
'Was recommended, and every attention to |

preferve aiiy poffible irtiputation of blarney .
iior was he ta aflt ofFenfively, even at the re-
quifitiori of the Bombay Council, unlefs they
Ihould declare that there waS a6iially a war,
and he was to advertife them as frequently
as poffible of his progrefs***

Thefc itiftrudlidrts Cofrefpdhded with thofti
given to Mr. Alexander Elliot*, who fdr
Ills talents in negotiation, was uiianimoufly
chofen' an Ambafikdor to the Rajah of Beraf,

' with whom the governor general had long

•kept a correfpondencci

OF BOMBAY. iz;

The revenues of this Raja amount to one
hundred and fifty lacks yearly, and he is at
the head of 30,000 horfe.

Modagee, related by blood to the Rajas of
Poonah, had been adopted by Sahoo the pre-
deoeilbr of Ram Raja, and looked to the fo-
vereignty of the Mahratta ftate at the death
of Sahoo; but Ballagee, then Paifliwa, de-
feated tHis fucceiHon, and raifed Ram to the
throne : Ragogee,, the father of Modagee, to
aflert bis fon's right, marched with a confider-
able force to Poonah ; but the Paifliwa found
means to appeafe him by conceffions of great
value ; the moft coufiderable was the inde-
pendence of all the Bouncelo pofleffions. In
the year i 773 Shabagee, one of the fons of
Ragogee, being then chief of Berar, had fent
a Vaqueel to Calcutta with an offer of al-
liance. Mr. Haftings, then prefident of that
government, propofed conditions fimilar to
thofe which had been granted tp Sujah Dou-
lah the Nabob of Owde. Shabagee being
flain, this negociation dropped, and the change
of government at Calcutta, by the forming
g£ the Supreme Council, deftroyed the pro-
bability of renewing it ; yet the Vaqueel was
by Mr. Haftings kept fpme time in hopes

that

1^8 A N A C C O U N T

that there yet might ofier an opportunity
of doing it with eiFeft, but he had lately-
lent him home. Modagee, when fettled,
fent him back to Calcutta with a tender of a
friendly alliance; and Mr. Haftings, fbre-
leeing that the troubles in the Weft of India
might draw the Englifh to take fome part ia
them, looked on this as a circumftance which
might in fbme event prove a fortunate connec-
tion. On the determination offending Colonel
I^eflie's detachment, he wrote to Modagee^
defiring a paffage through his country. The
anfwer was moft friendly ; he not only con-
lented, but promifed to fend to the banks of
the Neirbuddah a quantity of grain and other
necefTaries for the Englifh army, and a body
of horfe to efcort them through his territory;
and added, that he had written letters to Co-
lonel Leflie to advife him of this. The efcort
and ftores were accordingly fent.

The fituation of affairs convinced the go-
vernor general more and more of the necef^
fity of having fbme refburce to counterba-
lance this intereft of the French ; it could
not be doubted but that if matters in Europe
proceeded to a war, the flames of it muft
fpread to India, and the nation which found

itfelf

O F BO M B aV. 1^9

Itielf ftrongeft and beft prepared would ftrike
ibme flroke againft the other. Bombay and
the pofleflions of the Englifh in that quarter
were the parts moft liable to isax attack ; the
directors had warned the Supreme Council of
this ; every ctrcumftance warranted their con*
jedure. Theie conjectures were but too well
founded; and fortunately the governor ge^
neral had fomething yet fironger to decide
him. Mn Elliot, in his return from £ng*
land to Iiidiay had pafled through Paris, where
he had the opportunity of learning the real
iituation of things from peribns thoroughly
iaftru£):ed ; he was fully informed of thofe
ileps which inevitably muft bring on a war.
He knew the whole progrefs of them ; this
he communicated to the governor gener4l9
who by this means faw his conje^res be-
come a certainty.

This made him turn his thoughts flill
ntore ftrongly to Berar, and he relblved to
make an alliance with the Raja Modagee,
at leaft defeniive ; but which might, accord--
ing to the occafions fumilhed by events, be
improved to an ofienfive one. It was for
purpoib that Mr. Elliot was ohoien to

I go

13b AN ACCOUNT

go to the Durbar of Modagee ; his inftruc-
tioiis were to the effe£t jfoUowing :

* He was to form his judgment on the ac-
tual ftate of that government, the intelligence
he ^uld receive from the neighbouring
ilates, anx) particularly the advices from Bom-
bay. and regulate U procee^ngs accord-
ingly; and as in the feveral matters he
might treat of, iome were in their nature
fuch, that what was ftipuliated muft be per-
manent, he was not to coiKlude any articles
concjs:rning thefe without having oommuni-
cated them to and received the approbation
of the Supreme Council ; but thofe where
the proviiions wero only temporary and re^
quired ingim^diate decifion, he might conclude
wdthout fuch reference.

That as the primary intention was a per-
petual de&nfive^ alliaftce, to have mutual in-
terefls and reciprocal confidence muft there-
fore be« the grpund-work : on thefe principles
he fhouid ftipulate,

I . That a mutual friendfliip (hould^ be
eftablifhed between the two govern*^

ments ;

OF B O M fiA Y. 131

hients ; that the friends of one (hould
be the friends of the other^ and the ene-
mies of one the enemies of the other.

a. That a certain number of troops fhould.
be kept tip i*rithin our frontier in the
ncareft and moft convenient fituation to
his dominions ; that a monthly fubfidy
proportionable to the expence Ihould be
paid by him»-^This article was to con-
tain a power to alter the numbers, dr
fcven decline dr withdraw the whole,

g; That on his part a body of cavalry
fhould be kept up for the fervice of the
govenihient of Bengal^ who (hould not
be the native militia accuftomed to
.J)lunder5 but regular troops; that the
pay of thcfe fhould be only when em-
ployed-^— This article was not to be in*
difpenfable.

^uch were hiis Inftrtiftioris as to the aN
ticles upon tnatters permanent in their na-
ture ; as to Others which were temporary and
required decifion and imrhediate activity, the
grounds on which he was to 'regulate hiacon*
duft) were as follow :

I a The

13? A N A C C O U N T

The refidence of St. Lubin at Poonah, and
the intereft he had cultivated with the mi-
iiifters, made it likely that fome ftroke
might be expeded from thence, and as the
probability was now that war exifted between
the French and Englifh, Bombay muft have
been the firil to feel the efFedts of it. ' De-
iigns yet greater might be in agitation, and
an attack upon Bengal from the internal parts
of India, with the alfiftance of the Mah-
ratta force, was to be apprehended. The
Bombay prelidcncy were authorized to affift
in carrying on the plan communicated to
them in December laft of excluding Nanah
from the government, and reftoring Rago-
bah ; the detachment fent under the com-
mand of Colonel Leflie was formed to fecond
thefe endeavours; but the undertaking had
failed in the principal part; the change
among the minifters was efFefted, but Rago*
bah not reftored. Thus deprived of the re-
fource hoped for in the friendfliip of Ra-
gobahy and aiming at obftrufting the French
intereft and countera<5ling their ichemeSi and
it being dangerous without the fupport of a
powerful alliance for the detachment to pro^
ceed on its firft deftination, it muft have
been a moft defirable thing to have a mutual

intereft

OF BOMBAY. 133

intereft, and to join our forces with thofe of
Modagee. This was founded on very good
reafbhs ; his dominions lie between thofe of
the government of Bengal and the country de*
pendent on the Paifhwa, ^nd border on them
and the country of the Nizam, There muft
exift a natural jealoufy between his family
and the government of Poonah : their ani*
mofity had been increafed by many reciprocal
a£ts of violence. Modagee had ftrong pre-
teniions to the fucceffion of the Raja Ram :
he had a natural enemy in the Nizam. The
fituation of all afHirs in thofe parts was there«r
fore in the firft place to be learned.

If the council of Bombay had not entered
into new engagements with Ragobah or
with the party governing at Poonah which
clafhed with the following inftrudlions, and
tliat a French force was at Poonah, or that
Mr. St. Lubin wa^ ftill there, or that no cir»
cumftance offered to contradift what was aU
ready known on that head^ a dire£t union
with Modagee for carrying on a war againft
the Mahrattas at Poonah, was to be offered :
in all this great difcretion mufl be ufed ;
the principal aim being to defeat the French
combination, to prevent their receiving af»

13 fiflanpe

i^4r AN ACCOUNT

finance in their a|ttac|c upon Bombay, ai^d tq
eftablifh g conne^ftion be^wgeu- the |ingli£b>
and the Mahratta ftate, tp infure their liipr
port againft the French^ or any other nation
with >vhom the Engli(h alight \xi at war.

The negotiation therefore was to be fuT
fpendcd until through the infornaation of the
Bombay Council, or of Mr- Moftyh the re-
fident at Poojiah, the nature of their epg^ger
mcnts ihould be fuUy known; there mu ft
he an entire cpnforjijity to their jneafures ;
no ofFenfive plan whatfpever muft be adopted
which could in any manner counterad them ;
a defenfive one was, Md ever to be, the main

r*

The Raja of Berar is a fovereign and in-
dependent power. If the French iiitereft with
tlie Poonah goyernnient was diffolvcd, and
no hoftUe intention againft the Compai^y fub-r
fifted, the treaty concluided at Porounder with
the Paiftwa Nvrein remained in full forcer
and np. epgagement contrary to it pauft be
entered into : but this treaty was not contra-
di^ed by a defenfive alliance with Berar, nor
pyen by an ofFenfive one which regarded other
^owpr& ; uftr by the |>recaiuioi> p^ a ftatipnary

force

OF BOMBAY. 135

force on the frontier. In return, Modagee
might expeft from the Company to be af-
fifted in afferting his right to the Rajafliip,
and in recovering the places conquered from
his family by the Nizam ; the latter being
foreign to our purpofe therefore nothing
was to be concluded on that head unlefs an
abiblute neceility of it was apparent ; and
then the ftipulation muft have been confined
to the places taken by him iince the death of
Jannogee.

If the Nizam had joined the French or
their allies at Poonah, then the terms pro*
pofed by Modagee.were to be liftened to. If
the profpeft in the fucceffion to the Raja-
Ihip was fair and probable, it would be right
to treat upon that matter ; our end in it
would be anlwered by the exclufion of French
influence : the poiitive advantage on his fide
intitled us to demand ibme return ; as the
full reimbtirfement of any charges the Cotrh
pany ihould be put to, the confirmation of
all the cefiions made to the Bombay council
by Ragobah and Futty Sing, and to the Su*-
preme Council of Bengal by the treaty of
fofounder ; in theie matters thc council of

I 4 Bombay

136 AN A C C O U N T

Bombay muft guide* No territory on |ho
Beugal fide of Jndia wa? deftr^,

»

Notipe to be fent to the council of Bombay
and to Colonel Jjeflie of wjiat (hoyld be con-
cluded.

{ie was to take fpecial care that no part
ihould be taken in the difturbances annoying
the Bouncelo family.

Whatever agreements Ihould be entered
into, were not to be reftrained to the perfon of
Modagee, but extend to his fucceflbrs.

Thefe inftruftions (hew the apprehenfion
of the danger, and what remedy was conceived
to be the moft efficacious. There was; nq
iKceHity of changing the fituation pf the de-
tachment froni the Bengal fide of the Ner-
budda, or altering its deftination, till the
{late of affairs was fully known* It was at
hand to a£t according to the meafures whici>
(hould be concerted with Modagee. If the
firft icheme failed, it was ready for the fe?
pond ; if they both failed, it was near our
frontier. When once the news pf a wv
V^ith France Ihould arrive, it n^uft decide
>vbat meafures were abfblutely neceflary. At;
"' all

OF BOMBAY- 137

all revents that influence in the Mahratta ftate
was to be deftroyed ; for if once St* Lubia
could bring troops and ftores to Poonah, what-
ever party he efpoufed muft command obe-
dience ; and in that cafe Bombay would not
be the only objeft, the province of Owde
muft be the fcene of ravage, and probably
they might extend their views lb far as to
^ifpute the pofieflion of Bengal *.

Small is the dependence which in thofe
pa(es could be had on Bombay. Some other
refburce muft be found: Modagee, by his

. ^ The foUowtog Incident ll|ew$ how juft were thefe ap-
prehenfions. Mr. Elliot in his journey overtook ^Monf.
Chevalier, chief of Chandernagore, at Cuttack on his way
to Poonah, and prevaikd on the Naib to affid in feizing
him. Among bis papers was fonqd a letter frpm General
feefcombe, dated Pondicherry, iz July 1778, relating to
the fituation of affairs between the £ngliQi and French oa*
ttons, to which was this remarkable poftfcript :

^' It would be proper for me to apprize tjie Mahrattas
at Cuttack andBerarof the difpofition of the Englifh'
refpe&ing g war, which appears to be inevitable ; and
*^ that I (hopld write to thpf(S at Poonah, that this is the
^* moment to unite, in order to crufli that ambitious oa-
f tion, who hath already met with confiderable iofles in
f ' America, which they feek to repair by fubj^fling all the
^* princes of India."

Other letters intercepted by the Bombay council /hewed
the reality of the French deflgni, and how much they ^t
that time everted their whole, powers to bring them to
|naturity.

(ituation,

it

t

*t

138 ANA e C O U N T

iituadon^ by his interefts^ and by his ineli«
mtio&s^ was the moft probable one.

The advantages ariiing from this fcheme
muft be great. A body of troops kept on
our frontier in the ihanner propoiled, increafes
our force without any expence to ui. The
Berar cavalry is the beft in India : the Na-
tion of the troops muft caufe a concourfe of
people in thofe parts , which may bring into
cultivation that region, now negleded, though
the foil is good and capable of fertility. An
inland communication with Bombay and Ma*
dras will be opened , and a barrier will be
formed on that^de of our poflfeffions.

But a yet greater advantage follows this
!flation : Nangpoor * is the center of the pen-
infula; the army may thencQ convenient-^
ly reach the dominions of the furrounding
princes, and a£t either for their defence or to
their annoyance. They muft Bfehold our
power and the poffeffions ceded to u^ with
jealoufy, which our European epemy h
watchful to improve. The lofs of the north-.
crn circars muft afie6k the Nizam ; he was
then in league with the French and the Poq-»

* The capital of Bcrv.

nah

O F B O M B AY. 139

ppij miniftry j bis brother JBa^jalet JuBg, who
hgd for h}$ life the poGkffk^ of the circar of
iGfontpHr, between the territory of the Na-
bob of Arcot a»4 that of Ma:tulipatam, had
gt this hovtr five hun<}r9d French in hia ier-
vice, which all the repreientatioDS and en-
deavours of the council of Madras had proved
ineffeftual to remove from that country. No
emplacement of o^r troops could be fo for-
ndidable to thofe princes as that near Berar.
The harp inlpeftion of the map of India
^hews the importanqe of the fituation of that
province in regard to the three great powers
who bound pur pofleffions. The prince of
Berar is our natural ally ; he hath no inter*-
courfe with France : the firft ftfep of the Poo-
nah alliance mui(l have been an invafion of
biafterritory to force him to lend his ailiflance
to their attack of Bengal.

The tr^de of this province is another very
material article : it produces the heft cotton
in India, which is fpun into fine thread, and
exported in that ftat^ to the dominions of the
Copcipany. The duties arq at prefent high ;
but even under this difadyantage thefe manur
faftu rest yield thegreateft prqfit of any brought
^Ofix JndiA. The Put<;b^ Wl^^ ifiK9y fend

grea^:

I40 A N' A C C O U N T

great quantities of copper into Berar ; this
article may be turned in our favour. The
climate fome months in the year is compara-
tively cold ; this may produce a demand for
woollens. Many other advantages there may
be which commerce itfelf will bring forth.

Another revolution in the Poonah mini-
ftry demohftrated the afcendency of French
influence. On the 25thof Auguft letters
were received at Calcutta from Bombay, men-
tioning that Nanah had recovered his rank
and influence, upon which Morabah had ap-
plied to them for immediate afliflance to con-
duct Ragobah to Poonah, fending articles fub-
fcribed by him and Butchabah; Holcar
agreeing to this by a feparate paper under his
hand, that they approved of the propdial,
but had deferred afting in confequence to the
month of September, that they might in the
mean tim6 be authorized by the Supreme
Council, or receive directions from Loudon,
The anfwer authorized them to proceed, pro*
vided what they fhould undertake did no^
endanger their fafety, or prove contrary tp
any engagements which Mr. Elliot might
have entered into with Modagee. This an*
iwer was tranfmitted through him, who was

OF BOMB AY. 141

at the fame tme to let them know the ftate
of thp negotiation. Thus by the mutual
correfpondence which muft arife from the
obfervation of his inftrudtions with regard to
that prefidency, it was probable that on ei-
ther (ide nothing could be done but what was
beft adapted to the flate of afiairs in the Weil
of India.

Before the detachment marched the go-
vernor general, to prevent any danger which
might happen by JBengal being left open to
a French invafion, had taken the following
precautions : a naval force was prepared ;
two fhips of forty guns each had already
joined Sir Edward Vernon, and there re-
mained in the mouth of the Ganges two fri-
gates and three cruifers, under the command
of an excellent officer*, which, joined to
what was already in that region, muft keep off
zay armament of our enemies, and cleanfe
that fea- from pirates which annually infeft it :
and a fupply of troops in the room of that
detachment was provided. The army was
augmented with , nine battalions of fepoys :
the companies had before been augmented to
eighty rank and file : thefe might upon oc-

r

' * Captain John Rlchardfon who had ferved with credit
ia the late war.

cafiori

144 A N A G G O U N 1^

2. That a fpecific fom be ftipulated for'
the military charges incurred by this
ioterpoiition.

3» That Baflein and its diftrid be ceded
ih perpetuity to the Company.

»

4* An additional grant of territory adjacent
to Baffin and Bpmbay, in exchange for.
Broach, the lands ceded by Futty Sing^
ajid the PergunAahs of Hanfood, Aftn
mood, and El^rborah.

5 . That no European fettlement fliall be
allowed in the Mahratta dominions,
without the confent of the Supreme
Couticil ; but this to be only extended to
the enemies of Britain.

6. That a fupply of ten lacks of roupies be
immediately granted to the prefidency
of -Bombay for the fupport of their en-
gagementSf

And at the fame time, that they might be
prepared for all events, requeftedthe prefidency
of Madras to have two hundred Europeans,
half a company of artillery , and a battalion of

fepoy^

O F B O M B A Y. ,145

fepoys ready to march to Anjengo, thence to
be traniported to Bombay, if requi^p.

Saccaram was backward in putting his
name to this inftrument, though he a^ed
privately with the confederates. Morabah
would have taken the whole upon himielf,
and engaged, that if the £ngli(h and he un«
derflood each other^ he would fettle the go^
vernment in a month^s time ; but the Board
in(i{):ed ; and this kept back the conclufiou
of a treaty between them.

The difpofitions of the ieveral powers ot
the Mahrattas and their armies in January
1778, were as follows: Modagee Bouncelo
was at Lacanwady Gaut, thirty cofs eaftward
of Aurengabad ; Holcar was at his own vil*
kge Banbgam, with 12,000 horfe, and five
or fix thouland Praeds *, refufing any, corre*
ipohdence with Nanah. Sindia endeavour-
ing to raife contributions on Janogee Patan*
cars jaghire, near Rinietpore, had occafioned
a ikirmilh, in which Janogee was killed.
Furkia had been again defeated by Hyder,
and retreated to Panchmach, a place belong-
ing to the Nizam, on the north bank of the
Kriflna, in hopes of receiving affiftance from

* Foot foidlers and Hingers.

J^ Downfa,

n

146 A N A C C O U N T

t)own^ one of Nizam's generals, whoxvas
encan:i^H about twelve cbfs from him* 'Hy-
dcr Ally, in purfuit of him had croffed to
the north of Jongebodra. The Nizam, though
firoiigly Iblicited to join the Poonah force
agahifthim, refyfed, unlefs the forts CrfAfhllr
and Armadanagur, formerly promifed, werd
delivered to him. Fiirkia was fbon after y^t
more unfortunate ; for Badgee Punt Burwa,
joined by feveral other Mahratta chiefs, at-
tacked and routed his army, taking three
elephants, his cannon, and plundering his
Buzar*, he efcaping only with five hundred
horfe. Thefe different events, and particu-
larly the laft, were fatal to Nanah : his re-
fource was to go to Porounder, in hopes, by
the means of Saccaram, to perfuide Sindia
to go to the affiftance of Furkia ; who, far
from receiving affiftance from Downfa, had
been by him defired to remove, from Panch-^
taach, and had retreated to Serapore twenty
cofs north of Kriftna: his fcattered army
there joined him, and he foon again ap-
proached to Downfa, ftill retaining hopes of
affiftance, notwithftanding his inclinations '
muft have been againft him, as he had a
daughter contraded to Tippoo Sahed the Ibu

^ Buzar or Baxar,. a noarker.

F S O M B A Y, 147

©f H3rdfer'*. But thefe hopes were kept up
by his knowing that a Vaqueel from the Ni-
zam had been lent to Poonah^ The refult
of Nanah^s conference with Saccaram was
a reiblution to endeavour by all means to
^ocure the affiflance of Holcar and Sindia
to Furkia, and to fend him money and
3000 men. Shortly after, in the month of
March, he was again filrpriated, and his
whole force was reduced to 300D, with
whom he retreated along the Krillna towards
Meritz*

Thus the whole of the Mahratta ftate was a
ieene of confufion : each chief folely intent
Upon his privater (Soncenis, watching to ad-
Vance his own iaterdAs as occafion ihould
offer, and all in continual diftruft of each
other. Through all this chaos the party
againft Nanah continued their fcheme of
changing the .government, and their inter-
courfe with Mr. Moftyn ; but Saccaram ftill
^delayed his fignature to the requeft of affift-
ance from Bombay. At laft Mr. Moflyn
was affured by the confederates, that on the

^ Whether this aliiance or other caafes made him the
objeft of the Nlznm's fupkionSy be was wichia a Ihorc
time after taken off.

K 2 a;zd

148 A N A C C O U N T

2 id of March MorabaK, Butcbaba^ and Hol-
car would move, that In five or fix days
they would appear on.Porounder plain with
25,000 men ; that Saccaram waited for that
event fully to declare hirafelf, and would
give Mr. Moftyn entire fatis6i6tion ; that
they (hould feize and inxprifoa Nanah ; that
Morabah would write to the prefident, and
alfo to Ragobah, which letters fliould be ac-
companied with the Bui Bundar, which is
an oath of fidelity ; that Holcar wouW alio
write to Ragobah.

On the >26th about rioon Morabah and
forne other chiefs encamped on the oppofite
fide of the river with 10,000 horfe* A de-
tachment of fifty horfe entered Poonah,
twenty-five of which marched to the palace,
the others patrolled the ftreets, direfting the
inhabitants in Ragobah's name, to keep quiet-
ly to their occupations, and promifing &fety
fi^r perfon and eflfefts to thofe who fliould do
fo. An hour after Morabah arrived and went
dire£tly to the palace, where, paying his re-
Ipefts to Perwetty Bah *, he received from

her

' ttr

Perwetty Bah wag the wife of Subadah, who had
becB coafined with t&e widow of NaroD ia the fort of Po-

rottfider.

OF BOMBAY- 149

her the fiq^aw of Duan *, he began by
placing his own people in the room of thofe
who were the guard, whom he difmifled :,
the houfe of the Duan who had been ap-
pointed by Nanah had fome of thofe new
guai'ds placed upon it. He then publickly
received the compliments due to his flation,
after which he returned to his tents on the
other fide of the river, where he was to meet
Holcar, who had advanced to the diftance
of three cofs ; Saccaram lay diftant about fix
cofs. They were all to join in the morn-
ing, when their whole force would amount
to 30,000, and march to Pprounder, whence
they were to fend a perfbn of confequence to
Bombay, who (hould attend Ragobah to
Poonah. On the 30th of March an agent
arriyed at Bombay, fent by them, who in
their name defired that no time fhould be
loft in fending Ragobah to Poonah ; but no
particular propofals were mentioned. The
Bombay council, in {o turbid an appearance,
could not determine what direftion to give
minifter at Poonah ; they left his conduft there

rounder, and after the death of Naron's Widow, had the
care of the infant Paiihwa. It is not eafy to conceive how
(he came to be fo intrufted.
'^ Duan is treafureri and principal mminer.

K 3 to

r5o- AN AGCOUST

to his own difcrctidn, and hi^ regard for tfe^
interefts of the Company ; but at the fame
time that they might be" ready to profit by
any events yfavorable, and which led to de^
clfion, they determined to prepare three hun-
dred Englifli infantry, two companies of ar^^
tillery lafcars, with a fuitable field- train^
Colonel Egerton was to command fhis body,
next in conimand to him wa3 Colonel Cock-r

The aipeS: of affairs at Poonah now pro-
mifed the eftablifliment of Ragobah. On the
28 th of March Nanah was at the foot of the
hill of Porounder with 5000 men. All hi§
endeavours to enpreafe this force were vain ;
he was therefore compelled to fubmit to ac-
cept conditions from the party of Saccaranii
and Morabah ; he agreed to accept an infe-
rior office* Saccaranj and Morabah were to
be guarantees for his life and treafures. In
tthis agreement no mention was madfe of Ra-
gobah. The effeiQ: of this union was that
Nanah*s political fyftem gained ground i Mr,
Moftyn found that Morabah was not \villing
to abandon Baflein; and he wrote to the
foupcil, that Ragobab rmift not depend ot^
^ forcf to receive him there, that it poulcj

OF B O M;]^ A Y, 151

be.lj^d 01^}? from Bombay^ and Ihouldcon-
&G: of at le^fl tyco battalions, with a fuitablei
train! of] artillery.

Ra^bah, on the other hand^ giving full
fcope to his hopes, and (hutting his eyes to
all dlfBcultiies, was extremely preffing for
his departure. The council remonftrated
againfl this impatience, infifting that it was
not proper to move, until a regular^ invi*
tation, fuch as had at fird been promifed,
fhould have come from Poonah. To this he
anfwered, that his appearance would bring
matters to a conclufion ; that for want of it
his partisans would imagine that the Engliih
were backward in his caufe, which muft di-
fpirit them, and might tempt them to make
terms with his enemies ; that this was a
criiis not to be neglefted; that, added to
fome force which he had at Culwa oppofite
Tanna, the troops that could be furnilhed
from Bombay were fully fufficient* to com-
plete his re-eftabli(hment. He afleiited to
confirm the treaty of Surat, and expreflcd
his wiflies to enter into an alliance offenfive
and defenfive, which fhould be bound by the
flrongeft ties : he promifed to grant Pergun*
nahs contiguous to Bombay, for a fecurity of

K 4 P^)>

I

t

.v?.«

152 AN ACCOUNT

pgiyment of the troops. At the lame time
be defired that the Britifh commander fhould
have orders from the council not to inters
meddle with his government ; and he inti-r
mated that all the grants of territory yielded
by his enemies to the Nizam and other pow-»
ers (hpuld be refumed.

