kund, may be expected greatly to facilitate the accomplishment of that object. 197. Adverting to the brilliant success and rapid progress of the British arms in the present contest with the confederated Mahratta chieftains, to the accumulated and seasonable pressure of an active and skilful system of military operations on all the most valuable points of their resources and dominions, and to the probable issue of the various political arrangements adopted on this occasion, for the purpose of securing the co-operation or neutrality of the several states and chieftains, whose power and resources might be employed in support of the enemy's cause, the Governor General entertains a confident expectation of the early conclusion of peace with those chieftains, on terms which shall deprive them of the means of disturbing the tranquillity of our possessions, and of impairing the efficacy and stability of our alliances. 198. Under the prosperous issue of such a general pacification, we expect, that with a considerable augmentation of the lustre and glory of the British arms in India, we shall witness the accomplishment of a comprehensive system of alliances and political connection in Hindustan and the Deccan, calculated to promote the general tranquillity of India, and to secure on the most permanent foundations, the interest and dominions of the Honourable Company against the hostile attempts of any native or European power, and especially to protect the north-western frontier of Oude, and to destroy the last remnant of French influence in India. We have the honour to be, with Fort William, INCLOSURE (A.) WELLESLEY. G. H. BARLOW. Letter from Major General Wellesley to Dowlut Rao Scindia; dated 14th July, 1803. IN consequence of the reports that you had confederated with other chiefs, to oppose the execution of the treaty of Bassein, between the Honourable Company and Rao Pundit Purdhaun; of your military preparations, and your advance to the frontiers of the Nizam; and above all, of your declaration to the British Resident with your camp, that it was doubtful whether there would be peace or war with the Company, I received the orders of his Excellency the Governor General to move with the troops to the frontiers, to take means of precau tion, and to be prepared to act if you should carry into execution your threats. The treaty of Bassein has since been communicated to you, and you must have observed that it provides amply for your security; and that in consequence of this instrument, you will hold your territories in the Deccan by the same secure tenure that you have long held those in Hindustan bordering upon the Company's frontier, notwithstanding your absence from them with your armies. I perceive by your letter to his Excellency the Governor General, of which Colonel Collins has communicated to me a copy, that you have declared that you have no intention to commence hostilities against the Company or their allies, or to oppose the execution of the treaty of Bassein by the parties who had a right to enter into it. I have accordingly the greatest pleasure in contemplating the probability of the duration of the peace between the Honourable Company and your government, which has long subsisted with much benefit to both parties. But, if you are sincere in this declaration of your friendly intentions, there appears to be no occasion for assembling your army, and joining it with that of the Rajah of Berar, on the Nizam's frontier. That measure, uncombined with other circumstances, would at any time render necessary corresponding measures of precaution, the result of which would be either your removal from the frontier of the Company's ally, or an appeal to arms; but when it has been accompanied by declarations of an hostile nature, when you have declared that it was doubtful whether there would be peace or war between the Company and your government, it becomes more necessary that you should remove your troops to their usual stations. Whatever respect I may have for your word, so solemnly pledg ed as it is in your letter to the Governor General, to which I have alluded, common prudence requires that I should not trust to that alone for the security of the Company and their allies, which has been given to my charge. Accordingly, I call upon you, if your professions are sincere, to withdraw, with your troops, to their usual stations across the river Nurbuddah. You was the first, by your hos tile measures and declarations, and the expression of doubts of the duration of the peace between the Honourable Company and your government, and by the movements of your troops, to render necessary corresponding measures of precaution by the Company's government; and you ought to be the first to withdraw your troops, if your intentions are really as pacific as you profess them to be. When you will have withdrawn your troops to their usual stations beyond the Nurbuddah, I also shall draw back those under my command to their usual stations. But if unfortunately I should have learnt, that after the receipt of this letter, you have advanced towards the territories of the Nizam, or if I find that you do not commence the march of your troops towards their usual stations beyond the Nurbuddah, I must consider your intentions to be hostile, notwithstanding your professions, as there can be no use in keeping your armies in the country excepting for the purposes of hostility; and I shall immediately carry on those operations against you which are in my power, in consequence of the advantageous position of the Company's armies. In your letter to the Governor General, you have declared that you do not intend to oppose the arrangement concluded at Bassein, provided the arrangements of the Peishwa with you and Rajah Ragojee Bhomslah, and other chiefs of the Mahratta empire, are respected. pected. The treaty of Bassein secures your interests; and it is not consistent with that treaty, or (A true Copy.) (Signed) with the principles of the British government, to support any power in the breach of a treaty; you may therefore be satisfied on that head, J. COLLINS, Rest. D. R. S. INCLOSURE (B.) Letter from Rajah Ragojee Bhoinslah to Major-General Wellesley: Received the 6th August, 1803. Translation of a Letter from Rajah Ragojee Bhomslah to the Honourable Major-General Wellesley. AFTER Compliments. I have received your letter (here the contents of the Honourable MajorGeneral Wellesley's letter are recapitulated); and from the Colonel's verbal communications, I have been further assured of your friendship. No doubt, where the foundations of unity and amity have so long subsisted, they must be firm and solid, and there