No. 20.-To his Excellency the I Do myself the honour to communicate the following intelligence, which I have received through a channel that may be deemed authentic. 2. Dowlut Rao has lately acquainted the Peishwa by letter, that your lordship has dispatched Col.Collins to his Durbar, charged with propositions for strengthening the friendship which subsists between his state and the Company; that Colonel Collins had arrived at Cotah, and would accordingly soon join his court; and that he judged it proper to intimate these circumstances to the Peishwa for his information. Dowlut Rao Scindia then reminds the Peishwa that it was usual to take a leading part in the amicable arrangements which had been negotiated VOL. 6. between the Company and the Mahrattas, cites the particular instance of the treaty of Salbhey, which was concluded through the mediation and under the guarantee of his predecessor; observes that he is given to understand that a gentleman from your Lordship has recently arrived at Poona for the purpose of improving the amicable relations which connect the Peishwa's with that of the Company's; warns the Peishwa, to be cautious how he proceeds in further connecting his interests with those of the English, and points out the necessity of his not taking any definite step to such effect without his (Scindia's) concurrence; and adds, that he shall have occasion to communicate his sentiments further on these points hereafter, through the channel of his Vakeel, at Poona, Umbajee Bhaskar, to whose representations on such subjects the Peishwa will give full credit. 3. My information states that this dispatch has given much umbrage to the Peishwa, who considers his authority in the Mahratta state as paramount to that of Scindia, and regards every attempt on the part of that chief to controul bis acts as arbitrary, and hurtful to his just rights; that he had deliberated on the mode of reply which he ought to give to Scindia; and that during the agitation of the question an altercation arose between Ballojce Koonger and Gopaul Rao, the former supporting the rights of Scindia, derived from the powers exercised by him, and the latter maintaining the superior authority and complete independence of the Poona government. 4. However deeply his Highness's pride may be wounded on the occasion, he will probably deliberate maturely before he determines on his answer to Scindia. The question apparently at issue between them seems to be impor. tant; and I think it not improbable that I may soon receive an intimation from his Highness on the subject. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's, &c. Poona, (Signed) B. CLOSE, 14th Feb. 1802. Rest. at Poona. No.21.--To his Excellency the Most Noble Marquis Wellesley, K. P. Governor General, &c. &c. &c. My Lord, I HAVE been honoured with two packets from the honourable the Governor of Bombay, one dated the 4th and the other the 8th instant; and as I find it is the wish of Mr. Duncan that I should keep your Lordship informed of his proceedings, I shall state briefly the substances of his late advices. 2. By my address of the 8th instant, your Lordship was acquainted that our troops had embarked from Surat for Cambay, and that Major Walker had arrived and been cordially received at Brodera; that at the instance cf Mr. Duncan a, cessation of hostilities had been effected between the Guickwar state and Mulkar Rao, with the view that the subsisting differences might be submitted to the arbitration of Mr. Duncan; and though there was some prospect that this desirable modeofadjustment would be assented to by both parties, it was yet probable that the suspicions enter tained by Roujee, respecting the disposition of the Arab corps, might incite the minister to press the measure of ordering out the troops of Brodera. A diary received from Major Walker details the particulars that passed at his interview with Anaba; and it appears that although this prince, who is about forty years old, possesses a general knowledge of his own affairs, and professedly entertains a disposition decidedly favourable to his minister and adverse to Mulkar Rao, his faculties are so far imperfect, that he seems incapable of applying his thoughts steadily to any subject; and on occasion of business, even gives his attention to trifles, with an air that is childish: it further appears, from Major Walker's correspondence, that the principal inhabitants at and in the vicinity of Brodera, were attached to Anaba's cause, and well affected towards his minister. 3. By the second instant our detachment had landed at Cambay, and was conveniently encamped and amply supplied; and Major Walker, having adjusted immediate objects at Brodera, had, on a subsequent date, left that city for Cambay, in order to assume the command of the troops. 