The Mahratta chiefs ftill continued in
their encampments* Mr. Moftyn, on the
I oth of April was requefted by a particular
letter from the Durbar, fealed with the great
leal, to go to that near Currich, where he was
met by Morabah, who told him that Gopal
Naique Tufnbackar (who was the brother of
Butchaba) was tp be fent immediately to
Poonah, and requefted him to meet them
at Nanah's camp near Porounder hill, where
they were then going He acquiefced, and
was received with due ceremony, and marks
of regard in a public tent, and introduced to
the Durbar, where were prefent Saccaram,
Morabah, Nanah, Butchaba, and feveral
other chiefs, particularly Gopal Naigue Turn-
backer. Great civilities were fhewn him ;
but a final fettlement with the Company vva^
put off to Ragobah's arrival, Saccaram re-
el uefted tl'at Mr. Moftyn would accompany

the

OF BOMBAY. 153

the perlbn they were to fend to Bombay ;
and upon his enquiring into the flate of the
French alliance, he was anfwered, that they
had then under confideration the immediate
difmiffion of St. Lubin, The next day Tum*
backer told him that on the morrow he was
to fet out ; that a Durbar would be held foe
that purpofe ; that after calling at Poonah^
he would proceed to Tanna. On the L6th
Mr. Moftyn had another conference with the
chiefs, who requefted that he would affure
Ragobah of their ^ood intentions, and that
they intreated him not to be induced by any
reports to believe the contrary. Mr. Moftyn
then took leave of Morabah. Notwithftand-
ing thofe fair appearances things were far
from being in a pro{p«rous way : unaccount-
able remoras to Tumbackers journey appeared
from day to day upon frivolous pretences, the
principal of which were that fome parti-
cular flipulations were to be made with Ro-
,gobah, and fome objedfcions that he made to
the perfon of Tyn^backer, whom he exprefsly
defired not to be lent on this deputation to
l^im, were to be anfwered and got over.
Neither did matters go on fmoothly at Bom-
bay : that council had received notice from^
Bengal of the intended march of the detach^

ment,

1^4 AN AC C ChU N T

merit,, and. of U^.ElJipCs .orobaiTjr. T^hq
majority of tbem conceiv^ed, tb^ thiiagst at
PoonaJi wore, fa favourable an. afpecSl^ tbat
with tbeif own force, witbout any aflijfence,
tbey would be ablQ to bring matters to a fa-
vourable conclufion ; and therefore that therq
was no occaiion for the Bengal detachmpnt.
Upon this they resolved to write to the com-
^lander not to proceed in. hia nurgh^ but re-
Wiftin with his detacbna^nt at Culgee. The
reafons they gave were^. thai; tlie dji^cullii.es
to. be encountered in the country which lay
between Culpee and Bombay were unfur-
ipountable, and therefore the march imprac-
ticable, and expofing the Company's . trpops
%yithout neceffity: that it was not poffil>le to
procure for them either pafles or provifions ;
libat the apprehenfions exprefled by the Su-
preme Council of a war with France, and of
attacks upon Bombay were not grounded ;
and therefore the expence occafioned by fuch
an undertaking was not warrantable. Meff.
Praper and Stackhoufe diflented from this
relblution ; they were of opinion the fituation
of the prefidehcy was not altered eitber in
refpe€l of the French or the Mahrattas ; that,
it was well known the French had deligns
againft Choul. The event has ihewn how

ilU

iU-femftded tva* the reafoning^ of tha majority
oOf every point. Pfetiiaps there were oth^i^.
taotiyQS which occaiioned this reiblv^* Th«^
detachment, hftd it reached Bombay, would(
have had the honour of all the advantages
which were infured by the jundtion q£, thej
forces : this has fo often influenced chiefs
and comqfiander^ in all ages, that attribuiang
it to the majority of this council cannot ber
fudging harflily. Notwithftanding the op^
poiition of Mr. Draper and Mr. Stackhoufe,,
on the 2 2d of April, the council wrote to»
the commander of the detachment, defiring;
he would flop at Culpee, and not proc^d
till he fhould hear further from them. Ra^
gobah's impatience, which daily increafed^
made him look over all difficulties ; hepceflcct
more and more the departure of the troops^
gtnd his. own ; he repeated the detail of ad*
vantages that would immediately fbliow thci
open and avowed declaration of the Englifii,
that they fupported his caule. He defired to;
diredl his march by Callian, where he af-
firmed that Vifiagee Punt, a confiderable
phief, was upon his appearance ready to 4e*
plare for him, and join his ftandard. He of*
fered to put the Company iiito the immediate
poflefiioR of Bsiieijj, apd defired a ftate erf* his

account,

156 AN ACCOUNT

account, and the produce of the Pergunnahs
to be afiigned to the Company for the pay-
ment of their troops. But his affairs at Poo-
nah were far from the (ituation the apparent
zeal of Morabah and Saccaram had repre^
.iented. •

The Poonah Du rbar were very uneafy at the
march of the detachment from Bengal. The
reaibn given for it to them both from the
Supreme Council and Bombay, having been
the danger that muft accrue to the Englifli
fettlenient from the French being in poflef-
fion of Choul, they defired to know if St.
Lubin's immediate difmiffion would fatisfy
the council, (b far as to induce them to ftop
its march ; they made excufes for his having
been permitted to remain there fo long ; al-
lowing that fome promifes had been made,
they aflerted that it was done only with a
defign to amufe him ; they repeated their
former reafons for the delay of Tumbacker ;
but, upon the whole, they evaded granting
the duftucks or paifports for facilitating that
march through the Mahratta territories.

The Bombay council on the 15 th of May
fent their orders to Mr. Moflyn to fpeak pe-
remptorily

.i

• OF BOMBAY. 157

remptorily to the Poonah Durbar, that they
(hould declare whether they confidered the
treaty of Porounder as fubfifting, and the
Mahratta ftate to be bound by it ; to demand^
agreeably to that treaty, the pofTeffion of a
country producing three lacks near Broach ;
to infift upon the countries ceded by Putty
Sing as they had not produced the proofs
required by the treaty ; to denaand an ex-
plicit declaration concerning their engage*
ments with the French ; and to require an
anfwer in fourteen days ; telling them pofi-
tively that a further delay or evafion would be
conflrued into a refufal, and that the council
ibould ad in coniequence.

At the lame time they took off the rc-
ftraint they had laid on the march of the de*
tachment, and directed the commander to
advance toward the coaft. The reafon they
gave for their change of opinion was the
continuation of the French refident at Poo-
nah *, and the apparent bad dilpofition of the
Durbar to the £ngli(h.

Morabah

^ Advices were received at Bombay th^t General Bel-
combe, commaDder at Pondicherry, had come to Mahe in
a fixty gun (hip; the council judging this to be the effisA

9f

ij8 ANACCbOl^T

Morabah had a meeting wkh St. Lubiii^
at which he toM him that the 'Eiiglifli jea-^
loufy made it necellafy, he ihould abieiit
9iimfelf for a time, but it lht>uld not aker
the friendihip of the Mahratta nation to the
Frenoh.

St. Lubin bad undertaken to Morabah'to
bring to Poonah 2000 Europeans within fif-
teen months, or at lead before the detach-
ment from Calcutta could arrive at its defti-*
nation. The Podnah Durbar wrote at the
'fame time to the Supreme Council to defire
they would recal the detachment, upon this
ground, that they were complying with the

.of St. LnbifiV iDtr^es, and fearing the confequenees re-
qoefted Sir Edward Vernon to defer bis departure, ^o
promifed to employ his * frigates in fearching the whole
coafty but added that he could not lofe any time, but
muft proceed to Madras. General Belcombe's deftlaatioa
^as faid to be Surat, where he was to flay during the
-rains; he did arrive at Tillichery on the 3 d of April 1 778,
in the Brilliant, a (hip of fixty-four guns, and bron^t tbxe
hundred Europeans, who landed at Mahe. He got pof-
feffion of a fmall fbrt by the ceffionof the prince of Cher-
rica, who had orders for that purpofe from Hyder Ally,
whofe vaflal he was. This pofTeflion was of confequence,
as it commaaded the approaches to Fort St. George upon
Green Hill which is the key to Mahe. Monf. Bellcombe
was to leave Mahe the z^th bf April, and reiurn to
Pondioherry. It was affirmed the BrtUUftt bnHight Jtwo
'bttodred ibldiers: fr^Q^sn Mangaboi^.

treaty

OF BOMBAY. 159

treaty of Porounider, that they fincerely in-
tended bringing Ragabah to Poonah ; that it
Was delayed only as it was neceffary that
Furkia, who was advancing with a large
force, ihould be confulted ; that Monf. St.
Lubin was diipatched; that his fhip had
brought nothing but merchandize : and that
they meant in all things peace and amity
with the Englilh.

In truth Morabah had ui^ed St* Lubin to
depart, that he might fboner bring tiie troops
promifed, but he ilill remained at Poonah,
faying^ he would fend letters which would
bring them as foon as he could do, if he in
perfon went for them. The .Durbar at the
fame time wrote to Modagee Bouncelo, de«-
firing that he would, if poffible, by fur
means perfuade the commander of the detach*^
ment to return, and if he could not fiicceed
by fair means to do it by force«

St. Lubin had, in the month of March
preceding, written to the captain general at
Goa for leave for two French regiments to
pafs through the Portugueze territories, arid
to the ^verhor of Damaun for a permifiion
Ar the French to ule that port ; both thcfe

requefts

i6o AN ACCOUNT*

requefts were with great civility refufed^ iA
they might tend to a mifunderftanding be^
tween the two crowns of Great Britain and
Portugal 9 who were in {trlOt alliance and
friendlhip ; but liberty was granted for their
ihips to refreih in the Portugueze harbours, for
which purpofe they ihould be allowed fifteen
days* St* Lubin in anfwer endeavoured to
reconcile him to his requefl, and added, that
though to yield to the lEnglifli jealoufy, he
was obliged to leave Poonah, he ihould not do
fo without havmg fully efledted his bufinefs^

It was evident that the Durbar \vere feek-*
ing delays, that the rains might come on
before any thing was concluded. If they
could retard the march of the detachment
-until that time, they reckoned the rains would
then ftop their progrefs, and during that in*
terval the force might arrive which had been
promifed by St. Lubin, who^jaotwithftanding
the promife of Morabah, remained at Poo-
nah. Hence frefli occafions of delays were
found on each application of Mr. Moftyn for
the duflucks or paflports. . At laft, he feeing^
that the diflfenlions in the Durbar ftill con-
tinued, and that Sindia and Holcat infifted
oi^ Ragobah's being brought to Poonab, ap*

plied

F B O M B A Y. . itfl

{died to them leparately, and they readily
granted him every order hb defired for the
iafe and utldifturbed pafiage of the detachment
through their refpedive dominions^

The prefidency of Madras, in cdiifequence
of letters from the governor and Supremo.
Council^ had determined to fend to Bombay
the aid they had irequefted : they received
letters dated the 29th of April, with advice
of this : and now odce more varied their or^
ders for the route of the detachment, dire£t^
ing their march to Surat^

An attempt ^as made, about this time, by
a relation of the infant Pailhwa, who was
one of his attendapts^ to fteal his perfon from
the fort ; he had carried the child half way
down the hill before he was difcovered ) therd
being flopped, he was fent to prifon^ and thf
child was carried back into the fort«

On thd 1 2th of June the Bombay CpUncU
received notice from Mr. Baldwin at Grand
C^ro of the fituation of afisurs between thf
Engliih and French Aations^ an^ the ftate of
Vru they were, in*

The

i6i A^ ACCOUNT

The unceitaiftties it Pdbiish fti41 cb»^
tk^cd. Nanah, leavirtg his retreat had ?goi»
lo Sindia, who rtceivftd hirii', «uid ptomtfea
him fuppof t* tJhfey ferit tb all the dflfeers^
requiring their acknowledgment of them as
tee feinifters ttf the Paifliwa.

kagcbah ii5# informed tfte cotiiMtil tis?^
both parties had ijpfli^d to him^ and thit
even tvitho^t tbe ^pp^earince of an l£i^gii(k
fohre he height pT<iteed to Poohah, fore 6f
flicceft theiie. He alfowtd diat both werfe
his enemies ; but fafd d^edlr difcord wife fo
great that nothing could go on, which drove
thfem to this U|>plication ; and he mKfertdok,
thiat his match would hw be aftended ^h
any bppdfition, efpedally if the Ef^gKfli force
appeaired *with hirii, and that thfe caSrryiSag thfe
eahndn throtigh the Gdhtsy aiiid a ft^)|4y of
p^ovifioh (hould bfe his care.

On the other hand Morabah was- retreat-
ifeig from P<j<5tikh, 'having (BeliVered t'he {Mb
and the feh%fts ttf 6fli^e to Holtai^^, wht) fent
diem to SitidJa, by %hdtti they tVefte d^i-
veted lb Nehah, whefeby he Wfes once ligfffe
eftablifhed in the Durbar ; but a vei^r iibn&^
derable number of adherents remained to

Morabajiy

Morabah, and it was probable, that this
conteft would not eh6, without flaughter.
Nanah's force in a mariner furrounding Poo-
tiih atid Porounder fort, and occupying aU the
paflages in the niountdins. He treated witJi
Holcar as well as Sindia, and offered each
of them immenfe ifuras if they would efppufe
his caufe. «

Nanah arid Mombah ^ach now wilhed in-
t€;rviews with Mr. Moftyn, whp could not
iform a judgriient which of them would ulti-
mately get the better. He had procured
a copy of the paper delivered by Nanah to
$t. Lubin on the 13th of May 1778, ex-
prefsly requiring the afliftance of France,
•^ to punifli a nation who had raifed up an
** infolerit head^ arid whofe meafure of in-
** juftice was full ;*^ and in reward of this aid
promifing a jaghire to be granted from the cir-
car of the Paifliwa. About the fame time the
Durbar had fent an anfwer to Mr. Moftyn^s
ceprefeBtations, no way favourable, but in-
lifting^ that they had in every f^nfe complied
with the treaty of Porotmder. The council,
pn the 2,4th of June, refolved to have every
thing in readinefs to land their forces to ac*
company Ragobah, whenever it (hould ap-

L 2 pear

l64 A N A C C O U N r

pear that the pafles iii the mountains wete
free*

Mr. Moftyh being i*eturned to Bombay, and
having given the feleft comniittee there all
his information, and remarks on the preced-
ing fads and dilpofition of affairs, the nature
of the country through which the troops
muft march in cafe of their joining Ragobah
in his march to Poonah, which he repre-
fented as very pradicable to infantry ; the
committee, on the 21ft of July 1778, re-
folved unanimoufly, that the Durbar's an-
fwers were a violation of the treaty of Po-
rounder* That the fituation of affairs in
Europe, and the reftoration of Nanah Fur-
neze, created a neceflity of immediate mea-
fures to effeft the fubverfion of that party
which was connected with . the French in
fchemes hoflile to the Company, and for
eftablilhing at Poonah an adminiftration with
whom a fecure and permanent alliance could
be maintained. That for that end Ragobah
muft be placed in the regency, with a pro-
vifo that the government and Sicca * be con-
tinued in the name of the Paifliwa during his

* The feaJ*

minority,

OF BOMBAY. 165

minority, and fliould be furrendered to him
at his legal age ; that Morabah (hould be
acquainted that they will heartily join in this
plan ; that an order fliould now be fent to
the commander of the detachment to purfue
the moft eligible route to Junier or Zener *,
avoiding in his march the proximity of Au-
rengabad, or any part of the Nizam's do-
jninions.

On the 1 1 th of July Morabah bad been
ieized by 2000 men of Sindia*s force, and
kept in the camp ; at the fame time all who
were known to efpoufe his caule were ieized
likewife, among whom were Vifagu Pont
Binny , and Butchaba. Nanah had the name
of minifter, but Sindia had in reality the
whole power ; Saccaram was not fb much as
confulted, and it was probable that both he
and Nanah would be ibon confined, and Sin-
dia aft openly alone. Soon after both Mora-
bah and Butchaba were confined in different
forts. Mr. Lewis the refident at Pqoqah, by
the renewal of the obftacles to hi? cprrefpon-
dence, foon found the influence of Nanah's
government. That party now afted as if

* So called in JeiTrie^'s mapt

h 3 thQ

»6($ AN A C C O U Nt

the continuance of their pow6r was fecure,
the armies of Sindia arnd Furkia each day de?
creafed, by the^r difrhafging numbers of their
horfe.

The governor general and Supreme coun?
cil in the beginning of this month took pof^
^fliofi of Chandernagore, and Wrote to the
prefidency of Madras to order a fufficieiit
corps of troops to be in readinef$ to march to
Pondicherry, affirming that the war was
iiow certaih, and that if they had not re-
ceived acfvices 0r orders to the qpntrary frona
England, they fhould proceed to hpftilities j
beginning by the attack pf that place which
would be their firft, as the fettlemeiit of
Mahi or Mahe fhould be their fecond cap-

) ..II ■ • -x

t\ire,

Frelh propofals came now from Nanah
and that party to Ragobah, all which he re-*
jedted, and inlifted upon either being regent^
and having the cuftody of the infant Paifh^
wa, pr a partition in equal parts pf the pof-
feflions of the iPaifliwa farpily, wjiereof out
iiiare Ihould be his. On the 1 6th of Auguft
the prefident acquainted the committee, that
pja this refufal the meflenger from Nanah

J

O y RO M B AY. 167

hi^ ^PpHed to bim; but this application
W^ verbal no further notice was taken of
\ti^ Siac^a, aft^r telling Saccaram^ that his
Ige prevented his being ufeful, ha4 ordere4
hj^ufi to his hoviie, and no more to inter-*
ISfd^ie^ mid b^^ pl^P^<l ^ guard on him*

Hyder Ally had now taken Darwar, and
«ra$ Qaa^-^hing towards Merits in order to at-
t^^k it, on wluch the Durbar ordered a force
tio ppppfe him. Befides this misfortune,
thpy wejre emb^rrafled by the diibbedience of
particular chiefs ; Nanah had fent orders to
tke. Ki)lidar of An^anagur that he fhould
d^iiY^r his fort to Sindia, the Killidar re»
plied, he held it for Ragobah ; and not only
^^^fufed to. furrei^^r it, but feiz^ three lacks
qf jwpies which belonged to Nanah, and
wefe returning from Aurengabad, where they
hdd hmn fpcw^d for him during tl^c latd
tr^Wes^

St, Lubia h^ been difmiflfed l^y Nanah,
but rem^inod at Damaum, and a continual
ccorreipondence w^s kept up between him
3q4 Monf. Sriancpurt ^he Freqch refident at
Surat, upon their fcheme of procuring troops
to 8i:i:ive at Chpul, and thence proceed to

h 4 Poonah;

t68 A-N ACCOUNT

poonah ; and by intercepted cofrefpondent^
with Pondicherry, it appeared that Nanah
had pot only required th6 aid of France as
abovementionedy but that it was; ftipulated
that the French fhould, as fppn as it was
prafticable, move againft the Englifh, for
which firft fervice they fhould receive twenty
lacks of roupies, and ten (hips with fepoys ;
afjd upon their attacking Bombay they (hould
receive twenty lacks more : by oneof thofe let-
ters, on pretence of the war being begun, they
demanded payipent of the firft twenty lacks.

#

It was now the 1 2th of Oftober, when
Mr. Carnac delivered a mhiute to the Bom-
bay council, reprefenting that much time had
pafled iince the 2 1 ft of July, on which day
they ha4 refolyed to affift Ragobah, the in*
cpnveniencies of a delay, and the advantages
which might be taken of the prefent iituatioa
of the Poonah Durbar diftra£ted by divifipns,
apd their army not yet affembled : this was
feconded by the infbnuation and opinion of
Mr. Moftyn, who added, that the adherents
to Morabah muft conclude, if this oppo^'tunity
Was fufFered to flip, that Ragobah was given
tip. He further faid, as to the diftance at
^hich the detachment ftill was, that though

OF BOMBAY. 169

it might have been of more material advan-
tage if nearer ; yet even in its then prefent
Situation, which vtras near Sindia*s capital 9 it
would be of great ufe by keeping him in awe,
and thus facilitate their enterprize, whilfl on
their fide, that enterprize by fixing the at*
tention of the Durbar, would prevent the ob-
ftacles which might otherwife annoy and re-
tard the march; and he added, that the
longer the execution of the refolve was de-
layed, the greater the French influence, and
the more effcftual the preparations at Poo-
nah would prove ; on which it was refblved
by the majority (Mr. Draper difTenting) that
the refolution of the 21ft of July for con-
ducing Ragobah to Poonah be forthwith
carried into execution ; and Mr. Lewis was
diredled to hold himfelf ready to leijve Poonah
at a moment^s warning.

On the 3d of November the refident and
whole French faftory at Surat were made
prifoners of war by orders from Bombay.
. They continued fome time at Surat confined
to their garden, being permitted to remain
there to prevent inconvenience in their pri-
vate arrangements ; but it was foon found
that intrigues wpre carrying on for the delir

Y97

iy6 A N A G C O UN f

tioti) the execution of the general plan of
the expedition^ and the determination of all
points relative thereto ; but they, were proht*
bited from intermeddling in the detail of the
duty of the army, the. mode of marcHi or en*
campment, or of carrying any military mea^
iiire into execution^

On the 1 5 th.of December the whole army
with the committee had reached Campoly ^
where intelligence was received that a body
of minifterial forces, being 10,600 horfe^
with fifteen pieces of cannon, and a large
number of Boudays, encamped at Worgaum^ .
three cofs on this fide Tullingaum, to ob-
ftru6: the ma?ch when the Engliih fliould
make their appearance above the Gauts^ f ha^
5000 horfe were to proceed down the Cur-
Ibra Gaut to cut off the communicatbn with
Panwell, and that Nanah, Saccaram^ Sin-
dia, and Furkia were encamped near Poonah
with 5000 more. Their refolutioil was, by
hovering about the army, vvithout coming
to a clpfe engagement^ to, diftrefs and wear*
them out. Ragobah was encamped near the
EngUfh, and it was not doubted but a number
©f chiefs would loon appear with a force fuffi-»
cient to remove all thoie threatened obftacles*

Though

GF BOMBAY. 1 77.

T^'hp^^gh it was now the 2 3d of Decem-
ber, the army had not proce«ded further than
Campoli. This immenfe delay was occa-
fioned by the making of roads for the. can-
non; Mr, Carnac remonftrated againft it,
and propofed that they fhonld be carried up
by hand, which he argued was poflibl?, a$
ibme artillery had already been pafled that
way. The commander treated this as chi^
jnerical, and they continued there, attacked
now and then by fome of the hovering
troops, who, whenever they came near e-^
Rough to be reached by the Englifh armyi
lyeie repulfed ; it happened very unfortu*
jfiately that in thefe Ikirmiflies Colonel Cay
was ngiortally wounded, and Captain Stewart
killed. The lofs of thofe two excellent
officers was of great cpnfequence; at the
iame time Mr. Moftyn's illnefs, which had
begun foon after he left Bombay, increafed to
fuch a degree, that he was obliged to return
thither, ^where he dyed the i ft of Janu»
^ry : and Colonel Egerton found his ftate of
health fo bad, that it difabled him from at-
tending either civil or military fundions;
in conlequence he refigned the command of
the army, in which Colonel Cockburn fuc-
(;eede^ hhn. Major Dagon of the artillery

M wag

178 AN ACCOUNT

was promoted to the rank pf Lieutenant
Colonel.

The Englifti force had now pafled the
Gauts and reached Indorain. The reality of
fhings proved far from anfwenng the idea of
fuccour they had flattere4 themlelves with
at their fetting out. They had expected
that a? foon as they (hould have pafled the
Gauts, Holcar and other chiefs of rank would
have joined them with large bodies of horfe^
by which, if they received no other fervice,
provisions and forage frpm the cpuntry round
would haye been fecured ; but no fuch ap-
peared, nor any perfons but a fevy mercena-?
ries. Ragobah faw he had been deceived,
and owned, that unlefs they whom he reck-
oned on as friends were by the fpeedy defeat
of his enemies aflvired of fafety, he could
not rec}cpn on fhcir joining him. As the
Englifh and hq advanced towards Poonah,
the difficulty of being fupplied from the
Concan increafed, from the greater advantage;
given by the nature of the country to the
flying parties, and the only hope left wasi
that when they ibpuld approach very near
to Poonah, Holcar might be enabled to ful-
^1 his promifes^ Other accidents concurred

to

OF BOMBAY. 17P

to increafe the defedlion or coldnefs of Rago-
Jbah's partizans. Morabah confined in Ah-
mednagur, had been informed that Ragobah,
inftead of taking proper meafures for his re-
leafe, had written to the Killcdar of that
fort, not to loofe him, until he fhould fend
his orders from Poonah. This was foon
iprcad, and whether true or falfe, had an
cfftd: fatal to his caufe* Indeed it was
plainly feen by the committee that Rago^
bahs aim was, by the Englifh arms to force
his way through all oppofition, that (o every
body might be at his mercy^

The Bombay council, to facilitate fup»
plies from the Concan, fent a detachment ot
a company of Europeans, three of Sepoys^
two field pieces and artillery men to clear the
country between Panwell and Campoli ; at
the fame time they exhorted the new com-
mander Colonel Cockburn, to lofe no time,
but proceed with vigour in his march^

Colonel Egerton, after his refignation, had

fet out to return to Bombay ; but the roads

. were fo occupied by the roving parties of the

. Mahrattas, that finding it impoffible to reach

Psnwell, he returned to the army, where he

M ? refuni^d

i8d AN ACCOUNT

refumed his placB in the cemmittee, but ne|
in the command of the troops. The com-
mittee therefore now coplifteki of Mr. Carnac
and him ohlyt After a irriarch of fifteen
idays, during which they were continually
harrafled by numerous J)artie§ of horfe, whoj
whenever ,they encamped came fo near as
to cannonade, hut when attacked inftantly
retfeated, the army reached Tullangaum,
which \Va8 but efghteen miles from Poonahj
the Whol0 country was laid Wafte, a^d every
jphing that could not be carried off deftroye4
by fire. TuUarigaum i^t their arrival wis ir^
flames ; the fan^e fate impended for Chinfura,
and even Podn^h. After a halt of two days
at this place, Where the eneniy hari'afled them
in their wonted naanner, the committee upol^
enquiry found there muft fpeedily be a wari^
bf provifions, afid the particiflar circumftancesf
of their fituatlon being confidered by them,
^hey determined that it was not poflible fop
the army to proceed, but that ^hey muft re-
treat towards Bombay t

• Upon this determinatiqn, Mr. Carnac {en%
for Colonel Cockburn, and informed him of
it. The colonel rempnftrated againft it, al-
Ifdjjing that the Ei^Hfh trooDS ufe4 not

?9

OF 15 Q M B aV. i8i

to retreat but advance sjgainft the enemy^
ivduld bje difcour^ed by fuch a meafure,
which aa it dapaped th^l^ Ipirit, raiui^ in pro-
portion raife thjit of the Mahrgtta troops,
who would not fa^l to aj^tac^ them during the
march ; that if the Engjii^ by ill fortune ihould
be at Jaft forcesd to treat, they would infift on
very hard terms ; whereas if a treaty was to
be made, it were rapre advantageous to en-
deavour at it in the prefent fituation when
they were within eighteen iriiles of Poonah }
that if permitted to continue the march, he'
had no doubt of carrying the' army there.
But the retreat was refolved, ^nd the order
given. To have the advance of the enemy^
the march was to begin at eleven o*clock
that night ; it was made in three divifions ;
the troops, which as they marched forward
^ere the advanced guard, now became the
rear ; they were commanded by Captaiii
Hartley. The main body was incumbered
by a great quantity of baggage, i ^oo pack
bullocks, 300 carts, a buzar, an artillery
park, and lopo coolies * with plficer's bag-
gag;^^ The enemy furrounding on all fides,
amounted to more than 1 00,000, theEnglifh

M 3 armv

tfta A N A C C d U N T"

army originally not quite. 4000, were fomC"*
what diminifliec). Colonel Cockburti thought
it proper to acquaint Ragobah with his de*
fign ; by this the. enemy were apprized of
it, and about two in the morning the advan-*
ced guard was attacked ; they had proceeded to
a confiderable diflance from the main body^'
which had been retarded by dragging the
baggage through very bad roads, this the
enemy took a great part of* The attack was
continued with vigour, but notwithftand-
ing their reiterated charges, the advanced
guard about daylight reached Worgaum,
having faved moft of their provifion and am-
munition. About four in the morning the
main body was attacked on the rear and both
flanks ; the hah this occafioned gave the ene-
my the opportunity of bringing up cannon;
the army then formed, and the attack became
general about fix. The weight of it fell on the
rear guard, commanded by Captain Hartley ;
the conduiS and courage of this gallant officer
Was anfwercd by the bravery of his m€n4
From the fituation of this corps, and the dif-*
tance of it from the main body, no fupport
was given them till about twelve o^clock ;
during thefe fix hours he fuftained repeated
charges, without being ofice broken. A

fmall

6 F B O M B Af. 183

fmail part of the European battalion was
then fent under Major Frederick, who had
orders in every thing to aft by the direftion
of Captain rfartley. The major chofe when
he had joined the rear, to zQ: in a private
capacity, as a volunteer. Soon after this
reinforcement had arrived, the order came for
the whole to retire^ and about four in the
afternoon all the army had effe£ied their re-
treat, and got to Worgaum, having loft fix-
ty-three artillery, fixty-two Englilh,* and
two hundred and thirty-feven Sepoys.

t)uring the halt at Tullangaum, Ragobali
had for himfelf opened a negotiation with
Sindia, and declared his intention of putting
himfelf under his protection : he was received
by him, and was at this time adually in his
camp, where he was treated with relpedl.

