officers of the company's army in Bengal had associated themselves together for the protection of their general interests. They opposed the idea of amalgamation, and demanded that all previous allowances, including double batta, should be re-established. Their attitude was so threatening, that the governor-general sent for troops from Madras and the Cape, assembled the naval squadron at Calcutta, and even applied to General de Boigne for the services of a regiment of cavalry. These precautions, and the presence of Sir Robert Abercrombie, the commander-in-chief at Cawnpore, for a while maintained order; but the arrival of the long-expected decision from England only created fresh confusion, with which Sir John Shore confessed himself incompetent to deal; and the local regulations were, therefore, modified to suit the crisis. By these, the army obtained even more than they had expected: the arrears of batta were distributed, and brevet rank conferred; but Sir John Shore's apparent weakness caused real alarm in England, and it was determined he should be superseded. Lord Cornwallis was solicited to take up the office of governor-general again, and agreed to do so; but the concessions made to the London committee of the Bengal officers alarmed him, and he refused to proceed to India. These conces sions had, however, restored order in Bengal, and no further notice was taken of the late proceedings.

Settlement of the officers' claims.

Affairs of
Oudh.

If Sir John Shore be accused of weakness in some instances, yet in dealing with the affairs of Oudh he undoubtedly displayed courage of a very high order. The vizier died in 1797, and a reputed son, Vizier Ally, succeeded him; the accession being ratified by the governor-general. It transpired, however, that Vizier Ally was not the offspring of the late Nawab Vizier, and the representations of the minister, Tufuzzul Hoosein, convinced Sir John that the only lawful successor to the throne was Saadut Ally, the brother of the late vizier. Negotiations were therefore commenced with him at Benares, where he resided: and a new treaty was concluded, by which the fort of Allahabad was given up to the English, and an annual payment of seventy-six lacs of rupees to be made for 10,000 English troops, with Saadut to be stationed in the Oudh territories. When the arrangements were complete, Sir John Shore directed a British force to escort Saadut Ally to Lukhnow, where he himself had been encamped for some time, exposed to the constantly threatened attacks of the partisans of Vizier Ally, who were very numerous. Sir John, however, had firmly maintained his position, and the result showed the benefit of this course; for, on the apSaadut Ally proach of the legitimate prince, he was welcomed by proclaimed. the people, and the forces of Vizier Ally dispersed

New treaty

Ally.

without firing a shot.

Saadut Ally was proclaimed Nawab Vizier

on January 28, 1798, and seated on his throne; and Lord TeignSir John Shore, now Lord Teignmouth, proceeding mouth leaves to Calcutta, sailed for England on March 25.

India.

After the death of Mahdoo Ráo Péshwah, as described in the last chapter, the affairs of the court of Poona continued Events at in much confusion. Nana Furnawees, being pressed by Poona Mr. Malet, the British Resident, and equally by his own necessities, convened the officers of State, and prevailed on them to agree to the adoption, by the widow of Mahdoo Ráo, of Chimnajee Appa, the younger brother of Bajee Ráo, by which course his own power would have been secured. This was necessarily opposed by Bajee Ráo, who applied to Sindia and his minister, Balloba Tantia, for assistance. Of both these persons Nana was apprehensive. Of Sindia, because of his powerful position; and of Balloba, because he aspired to be chief minister of the nation. Nana, now reversing his policy, called up Puréshrám Bhow from Tasgaum, who, on this occasion, marched 120 miles in fortyeight hours with his cavalry; and they agreed, in order to neutralise Sindia's influence and that of Balloba, to proclaim Bajee Ráo themselves; and Puréshrám Ráo, proceeding to Sewnair, took a solemn oath that no deception was intended, and escorted Bajee Ráo to Poona. Balloba now advised Sindia to march on Poona, which was done; but Nana proceeded to Sattara, avowedly to avoid Balloba and Sindia, but actually to endeavour to rouse the rajah into action, and once more to proclaim his authority as the head of the Mahratta nation. On the other hand, Balloba, distrusting Bajee Ráo, now proposed to have Chimnajee Appa adopted as Nana Furnawees had arranged; and, Intrigues strange to say, Nana, who had found his scheme in for the Peshregard to the rajah impracticable, consented to this measure. On reflection, however, he considered that the proposed arrangement might only be a scheme to entrap him, and he went to Wáee on pretence of performing religious ceremonies; while Puréshrám Bhow, having carried off Chimnajee Appa to Poona, caused the ceremony of adoption to be performed, in spite of his protests against usurpation of his brother's rights, and his own oath to Bajee Ráo to protect them. Chimnajee Appa, therefore, was invested as Péshwah on May 20, 1796. Puréshrám Bhow, who was nominally at the head of the government, now proposed that Nana should come to Poona, and that a general reconciliation should take place; but Nana was in more alarm than ever, and retired into the Kuncan, until he should be able to mature plans for his own defence. They were subtle, ingenious, Nana's policy. and for the time effective. Sindia even espoused his