4. The Guickwar minister shewed himself perfectly at the devotion of Mr. Duncan, and had with much accommodation taken measures to prevail on Gujra Bhye, at Surat, to return to Brodera, that she might reside as formerly in the house of her father, with comfort and honour. Although a cessation of hostilities had taken place between the adverse parties, the minister conceived it to be impracticable to conclude a friendly arrangement with Mulkar Rao on any reasonable terms; and his presumption seemed to be countenanced by the corres correspondence of the latter, which, though civil, shewed that he still adhered to his professed aim of removing the minister, and supplying his place by Canajee. 5. Mr. Duncan apparently does not despair of being able to prevail on Mulkar Rao to accept the proposed arbitration; but failing in this object, seems resolved to advance the troops for the support of the Guickwar Prince, and giving order and security to this government. For this measure, Mr. Duncan had completed the necessary preparations, at the same time he doubted not that before he should have occasion to take any decided step, he would be honoured with your Lordship's further instructions for his guid ance. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's, &c. Poona, (Signed, B. CLOSE, Feb. 15, 1802. Res. at Poona. [The letter, No. 22, does not appear on the consultations.] No. 23. To his Excellency the Most Noble Marquis Wellesley, K. P. Governor General, &c. &c. &c. My Lord, YESTERDAY morning I received a message from Gopaul Rao, intimating that he was desirous of paying me a visit; but that, as his time was very busily employed, he had thoughts of deputing his brother Shunkar Rao, which he hoped would be acceptable to me. 2. Shunkar Rao accordingly waited upon me in the afternoon: after delivering messages of compliment from the Peishwa and Gopaul Rao, he observed that he visited me at the desire of his High ness, for the purpose of ascertaining whether your Lordship had yet conveyed your sentiments in reply to the overtures from this court, contained in Colonel Palmer's dispatch of the 30th of November. I replied, that since the period of your Lordship's arrival in the northern provinces, your advices from this quarter could not be received but with considerable delay; that I was in expectation of being honoured with your Lordship's commands in reference to the dispatch alluded to; but that there was a point which his Highness would doubtless be mindful of, namely, that his Highness's last proposals went but a short way towards meeting your Lordship's demands. Shunkar Rao, without objecting to the fact, expatiated on the warmth with which his Highness regarded the amity of the Honourable Company, and closed by observing that it was the peculiar office of friendship to conciliate, approve, and remove distinctions. In answer to this I only repeated the fact which I had before noticed. 3. Shunkar Rao then observed that he had another point to intimate; he was charged by the Peishwa, he said, to communicate with me on a subject which engaged much of his Highness's attention, and on which he doubted not to have the benefit of my favourable sentiments. What his Highness alluded to was the approach of a gentleman from your Lordship to the Durbar of Dowlut Rao Scindia; that the prevalence of domestic differences in the Mahratta government was nothing rare or unusual; and that his Highness trusted confidently that no part of your Lordship's political views or operations would be unfavourable to the independence and dignity of his Highness's state, or tend to alter or affect in any degree the mode of intercourse which your Lordship has invariably used in your correspondence with this court here. Shunkar Rao evidently looked for some assurances from me; I contented myself, however, with observing that I comprehended what he had stated from his Highness, and once more recurred to the remark, that there was yet a wide difference between his Highness's overtures, and the amount of your Lordship's requisitions. 4. Your Lordship will perceive, that throughout the foregoing conversation I purposely observed a considerable degree of reserve, as well to avoid committing myself in regard to any part of your Lordship's intentions, as to keep alive those feelings of jealousy on the part of his Highness which your Lordship's new system of action has not failed to excite. 5. I have reason to believe, that the Peishwa is still resolved to avoid giving an answer to Scindia's late dispatches. Experience but too strongly suggests, that in his inquiries and intimations of yesterday, he has it chiefly in view to inspire your Lordship with hopes that may withhold you from the adoption of measures that might tend to controul his acts and weaken his interests. 