The next day, the 15th, the committee
had another confultation on the difmal fitua-
tion of their/afFairs, and Colonel Cockburn
being afked his opinion, notwithftanding the
bravery (hewn the preceding day, gave it un*
der his hand that the troops would not ftand
fuch another attac]k; that from the number

M 4 , of '

iH AN A ceo u N r

ber of the enemy arid 'their reiterated attack§| -
they fliould, through their many 'halts, bd
twenty days Before they coxi Id reach ran well ^
and miifl: be tot;aliy deftroyed ; and he decrafe^
he eould not charge Hiriilfelf With c6h(ld<9:irig
the army to Bombay ; in ^his qpiiiibn Golbridi'
Egerton (though he did not '{6t his hand to
It) concurred. 'Upon this it was defermifae^
to try whether they could hot, by treating
with the Mahratta chiefs, extricate themfelves
froin the dreadful ftreighf s to which they;
were deduced. As Nanah the minifler, in
whom the power oftenfibly refided, was then
in the Mahratta camp, it was thought proper
to fend Mr. Farmer to him, to negotiate' for
an undiflurbed retreat of the arnSy'to Bbm-*
bay. He at firft was tolerably well jeeeived,
and nothing more * deniarided than dhat 'the
perfon of Ragobah ffioufd be ' delivered -up i
but when that was .found iiot pofGble even
though the Engliftt chiefs ftiould yield to fo
humiliating a condition, Katiah's behaviour
altered, he rofe in his 'defnands, arid infifted
that the Englifh ^fiiould fur render all the
accjuifitions f hey had made lihce the time of
Mahderow; that the detachment under* Cg-»

• - •

lonel Goddard' fhould be 6rdered to retreat ta
Bengal, and intimated that the Englifli army

muft

Ihuft be detained where they then were, till
the htids to be ceded by this treaty were de-
IJvfefed into the pofleffion of the Poonah
IDurbar. To this fevere requifition he added
Infult ; for Mr* Farmer w4s left in tlie open
Buzar without any covering but his palan-
queen, or any place in which he could write
his meffages. Thefe mortifying terms being
'<:ome to the Englifli camp^ another coafulta-
tion was held ; Mr. Carnac declared that at all
iiazards he Ihould prefer continuing their*
retreat raiher than fubmit to fuch difgracefiil
conditions; but as the railitaiy officers had
given their opinions that it was impoffible to
effedi it, he would not take upon himfeff
to decide on his fingly* In this emergency '
it occured to them, that Sindia having in
feme meafure fhewn himlelf favorable to the
Caufe of Ragobah by his reception of hint,
inigKt on'this occafioribe ferviceable to them.
To try tills, Mr. Holmes was fent to him*
<Dn his' Way h^ was met by fbme of Naiiah*3
troops. Who, as they feared that this mef^
fage might prove to the advantage of the
feiiders, and the diminution of their mafter'a
credit, endeavoured to prevent his accefs to
Sindia, firft by requiring him to go to Na-
nah, and then detaining him till a party of

Sindia^s

ift6 ANAGC6tJNiE^

Sindia^s troops came and difperfed themj and
carried him into their mailer's prefenCe ; there
he was received with humanity and kindnefs*
Sindia feemed flattered with this acknowledg-*
ment of his confequence; and upon Mr*
Holmes, in his return of thanks ^or his ci-
vility, comparilig his behaviour to Nanah's
in regard to Mr. Farmer, he immediately
ient for him, and defired that both he and
Mr* Holmes would look on themfelves as his
guiefts. They then begun to treat with him
on the fubjefl: of their miffiori, in the firft
place fhewing a writing figned by the com*
mittee, wherein they declared they had not
power to grant fuch terms as the Durbar iri
the perfon of Nanah had prefcribed : that fuch
a treaty would be a nullity, and that (hould
they be compelled to fign fuch a conven*
tion, the toinifters would be deceived if they
trufted to it. This declaration was alfo pre-
lented to N^nah, who would hear of no di-
minution of what he had required ; he even
fent a meflage to Sindia defiring that he would
not recede from that point of retaining the
army, but moreover require particillarly the
furrender of the cafile of Surat arid Fort Vic-
toria, and the payment of the expences of
the war, before they fhould be releafed ; and

at

OF BOMBAY. 187

W the fame time he fcnt orders to Furkla
to take the proper meafures for preventing
their efcape. Mr. Holmes promifed Sindia,
that if he would befriend the Englilh in this
matter^ the council of Bombay would cede
to him Broach and its Pergunnah which
had been conquered by them from the Nabob
of Surat. Sindia did efFeftually endeavour to
leiTen the hardfhip of the terms impofed, but
prevailed only in regard to the releafe of the
army. He prevented the orders given to
Furkia from being executed, but left he
ihould dilpleafe the other Mahratta chiefs re-
quired that hoftages ihould be given for the
performance of the ftipulated ceffion.

Hard as thefe conditions Were, they feemed
to the committee preferable to the lofi of the
army, which they looked on as inevitable
fhould the Mahratta chiefs be thoroughly ac-
quainted with the defpondency of the leaders t
they feared that Sindia, apprehenfive of lofing
his influence with thofe chiefs^ who, fenfible
of the' advantage this occafion had given him
muft wonder at his negledt of it, might
through that and the reiterated inftances
of Nanah, be prevailed on to come into
and fecoiid his rigorous conditions^ perhaps^

if

%ti A N A c c o ir isr 1^

if Angered by refifbance enhance them ; ina
Xtlymg on the cffeGt of die e^prefs dtclaratioa t
io folexiinly given under thek hands, that ithey
had not power to accede to fuch terms^ and
that whatever they thus were conlp^lkd to
do, would be a nullity, they confented fo
£gn a convention^ whereby all that had been
acquired by the Bombay coundl fince the
time of Mahderow was tp be furrendered§
and oi^rs to be fant to Colonel Goddard to
conduct his detachn^ent back to Bengal : and
Mn Farmer aud JLieutengnt Stewart were toi
remain as hoftages for the performance of
thde conditions. This dqne the army was
permitted to retreat to Bombay^ -^fcorted by
a detachment of horfe i Ragobah remained
under the prpteftion of Sindia. Mr* Holmes
thouj^tit proper to be>muniii<^e&t iaprefeflitd
to Sindia*js officer Sj but not having ready ca(h
HMde his ^efent in bills and notes payable
9t Bombay^ amQunting to 4iy6o6 roupies*

The.fpelings of men now educed to be
guaoidcd by thofe very troops they 4ad been
acc^onnfid to behold; flying before them, cart
beixictce eafily imagined than defbribed : by
tbe: time they iteached. Bombay, the^j^ycaufed
Iqt thm/a;Cbty h^d given v^ay to iudignation

at

F B d M B A V. i«^

pt the ihatile an4 4i%race Ijrought on tl^
gtitilK grrhs,

On the 29th tif January the couticil ftidt
at Bortibay , in which Colonel Egerton and
Colonel Cockburn refumed their feats, Thfe
firft thing done '^as reading the digty of the
unfortunate expedition; after which Mr.
Hornhy reprefeiited that the taiifes of the
failure of it ipight be matter of future confi-
deration, that they fhould now proceed tt>
determine what meafures were to be taken
for their fafety, and retrieving their affiiirs.
He arraigned the conduct of the leaders whilft
he extolled the bralvery of the army, and in*
lifted that to keep up that gallant ipirit they
Jiad (hewn, it was neceflary %o diftinguifh
thdfe who had done them honour frorp thofe
who had been wanting in their duty, whofe
example was pernicious : he nientioned fom^
inferior officers to be tried by cpurts martial,
at the fame time he impeached the condudl
pf Colonel Egerton and Colonel Cockburn,
and offered it as his opinion, that until their
^haviour could be fully enquired into, they
ihould decline acting in a military chara6ter.j
|iis charge was particularly in regard to thfe
ppii^jon CplpneJ Cockbypi ligncd Ht Wor-

ipo AN ACCOUNT

mum, in which Colonel Egertou had ecu*
curred. If they did not confent to what he
propofed, he ihould move for their fufpen--
iion* Colonel Egerton at firft infilled on
Jceeping his place both in the army and the
council till a formal charge was delivered
againft him, but upon further gonfideration
he, as well as Colonel Cockburn, acquiefced,
and they declined afting in their military
capacity until the opinion of the fupreme
council ihould be known.

It is not furprizing that after fb difagree«>
able an event the adors Ihould endeavour
.each to throw the blame from himfelf. The
compafs of this work will not permit de^
fcending to many particulars of this alterca-
tion, which appears at length in the minutes
of the Bombay cquqcil,

Mr, Carnac blamed the flownefs with
which the army proceeded from Panwell, and
to that attributed the greatnefs of that force
to which they were obliged to yield ; and as;
to the retreat, he affirmed that there was no
poffibility of ading other wife as things were
then circumftanced ;. he blamed the diflanoe
pf the divifiong whereby they were uqable to

fupport

OF BOMBAY, 191

«

fupport each other, and the not having or-
dered the fecond divifion to fupport the rear
^hen attacked, which he afHrmed might have
been eafily done ; and as to the determinatioa
3t Worgaum, he ^ faid that his own private
opinion was againft it ; but that although, by
his cafting vote in the committee, he might
have prevented it, he did not think his au-
thority extended fo far as to give orders for
the march at all events ; and though it had,
it would have been imprudent to give it to
officers who had exprefled fuch an opinion
of the troops they were to lead. That there
was no alternative, no way left, but to ob^
tain the beft ternis poflible for the yamplefted
feturn of the army to Bombay.

Colonel Egerton juftified the delay attri-
birted to him by Mr. Caruac, from the im-
ppffibility of dragging the artillery through
roads impaffable till mended by the labourers ;
from the time neceffarily confumed in getting
provisions : and he pofitively denied that he
liad refufed conducing the army from Wor-
gaum to Bombay, or having concurred in
Colonel Cockburn's written opinion, which
he did not remember fo much as to have

fcepi till it was |)rQduced a( that board.

Colonel

1^1 A N A C C O U N T

Colonel Cackburn laid all the mircarrlag?
pn the Jfirii: error in orcjoring the retreat, H«
fet forth ia hi$ juftific^tion the remonftranee.
he had made againft it ; his undertaking, if
the army marched forward, to conduiQ: it to
Poonah ; that the diftance of the diviiions
was occafit)ned by th? cjqantity qf baggage,
;tn4 the badneTs of the ground through which
they were to warch, whereby the firft divi-r
iion, unencymbered,. was enabled to advance
more quickly than the others ; that as foon aa
pofiible he had fept relief to Captain Hart<t
Jey. He owned the opinion he had figned,
and faidi that i|: was founded on the inform
fnaition he had received from fepoy officers
that their men and black officers were likely
to defert in the night, which was confirmed
by meflages received from Ra.gobah and Mr.
$ibbald ; that fome.defertion did ^6tualiy hap-^
pen ; that fwqh anatjher attack would have
exhaufted the ammunition ; that the great dif-
ficulty of carryii^g three hundred lick men
would have increafed their embarraffments ;
that the^ arrny, already diminiflied in num-
bers, having fo many attacks, to fuftain, muft
\iave totally perilhed ere they could have
jfeached jPanwell : ^thofe were the grounds of
his opUilQU, not withftanding which he would ,

OF B O S4 3 A Y.^ i^i

to the. bdl of hi§ ability, had Mr.Camac,
by his cafting vote ordered the retreat to be
continued, have Ifed the army ; 'that by fayj-
' ing he could nbt^ charge hiiiifelf with the
conduft of the army, he did riot meatt to re-
fufe conducing it, if fuch ari order had beeii
l^ven, but merely to aVoid relponfibility for
the ill fuccefs which he fbrefaw ; that Gdlo-
nel Dagon was of the fame opinion ; why
Was hfe therefore' accufed as the caufe of a
tneaforewfeich depended on others?

»

Captain Hartlfey was, for liis fervice on thd
retreat^ promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel ; this occafioned Complaints and re-
moriftrances from the other officers ^ but
thole things are not of a nature to be dwelt
on here *.

♦ la the fetter to the fecrct cdmmittce, the council of B^m
bay enter very fully into the reafons for the advancemeac
of Colonel Hartley, and mention not only his condu^ on
the retreat) which faved the vvhole army, but his fplrited
advice when xonfulted at Woi^aum, where he infiftedy
when, defertioh Was mentjoned, that he could depend oa
the men he commanded, that he had efie^taally prevented
defertloii frdm fprieading* ia his corps ; he urged ev^ry ar*
gument for continuing the retreat rather than fu^bmit to
dlfgracefnl ferms. He even formed a dirpofition, and pre-
fented it la Colond Cockbum for conducing it, and avoid-
jcig the incoQveoiencies of a night march, and the dtviiion ,
of the troops. H« hath finta Ihewn himfelf worthy of his "
advancement.

N The

49* AN ACCOUNT

The retom of the army to Bombay 1^0$
immediately followed by the arrival of a Va^
qiieel ^m the Poonafa Durbar, and one fe^
^arately on the part of Sindia^ demsmdii^
in form the poffeflion of the Several placet
fiipulat^d to be furrendered ; the -anrwer given
was> that MeiT. Carnac and ^^^tou had Ao
authority to conclude. any tr^y on behalf Of
the Company, that this had b^ deckitd to
the leaders of the Mahrattas before the paper
upon which they grounded their dein^md was
fubfcribedy and that the Bombay council had
no authority to take any AfpB in tonfe^uence
until they received the ientioienta of the Su-
preme Council, to ivhom they Wbuid dif-
patch ;a veiiel, and wait their determmfttioa^
Care was taken at the fame time to kave an
opening for treating feparately with Sindia#

On the 1 9th of Febrtrary the Bombay
cfouncil took into coiifideration the ftate of
their affairs* The prefident Mr. Hornby
laid before them a minute on that fubje£t, in
which he entered into a full detail of ill fa<fla
and circumflanceg^ He menticxied, m the
firft place, the attention they ihould have
paid to Colonel Goddmrd's army, and in*
formed them that it had reached BrampoOT

the

Of so MBAV. 195

tjid ipth of January; he added^ that there
was no danger of a Mahrattia array marching
againft him^ as th^y were too hmy at homei
that they were already fending troops to the
neighbourhood of Carange and ^alcet, beit^
rei^ved to obtain the ceifioa of all promifed by
the convention of Wargauni^ which they had
demanded the pofleflion of by their Vaqueels*
He reprefented that as it was to be e^pe^ted,
that Nanah would lofe no time in proceeding
to enforce the ceflipn . he demanded, they
ought to loie no time in their preparatiotis to
refill him* He then entered into a detail of
what had pafled previous to that Convention,
lamenting the bad efie£ts of difcontinyiiig a
march which would have been equal to a
viftory ; he mentioned all the particulars re-
lating to Sindia*s behaviour when applied to
by Mn Holmes, ad a proof of his inclination
to be on good terms with the Engiifh, not
only on account of the promife made to him
of Broach and the (hare of its Pergunriah^
but from political future viewSj which he
deduced from the ieveral incidents at the
time of the convention and foon after, and
from the drcumftances in which all matters
flood at that mpmept. He mentioned that
Mn Holmes duringljiis refidence in Sindia*s

N % cap,

198 AN A C e q U NT

in Bptnbay, to Mr. Lewis, who knowing
that meafures were already taken with Ra^'
gobah ^ould go no further, than to make
general profeffions of friendihip; that Ap-^
pagee avoided all meeting with the agent fent
by Nanah, and had m charge only the par-^
ticular interefts of Sindia; that he never
mentioned the return of the Bengal detach^
ment ; and what w&s very remarkable, though
the order from Meff. Camac and Egerton to*
Colonel Goddard for that purpofc had been
delivered to him to be fent, they had no ac«»
count of its having been yet received *.

From thefe feveral fads he reafoned on
the motives which caufed them ; that the
the principal view of Sindia muft be to re*
tain his power at Pqonah; that he bad to
dread the jealoufy of the other chiefe, ne-
ceflarily fearing his power, and the uie
he, when fully eftablifhed, might make of it
in crulhing them ; that the ]^Ii?^am and {lydef

*

^ Mefllr Carnac and Egerloo wrote from Campoli the
I9?h ^JAOfQat;! i779» that he was to pay no regard tq
fhcir order of tiTe ^6th, bccaufe, upo^ recoUeftion, they
ifound they were not authorized to giv« it. This he re-
ceived at 3urh4mpor(i the 3d of Februgry^ ^nd the order
of the 1 6th of January hj^ only received the 9th of February
in his camp atChopwah upon the ^i^tmiddyi by aVaquee|
WoPgiPg to tb« ipf^Ot Ps^W«r

O P B O M B A Y. 19^

wer^ reftdy to fuppoit them agaioil hioi* The
influence of the Bramins, through the afcen*
dancy of their caft, and their great wealth,
was another fource of uneafinefs to him;^
that however great his powo: whilft he was
at or i^ar Poonah with his troops » his ab-
fence from thence would ai^rd opportunities
to thofe who felt the wdght of it to fhake it
off, which dangers made bis prefence neceA
{kxy I whilft on ^ the other band his private
concerns fufieted by bis abience from his
own dominions: that the King had taken
QCcafiojQL from it to.feise ibme forts belonging
to him ; that he feared both the Nizam's and
Hjder's attexnpts of the fam^ kind ; that he
had fisdiie uneadnefs alfo in regard to Moda*
gee Bouncelo^ whole intereils croffing his,
muft be apprehenfive of his power ; that if
Nanah, at liberty by this abfence to eicercife
his talents and influence, ihould regain the
fuperiority, be would, by the French aU
liance he enabled to keep it. From the de^
tail of m thefe confideratigns be drew tb^
following concluQons ;

{.That the ad:ual adminiilration of afl^airsi
io the Mahratta empire was 9i Sindia's

N 4 difpofel;

,> "

n

» ■ •

2QO AN AG CO U N T

difpofal ; that Nanah was reduced to be
no moxe than the tool of his poweri.

2. That Sindk was not only inclined to the
Engliih in preference to the French, but
canieft for fbme clofer connexion, and al-
liance with the Englifh.

3. That the accomplifliment of the terms, of
the convention, fo far as related: to the Poo-
nah fircar, was not the objeft of his views,
lince he had in , faft given the Engliih the
option whether to comply with them or not,

4 . That the perforrriance even of the private
article in his fevour was not the firft objedt
of his confideration ; but chiefly intended
as a fund to pay from in any alliance,

5. That independently of his views to an al-
liance he had fbme motives of policy, which
rendered hina unwilling that the Englifti
poffeffions and power on that coaft fhould
be materially reduced.

6. That it was for the intereft of the
Company, and neceffary to their purpofes

. at this fettlemcnt, to find what Sindia's

OF BOM BAY. loi

' : real intentions were, and to take nieaiiires
in concert with him for the excluiioQ
of Nanah from all power.

His reafons for his fuppofitions were, that
all dominion but that of the fword was over-
thrown at Poonah ; that Sindia being then
in pofleffion of it, his great objeft muft have
been to iecure it, and his intention either to
remove the feat of his government to Poo-
nah, or to eftablifli there Ibme power fob-
ordinate to his. That the firft was dangerous,
and would alarm all the chiefs who aimed to
continue their independence, as his great
power muft enable him to crufli them, ^ The
Nizam and Hyder would be ever ready to
fopport them in the fouthern parts of : the
empire, where the Bramins have great weight
from the circumftances of caft, riches, and
influence. In Sindia's own jaghire, the king
taking advantage of his and Holcar's abfence<^
was nhking fome progrefs againft them ;
that Modagee looked to the Rajafhip ; that
the king and he muft be confidered as dan?
gerous enemies to Sindia. As to the fer
cond, . the eftabliihment of a fubordinate
power that feemed more fuitable to his cir^
. giiimftaiicea aqd agreeable to bis paft con?

duft.

los A N A C C O U N f

ixi&. The difilculty lay in the means : his
cfacice of Nanah to be Duau arolfi ffom his
hopp of gaining credit by the moderation
ifaewn in placing in that o^ce a man of fuch
abilities^ 9Qd of the Bramin caft; but this
dwice was dangerous ^y the occafion his
abfence ^nd Holcar's alfo (whofe afiairs called
him away) funiifhed Nanah to afiert his
indc|)endence, and cc»itiaue his connexions
with St. Lubin ; th^t the arrival of the alfift«
aace from France would refVore his fuperio^
xity, but the fupport qf the Engliih power
en the coaft was a fecurity againft even his^
^dependence ; that the Bramins in general
were inclined to th$ French ; that even Mo«
labah was fb ; that it was the mutual interefi
of both Sindia and the £nglifh to guard
againft Nan^h and their influence; that the
council was bound in honour to acquit fhem*
i^Ives to him, his protedion at Worgaum
being a valuable confideration ; that Eago»
bah by his engagen^ent with Sindia had re^
Jieved the Company from the care of his in*
terefts ; and that all {lipulations tending ta
be hoilijie to Berar w^re to be avoided, H«.
^refore, in the firfl place, propoied that
the notes given by Mr. Holmes among Sin^
^ia*$ olfiQers ^ Durbar <;]^arges, amount

ipg

OF B.OMBAY. 90S

Ing to 41^90^ iromjim^ ihould be immedi*

« .

In the m^an time every thing yms to b*
prepared fo as to be in readinefs for ferviccy
that if Stadia ihould refuie their advances an
army might be fent into the field toward
Surat or ^^roach, to zSk in concert with tho
<3etaphment ; that an alliance with the Gui-
cawars Should be attempted ; that fuch a
connection was defirable from their command
of the Guzerat^ their averfion to the Poonah
government, and their diflance from the cen-
ter of the empire ; that the diviiions which
then reigned among them diminiflied thdr
importance ; that the connexion Futty Sing
had wi|h Siudia (hould incline them to him ;
that an alliafice with Sindia was in every r6*
fptd^ preferable to one with Modagee Bomi-
cello, as the claims he had upon the fuccef*
iion to th^ {lajafhip tended to cr^te embar^
raji'ments*

That as to Ragc^ah there could be no
thought of purfuing the plan of his refloration j
that cirpumflances difiered totally from what
^bey were in the year X775» when fervice
was tender^ to him by Sindia^ who now had
^ tbo

f 04 A N A G C Q U N T

the conamand of an army, the only title to
the empire, that Ragobah was his penfiouer^
and merely a cloak to his ambition. Upoa
this reprefefitation it was refblved,

That the convention at Worgaum was inr
valid ; and that as after the exprefs declaration
to the Durbar, that the concimittee had not
the power to accede to thofe terms, the pub-
lic faith could not be confidered as pledged ;
that the general anfwer already given to Na-?
Dah was all then uecefl^ry,

That Sindia, in confequence of his good
offices, was entitled to every mark of regard,
^nd that it was neceflary to find fbme equiT
valent to the ceffion of the Mogul ihare of
the Broach Perguniiah j

That the notes given for 41,000 ro^pi^Sl
Durhar charges (hould be forthwith paid ^

That there was good grqund to hope Sin-?
dia is well difpofed to and willing to enter
into' a connexion with the Company ;

' That the objed in this conne}«on muft b^^^

- . » ...

I. The

O F B O M BAY. 205.

i; The total exclufion of the French, and
of Nanah from any fhare in the go-i
vcrnment at Poonah.

2* To prelerve for the. Company the ter-
ritory they, then held.

That it was abfblutely neceflary tb lofe no
time in endeavouring at this, and to avoid any
engagement hoftile to the Raja of Berar 5 that
nrothing fhould be finally fettled without the
concurrence^ of the Governor and Supreme
Council ; diat in confequence of thefe reib^
iutions the prefident Ihould write to Sindia.

Although the reflexions of Mr. Hornby
were in general well founded^ he was toit
taken in two points: the Durbar at Poortah
were not inattentive to Colonel Goddard*3
march ; they had aftually detached 20,000
of their beft horie to furprize him, but his
celerity in his progrefs from Brampour pre-
vented their reaching him, they therefore
returned without having cpmmitted any a6t
of hpftilky. Nor was Sindia {o well inclined
to the Englilh or naturally averfe to a French
alliance : though he had granted pailes for
the march of the detachment through his

country.

i&5 AN ACCOUNT

Countiy, and made ho hdtile oppofitlbti^ kt
had thrown obfbclea in their ^rajr^ by or*
dering the inerchaiits io remove firom Bram^
pour, whereby it became difficult for Colonel
Godddrd to raife money dn his bilk. This
jtnanner of ading was cotififiBlit with the
policy that guides the princes of Indoilan ;
whatever dtfiehtions reign among thetn, they
all unite in hatred of Europeans^ and moft
of the Englifli whom they fear i. this is theiif
natural bent^ Their feeming prefeiit intereft^
or the views of their tainiiller^ either £ot
their mafters or their own ptiviate advanf^e^
often predominates over that bias; by thddi
channels only they are acceffiblei The pre*
iiclent in confequence of the refolutions wrotel
to Sindia, but he did not meet thofe ad^
yances in the manner hoped for* The de*
mands of the ftipulated ceHions were reite^
rated, the delay occafioned by wridng Co thd
Supreme Council was complained of as an
evafion; tffeSts followed theie mcSkgeSy a
body of their troops advanced to* foit Yio*
toria, dnd inteJligenee was rsceived of pife^
parations for the attadcaf Salcet^ Pro^
pi'ecautions taken prevented their efie^ng
their purpofes*

lrh«

Q P fe O MB AY. fto^

with hU det^cfainent at Sarat, oil the a 5 th
of February^ changed the fatce of fifi&ir^. It
is bow .times to revert to the proceedings oi
the Su|)iiem6 Council and the march of thai
detachment ; but heiore we entet upon thae
iut^ed^ it cmj not be amlia to enq^re into
the Cauffe of the remarkable event jud re*
lated : a gallant aroly^ after 4 de&dce as glo«
rioi^ as a vi^ory, reducied huilibly to crave
and Xubmit to dligraceful tercnsi and retire^
covered with ihamey to the place whence the/
had &t out, pluming themielveS in full d£*
iutaiiiceof returning crownM with fucceis;^
and the honour of giving a ruler to the Mah^
satea empire* The chara&er of the prince
whom they ei^ou&d^ and the views of tbofe
who eipouied hito, lead to it« The true vny
of Jud^ng mens charad:ers is not to dedidd
vpon the events of thdir iives, but ^pon their
behaviour in confequence of thefe events*
Thofe iti the iile of Ragobah are various , and
fbmeof them furpriziog; from the begin-
it^ to ^md lie hsth been th& iport of Fortunes
In all her inconilanCji The changes from
iU to {good feem to be tbb effedk of the policy
<^ the Mahratta chiefs, and thofe from pno-
fjfedty to tyretchedhe&i ths^ QjSedl of o&i^

tancy^

168 A N A G C ir N T

tancy, and fudden impreffidns of fear preci-
pitate in their exertion. Naturally bold and
brave he formed fchemes of greatnefs, and
entered upon them with Ipirit i but looking
to one objedl only, he fatw not the obftacles
that lay in his way^ or the thorns that might
render his paflage difficult, yet he ^tas prpne
to fuipicion, which^ whfen once admitted, to-*
tally abforbed e^ery ideA but that of the dan-
ger it pointed out, and hurried him to decide
merely on that idea, without examining whi-
ther it was well founded or groundlefs. At
the fame time as prone to truft thofe td
whom he applied in fuch emergencies^ with-
out knowing whether they were well or ill
inclined to him : he had talents of generaljQbip
which he exerted With fuccefs ; his errors m
forming his defighs feem to have arifen from
an over-weening impatience which prevented'
his lexamination of the probability that the
promifes of his friends, and the warmth of
his expedlation, would be anfwered ; thi^
made him venture rafhly, and urge with im-
petuofity thofe on whom he could really 4**
pend, not eonfidering that if by yielding to
that raflinefs their ftrength was broken^ he
left his only fupport ; that impetuofity made
bim fuppofe his wiih completed when the:

firft

OF BOMBAY. 209

firft ftep towards it was fcarcely taken, and
forget that h^ owed attentions to thofe who
had already favoured or niight in future fa*
vour his caufe, and a6l as if he was really
feated in the fullnefs of power and no more
wanted their affiftance, or feared their en-
mity ; he faw not the true reafbn of his fo
readily meeting fupport in his ill fortune,
that the princes who then efpoufed his caufe
did it not from any perfuafion of the juftice
of itj or any zffeSdon to his peribn, but
merely from policy, their independence being
preferved by the continuation of the difien-
tions which the Mahratta empire ; during
which they could not be called to account
for their tribute, as the fide they befriended
would not, and that they oppoied, could not
enforce payment of it : this fyflem accounts
for the general run of the a£ts of the Mah-
ratta chiefs. This it was which raifed hin>
armies in his former diAreiies, and influ-
enced Sindiato receive him when the Euglifh
army retreated from TuUinghaum, and to
f^ften the rigour of Nanah*s requitition at
Worgaum ; he had no reafon to fear their
ptofperity, and knew, by experience, th^t a
complete fettlement of the empire, under the
Duanlhip of Nana, and mtniftry of the Bra-

O xnins.

210 A N A C C O.U N T

mins, would extinguifli his influence/ and
that as foon as thev found themfelves efta-
blifhed in their pofts^ and ftrengthened in
credit by an increafe <!)£ territory, they would
demand and enforce the payment of the ar-
rears of tribute : this muft have been the firft
thought that ftruck him, on the application
of Mr. Holmes, the fending his vaqueel to
Bombay, with particular inftrudions on his
feparate intereft, plainly proves it : he meant
to have Ragobah under his protection, or ra-
ther in his cuftody, that he might upon
dccafion make a proper ufe of that circum-
ftance.

Unfortunately the impatience of Ragobah
was convmunicated to the greatcft part of the
Bombay council ; like him, too eafily truft-
ing to outward appearance, they imagined
themfelves at Poonah from, the moment the
miniftry quarrelled; the many tergiverfations
and uncertainties which reigned in that Dur-
bar did not open their eyes. Upon the firft
ptofpecSl of fuccefs attending Ragobah's party,
or rather thofe who ufed his name to com-
pafs their ends in depriving their enemies of
the power they aimed to aflume, they aban-
doned themfelves to the flattering fcene of

importance

OF^ B O M B A Y. ill

importance and credit accruing to them
from fettling and giving a chief to an em-
pire, and feared nothing but the diminution
of glory which they might fjfFer from other
perfons having a fhare in the enterprize.
This muft have been the motive of their for-
bidding the advance of the Bengal detach-
ment by their firft orders, as well that of their
hurry in planning and in executing the ac-
companiment of Ragobah and reinftating
him in the regency, although they knew that
by the confinement of Morabah, Butchaba
and their adherents, and the fmall degree of
power Holcar had, the principal force on
which they had' reckoned would be wanting.