wahship.

cause; and Balloba, trembling for his own position, sent off Bajee Ráo to Hindostan. Bajee Ráo now intrigued with Ghátgay Shirzee Ráo, who commanded his escort: and persuaded him to marry his beautiful daughter to Sindia, who had become enamoured of her; and this being agreed to, Bajee Ráo feigned illness, and did not proceed.

Treaty with the Nizam.

Nana had meanwhile enlisted the Nizam in behalf of Bajee Ráo and himself, by making a treaty with Musheer-oolMoolk, the Nizam's minister, who had been released by Puréshrám Bhow; the main object of which, the accession of Bajee Ráo, was secured by extensive advantages to the Nizam, which included the relinquishment of the balance of arrears, and of the districts assigned under the treaty of Khurdlah. This treaty was executed at Mhar, on October 8. Rughoojee Bhóslay of Berar had also been gained over, and the English had signified, through their representative, their recognition of the claims of Bajee Rao. Nothing being now wanting to the new arrangement, and Nana's wonderful political combinations having been matured, Sindia made the first movement by confining Balloba Tantia on October 27. Puréshrám Bhow, foreseeing the conclusion, fled from Poons, taking Chimnajee Appa with him; and Bajee Ráo reBajee Ráo turned to Poona, where he was joined on November 25 by Nana Furnawees, and finally invested as Péshwah on December 4, 1796. The adoption of Chimnajee Appa, as within the bounds of consanguinity, was declared illegal, and revoked. Thus concluded the strange revolution which, from the variety of its intrigues, and curious involvements, is unparalleled, even in Mahratta history.

invested as Peshwah.

The

intrigues.

The provisions of the several agreements and treaties were not, however, carried out and the most material of them, that with the Nizam, was ignored by Bajee Ráo, without considerable modifications. To these Musheer-ool-Moolk would not consent, and he quitted Poona in great indignation. The Péshwah was Peshwah's not long in revealing his really perfidious disposition. He wrought upon the young Sindia by complaints of the power of Nana, and by arguments to prove that their mutual interests required his deposition. Sindia would perhaps have declined association with this infamous conspiracy; but Ghatgay's influence was brought to bear upon him, and he consented. By December 31 all had been prepared, and on that day, on the occasion of a state visit paid by Nana to Sindia seized and in his own camp, he was seized by Michael Filoze, one imprisoned. of Sindia's European commanders, who had previously guaranteed his safe return to Poona. Nana's escort had resisted, and was, for the most part, cut to pieces; and Poona became a