6. This morning I received a messuage from his Highness, intimating the arrival of the Berar Va keels, an event which he thought consistent with friendship to impart for my information. I have the honour to be, &c. Poona, (Signed) B. CLOSE, 231 Feb. 1802, Res. at Poona. No. 24. To his Excellency the My Lord, I HAVE not been honoured with any advices from the honourable the Governor of Bombay since the receipt of his letter, intimating his intention to proceed to Cambay ; nor has the Guickwar Vakeel at this station received any accounts of late date from the minister, or any person at Brodera; but a report prevails here that Major Walker's detachment has moved forwards to that capital. 2. Although the Peishwa continues to shew himself satisfied with the proceedings of the Guickwar government, he yet objects to the departure of Futteh Sing, observing that he ought not to change his situation till the Guickwar territory shall be restored to tranquility, and the affairs of the government finally adjusted; the Guickwar Vakeel, however, now agrees with me, that in detaining the young prince, his Highness's sole motive is to oblige the minister to purchase his liberty at a high price. 3. A short time since I receiv ed a memorandum from the Peishwa respecting some duties which this government has been used to collect in the district of Chowrassee, lately ceded to the honourable Company. This claim, I learn from the Guickwar Vakeel, is not unfounded; the duties refer merely to the transit trade of the district, and their amount, I imagine, is inconsiderable. As his Highness's memorandum must be replied to, I have judged it proper to address Mr. Duncan on the subject. 4. Nothing material seems to have occurred of late affecting the internal concerns of the Peishwa's government. The Jaghiredars at variance with his Highness seem rather to add their advantages. The Killedar of Logheer, who is supposed to possess the remaining proportion of Nana's property, continues totally independant, but intimates, that he would willingly submit to his Highness's authority, could he possibly obtain security that any terms which he might adjust with his Highness would be adhered to. 5. Jeswunt Rao Jewajee having experienced a sharp defeat from Gopaul Rao, seems to be principally engaged in repairing his losses: a part of the troops which the Peishwa had assembled on the Bheema to restrain his depredations, still continue at that position, but their number is too small to admit of their affording much protection to the adjacent territory. totally neglected those parties who had just claims to participate in. the advantages of his successes; and that therefore a review of early events went more to strengthen than to weaken the independant and paramount authority of the Poona government. From so high a tone being maintained by his Highness, the Vakeel of Dowlut Rao Scindia manifested great dissatisfaction. In all their discussions they have been openly countenan ced by Balloje Koonger, and of. late they have not scrupled to use menacing hints respecting Gopaul Rao, to whose counteraction they attribute, in a great degree, their want of success. 7. A few days after their arrival I received a message of compliment from the Berar Vakeels, in which they made particular inquiries concerning your lordship's health, and the progress of your tour. I repaid the compliment 6. The Peishwa, I am informed on the following day, with a defrom good authority, has written gree of cordiality, which I underto Dowlut Rao Scindia to the fol- stand was very acceptable to them. lowing effect; that he is resolved They have had frequent meetings never to assent to any arrange- with the Peish, and I have reament, or mode of proceeding, that son to believe that they maintain a may tend to controul the actions confidential intercourse with Scinof his government, or unfavoura- dia's Vakeels, and have remonbly affect its entire independence; strated with the Peishwa on the that accordingly the Poona state subject of his negotiation with the will continue to conduct immedi- English, instancing the conduct ately its own transactions with of their master, who, though pressforeign powers; that no fair pre-ed by the British government to cedent can be drawn from the practice of early times, when the Peishwawas a minor, or when usurpation may have robbed him of his rightful authority; that on former occasions of negotiations, when M. Scindia bore a leading part, the interests of the Poona state were undue considerations; that in the prosperous career of that chieftain in Hindustan, he had conclude a close alliance with the Company, had decidedly rejected it. 8. A Vakcel from Jeswunt Rao Holkar arrived here a short time since; he has had a meeting with Amrut Rao (who is not returned from his pilgrimage), and communicates with the Dunbar, through Gopaul Rao; his object is to interest the Peishwa in favour of his master, |