Their impatience exceeded that of Rago-
bah ; to prevent delay by his objeftions to
the treaty, they increaled the fums advanced
to him J the march of the detachment and
its daily progrefs was known to them, they
might have calculated the diftance which
each day diminished, and by a fettled corre-
ipondence with Colonel Goddard, have carried
on their plan fo that he might have co-ope-
rated with them; with this precaution
fuccefs was certain, but then the honour of
that fuccefs muft have been attributed to hi.3

O 2 ikill

--*^ -■

ii2 A N A C C O U N 1*

ikill in the es:ecution, and the wlfdom of the
Supreme council, in fending that detachment
to their afliftance : this was a meafure from
the beginning difagreeable to them, they
were angered by the firft interpofition of that
council which produced the treaty of Po-
rounder, and that refentment was kept up by
the exercife of the fuperiority given by the
ad of parliament ; this appears through their
minutes of council, and thofe fentiments
helped to ftrengthen the others *•

The ill-timed order given by Ragobah
for the continuation of Morabah's confine-
ment was another fatal flep ; the z€t itfelf
might be called ingratitude to the man who
firfl flirred in his favour, when he feemed
forgotten and excluded for ever from all

chance

♦ In }\}(\\e to Mr. Draper, one of the members of the
Bombay council, it muft not be omitted that he diflented
not only from the firft refolution to forbid the advance
of the detachment, but alfo from that of the i2ih of Ofto-
ber 1 778, for condufting Ragobah to Poonah with an armed
force ; he grounded ihisdiflention on, ift. Their departure
from the conditions prefcribed by the fupreme council,
" That their plan fliould not interfere with any engagc-
** meat formed with Modagee ; that by advice from Eu-
•^ rope, they Oiould be affurcd t*iat the force they fcnC
" could be (pared without danger, that their engagements
*' with Ragobah or Morabah Ihould not be hoftile to the

^ Rajah

OF ; BOM B AY. 213

chance ;of a return to power ; and it ihewed
^ a difpofition of miod which made not only
Morabah*s friends averfe to him, but ilruck
the other Indian chiej& as an indication of
his delign to govern with the fame ftri£l:nefs
he had before done, when his title in the
minority of his nephews to the regency, and
after the death of Naron to the PaifliwaChip
was undifputed : this would have totally
put an end to their icheme of independence,
the maintenance of which is the moft defi-
rable thing for the inhabitants of the dif^
tri£ts refpedlively bordering on the Mahratta
dominions, and the particular intereft of the
£ngli(h government in that region. The
iituation of the countries of thefe princes
ihews the probability of fuccefs in a fyftem

«' Rajah of Berar."— id. Morabah and Butchaba being
fliil under reftraint.— 3d. The diftance of the detachment
bdng yet too great.-— 4th. There being a great deficiency
10 the European force from the eftabliihoKUt ordered by
the company,— ->he added, that although he was convinced
of the neceffity of removing Nanah, and reinflating Rago-
bah in the regency, it appeared to hhn that it might bt
cffe&od with more propriety and greater probability of
fuccefs, in about two months, as by that time they might
hope the refiriftions, with refpeA to the Berar ncgociation,
xnight be removed, and the detachment might arrive at the
d^ftination ordered in July (in the neighbourhood of
Poonah) and the company's (hips and thp iquadron might
be with them.

O 3 formed

/

214 AN A C COUNT

formed f6r that purpofer Separate treaties
with each would ftrengthen and enable them
to feiift the force of the Poonah Durbar^
which they would not fail to do whea
they fouiid themfeJves fupportcd by. Englifh
arms.

The proceedings of the council of Bom-
bay have been related without the inter-
ference of other matters^ that by an uninter-^
rupted narration they might appear clearly :
it will be neceflary to refume thofe of th^
Supreme Council, and the a£J:a in confe-
queiice, particularly the march of the detach-
iiient commanded by Colonel Leflie through
the heart of Indoftan ; a meafur^ of high im-
portance, the effeft of fchemes long revolved
in the mind of its author, bold in its con-
ception, and continued, with perfeverance
from the conyifition of its utility : the events
finally produced by it muft decide whether
ralh and precipitate, or political and truly
calculated for the good of the company, as
well as for the fame attendant on fo high an
euterprize.

' This meafure had not paffed in council
without great debate. From its novelty,

the

OF Bombay; 215

(the lafual manner of lending troops having
been by fea) the general ignorance of the
country to be paffed over, and of the relations
;and ifit^refts of its princes and chiefs, th^ ap-
parent danger from Jthe heat of the clirnate,
the . deiay which muft l>e • occalioned by the
rains., the. inconvenience and difficulties which
might arife from waint -of provifions and af-
fiftance from the powers , of the country or
perhaps, from their, op^ofition, it was lop):ed
on as impradlicable ; but for the reafons above
related the council determined it not only
pra(9:icabldbut expedient. The neceflary pre-
cautions were, takem. with the princeb of the
countries through which the detachment wa^
tppafsiby' apprizing, them of the. xlefign of
it& match, and its paci£c' difpoiitions to th}^m)
and requeuing their affiftance in furnifhing
provifions : particularly letters were wrU'teu
tQ thje Paifhwa and. his miniftry fully men*^
tinning thefe matters, and Mr. Moftyn was
inftru<3:ed to affure them of the council's re->
folution to abide by the treaty of Porounder,
to explain the neceffity of protecting the {et-
tlement of Bombay from foreign invafion,^
and to. dcfire they would give orders to their*
chiefs dependent on the Paifliwa not to mo-
leil the army in thfcir. march, but to fupply

O 4 . them

zi6 A N AC COUNT

rtiem with what affiftance they might ftand
in n€ed of.

On th€ 2 3d of February 1778, refolutiori^
having palled in council for the appoint-
ment of Colonel Leflie to this command, or-
ders were ifiued in confequence for the troops
to aflemble on the weftern frontier of the
province of Owde, either at Corah or in the
neighbourhood of Culpee, as the command-
ing officer might chufe.

■ — . «

Each fepoy battalion confifted of ieven
hundred men, rank and file, one captain, ten
fuhalterns Europeans, with the ufual number
of native officers ; and tv^o pieces of artillery,
iix pounders, were attached to each battalion.

The r^ment of cavalry confided of five
hundred natives, commanded by Captaifn
Wray; the body of horfe from the province
of Owde was compofed of natives of the pro-
vince of Candahar, and was of the fame
Arength : this corpt had been in the fervice
of the late Sujah Dowlah Nabob of that
province, and was continued by his Ion. It
was commanded by a very gallant officer,
who was alfo a native of Candahsir.

The

OF BOMBAY. 217

The aitiileiy confided of four light twelve
pounders, and two howitzers, beiides the two
fix pounders above-mentioned attached to
each battalion of fepoys : it was commanded
by Major Baillie, one captain, and four Tubal-
terns, and a company of natives were appointed
ibr the fervice of the whole.

Lieutenant Colonel Fortman was field
engineer, with an afiiflant, a quarter-mafter-
general and deputy ; and all the other officers
belonging to the ftafF, and perlbns neceflary
to be employed in the &veral departments of
^ores and provifions were named and chofen
by the commander ; to whom likewiie un»
limited authority was given to order fuch
ftores, and in fuch quantities, as he might
deem uecefiary for that fervice.

On the 1 2 th o£ April, the firft divifion of
the troops arrived at their rendezvous at Co-
• rah, where the whole were afiembled on the
25th, when Colonel Leflie joined. From
the 5 th of May to the j 8 th, the troops were
filing off by detachments, with their baggage
and ftores, to^a pafs on the banks of the Jum-
na, oppofite Culpee. The diftance between
Corah and Culpee is about forty miles ; that

river

a 1 8 A N A C C Q U N T

river forms the wcftern boundary of the do*
mmiofus of the JNabob of Owde.

The town and fort of Culpee, which ftand
on the other fide of the river; are the eaftern
boundary, of a fmall diftria,. bordering on
the Bettwah. Nuilah*, oxi the other fide of
which lies the Boondelchund country, begin-
ing at Jallapoon This diftrift was poflHied
by Gungadur Punt, the commander of the
Mahratta force. in that part of Indoftan : he
had received orders from Nanah to ufe all his
endeavours to prevent the progrefs' of the
Englifli march; * He. had with him his bro-
ther Ballagee, whole dominions were further to
the weft, and through which the route of the
detachment lay; This man had great power
and influence over his brother, and through
the whole country, his cunning was great,
and he laid the fcbeme of obftruding us by
every way preferably to arms,, and to have
recourle to thole when bis deception failed of
fuccefs : in conlequence vaqueels were lent
from both thefe chiefs to Colonel Leflie with

«

affuranees of their mftfters confent and fon-

: - currence

« '•

. *^villahis^ cut from a river by which grouods arC'
Watered.

» i.

OF F O M B AY. ai^

curirence to the march of the detachment,
with the promife of a plentiful fupply of
provKiona through their country, and Balla*
gee advifed him to go to the Nebuddah by
the way of Mow, and offered himfelf to be
his conductor. Colonel Leflie not yields
111^ to theie fpecious appearances, deter**
mined to pttxreed warily, for their vaqueels
were not impqwered to conclude any treaty^
Of even* to tceat, therefore everything was
vague and fuipicious. The governor of the
fort of Culpee by his behaviour fhewed how
neceilary caul^bnwas, and how little declarati-
ons were' to be relied on. Application had been
made to :him for the aid of his boats in paff*
ing the river ;. this he not only refufed, but
as the worknien were employed in repairing
thofe which had been colle6led> ^ party de-
tached from the fort began to fire on them ;
this was j:eturncd by the covering party, which
with a few rounds from two pieces of artil-
lery, obliged them to retire.

Colonel Leflie fending for the vaqueels,
who were ft ill in camp, reprefented to them
the treachery of fuch coriduift, and at the
fame time informed them of his intentions
to crofs the river next day ; the vaqueels

made

220 AN ACCOUNT*

made excuies, begged for another day's delay,
and propofed that he (hould crofs two and
thirty miles higher up the river; Colonel
Leflie rejeded this propoial, adding his
reafons, with which they ieemed perfeftly
fatisfied, and defired leave to go and inform
their mafters, promiiing to return in the
evening with aa anfwer, which not being
performed^ gave caufe to fufpoft that foniie
oppofition would be made to the pafiage of
the riven

The next morning, the i pth of May, at
dawn of day, three battalioiis of fepoys
the firft, fourth, and feventh, with their
artillery arrived at the pafs. The firft
divifion crofled the river, and immediately
formed ; Colonel Goddard who commanded,
feeing fbme troo|)s aifembling in his front,
fent a meflage to their chief, deiiring to pafs
unmolefted ; tlie anfwer was, that they ihould
come on : yet fbme fmall bodies of cavalry
began to fire at a diflance on thofe troops
that were crofling and forming. This was
endured, until fome were wounded ; batteriea
which had been placed to cover the landing
of the troops were then opened, which very
loon difperfed thp enenajr. That part of the

troops

O F B O M B AY. air

troops \vhich had now pafled were ordered
to advance towards the village of Culpee^
which was about a mile diftant, and Major
Fullerton, with the grenadiers, to prevent
any furprize, was direfted t6 make a move-
ment to the left, but rather on their rear,
both parties directing their march towards
the' village, where they were to unite. From
the place whence the grenadiers had made
their movement^ the ground they had to pafs
through was broken and uneven, with high
banks and ravins, and the road fb intricate,
that, after marching fome time, they found
themfelves at a greater diftance from the vil-
lage than when they firft moved ; they were
then very brilkly attacked by a body of about
twelve hundred Mahratta horfe. The men
jbehaved with great fpirit and coolnefs, in
particular the grenadiers of the fourth batta-
lion. They begatif however to be preffed
when the other part of that battalion with its
artillery, fupported by the leventh, came from
the village to their afliftance, and foon dcci-
dfed the conteft. The enemy retreated with
the greateft precipitation to a fort about fix
miles diflant, where they had fent their ef-
fe^s, and the troops were toQ much fatigued
to purfue. A few grenadier fepoys were

22a AN.* A c c 6 i; N r

wounded ; the lofs of the enemy was much
mom confiderable, and quiet poflfeffion was
taken of the fort a«d village of Culpee, whieh
they had evacuated.

• This firft aft of hoftility was followed hy
another vaqueel from the t?wo chiefs, dis-
avowing, all knowledge of what had pafled,
promifing to punifli the offenders, and fbli-
citing friendfliip. Colonel Leflie defirous of
adhering to the fpirit of his inftrudions, ac-
cepted their ^xcufes, propofed terms of agree-
ment^ and while thefe were adjufting, the re-
mainder of the detachment, with the artil-
lery, baggage, and ftores, crofled the river.
The terms of the agreement were, that the
troops fliould have an unmolefted paljage,
that they (hould be fupplied with provifions
and neceffaries at a proper price, and that the
fort of Culpee fhould be k§pt by an Englilh '
guard, as a fecurity for the performance of
of the agreement. The poffeffion of it to be
returned when the detachment had reached
Chatterpore.

*

At this junfture a letter was received from
the prefident and council of Bombay, with
diredions for the detachment to halt until

further

O F B O M B A Y. 223

further orders, without mentioning any rea*
Ion for {o unexpedled a njeafure : advice^ of
this, with an account of the agreement, fol-
lowed thofe of the Ikirmifh which had been
con^naunicated by Colonel Leflie to the Su-*
preme Council- He informed them at the
fame time, that* as the ground about Culpee
\vould not admit of an encampment, without
great inconvenience, he would move about
twenty miles further to the banks of the
Betwah Nullah, a good iituation, on the fron-
tiers of the Boondelchqnd cpuntry, where he
would wait their further direjcHons.

The Supreme Council had in the begin-
ing of May received letters from Bombay and
Poonah, relating the revolutions in that Dur-
bar, when Morabah and the other chiefs had
in all likelihood overturned Nanah and Sac-
caram, and become the mafters of that go-
vernment, and afterwards had come to an
agreement with them as before related. The '

Bombay council in their letters lamented that
they Ihould have fo little (hare in the refto-
ration of Ragobah, and that it ihould appear
it could be effected without their afliftance.
Thefe letters gave occafion to debates : a con-
clufion was drawn from them, that the re- i

eftablifliment I

424 AN ACCOUNT

cftablifliment of Ragobrfi was a6tually efFe^
cd, which ftVent muft totally defeat any
fchemes the French might have formed, and
put an end to the negotiations of Nanahwith
them, whereby the further progrefs of the
detachment became unneceffary. It waa there-
fore propofed, that orders (hould be lent to
Colonel Leflie to fufpend his march, or if he
had proceeded in it, to return to Culpec*
But upon confideration that it did not from
thofe letters appear that the affairs of the
company in that part of India were in fuch
fecurity as not to require aid, but on the
contrary that the connexions of the French
with the Mahratta Durbar were yet fubfift-
ing, St. Lubin flill redding at Poonah, and
the veffel which brought him into that coun-
try, and had been freighted for China ac-
companying Geneisal Belcombe inftead of pur-
fuiug that voyage, being a ftrong proof that
he had entered into the dcfign, and probably
had gone himfelf to conduct or forward the
negotiation; nor did the revolution appear
certain, and If it was completed without
the aid of the Bombay council, the fettle*
ment could not be permanent ; Ragobah
could never truft his perfon to his
new partifans, formerly his enemies and

betrayers 5

t) 1? BOMBAY. 215

betrayers ; hor could he reft fatisfied by the
comproitxi(fe liiade with Na^ah who by his
(Connexion with Hurry Furkia, the comman-
der of the fortes, muft have an irreliftible
fway, Fie therefore Would truft no friend but
the Bombay fcouncil^ who had ever been
iealous in his caufe; ndr would he venture'
to Poonah without the affiftanceof an Engllfti
rtiilitary force, which to obtain, he muft
grant their conditions. It was prdper that
they fliould have it in their power to adt {o
confpicuouS ^ part and to keep up to i^-*
The reinfdreienient would give that power,
and the very idea of it rriight already havd
had fome efFecl in the tranfa<9:ions at Poonah ;
in fuch a crifisj to recall the detachment
Would alarm friends and encourage enemies :
upon the whole, if the fervice of it (hduld noc
be^wanted^ nothing wduld have been loft by'
its riot haviilg marched, and it might be ea-*
fily recalled; but if once Withdraw/^Uj and
its aid afterwards (hould be required, it Would
be tdo late to afford it. The expe£lation of
Indbftan demanded the profecution of this
meafure. On thefe confideratidns it was de-
termined the detachment (hould proceed.

P Colonel

2i^ AN ACCOUNT

Colonel Leflie's letter of the toth of May,
giving an account of his pafTage, and the
Ikirmifhes he had fuftained, occafioned frefh
debates in the council. From the oppofitioa
of the two chiefs at Culpec it was concluded
that the whole march would be thus inter-
rupted, and that, in prudence,, the army
ihould proceed no furth^er, at leaft till th^
rains were over, as its fafety (on which that
of Bengal depended) was hazarded by fuch a
march from one fide of India to the other in
fo unfavourable a feafon, and in jthe face of
an enemy determined toppppfe it, who,.withr
out ever coming to an engagement, might
diftrefs, harrafs, and ruin them. It was on
the other hand confidered that the diftridVs.
which depended on the chiefs who had com-
mitted hoftilities, extended but a (hort dif^
tance from Culpeq, that one week WQuld.
bring them to Boondelchund, w:hole chief,
was not fubjeft to the Mahratta empire ;
the rout€ thence was through Bapaul, wliofe'.
chief, a Patau, though ' he paid the thout,
owned no dependance on Poonah; that the
reft of the way lay through the dominions oft
Modagee, whole ppwer was great, and friend-
fhip certatn. As to rains, experience ha4.
ihewn that the weather being cooled by"

them

tkeiil' iS more fat^'ouiibre, and yfides: dtirfttg
that feafbii they wcmlci' be* left expbled to at-
tacks of caval?y. li vhs detemiriied ta
Ivrife to Colonel Eeflie, apptoviiig hi^ coit-^
du6t, warning him to beware of treachery,
and not to be induced by any fair appear-
ahfce'td relai iri the condutfl he h^d prbpofed
toward^ the- chiefs of the countries hd was to
faft through; arid dirfedting^ that he fliould
jgiv^e nbtice to Mr; Mbft'yn, the refident at
Pobn^h, of his proceedings, and all fuch or-
curenfces as niight ' r^qiiire explanation to
that Burbar^ or the inrerpofition of their
authority^ ia prevent future interruptions to
his ' march. At the fame time letters were
written to thd Paifhwa, giving a detail of
what had happehed at the paffige of Jumna,
declaring' a belief thiat thefe hoitilities weraf
not committed by any authority fr'om ' hini
or his rainifters, as they* corrld not have
arifen from thofe who were on terms of
friendfliip with the Engltfh J that the necef-
{ity of felf-deftnce had occafioned the fending
the detachment^ but the moft regular dilti^
pline and friendly conduft had' been r^com^
meiided to thfe commander- ; and it * wag re^
qu^fted thit fiich Injuiidtions might' be ifRxtA
tci'th^ offlceirs of that govemnienit ai» tvtiuUl

Pa ia

228 AN ACCOUNT

in future prevent effeftually any. thing of the
like nature. Mr. Moftjn was apprized of
thefe letters, and directed to aft in confe-
quence, and regularly to correfpond with
Colonel Leflie.

The advice of the order to flopping the
march of the. detachment, by the Bombay
council, was about the fame time received
from Colonel Leflie and that prcfidency. The
other part of their letter gave an account of
the continuation of the uncertainty in the
Poonah Durbar, and the imperfeft ftate of
Ragobah's affairs there ; that General Bel-
combe had returned to Pondicherry ; that
the Ihip Sartine had landed military ftores,
which were for the fervice of Hyder Ally;
and that the French were deterred from pro-
ceeding to Choul by the appearance of thq
Englilh fqiiadron, Thefe advices were a-
ground for a motion in the Supreme Coun-
cil, that the detachment fliould be recalled to
the , Bengal fide of the Jumna, for to flay in
an enemies, country expofed the army to
dangers produifliveofhoftilities, which might
bring on a general war, and if they remained
in Boondelchund, that country rnuft be ruined.
It was iniiftqd that the principal reafon hi-
,- : therto

OF BOMBAY. 229

therto alledged for this meafure, which was
the effed of French negotiation with the
Mahrattas was yanifhed ; for General Bel-
combe having fent a (hip with warlike ftores
to Hyder Ally, who was aftually at war
with the Mahrattas, how could French in-
trigue, if it ever had exifted, have any effe£t?
On the other hand it was at-gued, that being
but thirty or forty kofs from the borders of
Owde, the army was equally fafe and ready
either for defence or attack ; and that upon
confidering the whole context of that part of
the Bombay letter which related to General
Belcombe, it was evident that the French were
deterred from proceeding to Choul, by the
appearance of our fquadron. That Mr. Mof-
tya's letter mentioned St. Lubin being ftill
at Poonah, favoured with the fame counte-
nance, notwithftanding Mr. Moftyn*s remon-
ftrance. It was therefore plain that the fame
caufe exifted, and there was the fame danger
from its confequence. On thefe reafons Co-
lonel Leflie's intention of moving to the Bet-
wah river for his encaippment was approved,,
and he was prohibited from moving further
until he (hould receive orders to that efFe£t.
The council directed the officer commanding

P 3 at

»3^ A fJ ACCOUNT

at Culp^p Jto retain the pp^pipn qf it unjil
further p/d^rs-

Terms qf agre^rpent jliaying been finally
^djttfted between Colonel Leflicj and the fwo
chiefs, prders wpre given for the naarch of
the fixfi jdivifion, Donfifting pf the firft, fourthji
an^ .ieyenth battalions of fepoys, who fet out
at t^p p'cjopk in fhe morning, on the 2td of
June, from Culppe. Fpr the.firft five miles
fjbe march was much impeded by the narrow-
nefe of the road, ^nd t)ip yery uneven brolcea
gipund of the couptry, the face pf which
exhibited a mofl fiiigul^r appearance, being
^ickly interfperfed with JiiHocks pf conckar,
in tyhich neither fhrub, or blade of grafs was
to be feen. In tjie language of the country
conckar literally f ranflated mean? cinder. The
ipatter of which thefe hillocks were compofed,
ieemed rather of that kind which we term
fcoria, fbmething like what is thrown out of
furnace^ in which iron ore is fmelted ; the
difficulties arifiyg from ^^e nature of ground,
jverc increafed by the extreme heat of the
weather, apd a \yant of water. At feven
in the morning they came to a well, which
was ynfortunately filled up; at nine, two
yillages a little way to the right and left on

thq

O \F BOMBAY. 231

the line of march, gave hopes of relief, but
the quantity that could be got from thence
was fo fmall, and the eagernefs of the troops
fo great, that it proved of little benefit. At
a quarter after eleven they at length reached
the village of Murgong, where they found a
fupply from feven or eight wells, which had
not been filled iip. The diftance from Cul-
pee to that place was not more than fixteea
miles. It is to be feared that thefe difficul-
ties proceeded from want of attention, and
not having taken even common precautions
to prevent them. Fortunately this error did
not prove fo fetal as it was at firft feared;
only twenty fepoys, and about as many of
the followers of the army, funk under the
fatigue ; a nuniber of European officers fickr
entd^ but all recovered. Captain Crawford
excepted, who commanded the fourth batta-
lion of fepoys, whofe lofs was great, and uni-
*verfally lamented.

On the 5th of June Colonel Leflie re-^
ceived letters from Bombay, countermanding
the orders before given by them for the halt
of the detachment, thefe were dated the 4th
of May ; in confequence he refumed his
m^rch after a few days refl.

P 4 Th«

zSt AN A C C O U N T

The notice of this countermand was znt
nounced at Calcutta at the fame time that the
relation of the march from Culpee was re-
ceived from the army; this i^ad been prer
ceded by private letters, which reprefented
the evils attending it, beyond the' reality ;
thefe gave z gloom to the appearance of
things, which was heightened to defpqndency
by the news of the misfortune of the Britifti
arms at Saratoga ; a propofal was made in
council to recall the detachment, but it was
not prefled, and the meafure continued, A
caution was given to Colonel Leflie to avoid
the route through Malva, where lay the
country of Sindia, whofe Sincerity there was
room to doubt of, and to proceed diredlly
through Berar, unlefs Modagee fliould refufe,
which was moft unlikely ; on the contrary,
there was reafon even to tertainty to rely on
a friendly reception from him, and beiides in
in cale of a necelfity of recalling the detach-^
ment, they would, in that country be within
the reach of orders. Soon after, upon the
news of war commenced with France, orders
were fent not to pafs beyond that province
till further inftruflions Ihould h^. received
from the Supreme Council.

On

OF B O M B AY. 235

On the 8th of June the firfl: divifion of
the detachment marched to Jetalpoor, where
the whole joined on the 15th, This is a
well-built town, it is lituated on the fouth-
weft bank of the Betwah NuHah, a pleafr
ing river, whofe water, perfe^ftly clear, runs
over a bed of gravel, the depth about two
feet only, though the banks are remarkably
high. It takes its rife from a lake calle4
Saugree, and after a courfe of about one
hundred and fixty miles, empties itfelf into
the Jumna, near Bibbipour ; the country
through which the army pafled, was open,
and the roads good, but no trees were feen
in it. On the i6th, the whole army
jiiarpKed toward? Cbatterpoore.

Notwithftanding the agreement entered
into between Colonel JLeflie and the two
chiefs, before the march from Culpee, he
had caufe to fufpecl duplicity ; a backward-
nefs to fulfill the terms appeared in their
whole conduft, and fubfequent events fhewed
that the offers n^ade by Ballagee were meant
to deceive. The principal Bajah of Boondel-
chund was Aiproud Sing, who was of the
.age of fifteen, and had upon the death of
jiis father, about fix' years before, been by

the

jR34 A N A iC C O U N T

tiie contrivance of the minifters of that prince
advanced to the fucceflion which they wreik^
«d from his elder brother Sunret Sing, as
nveil as all the treaiure. This jurtto now
governed that country, with them Ballagee
had great Intereft, and he exerted all his in^
^oence to the prejudice of the Eiiglift, re-
jprefenting them as attached to Sunret, and
fea^iog 9 detign to place him in the Raja-
Ihip, Sunret had not lain quiet ; he had
a confiderable number of men in his fer-
vice, and had made feveral efforts to recover
his right, which to that time had been un-
fuccefeful,

On the 2 2d, the detachment had advanced
to Rheat, twenty- four miles diftant from
Jetalpoort Though Colonel I^eflie had not
met with any pbftrudion, his fufpicion of
the intentions of the Boohdelchund chiefs
obliged him to move with great caution, be-
lides which the intenfenefs of the heat occa-
iioned fon>e flownefs. About the 2qth of
June, on the eaft fide of the Belah, the ther-^
mometer rofe to 102 degrees, and on the
weft fide jto 107 and a half: and frotfn the
middle of May it was not ever lower than
^8 degrees, T^b nfadc the nights very diCr

greeable.

O F B O M B AY. g^$

^graeable^ as the ufual remedy of wetting
the Qutfide of the tent could not at that tln^e
te \jfed *.

Colonel Leilie had now received letter^
from Mr. Moftyn, who then was at Poo-
iiah, inclofing paflports, and orders for zCr
iiftance from Holcar and Sindia in his niarch
through their refpeflive territories ; but he
had alfo received advices of a force being
CoUeded bet\yeen Chatterpoore and Poonah
on the banks of the river Cane, where they
had taken poft under the command of their
feveral chiefs Ballagee, Anaroud Sing, and
others, bi^t with what intention was not
known.

The troops moypd from Rheat on the
^4th, and the 27th reached Seerenagur, forty-
four miles diftant, a well-built fort of ftone,
fituated on a commanding height. They
made halt here till the ift of July, when
they moved to Mulhefra fix miles from

* Thefe beats are during the reign of the land winds.
A din^inution of them is obtained by keeping the outfide
pf the teot coatinually wet. Liquors are cooled by wrap-
ping a wet napkin round the botde; and hanging it ii|
the wind : it is remarkable that When the cooling winds
blow this methpd hath not the fame effeA.

Chatter-

Vj^ ANACCOUNT

Chatterpoore. Here a meflenger came from
Amroud Sing with offers to fupply provi-
lions, if the detachment would take the route
he fhould direft, which was towards tlje
fame parts of the country as had been recom-
mended by Ballagee, and he concluded by fay-
ing, they muft not pals through Chatterpoore.
The troops halted one day, to give time for
an aufwer to this meflage, which confifted
in repeated declarations of peaceable inten-
tions, and of the attention that fliould be
had to the fafety and protection of the inha-
bitants, but that the troops- could march by
110 other road than Chatterpoore.

On the 3d the army marched to Chat-
terpoore, and encamped fouthward of the
town, between two hills^ having that town
in the rear, the town of Mow three cofs to
the weftward, and Rajah Gur about feven to
the eaftward. The place was found aban-
doned by all but very few inhabitants, fome
of whom were merchants. Three heavy
contributions had been laid, and partly col-
ledted from the people, for the purpofe of
pppoiing the march ; and that the Englifli
fhould not procure any aid there, feveral of
the ripheft nierchants had been fent in irons

XQ

OF BOMBAY. 23/

to Rajah Gur, and all were ordered to quit
the place on pain of the moft fevere military
execution.