Nana Fur-
Hawees

treacherously

Sindia

daughter of

shocking scene of riot and slaughter for several days. Nana was sent to Ahmednugger in close confinement, and all the most influential members of his party were imprisoned. In the month of March, 1798, the marriage of Sindia to Báiza Bye, the daughter of Ghátgay, took place. The expenses of the marries the ceremony were enormous, and Sindia, urged by Ghát- Ghatgay. gay, now demanded two millions sterling, which had been promised by the Péshwah. A secret understanding had previously existed, that Bajee Ráo should procure the office of minister to Sindia for Ghátgay, which was in fact the price of Ghátgay's base seizure of Nana Furnawees; and the measure was pressed upon Sindia by the Péshwah, as a means for obtaining the money he required. Sindia did not hesitate, and on Ghátgay's Extortion by appointment, the Péshwah proposed that the sum re- torture from quired should be levied by him from the bankers and of Poona. other wealthy persons of Poona. The result was horrible. Tortures, which cannot be related, were invented by the miscreant, and Poona was literally given up to pillage. Sindia, however, did not depart; and the Péshwah proposed a joint attack upon the Nizam, which might have the effect of inducing him to march from Poona; but though the project was announced to the British Government as early as February 9, no movement was made.

the bankers

Proposed

of Sindia.

The Péshwah had created Amrut Ráo, his illegitimate brother, minister in succession to Nana Furnawees, and he, despairing of other means of getting rid of him, assassination proposed the assassination of Sindia. The scene is graphically described in Grant Duff's 'History,' vol. iii. p. 155-6; but at the moment when the Péshwah should have given the signal for the deed, his heart failed him, and Sindia escaped. Other disorders, however, ensued. The widows of the late Mahadajee Sindia were brutally treated by Ghátgay, and he endeavoured to have them conveyed to Ahmednugger; but they were rescued on the way by a Patán officer, who carried them to the camp of Amrut Ráo, who protected them. Sindia made an attempt to rescue them, by attacking the camp of Amrut Ráo, on June 7; but his force was beaten off with severe loss. Bajee Ráo now requested the intervention of Colonel Palmer, the British Resident, with Sindia; but this was refused, and the quarrel culminated in a fresh attack on Amrut Ráo by Ghátgay with two brigades of infantry. As the rupture between the Péshwah and Sindia was now complete, the Mahratta chiefs ranged themselves on either side, and the Péshwah concluded Mhar cona fresh treaty with the Nizam, confirming that of Mhar.

The treaty of

firmed.

On the other hand, Sindia was in much perplexity, and the

arrears to his army had greatly accumulated. He even professed himself disposed to follow the excellent advice of Colonel Palmer; but this nevertheless failed of effect. Tippoo had been applied to by both parties; and in the end Sindia considered that Nana

Nana Furnawees released.

Furnawees might be his best protector, and released him on the payment of ten lacs of rupees. The effect of this act upon the Péshwah was his revocation of the treaty with the Nizam, and overtures to Sindia and Nana. About the same time Sindia, grown weary of the cruelties and exactions of his minister Ghátgay, caused him to be arrested and confined; but he still remained at Poona, and the intrigues incident to the position of all the parties present there continued unabated, and led, in the sequel, to the second Mahratta war.

Appointment

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EARL OF MORNINGTON, 1798. THE successor to Lord Teignmouth, chosen in England, was the Earl of Mornington, whose remarkable talents were of the Earl of already developed by political experience, and whose Mornington. acquaintance with Indian affairs, gained in the Board of Control, could not fail to be of the highest value in the office of governor-general. From the Cape of Good Hope he was accompanied by Major William Kirkpatrick, who, as Resident at the Nizam's and Sindia's courts, and otherwise actively engaged in political affairs, was enabled to supply Lord Mornington with the Condition of practical information he required as to the power and native States. resources of the existing native States of India. This, no doubt, was of a very different character and purport to the knowledge possessed by the ministry or the Court of Directors, who, lulled by the non-interferent policy of Lord Teignmouth, considered that the peace of India would be maintained on the basis established by Lord Cornwallis. The current narrative of history will, however, have prepared the student for the possibility of future struggles, in the fact that no treaties could bind parties who made them and ignored them according to the results of local intrigues, or contemplated schemes of revenge, plunder, or aggrandisement. On these points Major Kirkpatrick's information must have combined, with other circumstances, to determine the policy of the governor-general: and it was more than ever evident that, sooner or later, the power of the English nation would be the only arbiter to all in India.