can be no apprehension or suspicion admitted between parties so connected. By the blessing of God, both armies are to this moment on their own territories, and no aggression or excesses have been committed on the countries of his Highness the Nizam. However, to satisfy your mind, and to dispel your alarms, it has been resolved upon, in the presence of Colonel Collins, that the armies now encamped here shall retire towards Berhampore, on condition that the armies now assembled here, and those of the English government and the Nizam, shall commence their retreat upon the same date, and that each of the armies shall arrive at their usual stations on a date previously settled; that is, that the armies of the English and of the Nizam, now encamped near Aurungabad, the army of the English encamped near the Kistna, and you also with your army, shall all march towards their stations on the same date that the armies move from this encampment; and on the same date that all the different armies reach their respective stations at Madras, Seringapatam, and Bombay, Scindia and myself will reach Berhampore. In this manner has it been agreed and settled, in the presence of Colonel Collins, and I have written it for your information. It was written in your letter, that the English government and the Peishwa would never destroy the relations and engagements that have long subsisted between the Peishwa, me, Scindia, and the other Sirdars of the Mahratta empire. This assurance has made me most happy, and tends to confirm friendship; Colonel Collins will satisfy you farther upon this subject. Continue to write to me accounts of your health. N. B. The letter from Scindia is verbatim the sume as that from Rajah Ragojee Bhomslah. (A true Copy.) (Signed) B. BARCLAY, D. A. O INCLOSURE (C.) Translation of a Paper, stated to be the Copy of a Letter from Dowlat Rao Scindia to Gholaum Mohammud Khan; without date. As our magnanimity is ever disposed to perpetuate and strengthen the foundations of the dominion of rulers and chieftains, whose characters are distinguished by justice and good faith, the information of your exile from your native country has been a constant source of concern to us, and it was our wish and desire that you should be restored to the possession of your hereditary dominion; but all things depend upon their appointed season, and this desire has hitherto remained unaccomplished. Now, however, Now, however, the determined resolution of extirpating that unprincipled race, the English, has been adopted from seeing their faithless conduct; and the special retinue (meaning Dowlut Rao Scindia and his army) with this intention advanced from Berhampore towards the place where that devoted band has taken up its position; accordingly, the victorious troops, in number like ants and locusts, that is to say, ten formidable brigades, a train of artillery consisting of 500 guns, and 200,000 cavalry, are in attendance on us. Please God, in a very short period of time, the foundations of the fortune of that unprincipled race shall be overthrown, and they shall be expelled from the Deccan, and annihilated. Moreover, General Perron has been directed to cross the Ganges with the brigade under his command, and the cavalry in the service of the Sircar, and with a body of Seiks, to Vol. 6. take possession of all the territory occupied by the unprincipled race, and not to leave a vestige of that tribe; whilst the cavalry of other formidable armies of the Sircar, stationed at different places, proceed from Balpee, and also from Bundelkund, to invade the territory of the unprincipled race on every side; and taking advantage of a favourable opportunity. annihilate the whole tribe, and to restore to their hereditary possessions all the chiefs of that country who shall join the cause of the Sircar in eradicating the foundations of the unprincipled race. Whereas, adverting to your ancient dominion, your restoration to your hereditary territory is an object in view, it is written with the pen of regard, that immediately on receipt of this letter, you should proceed to assemble as many troops as possible, and t invade the territory of the enemy with the utmost practicable expedition, and employ your exer tions in co-operating with General Perron in offensive measures against the unprincipled race, and establish your troops in your hereditary dominions. General Perron has been written to on this subjeet; do you act in conformity to his suggestions; please God, all will be well. It is incumbent on you, with the utmost firmness, to devote your mind to the object of co-operating with the Sircar, and to fulfil the obligations of attachment. My satisfaction, and your IR confirm confirmation in your ancient dominions, will depend on the degree in which you may conform to the above written suggestions. What more need be written ? (A true Translation). N. B. EDMONSTONE, Pers. Scc. N. B. The letter from Scindia to Ram Rao Khan is exactly the same as this, excepting in parts not applicable to Ram Rao Khan's circumstances. INCLOSURES (D. and E.) Letters from General Perron to the French Commandant of the Fort of Alligur; one dated the 1st September, 1803, and the other without date. Inclosure (D). IL est bien naturel que quand une armée veut prendre une place qu'elle en fasse l'assaut, et le remède que vous me demandez est aussi naturel, c'est a dire, de la defendre jusqu'a la derniere goutte de sang. Je viens d'apprendre avec beaucoup de peine que Monsieur Longcroft a été admis plusieurs fois dans le fort, que veut dire cela ?---Quelle conjecture dois je former au sujet d'un procédé si etonnant Je vous ordonne ni d'admettre ni ce Monsieur ni aucune personne qui que ce soit, ni d'entendre aucune proposition qui regarde à la capitulation du fort. Mettez des pièces partout, jettez vos yeux partout, encouragez les troupes, soyez soyez encouragé vous même, parceque vous me paroissez d'avoir le plus grand besoin. ce Est que ces Monsieurs peuvent faire un chemin si vitement pour entrer dans le forte :-ou est ce qui voulez faire le chemin vous même ? Songez a votre honneur, rapellez à votre memoire ies petits forts Sarcené, Bidjegur, Kutchoura, &c. ct rappellez les observations que vous (Translation.) My dear Sir, It is very natural that when an army would take a place, they should make an assault; and the remedy you demand of me is equally natural-that is, to defend it to the last drop of blood. I have just now learnt, with much concern, that Mr. Longcroft has been admitted into the fort several times.-What does this mean? What conjecture should I form upon the subject of a proceding so uncommon? I order you not to admit that gentle |