This hoftile appearance confirmed the in-
telligence Colonel Leflie received of the dif-
pofition of the troops in that diftrift under*
their feveral leaders; a party of 700 ca-
valry, 2000 infantry, with nine pieces of
artillery were ported at Mow, under the
command of Hamet Cawn, who was joined
by Gudd Sing with his force, and was with
the utmoft diligence repairing and adding to
th^ fortifications of that place ; on the road
to Rajah Gur, about fix miles on this fide,
they had an advanced guard, and had made
a fence acrofs the road for their fecurity ;
thefe were fupported by a party of a thou-
fand horie, and as many foot, poiied near
the fort of Rajah Gur on the weft fide of it,
under the command of three chiefs ; be-
^ tween Rajah Gur and the river Cane Balla-
gee was ftationed with another body of ca-
, valry and infantry ; and on the other fide of <
the river, at the bottom of the hills oppofite-
to a pafs four miles from the river, and fix
from Pennah, Rajah Amroud Sing hadtakea
ppft- with' 500 cavalry, 4000 infantry, and

twenty

\

I

L

43* A f^ A C C O U N t

twenty^ pieces of cannon ; orders had beett
fent to the villages rounds forbidding the in-
habitants to fupply the conVoy with provi-
fions on pain of death ; the few reniaining
merchants were ordered to fell off their ef-
fedsy and remit the money to the Rajah,*
And then to leav^ the town immediately. In
this fitdation, on the fourth of July, an^
fwers were received from Ballagee and Am-
roud Sing ; that from Amroud plainly ap-
J3eared dictated by the former, and meant
only to gain time and amufe fill every thing
was ready for an efFe<3:ual oppofition : as for
his own it threw off the maik ; in a ftile o£
contempt and indifference, he wrote that' the
detachment might march what road it pleafed ;
at the fame time he declared to his officers^
that he had written fo> but that he wo^ld
die on the fpot rather than fufier it to pafs
by Sagur, which was the only road novf'
left, unlefs they retreated and took- the route
by Janfy, which would have favoured the
defigns of the two Rajahs, and for that pur-
pofe had been recommended by Amroud in
the laft letter fent by him^

^At this junftur^ two Rajahs of BdondjeU
chund^ Gomman Sing and Commah Singer

fent

O^ BOMB A.Y. 439

lent their Vaqueels to Colonel Leflie : they,
had formisrly been difpoflefledof.foine^of their
territpry by the family of Gudd^Sing^ Balla-
gee had fummoned them to meet him, in
confideration of which he promifed a reftora-
tion of this territory^ but beTog tardy » in
the execution of this promljfe, they with-*
held their aid, and now folicited alliance^
to gain, the Englilh protection, offering,
pknty of grain which the villages around
abounded wifh, aqd defired fafeguard : RaJ^h
Sunret Sipg, brother of Amroud made the
like offers of fupplying provifions^ and with
the fanpLe requf^ft of fafegu^rds ; and this
chief's Vaqueel having. prefled that his niafter
(hould join the Englifh army, Colonel. Leflie,
that he might by that means not only have
an iqcreafe of affiftance, but, to fecure Gom-
m0p . and Comman Sing who were very much,
attached to him, wrote to him defiring himi-
tq join, and fafeguards were fent to feveral.
vijlage? belonging to. thole Rajahs ; but they
w^re . immediately driven away by a p^rty
frpnsi the garrifon of Mow, who,, not con-
tilted with tliis infult, drove off" three hun-
dred bullocks loaded with grain , for' th^'
camp, fome of th^ . haggtigg can^els^, ai^i i
vfQVLixdsAvtmxy pf: thfe Jf|rv^n«s,anfj;foil0wersj

of

HO AN AC C d UN t

of the army. The Candaharian cavalry w^re
immediately detached, and came up in time
to relcue the greateft part of the plunder
taken.

It was now plain why Batlagee ha(d re*
commended the march through Mow,- and
that the fcheme was laid to purfue every
means of annoying the detachment^ and that
all the moderation hitherto fhewn was with-
out fuccefs ; notwithftanding whieh^ and
thefe repeated ads of violence, to avoid the
imputation of having begun hoftilities, Co-
lonel Leflie determined to wait for an an-
fwer to his laft reprefentations before he be-
gun to ad. But intelligence was now
brought to him, that fome parties had got
into his rearj on the road he had marched^
with an intention of cutting off his commu-
nication with Culpee. This was too foon
verified, by advices received that Captairi
Monro, cx)ming up with a fmall party to join
the camp, had been attacked, and after mak-
ing as gallant a reiiftanee as poffibl6, had
been grievpufly vvounded, moft of his party
killed, all his own, and fome baggage belong-
ing t9 the army, plundered and taken. The
Candaharian horfe,' and four companies of

fepoys,

if B d M B AV. Ht

ftiK>ys, with a furgean, Were imroisdiately
<}cUche4 in hdpes of being in time to favel
bixni but in vatn« He had been left foj^
4ead in the field ; but a Elramia J^eliig ibioe
r^ojains of life in hia^y had giv^n him re*
fiige in $ little fort npar the place of ad:ioti^
^hjsre he femaine4 for two .d^y$ ; at the en4
^f livhidi foo^ of thefe barbarians returned^,
fbfCied him firom the Bramin, and in cold
blood j^utchered hio) in m ;^djoining wood*
Hif iervatit, who had efcaped, brought this
intlmCholy acpount of his mailer^^ fate to
tbia di^tachnleskt which he met on the road^
and which now returneid to <:ampf While
they related this cataftrophe^ advice was
brougiil: that a party from Mow had driven
off all the cattle for Carriage belonging to the
aro^y j:hat were grazing at fonoie diilance.
The pticqwts of the Une^ and all th^ ^avaky^
W^re fcnt in purfyjt ; they fbon came up
with th^ plundejr^ra^ aud recovered the ^attle^

Coimi^l hdAie^ finding how^ unavailing
all Jjjj /epmfentations bad proved for redrefa
of outrages^ deterjiaioed to repel them b/
fpcce^ dad 69 djdod^ the pa^ ty under Ha-»
met C^wwi from Mow- Colonel Goddar4
wad ai^pointaed for thh hn^kfy with the fifths

242 A N A C C O U N T

fixth, and feveiith battalion of lepoys, their
artillery, and two twelve pounders. The
regiment of cavalry under the conamand of
Captain A(h marched in the rear^ and the
Candaharian horfe were divided in front and
on the flanks, at half a mile's diftance, to
reconnoitre the country, and prevent the
enemy from receiving any intelligence of the
party's approach. The road was found much
broken up, and worfe than had been reported :
this, with a heavy fall of rain, fomewhat
retarded the march, infomuch that daylight
appeared when the ' troops were yet a mile
diflant from the place.

Lieutenant Colonel Parker, who led the line,
diredled Lieutenant Lucas to take pofleflion
of a mofque on the right, which was inime-
diately executed, under the fire of the enemy.
From this place they had a full view of
the town, which flood upon very irregular
ground afcending and defcending ; it was
walled round and encompaffed by a rampart
and breaft-work, in thele there were breaches,
and one particularly through which ran the
road. The rampart was commanded by
high ground behind,- being within reach of
mulketry: on thefe hills the enemy had

pofted

OF BOMBAY. 243

pofted troops, and on a hill oppofite the
breach, through which the road ran, therq
was a piece of artillery*

A large tank of water lay on the right of
that breach, and extended along the fide of
the road; this^ together with hills on the
left, formed the pafs which led to the en-*
trance of the town : the difficulty of the ap-
proach through this was increafed by hills ia
front*

Colonel Goddard with the advanced guard
marched up the road to attack the breach j
which he entered under a heavy fire, and par-
ticularly from the piece of artillery oppofite
to it, which was very well ferved. One of
the tumbrils happening to ftrck in the breach ^
fbme of the troops perceiving another open-
ing towards the left^ which led to a hill oii
that fide, filed off, and gained the hill after
ibme irefiftance ; the other part of the troops
were obliged^ by the tumbril flicking yet ia
the way, to get through the breach by the
Indian file * : three conipanies of the feventh
were ordered to attack the heights ; the re-

* Man. by man fingly,

Qz maindei;

^44 A N A C C O U N T

mainder of the troops, as they arrived, form*
ing and fupporting them ; after much dif*
ficulty from a fharp refiftance, and the
nature of the ground, which often obliged
them to crawl on hands and feet, they fuc-
ceeded, having driven off thofe who were
pofted there ; by this the accefs to the town .
was free.

Before this could be df!e£led, Cokmei
Goddard had pufhed on to fecond the attack,
by forcing the pafs, where he fuftained a
very heavy £re, and had his borle (hot under
him in two places : however he forced his
way through the town in puriuit of the fly*
ing enemy ; he had not advanced five hundred
yards, when another range of hills prefented
themfelves, on which the enemy appeared
with Ibme cannon. Theyircre foon dil^
lodged and fled over the plains The Can*
daharian cavalry had unluckily loft their
way and were not of any fervice in the
purfuit, which fell to the fliare of the re-
giment of cavalry, and would have been
more efibftual had the others conie up.
On the fide of the Engiilh the lofs was ia-
confiderable, being only about fix fepoys
killed and nineteen wounded ; the enemy

fuffered

O F B O M B A y. 245

fufFered very coniidcrably. Colonel Goddard
took pofleffion of the place with nine pieces
of cannon, with fome tumbrils, ftorcs, and
ammunition : the troops behaved with great
ipirit and rcjlblution* This blow had the mofl:
fortunate effect. Ballagee, Amroud Sing, and
the other chiefs called in all their parties,
croflbd the river Cane, and took poft with
their whole force collected on the other
fide, nearly oppofite to Rajah Gur. By this
retreat the country round Chatterpoore re-
mained undifturbed, and the camp was plen-
tifully fupplied with provifions*. Defer*

* The return of the troops compoftng the detachment,
v4th their ienrant& and followers, (ipnt by Colonel Lellie
from Chatterpoore*

Cavakjr ifi regiment
Artillery 8 th company
lo&ntry 6 battalions
Head quarters and?
brigade ftaff 3
Nabob cavalry
With the field engine^

Grand total

The Bazars or markets, with their nepeflary attendants
for procuring th^ fupplies of provifions, ^e not included
in this; they are eftimated at 12,000,

As there hath b^een no want of proriHon during the
whole march, the nature of the country may be judged of
from this return^ as wcll^s that of an Indiau army.

0^3 ^iw^

Commir.
Officers.

8
70

Troops.
526

4964

Servant^ and
fi>Uowers.

1932

3200

10876

Total.
2466

3«44
15910

JS

iS«3

1578

500

1700
508

2200
508

103

. , {■ 1 'J ff

■

6624

19779

26506

246 A N A C C O U N T

I ^

tions, which happened about this time, mado
an ex^niple of feverity ncceffary : the exe*
CUtion of one fepoy only prevented the evil
^ from increaling. Shortly after the fourth
and fixth battalions of fepoys demanded in
an irregular planner, an increafe of allow-
ance, on account as they pretended of the
high price of provifions : thofe who ap-
peared moft forward were immediately con-
fined; the battalions were ordered under
arms, and on the reprefentations of Colonel
Godclard, who was fent to them, all appear-
ance of difcontent cealed ; and after making
proper fubmiffion for th^ irregularity of their
application, they remained perfedtly fatif-
fied to wait the decifion . of the Supi-eme
Cpuncil, before whom their claims were to
be laid, Th^ anfwer from them was a pe^
remptory Ipirited refufal, which had all the
effedt that could be defired, as the demand
was never after renewed.

The army had no^ riemainefi inaSive
and undifturbed fince the i oth of July ;
jdpfing that period nothing material appears
to have occurred ; the letters from ColoneJ
. Leflie to Calcutta contain only a de-
tail of negotiations with Amroud Sing, ber

[«

OF BOMBAY, 247

gun, broken off, and renewed, and a men-
tion of fome obftrudions to his march, from
the rains and the fwelling of the rivers and
Nullahs thereby, without any other reafou
given for this delay,

, On the 1 2 th of Auguft, the Rajahs Gona*
mon and Con^man Sing, who had Co early
ofiiered their fervice, withdrew from the
qamp \yith their forces during the night,
without having given any previous notice of
their intentions. This fudden defeftion was
fbon found. to be owing to the intrigues of
Amroud Sing ; letters which the elder bro-
ther Sunret Sing had intercepted and com-
municated to Colonel Leflie difcovered this :
he thereupon determined to march towards
Rajah Gur, propofing there to qrofs the ri-
ver, and force Amroud Sing either to come to
an engagement, or retire. Orders were given
for the artillery taken at Mow to be deftroy-
ed, and for the detachment left there to joint
the army, which was efieded on the 1 4th.

This long halt at Chatterpoore was unac-
countable. Colonel Leflie had been repeatedly
warned by the Supreme Council againft tak-
ing part in the quarrels which the princes

QJ4 ^^

J4B A N A C C U N T

or chiefs of thofe countries thtxmgh which
he was to pafs might h^ve in theit f^miltes,
and therefore ought not to have been 6e»
taiped by any propolal made by Svtnfet Siog,
or other chiefs to obtain his aififtance againft
Amroi)d Sing i yet this feems to have been
the only obied in his view during that pe-f
riod. TThe fuppofition sjioft favourablte to
hitn Was, that after the tinpfovo^cd cijmity
ihewn by Amrowd it might feenti polhic to
eticpyrage the ofler of friendihip of a compe-?
titpr, which ftep, by intimidating the Rajah,
might change his meafures, aijd ittfute fop-
|)Iies of prpvifion. If his motiye went farr
thi^r he w^s gailty of politive dlfobedience :
in th;s uncertainty the Supren^e Council fu-
fpended their decifion upon this part of hi?
eonduft, {q little aniwering theit expe^-

On the 15 th of Auguft the $rmy bfcgjm
ftithx itiarch towards Rajah Gur , tdiich they
feached on the 1 7th, the drftiflcer is about

twenty miles from Chfitterpoore. Rajah
Cjttr is art aQtient falace flrrrotinded with
high walls, handfomely ofnameftted within
^nd without, fituared on the (rde of aft higii
\\\\\^ two miles frorii the river Gaiie, a largs

^owi)

OF BOMBAY. 44^

t&wtk (preading itl^lf on a plain to the ibuth<«
1^ of the hill

Colonel Leflie, with the qtrarter-mafter
general, and the advanced guard, went to
tiew the ground for an encampment as near
as poffible to the river. Upon their appear*
lance the enemy of the oppofite fide began to
fire (inartly from fix or feven pieces of can-
non ; but without any eSk&y as the troops
werp foon covered by the advantage of a hol-
low way. Orders were immediately fent to
bring up twp twelve, two fix pounders, and
a howitz : as foon as thefe were placed the
pannon^de was returned, and a few carcaf!e$
thrown froni the howitz fet fire to the huts>
which were foon confumed, and obliged the
eponoy tp remove to a greater diftance : ground
for the encampment was then taken, out of
the reach of their artillery. The river Cane
is here yeyy rapid, fulj of rocks, large ftones,
and ftumps of trees ; In the time of the rains
it is about fix hundred yards wide, but a few
days pf fair weather ipakes it fordable jn fc-
vera! places.

While Colonel Leflie was making necef-
^ry preparations for the pflage of ^he Tiver,

terms

250 AN ACCOUNT

terms of accommodation as ufual were pro-
pofed by Amroud Sing, a negotiation entered
into, and hopes entertained that the dilputes
between the two brothers would be fpeedil/
and finally adjufted. But on the 31ft intel*
ligence was received that a detachment of
about 2000 cavalry and infantry, havii>g
crofled the river, under the command of a
chief called Puddam Sing, had marched mto
the rear, with an intention of cutting off
the communication with Chatterpoore, which
he threatened to plunder, if any thing was
fuffered to pafs through, or was fent from
thence to the Englifli army, and had feized
three or four hundred buljocks loaded with
grain coming to the camp.

On the I ft of September Captain Popham
was detached after him with his battalion of
fepoys, their artillery, and the Candaharian
cavalry. In the evening he got intelligence
of the enemy's fituation ; and early the next
morning, leaving the battalion with their
artillery to foUpw with as much expedition
as poffible, he advanced with the grenadiers
and cavalry. About noon he came in light
of the. enemy, whom he found drawn up,
and: jprepared to receive him ; they had dif-

pofed

O F B O M B A Y. z^i

pofed of their cavalry on their right, and
their left, which . was compofed of their in-
fantry was covered by a Nullah, and a copfe
of thick underwood. Captain Popham di*
vided his cavalry on the right and left of his
grenadiers, who formed the center, and with
•whom he advanced brijDkJy on the enemy,
^receiving their fire, and relerving his until
* he came elofe to their line, when it was
poured in and repeated with fuch efFedl that
they broke j they were purfued with great
. ilaughter for fame miles by the Candaharian
horfe. Among the flain twenty-four of the
enemy were found on the fpot where they
received the firft volley. The lofs on our
:fide was one grenadier killed, four wounded,
^and of the cavalry, two killed, and four
.wounded. Some of the enemy retreated to
a fort . called Gurgunge, which they aban-
doned in the night ; Lieutenant Tifdale was
woimded in reconnoitring it. Captlain Pop-*
ham was ordered to remain in that neigh-
bourhood to watch the motions of the enemy^

who feemed to be again aflembling.

> <

'A little before this the pofleffion of Culpefc
•being now no longer thought neceflary, it
was by order of the Supreme Copngil given

:. up,

25^ A N A C C O U N T

up, and the Engiiih guard withdrawn : this
ieemed for a little fpace to have reconciled
Ballagee ; but the impediments thrown in
the way of the detachment (hewed his infifi-
cerity, and how little wa$ to be expeded
from any negotiation with him, or with any
of the chie& imdeif his influence ; as Am-
roud Sing's minifters were (by it was vain
to hope that he would conclude any efiedbial
treaty, efpecially wiien one of the terms re*
quired was a provifion for his elder brother,
by yielding him a part of his dominion, yet
he continually ient meflages of accommo-
dation. It was plain the end finig^t was
delay, this was feen through, but the de-
lay mud: have taken place from the great
rain which fwelled the river, and made
it neceiTary to provide boats and rafits for
the pafiage, and even then Colonel Leflie
thought the rapidity was fuch, that he waited
a day or two longer* He now xieoeived let-
ter$ from the Hajah of Berar Moodagee
B ofla, prefling his march to the Nerbuddah,
ijontaining the moft friendly ofJers, and in-
forming him that he had fent a perfon of
confidence to n>eet him ori die banks of that
river, where he would find every thing pre-
pared for his prefent occafions, and that fu-
ture accommodations (hould be furnilhed

through

OF BOMBAY. 353

diroug^ his dcaninions* In the fame letter
Moodagee expreifed with warmth the great
fatisfa<9:ion he felt in the hopes of foon
ieeing Mr. Elliott, who was then on the
road to Berar : but unfortunately the public
were deprived of his fervices and abilities at
this critical jun&ure.

He was feized on the 4th of September by
a bilious fever, and inflajmmatlon of tlie liver,
which . from the beginning had mortal
fymptoms. The firft account of his illnefs
was written by Mr. Farquhar his fecretary ;
this letter was dated on the bank of a Nul-
lah, two cofs to the e^hvard of Serinagur,
the 9 th of September : from the fame place
a ktter of the ijth, gave the melancholy
jaccount of his death ; thefe advices were re-^
ceived at Calcutta the 5th of Odober. Some-
thing of the character of this excellent man
hath been already mentioned: much was
expe^ed from his parts and talents cultivated
with unremitted diligence before he went to
Itidia, but as if the approach to the fun had
Ib^aghtened the flame of genius^ he appeared
fyt for any uisdertaking, almoft immediately
after h'is arrival there. This cpuld not dcape
MnHailini^s who cherifl^edand truftedhim ;

during

±54 A N A C C O U N T

during a fhort refidency in Europe in thcf
year 17^6 his penetration, fagacity, and
difcretion anfwered fully his friend's expedla-
tiohs, who found tjie efFeft of them at his
return^

About the fame time as the letters front
Moodagee were received, there came fome from
the Nabob of Bopaul, through whofe territories
the route of the detachment lay in the way
to the Nerbuddah : they were in the moft
friendly ftrain. Advice of thefe letters was
fent by Colonel Leflie, who at the fame
time mentioned the conclufion of treaties
in his own name, and that of the Company
with the feveral Boondelchund chiefs, the ne-»
gotiation for which had lafled fo long ; yet
he was fulpicious of Ballagee through whafe
territory he was to pafs.

The death of Mn Elliot tvas of the moft
fatal confequence, there was not any perfofti
who could well fupply his place, he poflefled
the entire confidence of the governor general,
and was looked on in that light by Moodagee ;
a few days would have brought him to his
court, where every thing might have been
fettled before the arrival of the detachment*

Now

OF BOMBAY. 255

Now a length of time muft have paffed be-
fore another perfbn could be properly in-
ftrufted and reach Berar.

The paft condudt of Colonel Leflie, on
whom this negociation muft immediately de-
volve, did not promife great fuccefs ; he had
been from the beginning of April to the
middle of September performing what might
have been done in two weeks, having met
but a trifling refiftance, and no caufe of delay
appearing, but fettling diijputes and making
treaties in the families of the princes through
whofe country he had paflep, exprefsly con-
trary to repeated inftruftions. The governor
general was greatly enjoarrafled; he pro-
poied, after much doubf^in his own mind, to
let matters ftand £af fome time as they were,
without fubftituting any perfon in the place
of Mr. Elliot, and wait to fee what courfe
Moodagee would take, and whether he would
renew his applications : all his letters had
lliewn a defire, and even impatience, to enter
upon the buiinefs Mr. Elliot was charged
with; the reafons which induced him to
ibllicit an alliance with the Englifli fub-
lifted ; it was therefore proper at that time
to write to Moodagee, only mctfitioning the

misfortune

as6 AN ACCOUNT

misfortune which had put a £top to iktit
negotiation, and defiring for the prefent
his affiftance for promoting the march of
the detachment to its deftination* This oc-
caiioned a renewal of altercations in the
council : the debates in their confultadiQQs
extend to whole volumes. This difTeience
of opinion aro(e from the different prin«
ciples on which the members reafoned : thoic
adopted in the b^ianing of the pcefent admi-
niftration invariably influenced tjbe opinions
of one part of it upon every occafipn i peactf
had been recomnoended from England as the
great objeA^ therefore nodiiiig that could
by any means tend to interrupt it was to be
admitted : coniequeptly the icheme of ex^
tending their alliance to the different ilates
of that region was dangerous ; intermeddling
in their a^irs upoQ any difputesi eitiier in-
ternal or between one {tzte and another^ per*"
aiciouft ; di ads in con(equenoe, di£^Ksdi«-
ence to the orders of the Diredtors ; of coude
every meafure for that purpofe was to be <^«
poled. On the other hand the gov^ernof"
general and Mr. Barwell were of opinon^
that to maice the Englifli nation confiderabk^
and give its e>ft^bli3icx>ent ftability^ it
was neceflary to extend its ii]^flaen€e ; . to

have

OF BOMBAY. 457

have connections with all the princes of In-
doftan, which ftiotild make them loolc up to
it as the preferver of their relpeftlvc indepen-
dence from that power, under whofe preffure
they had groaned fo long. This fyftem hath
already been detailed. From this difference
of fyftems role a difference of opinions upon
every political and military matter, not only
on the firft mention of the plan, but oa
each operation neceflary in the execution of
it. Upon the firft advices from Bombay of
the commotions in the Durbar of Poonah,
the feconding the defigns of that council to
take advantage of thofe diftra(3:ions was re-
probated by that part of the council ; the
projeft of fending the detachment acrofs the
peninfula was called impradticable and fruit-,
lefs, immoderate in expence, and produftive
of war with every nation in India ; the al-
liance with Berar, a meafure unneceflary,
and big with mifchief. Nor was the danger
from French influence, or the probability of
an. attack upon Bombay by an expedition
from the iflands, or other arrangements be-
tween the Mahrattas and that nation, looked
on as real, the cotijeftures were on the con-
trary fide : on the other hand, the governor
general grounded his ientiments and formed

R hit

258 AN A C C O U.N T

his propofed fchem^s, aot only, on conjellure,
but information which he could depend upon
of the reality of the French minifters defigns.
From fuch difference of opinion rofe per-
petual altercations : the prefent misfortune
which fufpended the negotiation for an al-
liance with Moodagee was a ground to fup-
pofe an annihilation of the projefit, and
therefore to obje£t to the letter propofed, and
to move that the whole fcheme ihould b^
difcontinued. The news received of the 4e-
preffion of Ragobah's party at Poonah, the
fufpenfion of aftion at Bombay, without any
communication from them of aay future
plan, and above all the fatsd delay of th?
detachment having been upwards of four
months from their crofling the Junxna to the
banks of the Cane, were ftrong arguments
for its recall ; for as . that diftance wa$ not
above one hundred and twenty miles, at that
rate, in what time was the detachment likely
to arrive at Bombay ? even exclufive of apy
check or delay to which it might be expofed
from oppolition by enemies, it; ijiuft be a
twelvemonth : how then could they be ufe-
ful againft prefent dangers ? Therefore ad-
mitting it neccflary to ilrengthen Bombay

againft

OF B O MB AY. 259

againft an invafion, it remained tq bo proved
that the detachment, In its intended route,
would arrive there in time to anfwer the
end propofed : and it was alledged that a
more fafe method might be purfued by fend-
ing a detachment of General Munro's army
from Madras ; which might be fpared, as the
fate of Pondicherry muft by that time be de-
cided, by its being taken, or the defign given
over : and if this muft be replaced, it might
be done by the force in the northern circars ;
which again, if necefiary, might be replaced
from Bengal ; that mode was liable to fewer
objeftions than any other, being fimple and
cdy in its execution.

To all this it was anfwercd, that although
the death of Mr. Elliot deprived them of the
advantage expelled from his abilities and
the plenitude of his comniiffion, fbme advan-
tage yet remained ; that the powers of the
Mahrattas and the Decan were to be counter-
poifed by alliances, which might disjoin the
ftates compofing them, and unite fome of
them to the Englifli ; that the interefts of
Bengal and Bahar naturally led to fuch aa
union ; that a ^fpenfion of that alliance did
not annihilate the reafbns on which it was

R 2 , originally

1

26o AN ACCOUNT

originally grounded, or render the march of
the detachment unrxeceflary : that future events
were not to be judged of by paft errors, and
a fuppofition that they would be fufiered to
contuiue : that the march of. the detachment
might have been made from Culpee to the
banks of the Cane in ten days : that what-
ever fervice. the detachment might aft in
hereafter, whether for the reftoration of Ra-
gobah, of in refifting a French invafion, or
be recalled at a future period, the prefent
continuation of its march was proper : that
until the crifis which ihould determine its
ultimate deftination, its fituation in Bcrar
was central to all the Englifli fettlements ;
it might be a check to the Poonah govern-
ment if only meditating, or a defeat to de-
ligns, if already formed by them. As to the
propofal of fending troops from Madras, it
was liable to yet more objeftions than had
been urged againft'the march from Culpee.
True, that in jsl right line, the diftance of each
of thofe places from Bombay was nearly the
fame ; but the route from Madras muft be
traced along the coaft tothefouth, and round
the country of Travancore to Anjengo, and
from thence, either by a dangerous navigation
along the Malabar coaft, or continued by

land

OF BOMBAY. 261

land through the dominions of Hyder Ally ;
whereas the road from Culpee deviated but
a little from the right line, fo that with fu*
perior difficulties the former would exceed it
in length almoft one third, befides having
marches of other troops to replace thofe ib
detached from the Carnatic,

In confequence of thefe arguments it was
refblved that Colonel Leflie ihould profecute
his march in conjunction with the troops of
Moodagee, if he chofe to join • the detach-
ment with any, and that he fliould obey the
orders of the prefidency of Bombay for his
deftination ; with a difcretionary power to
fuipend his march after his arrival in Berar,
if Moodagee did not join him with a force,
or if he did not receive orders from Bom-
bay : and letters were to be written to that
council, informing them of thefe orders, and
to defire that either upon their former plan,
if fubfifting, or any new for the reftoration
of Ragobah under the conditions before fli-
pulated, or the neceffity of repelling a French
invafion, which fhould require the progrefs
of the detachment, even without the junc-
tion of any other power in alliance with
them, in any fach qafe only to command it

K 3 tq

-262. AN A C C O U NT

to advance. The debates on this fubjeO: were
further cdntinued, and at laft ended in a re-
folution to recall Colonel Leflie.

This was notified to him in a letter dated
tlie 1 5 th of Oftober, wherein they alfo dif-
avowed the treaty he had made with the Ra-
jahs of Boondelchund, as made in direO; viola-
tion of their orders, and he was commanded
to deliver over the charge of the detachment
to Colonel Goddard, or the officer next in
command, and to repair without lofs of time
to Calcutta, to give an account of his con-
duft. Letters were alfo written to Colonel
Goddard, inclofing copies of the inftruflions
which had been given to Colonel Leflie, and
repeating the feveral diredions which had
been given him, as well in relation to his
march, and the orders of the Bombay coun-
cil, as to his tranfaftions with the Rajah of
Berar, and a particular injunftion to recall
any detachment that fhould have been made
from the main body, and to keep the
whole together.

Colonel Leflie's death had, before this,
put an end to all enquiries ; he had at laft
given orders for the march on the 28th of

September,

t) F BOMBAY. a63

September, but on that very day he was
feifed by a bilious fever, of which he died,
the 3d of Odlober. By this event the com-
mand had already devolved on Colonel God-
dard, a man whofe abilities have fhewn him
equal to any undertaking. He immediately
gave notice of Celonel Le(lie*s death, and his
intention to march on with all poffible dif-
patch, as loon as he ftiould, from the papers
of the deceafed, have got information of the
intentions of the board relative to that fer-
vice, and taken his meafures thereon ; all
which required but ytry few days.

V

Agreeably to thefe promifes the detachment
marched from Rajah Gur on the 8 th, and
on the 1 2th arrived at Goorgunge, a diftance
of thirty-leven miles, having left the coun-
try in perfect peace, and the Boondelchund
chiefs profeffing amity towards each other,
and refpedt and friendfliip to the Englifh na-
tion, whole power in arms they had felt.
The army was plentifully fupplied with
every neceflary for its fupport and conve-
nience.

Ballagee's territory begins about Goor-
gunge, from whence the detachment marched

R 4 on

264 AN ACCOUNT

on the 1 4th ; oa the 1 6 th they arrived at
Coutiiee Nullah, where they halted two
days. Whilft in this camp, a party of va-
gabonds, profeffing to be a religious order,
well known in the eaft by . the name
of Pandarums, about three hundred in
number, got into the rear of the Englifh
army, and drove off two elephants, and
fome camels ; this was part of a bpdy pf
two thoufand who were in the neighbour-
hood. Thofe banditti are the peft of India,
roving about the country in great bodies,
fometimes begging, but oftner plundering
and otherwife diftreffing the poor inhabitants.
Four companies of grenadiers, and a party of
cavalry were imnjediately fent after thefe
pilferers, whom they foon overtook and re-
covered the plifnd^r, k,iUing about twenty in
the purfuitt

Qa the i8th, the troops moved and
leached Heerapour, a march of about five
miles only, owing to the difficulties of the
road, and of a pafs, which the rear guard,
baggage, and artillery could not get through
pntii the 19th in the evening.

On

y*

OF BOMB AY. 265

On the 20th, a Vaqueel came from Balla-
gee with a propofal to Colonel Goddard not
to take the intended route by Sagur, repre-
fenting it would be attended with great lofs
and inconvenience 9 as the inhabitants would
abandon the city on the approach of the
troops, that there was another road as good,
and but little out of the way, adding th©
ftrongeft affurances that if this requeft was
complied with, the detachment (hould not
meet with the lead obftrudion in its march,
jbut be plpntifully fupplied with provifions.

Colonel Goddard, fatisfied that his compli-
jBnce was moft likely to forward the great
iobjeft of the prcfent fervice, which was dif-
patch, and being well informed that the road
propofed was as pradicable, and but fourteen
miles longer, granted this requeft, without
abating any thing of his ufual vigilance and
precaution, being ever on his guard againft
the deiigns of a man whofe charader was
made up of fraud and deceit.

From the time the army left Rajah Gur, to
the 20th of Odober, the country they had
1^0 paf^ w^s bi'oken apd mountainovis and the

roa^s

^(y(^ A N A C C O U N T

roads bad. Every thing now began to wear
a better appearance, the country was opefl,
fine, and well-cultivated. The ficknefs which
ever in fome degree accompanies the rainy
feafbn was vaniflied, and all breathed the
ipirit of their general*

On the 2ift the march was refumed, and
on the 28 th the troops arrived at MalloWn,
a large town belonging to Ballagee, 5 1 miles
diftant from Heerapour: here they halted
iintil the ift of November, on which day
they reached Kimleflah. This is a large
fort and ftrong citadel belonging to Ballagee,
and there it was fuppofed he had depofited
all his treafures which he had brought from
Sagur. The fort is lituated on a hill, the
walls are built of hewn ftone, without any
cement ; the citadel on the higheft part of
the hill commands the whole ; the ramparts
of this are very ftrong, built of ftone, and
laid in mortar. This is the firft town of
note in the province of Malava, the bounda-
ries of which begin fome miles on the eaftern
fide of it..

On the-4th of November the detachment
arrived at Kourney, diftant from Kimleflah

twenty-feven

» \

OF B O M BA Y. 267

twenty-feven miles. At this village ends the
territory properly belonging to Ballagee, and
a fmall diftrlf): begins, called the Bilfah
Country, belonging to Slndia, but holden
for him by a Patan chief.

Hitherto Ballagee feemed to have kept to
the terms of his laft agreement ; but it was
in hope of lulling Colonel Goddard into a
degree of fecurity, which he flattered himfelf
lie might take advantage ; for on the laft day's
march, when the arn^iy was nearly out of his
confines, he fuddenly appeared in their rear
with a body of 5000 cavalry, and made an
attack on the baggage, but without the leaft
cSqQ. ; a ftrong rear guard, with the good
order and difpofition of the troops, prepared
againft all furprife, left him nothing but the
diigrace of the attempt, and of a repulfc
with the lofs of fome men. This condudt
was equally perfidious and unmerited, as the
ftrifteft care had been taken to prevent the
troops in their paffage from doing any da-
n\dge to his country, which difcipline was
produftive of this good efie£l, that none of
the villages in the line of march were for-
faken by the inhabitants.

The

^68 AN ACCOUNT

The chief of the Bilfali diftrift having
agreed to the paffage of the detachment
through his country, they marched on the
9th, and arrived at Burfeah, near which his
territory ends, on the 15th.

During this laft march, which was the
length of fixty miles, Ballagee*s troops,
whofe numbers were increafed to near
1 0000, every d^y appeared, and ceafed not
harraffing our rear. At night they retired to
fuch a diftance as made a furprife impraftica-
ble. They failed in every attempt, nor
were they able even to retard the march.

On the 1 7th the army marched from
Burfeah, and entered Bopaul ToUaw, the
territory of the Nabob Hyat Mahomet Cawn,
a Patan. This country exhibited the good
effects of peace, and a wife government ; the
villages are numerous, and inhabited by peo-
ple who feem to live in eafe and plenty ; they
are well clothed, and their houfes in good
condition.

Iflam Gurr, or Iflamabad, which is eigh-
teen miles from Burfeah, is the firft town of
note : it is large and populous, and hath a

fort

. O F B O M B A Y. 269

fort built of ftone. The nabob is rich, hav-
ing a jaghire, which produces nine lacks a
year, and befides rents from the Mahratta
government, which amount to fourteen lacks
more.

X)n the 20th the army reached the capital
of this province which bears its name. It is
fituated on the fide of a hill, and defcends to
a lake whofe extent is ten miles ; the walls
of the town are nine miles in circumference;
the inhabitants are of a fairer complexion
than is ufual in India ; their houfes are built
of ftone and moftly good ; every thing fpeaks
happinefs and gentle adminiftration. Provi-
fions are abundant ; they were much cheaper
than they had been found in any part of
the march. The force of this chief amounts
to 7000 men ; he hath a confiderable lartil-
lery, and a great number of firelocks. The
fort is commanded by a hill to the eaftward,
which is a hard rock ; the upper part of the
fort is alfo on a rock, without a ditch ; the
rampart of hewn ftone laid in mortar.

It was found neceffary to halt there a few
days to coUeft provifions^ and make other ne-
oefl&ry preparations for the march to Hufl-

nahbad

27a AN ACCOUNT

nahbad Gaut, on the banks of the Nerbuddah.
The conduft of the nabob was in every re-
fpeft perfeftly agreeable to his friendly decla-
rations : Ballagee, in revenge for a behaviour
fo contrary to his viev^rs, had entered his do-
minions and plundered fome of his villages;
but further outrages were ftopped by a Spirited
meflage from the nabob, declaring if he did
not give over the purfuit and inftantly quit
the country, he would march againft him
with all his force.

On the 27th, the detachment refumed its
march : the firft two days proved tolerably
good, and the country fertile and varied ; but
the third and fourth, on which they reached
the Nerlnaddah, prefented a variety of difficul-
ties, from the number of narrow pafles and
broken roads, which wece fueh as nothing
but inceflant labour could have conquered.
The whole diftance was forty-fix miles.*
Colonel Goddard gives the higheft praife to
the fpirited exertions of his men during this
whole march^ and the chearfulnefs vwth
which they went through their uncommon
fetigije*

QOL

OP BOMBAY. 271

On the 30th they reached Huflhahbad
Gaut ; the Nerbuddah at this place is not
broader than the Jumna at Culpee ; the
banks not fo high ; the ftream is gentle and
clear ; a fandy bottoms intermixed with
rocks ; the hills are very high on the north
iide, axid within a mile and a half of the ri-
ver. On the fouth they appear about fix
miles diftant ; the ground between on both
fides a thick underwood ; the river runs
E. and N. E. The diftance from Rajah
Gur to the banks of the Nerbuddah at HuiT-
nahbad is two hundred and eighty-^ight
miles. Fourteen miles to the ibuthward
of the Nerbuddah is the province of Berar.

We Ihajil now return to the operations of
the Supreme Council* From the previojua
knowledge which the governor general had
of Colonel Goddard's abilities and difcretion^
^d as it appea,i:ed frooa his letters that he
fliould b^ in a fhort time in Berar, h^ on the
1 6th of November 1778, propofed in coun-
cil that the perion in whofe pofieffion re*
mained the papers of Mr. Elliot, which he
bad cau&d to be fealed up on the beginning
Qf his illn^fs/ ihould deliver them to Colonel
Q<?ddard> and that he (hould be diredted to

carry

I

2^4 A N A "C C U N 1*

carry into cxectition the inftru^ons giVeh td
Mr, Elliot, and negotiate and conclude ia
treaty with the Rajah of Befar, as if they had
been originally given to him* This, after
fbme oppofifion, was relblved, and letters ift
cdnfequence were written, and ait the fame
time the inftruflions conttnunicated to the
council of Bombay. Mr. Farquhar who
gave the account of Mf. Elliot's death did
not long furvive his friend ; the cdre of the
papers devolved on Mr. Anderlbn, who by
Moodagee's defire was gone to him at N^g-^
poor : during his journey a fevere illnefs had
feized this prince, he had been'fome days de^*
lirious, and his life, fo far defpaired of^ that
he had, according to the cuftom of the Gen-
toos, been taken froiii his coft and ftifetched
on the ground, there to expire : when MrV
Anderfon arrived, a favorable crifis had re*
lieved him, but fuch was the weaknefs which
his diforder left, that his health returned
very flowly : whilft he was recovering, he
anlwered the letters he had received from
Colonel Goddard, announcing the death of
Colonel Leflie, and the preparations making
for a fpeedy march to Berar ; a copy of his
letter, dated the 23d of November, which
was delivered to Mr. Anderfon, that he

might

iO ^ BOMBAY. ±ys

ihight fend it to the governor general^ was on
the 2 1 ft of December read in confultation*
It began with informing Colonel Goddard
that Lalloo Jaddoo Roy^ who had been lent
to the Neirbuddah to receive Colonel Leflie^
and after waiting five months in vain expec-
tation of his arrivdl, had been obliged by fick*
nefs to return to NagpOof, (hould ndw ad-
Vance two or three <lays journey to meet him
and inform him of the fituation of die armies
of the Decan, and all other matters* That
tfie death of Mr; Elliot had fufpentied all
tiegotiations and fchemes lihtil the arrival of*
letters from Calcutta, or of a perfon of confi-
dence to fupply his place ; that as the greateft
friendfhip fubfifted between him and the go-
vernor general^ he t^ould have no objedllon to
the army's cf offing the Nerbuddah and enter-^
ing his dominions, where every accommoda-
tion fhould be provided ; that the warmth of
firiendftiip not allowing diffimulation or re-
ferve^ it was incumbent on him to commu-
nicate what he had learned, and his fenti*
ments on every matter; that the delay of
five months which Colonel Leflie had era-
ployed in fettling the affairs of the Boondel-
chund country was impolitic and prejudicial
to the defign of the expedition j that it fvir-

S niihed

K

a74 AN ACCOUNT

niflicd Ballagee an occafion of accufing him
at Poonah, of creating difturbances, and
meditating the redudiou of that province,
thencp to proceed in a hoftile manner
againft the Paifhwah ; whereby the chiefs
alarmed raifed troops, and Ballagee received
orders from Poonah, and Sindia and Hol-
car had like wife affembled armies ; that
the Nizam being in ftrift league with the
Paifliwah, had ftationed troops in different
pafl'es and gauts. That he had defigned oxi
the arrival of Mr, Elliot to have with him
formed a plan to enfure a free and unmo-
lefled paffage to Bombay ; one part whereof
was, that both Mr. Elliot and he fliould, in
letters to Poonah, aflbre that government ,
that the detachment was not intended to be
hoftile to them, or to meddle in reinftating.
Ragobah ; that it was meant folely to prote<3;
the Englifli fettlements againft. the French,
between whom and Britain war was declared :
he then mentioned the fubftance of the go-
vernor general's letters to him fince the death
of Mr. Elliot, " whereby he was requefted
to inform him of fuch points as he wilhed
for the purpofe of eftablifliing a firm union
and folid friendfliip between them, on the
ground of reciprocal and equal benefit ;

*^ that

€6

OF B O M B A Y* 275

that the prefent time furnifted an opportu-
nity for this, that the detachment would
** foon enter his dominions, that it ,v/as ad-
vifable to ftrengthen it with a body of his
forces ; he waited impatiently to be made
acquainted with his opinion, on which to
*' form his ultimate refolutions/* On this
letter he remarked, that to form fuch a plan,
and eftabliffi fuch an union, required time,
and a long communication by letters ; that
the immediate junction of a body of his
troops could produce no good eSedt, but
might excite jealoufies in the Paifhwah and
the Nizam, and expofe his dominions to ra-
vage; he therefore (hould wait for a reply
from Calcutta with the opinion of the gover-
nor general, and he defired the Colonel to ad-
vife him of whatever plan he fhould adopt
for an unreferved communication between
them, " as fuch between friends is highly
commendable and approved by God/'

4«

In a poftlcript he mentions the danger
there may be from the troops of Sindia and
their defultory manner of fighting, and re-
commends remaining on the banks of the
Nerbuddah till he (hould receive letters from
Calcutta, and to write to the Paifhwah, de-

S 2 daring

276 A N A C C O U N T

Glaring peaceable intentions, and that he will
not in any manner aflxft Ragobah. This, ias
well as the letter, breaths the ftrongeft friend-
fhip for the governor general. The words
are remarkable, '^ I am induced by friendfhip
** to give you this intelligence, for my heatt
*< is pained at the apprehenfion of your ex-
** periencing any misfortune, and to return
would leflen the terror of your arms, and
give difplcafure to Mr. Haftings.

4i

Upon this letter^ two queftions arofe,
1 ft, Whether it did not appear that Moodagoe
was difinclined to join Colonel Goddard, or
co-operate in any enterprizc againft the Poo-
nah government. 2d, Whether it did not ap-
pear to be the opinion of Moodagee that Co-
lonel Goddard, proceeding on his march,
would expofe the detachment to the greateft
difficulties and dangers.

But thefe queftions were looked on as pre-
itaature : for the letters written by Moodagee,
upon his hearing of Mr. Elliot's death and
-received on the 1 2Ch of November, containiod
the moft prefling inftances that the intended
negociation (hould proceed, and might be
committed to the charge of Mr. Farquhar;

on

O F B a M, B A y. 277

oa the 1 6th it had been refplved to charge
Colonel Goddard with this negoclatlon, and
on the 2 3d, notice was.given of it to Moodagee ;
now from that prince's writing the letter re-
ceived on the 1 2th' of November upon his
firfli notice o^ Mr. Elliot's death,, to his no-
tice of Colonel Goddard's being fubftituted
to him, (during which interval alfo happened
his ficknefs): he muft. have been ia utter un-
certainty; it was therefore proper to await
the letters he ihould fend after his having
learned that change. In confequence, the.
queftions recqived a. negative.

That no precaution tending to enfure the
fuccefs of the detachment (hould be omitted,
ag from the delay before Colonel Leflie's
death there might have been fome dimi-^
nution of their numbers ; two battalions
of fepoys under the command of Major
Carnac, an experienced officer, who had a
thorough knowledge of that country, were
fent to the weftern frontier, there to
w_ait the direftions of Colonel Goddard,
either for a junftion with his detachment,
for the protedion of Nagpoor, or for pre-
ferving the communication with Bengal, as

S 3 ihould

278 AN ACCOUNT

Ihould be by him judged moft conducive
to the end of the expedition. They let out
the 4th of January 1779.

In the mean time Colonel Goddard was
proceeding ; on the i ft of December, the firft
and fourth battalion of fepoys croffed the Ner-
buddah in boats. On the next day, the
paffage of the whole army, was effedled, a
place having been found where the river was
fordable. As it was probable the troops
might remain fome time in their encamp-
ment, great care was taken to chule an
healthy lituation*

Immediately after croffingthe Nerbuddah,
Colonel Goddard was met by the confidential
perfbn whom the Rajah of Berar had pro-
mifed to fend to him ; his converfation,
though declarative of the moft friendly difpo^
fition, turned fingly on the means of recon-
ciling the Poonah Durbar to the march of
the detachment : as no mention was made of
any further views, fome other mode of com-
munication was neceflary ; the diftance from
the camp to Nagpore being two hundred miles,
was too great for the Colonel to go inperlbn,
unlefs he were affured that the intentions of

the

OF BOMBAY. 279

theRajah were perfeftly favorable, in thefevcral
points on which he was empowered to treat ;
he therefore, that no time fhould be loft, fent
Lieutenant Weatherftone, fully inftru£ted in
every point relative to thofe matters : he an-
fwered the truft repofed in him, acquitting
himlelf of his commiffion with great ability.
He found that a fpirit of caution and circum-
fpedlion diredled the councils of Moodagee,
and that he wifhed all further proceedings
(hould be fufpended until a full fettlement
between him and the Supreme Council was
completed ; that the difputes in which the
Poonah Durbar was involved with Bombay,
and the part taken by thefe in favour of Ra-
' gobah, was an obftacle to the commencement
of any aftive operations: at the fame time
there jvas no doubt but his inclinations to
theEnglifli were really friendly, and that po-
litical motives, as well from his future views
as from the vicinity and fituation of his do-
minions, in regard to the Englifh pofleffions,
muft determine him to keep that line, Thefe
confiderations convinced Colonel Goddai'd
that there was not any profpeft of an imme^-
diate conclufion of fuch an alliance as was
aimed at in the inftruflions given to Mr.

S 4 Elliot ;

aSo AN ACCOUNT

Elliot ; he therefore determined his pourff
qf aftlon by the events of the tiipes,

He had, agreeably to the prdeys of th? Su-r
preme Council, regularly fent information to
Bombay of the progrefs of his marph, but had
not for fome time paft received any letters from
them, yet from Moodagee and other quarters
intelligence came tp him of their intentions
to reinftate Ragobah, ^nd of their prepara-^
tions for efFeding that undertaking : certain
of thefe fads, he maturely confidered the
fubftaqce and fpirit of the inftrqdions from
the Supreme Counpil a3 well tq him as the
late Mr. Elliot, whence he concluded that
marching to Poonah was what was fitteft to
be done on the circumftanc^s in which he
ftood ; he at that nioment received letters
from the prefidency qf Bombay, confirnvng
all thefe advices, and particularly informing
him of their treaty with Ragobaji, and that
their army had tal^en the field and begun
their march to Popnah, towards which place
they required Kim to proceed with all ei(;pe-
dition ; this confirmed not only the propriety
but the neceffity of the meafure ; what-
ever might be the refult of the, refolves of
the Supreme Councilj^ the arriyal of this

force

OF BOMBAY. zU

force near Poonab muft be for the intereft of
the fervice, either ta profecutc the wau,
which he looked on as aftually begun by afts
of hoftility he had authentic intelligence of,
or bring it ta an honourable conclufion, and
at the fame time he ihould be ready to zQt
In concert with Moodagee in any plan deter^
mined between him and the Supreme CounciL
He therefore formed the refolutioo of march*
ing direftly ; when this was imparted to
Moodagee, he repeatedly expreffed his wifh
that the Colonel (hould remain in his domi-
nions till orders were received from Calcutta,
but nothing could induce him to change a
meafure which he was convinced was eflen-
tial. He foon fatisfied Moodagee that a further
delay would prove prejudicial. The whole
ccoidudl of this prince befpoke perfect confi-
dence and friendly intentions. The ^Colonel
finding a difficulty in negotiating his bills on
Calcutta, he advanced money upon them,
without receiving any thing on the fcore of
difcount, and in every other refpeft affifted
hin?, promifing to furnifh provifions as they
advanced, for which purpofe, a principal per-
fon belonging to him fhould remain upon
the confines of his country, and forward the
fypplies of grain. All was now in readinefs,

»n4

zSz ANACCOUNT

and on the i6th of January 1779, the
troops left their camp on the banks of the
Nerbuddah.

In their march on the 2 1 ft, they paflcd
through a confiderable town called Hurdah,.
belonging to the Paifliwa, and here they got
into the great road leading to Brampore and
Poonah, the way which Colonel Upton had
gone when fent upon his embafly to that
Durbar.

The next day the army reached Charwah,
and halted on account of the extreme illneis
of Lieutenant Colonel Fortman, the field en-
gineer, who died the day after, univerfally
regretted. The diftance from the camp oa
the banks of the Nerbuddah to Charwah is
eighty miles, a country remarkably rich and
fertile, * and producing a large quantity of
wheat. During this march, Colonel God-
dard had received intelligence that the army
from Bombay was encamped at Boragaut?
fifty miles from Poonah, waiting there for
ftores, and that a confiderable force had taken
the- field to oppofe them, and was ftationed
between them and that place ; and on the
24th he received advices direftly from the

gentlemen

O F B O M B A Y. 283

gentlemen whom the fele6: committee of
Bombay had appointed to conduft Ragobah
to Poonah, and fettle the affairs of that go-
vernment, giving notice of that appoint-
ment; this letter was dated the nth of Ja-
nuary, and figned by Mr* Carnac ; it men-
tioned, that ** within two days the face of
•* their affairs was fo changed with relpeft
*' to the primary caiife, which led to diredl-
'' ing his march towards Zineer, a fort be-
longing to Morabah, that they^ muft
give him advice, if he was joined by a
body of Moodagee's forces, fufficient to
enable him to advance, notwithftanding
attacks of cavalry . which would hover
round him from all quarters to feize his
*^ baggage and provifions, anxi if he had
provifions fufficient to laft him until he
reached Broach or Surat, to proceed to fuch
of thole places as he could moft fpeedily
arrive at; but if he ^:ould not proceed in
'^ the face of fuch an enemy, without immi-
*^ nent hazard of diftrefs, then to remain
*^ on the borders of Berar, or where he
** could befl fecure provifions till further
*^ direflions from the feleft committee of
** Bombay/*

This

<6
ti

6C

i6

aS4 AN ACCOUNT

This letter left hita In doubt whether the
writers had a profped of accompliihiiag thdr
Dajdertaking without his dffiQcanccy or ha4
giveQ:icover.ae impra6:icabl6; thefeai;expreiie4
of the Mahf atta horie led him to conclude th^
latter, ^iid the beginning of their letter the
former. This ftate of uncertainty was in-
crealed,. by his receiving on the next day a
letter from the feleft committee at Borabay,
dated the 1 2th, wherein they haftened his
march in ^e road £rft pointed out. It was
plain the feled committee were ignpr^ciit of
the circumftance alluded to in the ktter of
the 1 1 th. In this perplexity he determined
to proceed to Brampopr, where more particu«
lar knowkdge of the fituation of affairs
ihould determine the manner of his farther
progrefs.

In confequence, the army continued* its
m^tfCh from Char^ah on the 2 5 th of January ;
they proceeded, without interruption, and on-
the 30th reached the banks of the Tapti-
riyer,, oppofite Brampoor, a diftance of feven-
ty-tbree npiles. Colonel Goddard did not
find the regular information he expefted, but
met flying reports of the defeat of the Bom-
bay army*

Oa

O F B O MB A Y. 185

On the 2d of February the following lem
ter, figned by Mr. Carnac and Colonel Eger-
fton, dated the 19 th of January, from Cam-
^poly, was delivered to him :

** Sir, We have addrefled you on the
** 1 6th a letter containing .orders which up^
** on recollection we do not think ourlelves
^* authorized to give you, you are therefore
** to pay ho regard whatever thereu&to,

** We are, fee.'*

Not having received the letter of the 1 6th,
atud the reports he had met foreboding its
contents, joined to the (hortnefs of this,
threw him into great perplexity ; he thought
at firft of halting, to procure further and
more certain intelligence, but not having re*
'ceived it on the 5 th, after maturely confideiv
ing his critical fituation, being in the heart of
-the Mahratta empire, furrounded by enemies,
whofe fuccefs might leave them at liberty to
aft with their whole force agaitift his detach-
ment, the feafon approaching in whix^h it
would be hazardous to keep the field in an
inimical comatry, he determined to march
towards Surat with all poffible expedition*
He was confi^rmed in this by letters from

Moodagee,

lis A N A C C O U N T

Moodagee, the contents whereof led him to
conclude that the Bombay government had
received fome confiderable checque, the bad
confequences of which might be prevented by
the prefence of the detachment, cfpecially
fhbuld an attack meditated by the French, be
caH-ied into execution. The doubt whether
the late misfortune might not operate a change
in the favourable diljpofitions of Moodagee^
was another circumftance impelling him to
proceed forward, rather than run the hazard
of fuch a change in returning through Berar;
too much time would have been confumed in
waiting to. learn his determination, and by
that the opportunity of fervice be loft. The
propriety of this refolution was evinced by a
letter afterward received from Moodagee,
wherein he leemed greatly apprehenfive of
the confequences of this blow, and advifed
that the detachment fhould not proceed.
In the correlpondence between Colonel God-
dard and the Supreme Council, the reafons
which determined him to this meafure appear
at large, and do no lefs honour to his judg-
ment and penetration, than the celerity of his
march does credit to his abilities as an officer,
and tp the uncommon exertion and fpirit of
the troops under his command.

The

O F B O M B A Y, 2%f

The city of Brampore is equal in fize to
Patna, and is the capital of the rich province
of Candifli, under the dominion of the Poo-
nah miniftry ; it is furrounded by a ftone
wall in bad repair. The troops during their
ftay in this city were treated by the inhabi-
tants with the greateft kindnefs and hofpita-
lity, and plentifully fupplied with provifions,
which were regularly paid for ; the grapes
were remarkably fine, and came from a place
called Afliere Gurr, diftant about fourteen

•

miles N. N. E. of Brampore. Mr. Dow in
his third volume calls it Hafler, or Hazlre.
It is defcribed as an impregnable fortrefs, fitu-
ated on the top of a very high l^ill, appearing
fomewhat like the Table Land at the Cape of
Good Hope ; the fort on the fummit feems
not lefs than an Englifti mile in diameter ;
it is of a triangular form, the walls of ftone,
laid in mortar, with round towers, and cava-
liers at proper diftances. Within the fort
there is faid to be a large lake, and a canal
from it which runs the length of the fort ;
it is alfb reported that this ground produceth
grain enough for . the fubfiftence of the gar-
rifbn, which confifts of about 1500 men.
In confequence of the ftrength of this fitua-
tion, the Killadar fupports his independence,

and

2^8 AN ACCOUNT

and bids defiance to all his neighbours ; thtf
country all around is compofed of hills of
conckar, and fuch broken irregular ground^
that there is no accefs to the place, but
through a deep hollow way, fb narrow thaC
a loaded bullock can fcarce pafs* The mouti^
tain itfelf is of a rocky ftone and conckar^
and the height luch as to be ieen dlftinCHy
at twenty-five miles difbnce*

The army marched on the 6th, and oil
the 9 th a Vaqueel belonging to the Pailhwah
Madharow Narrain, delivered the letter figned
by MeffrsXarnacandEgerton, dated the 1 6 th
of January, from the camp at TuUingaumi
and written in confequence of the late unfor*
tunate convention > direfting his return to
Bengal, accompanied by one from the Paifli*
wah,correfpondingwiththofe direftions* The
letter of the 19th releafed him from every
obligation to attend to thefe. From this
circumftance, and the further intelligence re-
ceived at the fame time ^ Colonel Goddard had
the fuUeft proof of the expediency and pro-*
priety of the refolution he had taken ; he
therefore anfwered the Durbar, that in obe*
dience to the orders of the Supreme Council
he was marching to prote£t Bombay^ that his

intentions

OF BOMBAY. 289

intentions were friendly to the Mahratta ftate,
ind he fhould continue to preferve the fame re*
gard to the friendftxip between the Supreme
Council and the Poonah adminiftration, pro-
tecting the fubje£ls of the Paifhwa from vio-
lence, and avoiding all hoftility, unlefs com-
pelled to it by their oppofition. That he was
now advanced to the neighbourhood of Bom-
bay, which according to the orders of the Su-
preme Council he muft reach, after which he
mlift be guided by its directions. He was then
arrived on the banks of the gut Nuddy, near
eighty miles from Brampoor, which he had
marched in four days : the road was good,
the Country line and fertile, full of villages
and inhabitants: the diftance between the
laft mentioned place to Surat, about two
hundred miles, which he made no doubt of
reaching before the end of the month ; nor
was he miftaken, the march was continued
with fuch unremitting celebrity and fpirit,
that the army arrived at Surat on the 25 th
of February, having marched, from the 6th,
near three hundred miles, including two or
three days halt.

This march was performed with the more
cafe Jfrom the good effeds produced by the'

T mo-

%^t> AN ACCOUNT

moderation suid ftrid dilcipUne with which
this detachment was cond^ded, which pro-
cured them, not only acquiefcence, but every
affiftance which the inhabitants of the many
villages they paffed through could give them.
None of thefe forfook their houfes, but vo^
luntarily offered their provifions and grain*
An enumeration of thefe villages would yield
neither fatisfa£tion or ufeful. information, and
their names are all detailed in a journal lately
publiftied. The country is fertile, populoy?.,
and well cultivated, the inhabitants feem in-
duftrious, happy, and humane. Their gcod re-
ception of the army was the more ufeful at
this time as the rapidity of the march was fuch,
that many of the carts, upon which the grain
which had been provided at Brampoor was to
be carried, were unable to keep up \Vith the
army, and had not the country fupplied pro-
vifions, the progrefs muft have been retarded
from the neceffity of adapting the motion of
the army to that of this part of the baggag^e*

The firfl: notice received at Bengal of the
unfortunate iflbe of the enterprize of th©
Bombay council was from Fort St. George.
The prefldent fent copies of letters which the
Nabob Mahomet Aly C^wia had received

from

OF BO MB AY. 291

From Poonah, From ithefe and feveral other
{)aprcrs received the fame day, the whole ap-
peared in the worft light : for, in fome of
ithem, it is was added, that Ragobah had ac*
tually joined the Mahratta army with five or
fix thoufand horfe; and was united with them
ito fight againft the Englifh.

In this doubt and Uncertainty the firft care
of the Supreme Council, after a mature de-
liberation, was to provide againft all accidents
that iriight happen from any fudden irrup--
tion iiito their territory or that of Owde :
General Stibbert, then at the head of th9
^rniy in Bengal, was for that purpole or-
<delfed to iForm two camps of the troops under
his command, and hold them in readinefs to
inarch at the firft notice ; at the fame time
the governor general advifed the Nabob of
Owde that thefe extraordinary camps were
hot formed to aft againft any of the powers in
the neighbburhood of his doqainions. A fub*
Sequent order was fent the general to march
the firft brigade toward the banks of the
j^umna, there to encamp in fuch a fituatiou
^s was moft convenient for defending the
Doab againft an invafion*

T a This

•v

^f)^ A N A C C O U N T

This was all that could be done until
more authentic accounts came from Bombay.
No very fudden irruption was yet to be
feared from the Mahrattas, and though the
defeat of the Bombay army might encourage
the neighbouring powers to form alliances
with the Poonah Durbar agalnft the Englifh,
they could not be brought into a£tion before
the Supreme Council fliould have received
fuch accounts as would have enabled them
to take certain and proper arrangements, they
therefore fufpended their proceedings on that
fubjedt. The council of Madras apprifed them
of their purfuing the fiege of Mahe, the fuc-
cefs whereof could not be doubted ; this was
a falutary meafure, not only as it totally, re-
moved the French from Jndoftan , but pre-
vented the eiFed of difagreeable impreffions,
which the late defeat might have made, efpe-
cially if diffidence or timidity appeared to
follow it.

Much about the fame time they received
letters from Colonel Goddard, by which he
informed them of the leveral particulars juft
now related, and the diredting of his march
towards Poonah in conicquence : one part of
his letters was comfortable. They all con-
tained repetitions of his firm belief of the

friendly

OF BOMBAY. 293

friendly fentiments of the Rajah of Berar to-
wards the government of Bengal, and of his
performing his promifes of affiftance in every
point but that of taking an aftive part w^ith
the Englifh arms. As the Colonel had re-
ceived no particulars, he could be explicit
in nothing but his declaration of proceeding
at firft to Poonah and afterwards to Surat.

At laft, on the i8th March 1779, letters
came from the feleft committee of Bombay,
dated the 3d of February, containing a fum-
mary account of the whole proceedings,
wherein they faid, as they could not admit
an agreement made in fuch cirqumftances,
and after fo explicit a declaration of the com-
mittee's want of power to be of any validity,
they fhould endeavour to treat with the Mah-
rattas upon another footing*

The Supreme Council had fbme debate
concerning what fliould be written both to
the feledl committee and Colonel Goddard ;
at length it was refolved to approve his
marching to Surat with all expedition,
and as by the refblution of the Bombay
council againft the convention, or com-
plying with its terms, it was probable

T 3 they

^94 AN ACCOUNT

they might be engaged in hpftllities witl^
the Mahrattas, but all was yet dark', he
was to zd; according to his difcretion ia
purfuanc;e to their former orders, with this
explanation, that as the defign of* his march
was to proted Bombay, that; muft be his
objeft; but was to proceed, fo as not to
involve himfelf or the Supreme Council
in the refponfibility of their ads, remembring
that he a£ted under the fole authority of the'
Supreme GounciJ, and of courie was to ejx-
ercife his own judgment both in the accept*-
ance and e3c^cution of any fervice which they
fliould require him to perform*

The board now, on the i ft of Apfil, or-
dered Major Camac to return to Corumbah
in Chutta Nagpore: |ie had advanced into
Berar, where he met with a friendly recep-
tion, Colonel Goddard having proceeded fo
far on his way to Surat, it became unneceA
fary for Major Camac*s detachment to pro-
ceed further, ^ "^ ' . .

An incident pow happened, which though
it hath iiot a ncceflary connexion with the
fei^s here related, yet from the fortunes and
high rank of tRe aftor, deferve a place in
hiftory, *

In

i. i

i
-J

OF BOMBAY. 295

In the beginhing of February the grandlba
of the famous Nizam-al-Mullock, Ghazi-ul-
Dien, who, in Dow*s hiftory, appears to have
put two emperors to death, Ahmed Shaw, and
AUum Geer Sani, the former the fbn of the
iinfortunat^ Mahummed, who had the morti-
fication of receiving laws in his capital from
Thamas Kouli Khan the Perfian emperor, andi
the latter the great grandfon of Aurungzebe,
and father of the prefent Mogul, came to Su-.
rat. His nefarious adlions are related in that
hiftory to the year 1 7 6 1 , when every thing
was in confufion, and Dehli in the hands of
AbduUa and his Durannies, was a fcene of
blood, devaftation, and horror. Dow fums
up his charafter in thefe words : ** Thus
** ended the public tranfa£kions of Ghazi-ul-
** Dien, who crowded into a few years of
** early youth more crimes and abilities thaa
** other confummate villains have done in.*
*^ long life of wickednefs and treachery.
•* Though he did not poflefs the Decan,
** the fruit of his grandfather's uncommon
** crimes, he may truly may be faid to have
been the genuine heir of the parts and
treafon of that monfter of iniquity and vil-
lainy.'* This man, after wandring in dif*
guife through many countries, was brpugh^

T 4 to

296 AN ACCOUNT

to the neighbourhood of Surat, where he
dwelt in one of the Borah's mofques, in or-
der, as it was given out, to proceed to
Hodge : he was in the habit and perfbnated
the charader of a Faquier : the Nabob of
Surat fent and fecured his perfbn. He ac-
knowledged himfelf to be the identical Ghazi
de Khan * ; he had with him a wife and
two children, one fixteen years, and the
other nine years old, and about eight or ten
attendants ; the Nabob fent him to one of
his own gardens, called Mahomet a Bang,
within the town walls. After his flight
from Dehli in the year 1 7 6 1 , he had retired
among the Jautes ; and wandring from one
place to another to feek fecurity^ he had
come to Eugene the capital of Sindia's domi*«
nions. Here, under the habit of a Borah Fa-
quier, he refided a confiderable time, and
was by the Grand Mullah fent to Surat,
thence to go to Hodge, where he was dif-
covered by fome of thofe who had ferved un-
der him at Delhi* Obnoxious to the Mogul
for the murder of his; father, and feared as a
dangerous rival by the Subah of the Decan :
Great fums had been offered for the poflef-
(ion of his perfon : the Nabob was uneafy,

left

* The addition of de Khan, or uI-Dica is iodifTerently
£iyea to him.

OF BOMBAY. 297

left when his rclidence at Surat fliould be
publicly known, his perfon fliould be de-
manded by each of thefe princes: at the
fame time it was thought by him and the
Bombay council, that the poffeffion of a per-
fon fo conneded with the greateft families
and Omrahs in India, might be of fervice to
the Supreme Council. The Bombay felefl:
committee gave notice of this in their letter
of the 2 1 ft of February, and of their deter-
mination to remove him to Bombay, which
was his defign ; and they afked the orders of
the Supreme Council concerning him. The
anfwer to this expreffed a wifh that he had
not been apprehended, advifed that all ap-
pearance of violence fliould be avoided, and
therefore recommended to them inftantly to
grant him his liberty, peremptorily infifting
that he quit the Englifli territories, and to for-
ward him on his way to Mecca if an opportu-
nity fliould offer. He foon after fet out for
that place, with his family and train.

On the 5th of April 1779 the num-
ber of the board of the Supreme Council
being complete by the acceffion of Sir Eyre
Coote, they took into confideration meafures
proper to be purfued in the circumftances
which the late tranfa^ions had placed the

affairs

29« AN ACCOUNT

affairs df the Company in. They appeared to
be, that conceflions were made by perlbns
haying no authority to make them ; one of
thefe was the furrender of the Company *s
poljeffions dependent on Bombay, and the
other the return of the detachment ; that the
Bombay council were determined not to per-
form the firft ; the arrival at Surat had put
an end to the fecond : that it was likelv, as
the perfpn of Ragobah was now in the pof-
ieffion qf the Mahratta chiefs, they would
not infift on the rigorous performance of the
conditiops, fo that a peace might be efta-
blifhed ; but if they Hiould infift on them
gftual ^ar muft then exift, and Colonel
Goddard muft have been called in for the
defence of thofe lettlements : that in cafe the
Mahrattas had taken no inftaiit meafures for
inforcing the performa^nce of tbefe conditions,
it might be fuppofec\ they had exafted them
either to have a fp^cious fubjeft for prefent
negotiation, or a prete^^t for renewing the
war when they ihould he in a, qondition ta
profecute it with furer effeft; and with this
intent niight have invited (he French to
avail themfelves, together wijh them of the
prefent advantage by bringing an, armament

from Mciuritius^ ^vh^^[^ ^h^Y b?^ force

mare

Q f BOMBAY. 299

jnore than fufficient for fiich a deiign, the
only chance left them of regaining their in-^
Puence in India ; that fhould this have beeq.
done (as fuch a mefTage^ if difpatched in Ja-*^
nuary wovld have arrived there in March) ;
if it found every thing in readinefs the force
fent from thence might arrive at the deftine^
ipot by the month of September.

On the other hand, probably the divifions
of the Mahratta ftate ^ere only fufpended by
thQ late danger, which, united thoie parties
in one cornmon caufe ; the prelence of Ra-?
gobah among them was likely to revive their
diffentions ; Sindia, who ever a£ted 01^ a le-
parate intereft, might apply the fanftion of
his name to encreafe and confirm his own
power. As to the Rajah of Berar, his con-
du£l fince the knowledge of that event (hewed
he confider^d the defeat as natural, and a
proof that Enghfli arms could not withftand
the fuperiority of numbers, and the rapid
movements of the Mahrarta cavalry ; that his
appreheniion of their power was the ^ring,
of his advice to Colonel Goddard not to pro-
ceed, and the influence of that impreffion
Jiad probably made him give up the thought
of the alliance he once courted. It was not

. - ^. therefore

v./- . ,- : .-.;._.. ' f

'■^ f .

"^^MtX

3oa A N A C C O U N T

therefore advifeable for the Supreme Council
to renew any overtures toward it, but if ever
circumftances, either through fear of the
Mahratta power, or of any other danger iai-
pending on the province of Berar, fliould
prompt him to fblicit the fupport of the
Englifh, it would be proper to grant it : the
lofs fuftained was of credit and reputation
only, therefore every fte^ tending to betray
a confcioufnefs of weaknefs or want of refb-
lution, was carefully to be avoided : at all
events, whilft they fought peace they ought
to be prepared for war*

On thefe confiderations it was* refolved,
I. To invert Colonel Goddard with full
power, as minifter of the Supreme Council,
to treat with the Mahratta ftate for the re-
newal or confirmation of the treaty of Po-
rounder, provided they receded from their
pretenfions under the convention of Wor-
gaum, and engaged never to admit French
forces into their dominions, or permit them
to have any eftablilhment on the Mahratta
coaft ; and thele conditions were to be the
alternative of peace or war. That letters in
confequence, and conformable to what (hould
be fo written to Colonel Goddard^ (hould be

fcut

OF BOMBAY. 361

ient to the Paifliwa and his minifters, and
alfb to the Rajah of Berar : that other letters
fhould be written to the prefidency of Bom-
bay, advifing them of Colonel Goddard's in-
ftruftions, defiring them to be prepared, but
to undertake nothing ofFcnfively without po-
fitive orders from the Supreme Council : and
to the prefidency of Fort St. George to in-
form them of this defign ; and in the event
of their fuccefs againft Mahe, to order their
troops then employed in that expedition to
remain there or at Tillichery, and be pre-
pared to ^ move on the receipt of any orders
for a junflion with the Englifti forces on
that fide of India. Thefe difpofitions were
preparations to any plan which it might be
neceflary to concert with other prefidencieiR
in the event of a war with the Mahrattas
fingly, or joined with the French, or any at-?
tempt pf thefe laft fingly upon Bombay*

The fif ft care of Colonel Goddard, upon
his arrival near Surat, was to choofe a conve-
nient and healthy Ipot of ground whereon to
encamp; fuch a one he found upon the
banks of the river Tapti, two miles above the
city. Almoft upon his arrival he received
letters fro»^ tiie fele<ft committee at Bombay,

requefting

* I t ' - ♦t

so* A N A C C O U N T

irequefting hii J)refeHce there. In ardct
^e might lofe ho time ih layitig before tht
Supreme Council the ftate of affairs at that
fettlement, he fet out jfor that ifland as ibori
as he had regulated every thing relating to
the bills to be drawn on Bengal for his fub-
fiftence. In this he found difficulties j the
merchants, taking advantage of his wants;
raifed the exchange to a monftrt^us height; to
which he waS obliged for fome time to fob*
miti The council of Bengal; bh their know*
ledge of this, thought it rieceflkry to lend
ipeeiie from thence, which tfras attended with
a misfortune^ five lacks of roupies fent hf
the Stafford were lofl by the tvrcck 6f thdt
ihip;

Ovsdilg to the length of the paflage €dld-
hcl Goddard did not arrive at Bombay till
the 1 5 th of ^ferch. The firfl thing he did
Was to make them a report tif his force, and
as they informed him that through the mlf-
carriage of a pacquct from Bengal they had
nbt received a copy of the iilflrudions whicli
iiad been given to Mr. Elliot^ that they
inight have a thorough knowledge of the
whole bufinefS) and thereby be prevented
from adopting meafures counterafting thd

views

OF BOMBAY. 303

views of the Supreme Council, he wrote to
them amply, incloliiig a copy of the inftruc-
tions, and giving a detail of every matter
concerning the views in regard to Moodagee,
and his difpofition toward the Englifli.

Whilft he was at Bombay he received his
credentials from the Supreme CounciFs ap-
pointing him minifter at Poonah, The fe-
le<3: committee determined to fufpend all ope-
rations until they fliould receive an anfwer
from Bengal to their reprefentation of the
ftate of their affairs, with which they had
fent Mr. Horfley a member of that council ;
snd as the fituation of the affairs at Poonah
were very different from what they appeared
to be to the Supreme Council, when they^
fent the firfl inftructions to him, which was
on the 5th of February, they having reafon at
that time to fuppofe Ragobal> had fucceeded^
Colonel Goddard deferred making known to
that Durbar that he had received them, un-
til he fliould be further inftrufted on that
hea4. This delay could be productive of no
real inconvenience, as the period interven*
ing between the arrival of an aafwer and
the feafon for adtion would give fufficient

time

304 .AN' ACCOUNT

time to follow and complete any tneafbrei
that anfwer fhould dived: : and hp prepared
to join his army at Surat, that he rnight be
in readinefs for any fervice neceffary.

During all this time great diflentions had
prevailed at Poonah ; nothing had been done
in conlequence of their advantage at Wor*
gaum and TuUingaum, more than v^hat hath
been mentioned ; the Vaqueels of Nanah
and Sindia demanded the execution of what
was ftipulated in the convention, and the lame
anfwers were returned ; the want of power
in thofe who. figned it, the notice the Mah-
ratta chiefs had of that, and of the inability
of the Bombay committee to a£t without the
order of the Supreme Council. The arrival
of the detachment at Surat had this imme-
diate good effedt, that a damp was thrown
thereby upon whatever defigns the Durbar
might have formed of recovering by arms
what they infifted was ceded, and ought to
be delivered to them. It had alfo a very
material good confequence in regard to the
invafion defigned by the French. They had
got a very confiderable force at Mauritius,
5000 European foldiers, with proportionabld
llores aiid artillery, and were coUedling ihips

to

OF BOMBAY. 505

ko fcratt^drt tbem^ and joiti eirijer Hyder or
the Poonah miniftiy ; when t^ey heard of*
the arrival of jth^ detacKment at ^ur^t, they
ftopped the .emhafkatioo. Thus every thing
tended to open a ne\v fc^ne of adion, with
a fair appiSaraoice o£ retrieving pa^jl: errors an4
iiiiafortunes*

As the fituation and th^ difierent liiterefts
of the princes of Indoftan muft have had a
^reat influence on the proceedings of i^e Su-
iprcme Cosancil, and their orders to Colonel
Go^aird from the tioje he fiyas appoinfed the
tninifter of that council m thofe parts of la*-
dii, it will be ufeful and perhaps pot ui>en-
t^rtalning to take a view of th?iu.

The firft in diguity is the Mogul J hp
ought to be fo in importance, but the njjsfor-
tunes which have attended his whole life,
have reduced that prince to fo low an ebb,
that after being at difFeretit periods ibmetime?
opprefled and at others fupported by parties
of barbarians who wafted his donjiaions and
abfolutely ruined his capital, (inforoufh that
the once fuperb DehU is little bgtter than
heaps of rubbifli) his principal fujjfifteQce
avifes from the revenue of a pari of the

U country

'306 AN ACCOUNT

country of Owde, which had been ceded to
him on the fettlement with Sujah Dowkh in
the year 1764. Notwithftanding his fitiiation
in life Was fuch as required a continual exer-
tion and an unremitting perfonal attention
to his affairs, he had abandoned himfelf to
pleafure and indolence, and was totally
under the influence of others. His character
is very fully drawn by Mr. Dow in his
fccond volume, and the feries of his adven--
tures fince that time (hews it to be juft,and
true. After many various fcenes between
him, and the perfons who furrounded him>
NudjufFCawn one of his Omrah8,hath by his
iuccefles fixed himfelf in the ftate of principal
minifter, with the powers of a Vizir, though
the Nabob of Owde bears the title. His ri-
vals in the Emperor's favour had not only
failed in their fchemes to difpoffels him,
but had been aftually delivered into his
hands, whereby he reriiained fole and un-
controtikd minifter, difpofingathispleafureof
every thing relating to the throne of the Mo-
guls ; he had under his command a confider-
able army, for whole maintenance the
many jaghires he had grants of did not fuffice,
{6 that with, nunibers of men he wanted
treafore. .Two predatory fmall Mahratta

Chiefs

OF BOMBAY. 307

«

i

Chiefs had tried to enter into negotiation with
him, to obtain an eftabiifhoient in his fervice;

' but he hadpq .treaty or intcrcourle with the
Mahratta ftate; on the contrary, the advan-
tages vsrhich he and other chiefs in the Mo-
gul's iervice had taken of the diftrefles of the
minifters at Poonah, to feize fome of the
Mahratta forts and territory^ mufl: have made
him fufpicious of their ill will, and there-
fore difinclined to their caufe ; befides it was

. his intereft that the diflentions (hould con-

«

tinue^ confequently no ad in their favour
was to be dreaded from him or the chiefs
who had pofleffions in thofe parts of Indof-
tan. The princes whofe friendfhip was moft
important, or enmity dangerous, from their
fituation, as well as inclination or power,
Were Hyder Ally and the Nizam.

Hyder Ally, though not in declared en-
mity with the Englifh, was for from having
favourable difpofitions towards them ; he had,
from the time his requilition for afliftance
againft the Mahratta invafion had been
refufed, harboured a ftrong refentment,
iand now had entered into negotiations with
the French, and in feveral inftances (hewn
a ftrong inclination to their alliance. The

\) 2 year

3o8 AN ACCOUN*r

year befor this, when General Belbombe went
to Mahe, he ordered his vaffal the prince of
Chericka, to give him polTeflibn of a fort
which conunanded the entrance of the river
Myhic ; he had fent fupplies and even mo-
ney to Mahe before the Englifli attacked it;
he had given the governor of that place per-
mifiion to hoift his colours for his protefiion ;
and he was preparing to fend a fleet with
provifions and fupplies to the French iflands,
where there had been for fome time an ar-
maiment of five or fix thoulknd men, in*
tended to fail for the Malabar coaft ; yet he
was in an aftual ftate of war with Poonah,
in which he had had luccefs, 'having twice
overthrown the Mahratta army, and taken
fome forts and territory. His intereft was
that their diffentions fliould continue, but it
was no lefs fo to prevent the increafe of
power of the Nabob Mahomet Ally whom
he knew to be his foe, and of the Englifh
whofe greatnefs deprefled him, and prevented
his increafe of conqueft : he is by much the
moft formidable prince in India, having a
great number of well-difciplined troops, and
a proportionable well-ferved train of artillery ;
he entertains many European officers, and of
late has had a great acceffion to that /orce by

the

OF BOMBAY. 30^

the number of French who have found means
to get to him from the French fettiements
reduced, and other countries fallen into Eng*
liih pofleflion, particularly the Gbntour Cit-
car, where Bazalet Jung had five hundred
French foldiers. The difturbances itt the
Mahratta empire leffenmg his fears frona
that quarter, increafed his attention to thefe
permanent objects of his jealoufy, and his
army was ready to take advantage of any oc-
cafion which may qffier itfejf to employ
it in.

The Nizam purfued his accuftomed fyfletn
of policy, whicl^ is to take advantage of the
troubles in the countries bordering on his
dominions. : he had already profited by thofe
in the Mahratta ftate ; the minifters at
poonah had, to their great lofs, ptifchaled
the fmall affiftance he had at different times
afforded them, by ceffions of towns and terri-
tory, and payrftent of great fums of money;
he was at this time particularly 'inclined to
them , not only from the emolument which
might arife frome{poufing them, but by being
very much difpleafed with the government of
Madras : they h^d fufFered the annual rent fti-?

U 3 pulated:

310 AN ACCOUNT

pulated to be paid him for the poffeffion of the
Circars to run in arrear ; and had fent Mr.
Holland to his court to apologize for this, to
promifemore punduality ip future payments,
apd to folicit his fanftlon to a treaty carry-
ing on with his br||her Bazalet Jung, whp
held the Gontour Circar during his life,
after which it was to be the Company's
abfolute property for a peflion of it. He
h^d already begun to a£t with fuccefs,
when he received from them inftruftions of
very different tendency, whereby he was
ordered to infjft on a releafe of thofe arrears,
and a ceflion of this revenue in future : they
had befides, without waiting for the Nizam's
anfwer concerning Bazalet Jung, concluded
their treaty yvith him, whereby for a confi-
deration agreed on with them he yielded the
aftual pofleflion of the Gontour Circar to
them, and they had fent troops to take that
poffeffion. The council of Madras added
an odious ftep to this, the Circar was let by
them to the Nabob ]\Iahomet Ally Cawn.
The Nizam already difpleafed at this
treaty, whicli though not openly injurious to
him, as it regarded only Bazalet Jung and
|he Englijfli, yet as it increafed their {lability

an4

OF BOMB AY. 311

and power, was a diminution of his^ was
exaiperated at this ftrange requifition, and
complained bitterly to the Supreme Council
of the behaviour of the prefidency of Madras
in this unjuft and ill-timed demand ; by the
fame letters he inveighed againf): the prefi-
dency of Bombay, for affifting Ragobah.
Upon the receipt of thefe complaints at Cal-
cutta, orders were fent to Mr. Holland to
acl folely upon his firft inftru£lions, to make
excufes for that extraordinary ftep, and to
Ibothe him in regard to the tranfaftion with
Bazalet Jung, and from thenceforth to look
on himfelf as the minifter of the Supreme
Council, and aft by their direftion folely.
As to the affiftance given to Ragobah,
they anfwered his complaint by faying, that
as the minifter at Poonah had made war up-
on the Englifh, thefe were driven by neceffity
to have recourfe to every inftrument of de-.
fence, but that he might be aflured it (hould
never be employed to his detriment, andl.
reminded him that in the event of a war
they were intitled to his affiftance: he
remained then feemingly quiet at his.
capital.

U4 The

312 ANA C C O U N T

The Nabobs of Surat and Cambay, nitu*
rally averfe to the Poonah government^ by
which they^ were opprefled, muft fee that the
dijnirttltloti of its power was likely to free
thetn from that fevere dependence^ and
therefore were well inclined to the Engliih,
and wiflied their fuccefs.

Fatty Sing GuicaWar, poflfeffed of a great
pajrt of Guzeratt wiflit^d to increafe thole
poffei^ns : originally in league with the
cniqiftets, he bad otxtainoid from them large
grants of land, which Ragobah when ia
power had rdvolced and granted to his bro-;
ther Govind Row ; he had, on the appear-
ance of profperity tq that c^ufe, in the year
1775, offered to yield to them apart of
territory fmC6 claimed by the Poonah Dur-
bar in virtue of the treaty of Poroutidet;
nothing bad be^ii yet fettled on that ctaim^
he was ready to turn to u?hatever fide tnight
prove of moft advantage to him j the rnisfor*
tune at Worgaum kept him from uniting
xvith the EngiiOi, whil.ft on the other hand
the iftcreafe of force, hy the arrival of the
detachment under Colonel Goddard,- pre-
vented his forming any alliance or entering
intaengagernents with the minifters.

The

OF B O M B A Y^ 313

The CQAfequence and pqwer, and the in-
jclinations and fentimetits of Mobdagee Boofla
Rajah of Berar, fully appear in what hath
beein already related ; frona the time he be*
came uneontpovertibly poflefled of the Ra-
jahihip by the death of his brother, he had
(Itewn a ftrong defire of alliance with the
l^ngliihf whorp he looked on as interefted la
^hc fupport of views, which, although fuC-
pended by the late events in the Weft of In-
flia, future circumftances might furnilh op-
pcHtunities of reviving and carrying into exe«
cution. The eftablifliment of Ragobah in
the Pailhwaihip was an obftacle to them,
and therefore he was averfe to his fuccefs :
the hatr^ of his caufe had grown into a
hatr€[d of H? perfon ; on the v^hole it was his
intereft that there thould be no end to the
difturbances in the Poonah government ; the
fettlement of Ragobah, even in the regency,^
much more in the Paifliwafhip, was likely
to bring that government ipto a fettled ftate;
he was therefore ayerfe to every ftep taken
in his ^vdur. TJifis,* \yith a dread of
invafion, or irruption into his territory by
the Nizam, and the army of the Poonah
niinifters, inclined him, after the fuccefs of
pm^h and Sindia at Worgaurai, and before

Colonel

314 A'N A C C O U N T

Colonel Goddard had completed his march
to Surat, to wi(h the return of the detach-
ment to Bengal : yet he continued his pro-
felfions of friendfhip to the ^pinglifli nation.
Inflances have already been related of his
affiftance in procuring money when Colonel
Goddard was diftreffed, and of his hofpitable
treatment during the ftay of the detgiahment
in his dominions ; in truth he had a parti-
cular efteem for fhe Governor General, with
whom he had been long in correfpondenpe.
Upon the misfortunp at Worgaum, he hacj
fenthis Dew^n to Poonah, who affifted at the
councils held for the regulation ar^d fettlement
of that government, and he had for this re-
ceived a grant of the diftrift of Gurrah Mun-
dele * as a jaghire for one pf hi^ fons, af-
figned for the paymenf of a body of troops,
his quota towards carrying on the war. But
this had no effect, for the minift^rs formed a
detign to arreft the Dewan, which having
notice of, he difappointed by an abrupt de-^
parture, and they had fent orders to the hror
ther of Ballage^ to oppofe the conipletion of
this grant by preventing Moqdagee, who on

hi Si

«

♦ Gurra Maudele in Reynel's map Is on the North of
th^ Nerbuddah, Lau 143° ^^' Eaft, Long. 8i%

OF BOMBAY. 315

his part was raifing troops to take pofieflioii
of it. His averfioii to Ragobah was fome-
what diminifhed by this perfidy of the mi*-
iiffters. In April the governor general had
-written to him, in anfwer to a meflage he
had fent by Benaram Pundit, the confiden-
tial perfbn, through whom their mutual cor-
refpondence had often before been managed^
which fhewed that he then thought no force
could be opppfed to the fupcriority of num-
bers, and rapid movements of the Mahratta
cavalry, influenced by which impreflion he
had apparently given up all thoughts of the
defigned alliance ; the aim of this letter was
to preferve the friendfliip and good difpofi-
tion of that ftate to the Englifli. It ended
by mentioning that all thoughts of the defign
which had been formed were relincjuiflied,
but, that a lafting remembrance (hould be had
of his kindnefs, and that evefy fuitable re-
turn fhould be made whenever any future oc-
cafion of his affairs ihould demand it. Thus
the Supreme Council, totally difencumbered
from any engagement with him, were at
liberty to purfue any plan of aflion which
ihould feem expedient, and at the fame time
jhcre fubfifted a mutual benevolence which

left

3i6 AN ACCOUNT

Jeft room for JUiy future negptiation the re-
yolutiopt of time might furniih an occadou
for.

That which was moft in favour of the
^ngllih c^iuie ivag the total expulflon of the
French from India. The Supreme Council
of Bengal had fliruck the firft ftroke by pof-
feffing Chandernagore ; at the fame, time
fending orders to Madras to- attack Poqdi-
pherry. This place furrendered after a
;(lege^ the particulars of which are foreign
to the prefent purpofe, thi§ was followed
by th« capturp of Mahe ; they wer^ evea
|fcmoved fwm Surat, the Bombay Council hay-
ing given orders for diis when they took the
refolution of effeftually efpoufing Ragobah.
^y that ^removal from (he coafts' of Coro-
mandel, the prefidencies of Fort St. George
and Bengal were empowered to ad with f^-
x:urity from that danger^ and by fpirited and
vigorous meafures to repair the mifchief pjf
the late mifcarriage, and keep in awe tho^
powers who might be diipofed to take ad-*:
vantage of tliat misfortune. The prefidency
of Madras faw this, and properly cgncluded

that

OF BOMBAY. 31^

that proceeding vigomcrBy in the attack of
Mahe would remove the difadvantagcous im*
preffions it might have given rife to, wheeeas
withdrawing their troops mi^^ have beien
followed by the lofs of Tiilicherry, tind per-
haps have induced thc^ powers who were
wavering to declare againft the Engliih,
and give invitations to the French. Suc-
cess : proved the wifdom of thefe rcfb-
lutions.

However, the armament at the French
iilands was to be dreaded, there was no doubt
•of their de(ign upon Bombay, the lofs of
the Prot^e, joined to the arrival of the de^-
attachment under Colonel Goddard at Surat^
retarded the execution of this defign, and pro-
bably might have obliged them to alter the
deftination of the expedition, as by the pre-
fence of fo conliderable a force, that fettle-
ment was perfed:ly fecure, but the defign
fHU continued, and it was not to be fuppoCed
that it could be given over, efpecially as thi^ir
correfpondence at Poonah ftill was carried
on, and they were well acquainted with Na-
nah's ientiments and Hyder Ally'^ .IctpU-
nations.

Befides

3i8 AN ACCOUNT

Befides the powers already mentionea,
diere are fevcrai whofe poffeflions lyinfg
northward partly compofe, and partly in-
circle the Mahratta dominions; Some of
them retaining the admiuiftratiofi of their
own domain, ytt own a dependence on Poo-
nah ; others are independent : theiirft though
incapable of a direft refiftance mtsft have the
defire common to all Zemindars of taking
the advantage of troubles in the ftate to
withhold the payment of tfieir rent or tribute j
this, many of them then did, and whilfl:
the diftrefles of their matters prevented their
exertion againft therfi, would continue to do :
this withholding in the mean tinie was ex-
.tremely prejudicial to the ftate,^ already
very much drained of public wealth.

• %

But the independent are riiore dangerous
to the Mahratta empire : many of them have
aflerted this independence at critical times ,
when diftreffes either by internal commotions
or external enemies have fo embarraffed. that
government, that it hath been unable to re-
' duce them to obedience. They know that
when' once power is reftored, either by fettle-
ment of an able man in the Pailhwafliip, or
by the total fubverfion of all claims againft

the

O F B O MB AY- 319

the mmifters, their independence mufl: be
annihilated. They fubfift only by the prefent
diftradlions, and therefore are naturally the
enemies of that government, and friends to
thofe with whom they are at war. The
countries of the moft confiderable of thefe
princes form a chain from the Jumna to
Guzcrat ; thefe are the Rajah of Gohid, of
Jeynagur, of Jowdpoor, of Odeypoor.: the
firft whofe country approaches the neareft to
the poffeffions of the Schah, and of the Nabob
of Owde has the reputation of valour and
ability ; he has a great number of forts in his
territory which have flood reiterated attacks ;
notwithftanding the Mahrattas have made
frequent attempts to reduce him to fubjec-
tion, he hatn '^ hitherto had the good fortune^
to maintain his independence. Formerly
Gowalier was the principal fort, and the ca-
pital of his dominions, but after an uufortu-
jiate battle fought with them by his father,
four or five-and- twenty years ago, in which
he loft his life, this fort was gained by
the Mahratta general, and hath ever fince
been in their pofleffion. The prefent Rajah
was then but nine years old ; he feels the
importance of this fort, and no doubt muft

be

326 AN ACCOUNT

be ready to bnter into any meafure whicSi
could enable him td regain that pofleffion.

The Rajah of Jeynagiir is yet a aiindl-,
and the weaknefs of a minority is increafed
by contefls and diilentions aniong his ier-
vants; his territory is very confiderablej
and may afford an army of 40,000 men ^.

The Rajah, commonly calleid Ranna of
Odeypoor, is by defceht the firft in rank of
all the Indoo families; he is very little
known, and whether owing to prudence or
fortune, has been fo happy as to Have no
concern in the recent occurrences of Indoftan;
The antient domains of his fap^ily ire now
poffeffed by the Mahrattas* He can bring
into the field only about 15,000 men+i

The moft confiderable from power and exf
tent of territory is the Rajah of Jowdpoor, his
dominion extends from the borders of Jeyna-
gur Eafl: to the frontier of Guzerat, his capi-
tal is Meerta, a confiderable town ; die
fortrefs an4 town of Jauloor, or Shaloori

on

* Dow, 2d vol. Decline of the Mogul empire, p. 8(Jt

t Dow, ibidi

of BOMBAY. 32t

bh the river Paddar, belong alfo to him ; his
iferritbry extends to Aymeer on the norths
and Odeypoor on the fouth* Thefe two
lafl: Rajahs art nearly connefted by inter-
icnarriages;

Though no immediate connexion with
^ny of thele powers except the Rajah o£
Gohid is probable to be formed, yttj as by
their fituatidn ih refpedt of the Mahratti
territory^ and their intereft to have that
empire humbled and difabled from vindicat-*
Ing the right they claim to the fupreme
dominion over them, they may be ufeful to
taule a diverfion in cafe the war is conti^^
h\ied, it i$ riot impoffible that fbme alliance^
at ieaft temporary, may be formed witn
them by thdfe who aft for the Bnglifh na«*
tion on that iide of India; ^

The merit df Colonel Goddard appeared
in fo high a light, both in his military and
political linej that the Supreme Council gave
him a brevet of brigadier general, and con*
firmed the. powers they had already vefted in
him for treating and concluding with the
Aiahratta government, leaving him, in cafe
they rejedled the terms i^e had -^nftruftions

X > ta

\

322 A N A C C O U N T

to propofe, full latitude of aftion as he
(hould think moA advifeable : and as Sindi^,
by his behaviour whilft the Bombay army
were at Worgaum, had rights founded on
intrinfic benefits, they declared that he (hould
have a full compenfation for any dilappoint-
ment he (hould fufFer by the denial of the
d£ts of that committee ; that negotiation tvas
alfo totally left to him ; as to that with
Moodagee, if he found it totally at an end,
it was not to be renewed without the orders
of the Supreme Council.

On the 29th of May, Brigadier General
Goddard announced his commiflion to the
Poonah Durbar by letters he wrote to the
Palfhwa and Nanah, mentioning that it was
the (incere v^ifh of the Supreme Council to
conclude a lading alliance with that (tate,^
and deiiring they would fend a confidential
perfon to him, to, whom he (hould commu-
nicate particulars. The difleiitions at Poo-
nah ran high, Nanah endeavouring to regain
the fuperioriry he formerly had, and which
he had flattered himfelf the confinement of
Morabah and Saccaram would have effeftu-
ally fecured to him, and Sindia determined
to preferve his power and keep Nanah in to-
tal

t> F B 6 M^ At. 523

tal dependence bn him ; for .this he had re-
tained the cuftddy of Ragobah's perfbn^
notwithftandlng NanSh had made hhn great
offers to have that pofleffion delivered to him,
and treated him with the refpedt dile to his
rank; having pfomifed hlni an Annual fti-^
pend of twelve lacks 6f foupees, left hirii a
train df artillery of twenty piefces of cannon,
and a confiderable body df troops ; ydt this
was but ah honourable cdnfinernent, he wa^
tvatched with grfeat care. Sehflble that this
^offeffion was a great advantage againft Na-^
riah, and effeftually td (eCure it, Sindia de-
iigned to keep hinl out df the r6ach of Pod-*
nah, and for t'hat purpofe propdfed that he
fliould be conducted td a place of fafety iii
dne of his own provinces north of the Ner^
buddah : this Ragobah agreed td, Whether he
really thought it moft for his fedurity ot
hoped the journey might fiirnirti opportu--
nities of fortune on be more favouring him*
Accordingly he fet out towards Branlpodr
with his own attendants, and his force j
S^hich confifted of 1500 horfe and foot^
with twenty pieces of cannon ; in this jour-
ney he was efcorted by 4000 hbrfe, under
the comniand of Hurry Bowagee, Sindia*s
t)ewan. Diflatisfaflion arofe, the allowance
■ . ' ^ X a was

324 AN ACCOUNT

was not regularly paid, nor were the troops
of Ragobah furniflied with foifage and pro*
vifions; he heard befides that Sindia had
taken ofF two of his principal Jemind^rs,
and detained fome of his peoplp who were
to be fent after him ; this awaked his fu(pi^
cion that confinement was to follow, and
• prompted him to contrive a plan for an,
cfcape ; an opportunity foonr offered, as their
troops crofled the Nerbuddah, his artillery
inarching down from the Gaut of Nurwah
to the river, paffed by the Dewan V tont, fomc
buftle happened, in which the Dewan's peo-.
pie fired, on which Ragobah's troops attacked
the guard, totally routed thenfi, killing three
hundred, and mortally woundiqg the com-
xnander. Ragobah immediately proceeded
with what diligence he could towards Surat*
From the neighbourhood of Broach he wrote
to General Goddard, deliring his proteftiout
The General was at firft apprehenfive that
receiving him might be an obftacle to the
negociation with Poonah ; but confidering.
that fuch a protedtion might be recoiKiled to
that Durbar upon principles of juftice and
humanity, and that important political ad-
vantage g might attend the pofleffion of his
perfon, he granted this alylum and perfonai

iecurity.

OF BOMBAY. 325

fecurity, recommending it to him to be
carefuj in preventing any violence from his
people upon the fubjeds pf the Mahratta
flate. Wi$ conduit in this was approved by
the Supreme Council, who direfted him to
continue this proteftion fo long as it fhould
be^not forfeited by any aft of infidelity, or
attempt to defeat theefFeft of his negotiation.

On the 1 2th of June Ragobah arrived iu
the Engliih camp, accompanied by his
adopted fon Amrut Row, about feventeen
years old, and Badge Row, a child of four
years old, born to him iince the adoption.
The Colonel wrote to the Pai(hwa and Na-
liab acquainting them with this event, adding,
that they might in their negotiation adjuft
whatever was proper concerning him.. The
Poonah minifters were enraged at this efcape,
and declared to Sindia they muft confider
him as leiponiible for that lofs. It had at
firft the efFeft of making them in appearancQ
more tradable, both Sindia and the minifters
wiil)ing to conclude a peace that they might
be at liberty to a£t againft Hyder AU^, who
Wa* ftiU epcroachiiig on them?

X 3 The

326 ANAGCOUNT

The force of the French at the Iflaud

f " - » • •

was each day more looked on by the Su^
prcme Cpuncil as a matter of very great
importance ; by advices lately received, they
had reafon to conclude they were intended
againft Bombay, and they therefore, in the
l^eginning of i^uguft, ordered a reinforcement
to General Goddar^d'sarmy, by a detachment
from Madras, and as much as could be {pared
from Mabe, when the works (hould be de-
moliflied ; they advifed him of this, and
their reafon for it, recommending particu-
larly the defence of Bombay, as his firft
pbjeft.

The poonah Durbar had anfvvered Gene-
Xal Goddard's letter to the Paifhwa, exprelT-
^ng themfelves in terms of high friendfhip
towards the tnglifli, and promiled to fend a
confidential perfon to him ; they had even
expreffed their farishiftion at the manner in
which care had been taken that their fubiefls
11) theGuzerat fbould receiveno damage from
Ragobali's troops, and recommended the
Paiihvva's colkdlors to the continuation of
his prbteiflion. The Vaqueel might have
arrived towards the end of July, but befides
tlic (lownefs natural to the political tranfac-

tion§

OF BOMBAY. 327

tions of that Durbar, By which alone if ac-
quielced in, the time for adlion muft have
elapfed, the general had reaibii to think that
the perfbn to be fent was more to aft the
part of a fpy than of a negotiator ; he had
undoubted intelligence that Nanah was makr
ing all poflible preparation for war, and fo-
Jiciting every power in the neighbourhood
to join in it againft the Englifh; that he
bad particularly applied to the Nizam, and
received anfwers on that fubjeft ; that the
French agent at Poonah was alfo very bufy
at this time, and that many difpatches had
been fent to and received from France. The
General therefore looked upon war as more
likely than peace, and precautioned himfelf
againft every event. What he forefaw hap-
pened, the negotiation was protradled : he
had intimated to them that a perfonal inter-
view between him and the minifters might
tend to a (peedy fettlement, but this was not
taken up*

The Vaqueel did not arrive 111 the gene-
ral's caijip till the middle of Auguft ; on
the 1 6th they had a conference; a perfon was
fent with him, who feemed to have the con-
duct of bufinels, though the firft perfonated

X 4 the

328 AN ACCOUNT

ambaflador. They at firft recurred to the
flate of affairs between the nations, before
the circunaftances of |lagobah obliged hiti;
to apply to the Bombay Council for affift-f
ance, but the General fixed t]hem to the
treaty of Porounder, which was to be the
tafis of any agreement; the others as
ilrongly infifted on the convention of Wor>f
gaum, and in confequenpe, the furrender of
Salfet. The General pn his part mentis
oncd the want' of power in MeflTrs. Car-
jiac and Egerton, and the knowledge the
Mahratta chiefs had of it, aijd told them,
that unlefs the recjuifitions made by the
Supreme Cquncil, (which were, the aban^
4oning ^11 claims under that convention,
and excluding the French) were agreed to a^
preliminaries, nothing could b|2 entered on.
No mention was made on either fide of
any provilion to be rnade for Ragobah ;
paqch time was taken up in explications of
the different matters which had pccafioned
^bc altercations and mutual complaints qf
fhe Bombay Council and the Mahratta mi-
nifters againft each other befqre thje Ui\
revolutions at Poonah, but in the end
cacl) f everted to his point. Nothing there-
fore could be fettled without a further re-

ference

OF BOMBAY, 310

ference to Poonabt One of the Mahratta
agents returned there for that purpofe^

Before the departure of the Vaqueel for
Poonah, General Goddard declared to hioi^
that the Suprenia Council would never oon-
fent to the rgftraint of the perfon of Ra-
gobah, that he muft he at liberty to refidc
wherever he fliould chufe, with a decent
allowance frpm the Mahratta ftate, and that
on thefe conditions he Ihould not be fuffered
in any manner to difturb it. The return of
the Vacjueel, which he had promifed (hould
be in twenty days, was continually delayed,
notwithftanding repeated aflurances that he
was imnaediately to leave Poonah ; the
month of Odober was thus two-thirds fpent
in vain expedation ; at laft the general told
(he remaining Vacjueel that the delay ufed,
and evafive ' anfwers given hitherto, evinced
hoftile intentions in the Poonah Durbar;
that notwithftanding thofe evident proofs,
the Engliih wilhed to fliew their fincere
inclination for peace, and to grant every
indulgence confiftent with their honour and
fafety ; that therefore he would Wait fifteen
days more, and if at the e){piration of that
period the abfent Vaqueel did not return, or

fend

330 A N A C C O U N T

iend a latisfaftory anfwer to the propofals
tranfmitted by him, he fhould look upon it
as a declaration of war, and aft accordingly :
he might the more boldly do this, as his
army was in excellent order, complete in
military ftores, the artillery thoroughly
repaired, and provided with every requifite
for taking the field and immediately enter-
ing upon fervice ; at the fame time he had
reafon to be aflured that Sindia and Nanah
had fet a negotiation on foot with the Ni-
zam, Hyder, and even Moodagee, to make a
general attack upon the Englifli at their ie-
veral fettlements. The iaft was not likely to
ftir, but the others were but too well in-»
clined to aft againft their^.

On the 28 th of Oftober the Vaqjueel re-
turned with letters from the Paifhwa and
minifter, referring to him for a full decla-
ration of their fentiments, which he in plain
terms declared to be, that no peace fhould be
concluded unlefs, in the firfl: place, Ragobah^s
perfon was delivered up, and Saliet reflored
to the Mahratta government. This broke off
all further negotiation. As the General had
found Sindia's inclinations fo flrong againft

th^

OF 3 O M B A Y. 331

the Englifh, he had not as yet made hirn
any private overture, left it fhould be attri-
buted to a confcioufnefs of inferiority, and hm
receivcjd with contempt ; the cpurfe of ope*
Rations might afford an occafion which vvould
render it expedient, for as his connexion witji

the miiiifter was founded on confideratipns of

^ . « . ■ » •

ifjtereft and ambition, a door would open for
treating whenever he thought it his political
advantage : this was not likely, whilft his
iituation at Poonah remained as it then was ;
his power, by mean$ of his army, and his
influence oyer Holcar was fo great, that it
was impbflible for Nanah to fhake off the
(hackles in which he held himi ; he had been
prevailed on to returp to poonah, where his
prefence was bought by further grai^ts of ter-
ritory or large fyims of mqney : no advan-
tage could be offered him adequate to thpfe
he reaped from that importance ; dilatory
and uncertain proceedings wep therefore his
objeft. Such a ftate was as pernicious to the
Engliih as it was profitable to him : to theqi
every thing concurred to make decifion necef-
fary. The army under General Goddard was
maintained at a vaft expence, which the ter-
ritory in the weft of India was by no means

equal

33« AN ACCOUNT

' equal to defray ; in truth far othcrwiie :
the exertions made By the Bombay Council
had drained their wealth, and they were coi>*
tinually . requiring fupplies from Bengal :
great as the relource there was, it could not
fuflice for every demand, and much had been
fent to Madras as well as Bombay : an ac-
tual exifting war gave the Englifh a right to
|eize the enemy's territory, and draw the
inaintenance of their army from their reve-
nues, of which they were then the protec-
tors. To the expence of the army was added
that occafioned by the afylum given to Ra-
gob^h ; . the direction in feveral letters had
enjoined i^, the Supreme Council approved
it, humanity required it, and policy made it
expedient. General Goddard was bound to
prevent injuries tq the inhabitants, not only
by prudence, bqt his orders, and the promife
he had made to the Pooqah Durbar, which
continued in force till war ihould actually
exlft. That Ragobah might be enabled tp
reftrain his troops by paying them, the ge-
neral had allowed him 50,000 rupees a
month; this expence was thought toto- heavy,
and the continuance of it forbidden by the
Supreme Council ; thus unprovided he muft

prey

prey at large upon the country, mih& pue
ia pofiHHon of fbme diftri£b wboifi iieveiiiie^
might maintam him, and fuch a pofleiScm
might be extended to enable him to difchargeii
fbiBe part c^ the debt he. owed the Company^

The rich and fertile province of Guzerat
Avas the moft obvious country for fuch a
proviiion, as well as for a rej|[burce, whence
to draw fubiSflance for the army;, it lay op^n
and totally inaipabte of refiftatice, no French
force was yet in that part of India, or could
anrive before^ the conqueft was efEb£t@d ; the
approaching ixionibou prevented oppolitioa
from the M^hrattas, and would give an in^^
vader time to efi:abli(h himfelf in that pofief-
fion, the greateft' part of the country waa
the property of the Paiihwa family; hencaf
the benefit arifing from that pofl^on was*
dbuble^ depriving the enemy of a$ much as*
it afibi^ed the pofiefibr ; the Nawal of Cam^
bay and other Rajahs, inveterate enemies of
the Mahratta ftate, were ready to affift, if ef*
feftually proteded ; thus the country would
be eaiily fubdued, and from its being inter-
fered by rivers and open to the fea, as eafily
defended againft the incurfions of a predatory

eROTay i

334 ANACCaUNf

miemj : by a proper ufe of thoie advarttagesV
Ftttty ^g might be ueee/iitated to joiit the
Engliihy and thereby free himfelf from de-^
pendence^ and (hare the fpoil of his former
lords ; from him fuccours of notoney and
troops, principally horfe, might be ob*
tained»

Another very important confideratioii Was
the retrieving the honour of the Englilh -arms
loft in the misfortune at Worgaum: this
was not barely a feather ; from that event
the Indian powers had (haken oiF the awe
with whidi the valour and former prowe&
of that nation had impreffed their mind^
*rhis was fo not only at Pooilah» where. the
Durbar had ufed themfelves to think 'of the
Englifii with contempt j and conclude diat
they were fallen into a ftate of weakhefa
which obliged them to fue for peace, and
yield tO: give up every thing infifted on, but
the neighbouring princes whom they Ibli^
cited^ influenced in like manner, would pro^
bably be the more eafily induced to accede to
their invitation ; a fortunate blow, the fplen--
dor of a viftory muft tur« the fcale ; fear^
that principle prevalent through the eaft^
would infpire a dread of refentment if the

Englifli

OF BOMB AY. 335.

• • « . » ^

Englifh proved fuccefsful, and therefore
make them await the event of the v^rar* The
Durbar of Poonah whofc great reliance was
on an attack to be made by the French force
fo often promifed, finding none was at hand,
might refume their fchemes of recovering the
territory their diflentions made them loft^
and defire a peace with the Englifh that they
might be at liberty to revive their claims
amt)rig their neighbours.

Full of thefe confiderations, the general
proceeded to Bombay to concert with the Se-
led Committee the plan of operations. ]

Thus ended the year 1 779, in the weft of,
India ; it had produced fome great events,
and been loaded with many difappointments ;
the next is big with many more, whether
decifive or jio is in the breafi of providence.

P O S T7

§^ A N A tf (i 5 un¥

m

St N C E the concluiion 6( the foregoing
(hccts^ private advices have been received
of the folldwing fads* The Bombay Coun-
cil approved^ though they would not be re-
fjponfible for the meafures General Goddard
propofed^ and furniihed him all the af£ilaac»
that was coniiftent with their (afety ; they
wrote io Colohel Braithwaite to haften his
coming with the troops from Mahe, but as
|lyder had flirted up the princes near TeUi*
cherry to ads of hoftility, the colonel could
ilot immediately fpare his whole force ; he
fent one company of European infantry, onc^
of artillery, and one battalliorf of fepoys, but
they did not arriv'e fo ibon as was expeded :
from Bombay were fent four companies of
European infantry, and two battallions of
fepoys, commanded by Colonel Hdrtlevi
Thus reinforced, General Goddard, on the
I ft of January 1780, marched from his
camp near Surat, and crofling the Tappy^
took poffeiSon of all the territory round Su-
rrt and Broach j and proceede(i into the

Guzerat :

OF B O M B A y. 33y

Guzcrat : part of this country belongs to the
Gwicawar fatnily and is at prefent poflefled
by Futty Sing, and the remainder immedi-
ately to the Poonah government or Paifliwa
family : this was a proper foundation for a
treaty with Futty Sing, whofe fit nation in
xegard to the governing party at Poonah
hath been alreidy rhentidned; On the 19th,
the army encamped before the fort of Dub-
boy, fubjeft to Poonah } the garrifon made
at. firft a (hew of rcfiftance^ firing Ibme fhot
bn the approach ; that night a battery was
fereifked which was intended to begin next
day ; fbme attempts were made to difturb
the workj but upon its being finiflied, the
garrifon abandoned the place^ in which were
found only a few unarmed inhabitants. The
revenues of this diftridt amount to two lacks
of rupees a year; it was left in charge of a
colledor and fome troops from Broach, and
the march was continued towards Broderah»
the rcfidence of Futty Sing, which was held
by a ftrong garrifon ; General Goddard pro-
pofed a treaty to him ; fome days he remained
in fufpence, but his delibepation ended in
concluding an alliance ; the conditions of
which were, that the Pailhwa fliould be
tota% excluded from any poffeffion in Gu-

Y ^ zerat^

338 AN ACCOUNT

'xcrat, and the Englifli and Futty Sing en^
^;aged mutually ta fupport each other in the
pofleilions they fhould ihare between tlieiiu
'Futty Sing was to furnifh 3000 horfe to
Oeneral Goddard, and to have Ahmedavad in
/lieu of his fhare of the Guzerat fouth of the
Tappy, and he was to be effe£lually fup
'ported in withholding his tribute of twenty-
feven lacks till the conclufion of peace, wh^n
his interefts were to be taken Cafe of. Thifc
fettled, he accompanied the Engliih iirmy
with his hbi^fe to Ahmedavad, the capital of
'Guzerat ; this is a large town Well fortified.
' On the I oth of Februairy they encamped be-
' fore it ; it was defended by a great number
'of troops, part of which were 6000 Arabs,
and 2000 cavalry ; the batteries were ready
' the 1 2th at noon, by the i4tb at night feve-
rai breaches were pradicable, and at day-
break on the 15 th the Europeans a»d leppy
* grenadiers, led by the gallant Colonel Hart-
ley, took it by ftorm after a vigorous refift-
' ance from the brave Arabs, great number of
Whom tell ; the lofs of the Engliih- in killed
and wounded amounted but to one humdred
and twenty, but that of the enemy to up-
^ wards of 1000. The town accordiflg t(>
' ^agijeemeut was^iven up ta P-utty Sing,» and a
•V - : {iiaali

OF BOMB AY. 339

fmill detachment of his and the EtigliHi
troops left for the guard of itT

The jealouiies at Poonah had not diicon-
tinued, Nanah had even projei3:ed to ieize the
perfbns of Holcar and Sindia, but without
efFt&i but they were reunited by thQ com-
mon danger : upon the news of the march of
the £ngli(h army to AKmedavad being re-
ceived at Poonah, a confiderable force pro-
ceeded under Sindia and Eblcar to prevent
that fiege^ or if begun to force them to raife
it, but they learned the capture before they
had got half way ; that flackened their pace,
yet they continued moving towards the
Engli(h ; when they reached the environs of
Broderah, General Goddard marched to meet
them, they retreated as he advanced ; in
three days he had got fo near as to occupy ia
a few hours the camp they had left in the
morning ; there Sindia and Holcar fent him
back the hoftages, writing to him, that though
authoriied by the law of nations to put them
to death, they would not be guilty of fuch,
inhumanity ; alking at the fame time whe-
ther he meant peace or war ? the anfwer
•was, that the war was only againft Nanah
^d the enemies of the EngUfl>, ^o which a

Y 2 reply

340 AN ACCOUNT

reply was given by their Vaqueel^ that Sin-r
dia was au enemy to Nanah and well in-,
clined to the Englifh ; thus a kind of nego-
tiation was feemingly offered, whilft evidently
their fcheme was to harrafs and diftrefs the
Englifli army by hovering round them, and
not leaving it in their power to come to ap
engagement to keep them in continual alarm,
and cut oflF their provifions and forage ; in
this manner to draw out the campaign till
the raips ihould put an end to it, when
they would retire and go tp the cyltiirQ
pf their farms*

General Goddard faw the confequences of
this manoeuvre, and fludied to end it by a
decifive ftroke : on the 3d of April, about
two in the morning, he marched filently from
his camp with a chofen detachment, copfiftT
ing of four battalions of fepoy grenadiers,
four companies of European infei^try, four
twelve- pounders, and eight fix-pounders, and
after marching aboutfeven miles, at the dawi}
pf day entered their camp; he was fb provi-
dent in every precaution that his march was
totally undifcovered, and regularity and order
fo well preferved that unperceived he reached
fhe qenter of their camp, after palling through

/ a bodjf

I

OF BOMBAY. 341

g body of fix thoufand men ; he then began
bis attack ; great was the confufion among
fhe enemy, yet they got fome troops toge-
ther with which they endeavoured to oppofe
bim, but in vain; they fled fror^ their camp
into a neighbouring groundji where, without
lofs of time, he charged them ; after a (hort
refiftance thaf whole army, confiding of up-
wards of 30,000 men, dilperfed totally,
leaving him ilot only mailer of the field, but
of that vvhple country. The lofs on the
JPnglilh fide was very inconfiderable, being
fiqt more than XyfQnty killed and wounded.

F I N I 9.

/