on the basis of general defensive alliance and reciprocal guarantee, both with the Peishwa and with Dowlut Rao Scindia, according to the principles of the treaty of Hydrabad, of the 12th October 1800. No reasonable apprehension existed that the progress of this system of policy would be obstructed, either by the union of the contending parties, or by the decisive success of either chieftain; nor indeed could I apprehend any combined or separate opposition from either in the prosecution of my views. troops at the proposed stations, with a view to fulfil the engage ments concluded with the Peishwa. Desirous of comprehending the principal branches of the Mahratta empire in a general system of defensive alliance and guaran. tee, on the basis of the engagement so happily concluded with his Highness the Nizam in October 1800, I determined to com bine with the measures to be adopted for the restoration of the Peishwa's authority, the renewal of my invitation to Dowlut Rao Scindia, to partake the benefits of the general defensive alliance; Resident at Scindia's court to and I accordingly directed the proceed from Futty Ghur to that chieftain's camp, with the utmost practicable expedition, for the purpose of concerting with Scindia the means of restoring the Peishwa to the Musnud, and of proposing to Scindia the terms under which that chieftain might be admitted to the benefits of the general defensive engagements concluded with the Peishwa. 10. Under these considerations I confirmed the engagement con cluded between the Peishwa and the Resident at Poona, on the day on which I received it, and accordingly instructed the Resident to signify to his Highness my ratification of that engagement, and my resolution to employ every effort of the British power for the restoration of his authority. The British Resident was also instructed to direct his attention to the improvement of the terms of the proposed alliance, by endeavouring to obtain the Peishwa's consent to those stipulations which his Highness had hitherto rejected, and to such additional concessions as appeared to be expedient for the better security and improvement of the British interests in that quarter of India. And the Resident was further directed to avail himself of the earliest opportunity of reducing the proposed conditions of alliance to the form of a definitive treaty. At the same time I transmitted instructions to the Governors of Fort St. George and Bombay, and to the Resident at Hydrabad, confirm ing the requisition of the Resident at Poona for assembling 11. The detail of the measures to be adopted for the completion of our engagements to the Peishwa, were necessarily confided to the direction and judgment of the Resident at Poona, but that officer was instructed to adopt every practicable precaution to preclude any risk of hostilities between the British troops and those of Jes wunt Rao Holkar, and to endea vour to secure the accomplishment of our views by the means of amicable negotiation. 12. In the actual state of the affairs of the Mahratta empire, it would have been a measure of indispensable precaution to have as sembled a considerable army of observation upon the frontier of the the Mahratta territories. This important consideration, combined with the communication which the Right honourable the Governor of Fort St. George had received from the Resident-at Poona, of the progress of our negotiation with the Peishwa, had induced his Lordship to issue orders for assembling a considerable army within the ceded districts, without awaiting the arrival of my instructions for that purpose. The Honourable the Governor of Bombay pursued the same wise and salutary course of vigilance and prudence, by placing in a state of preparation for immediate service, the disposable force at that Presidency. A considerable detachment of the subsidiary force at Hydrabad was also directed by the Resident at Hydrabad to be prepared for eventual service in the field, in conformity to the requisition of the Resident at Poona. 13. By advices received subsequently to the dispatch of my instructions to the Resident at Poona, and to the Governors of Fort St. George and Bombay, I was informed that the Peishwa had effected his retreat to Mhan, a fort situated on the river Bancoote in the Concan, and that Holkar now despaired of the success of his endeavours, either to obtain the Peishwa's voluntary return to Poona, or to seize his Highness's person; that Holkar had detached a force to Jejoory, (a fort situated in the vicinity of Poona, and being the actual residence of Amrut Rao,) and had brought Amrut Rao to Poona, with the intention of investing Amrut Rao with the general administration of affairs; of placing the son of Amrut Rao on the Musnud, while Jeswunt Rao Holkar proposed to assume the general command of the army of the state. To this arrangement I was further informed, that Amrut Rao was not disposed to accede: I also received advice that the Peishwa had signified to the government of Bombay, through the officer stationed at Bancoote, a desire of eventually seeking an asylum at Bombay, and that his Highness had solicited the government of Bombay to direct a ship to be prepared at Bancoote, for his Highness's conveyance to Bombay, or to Bassein, if such a measure should appear to be necessary for the safety of his person. 14. The Honourable the Governor of Bombay complied with the latter application, by directing the ship Herculean to proceed to Bancoote, and to be prepared for the Peishwa's eventual accommodation. The Resident at Poona, being apprized of these circumstances, suggested to the Governor of Bombay the expediency of discouraging the Peishwa from seeking an asylum within the British territory, until my sentiments and intentions, with respect to the affairs of the Peishwa, should be made known; and the Resident recommended that the Peishwa should be advised to maintain his position at Mhan to the latest possible, period of time, consistently with the safety of his Highness's person. 15. Under the determination which I had adopted of employing every effort for the restoration of the Peishwa's authority, and in the actual situation of the Peishwa's affairs, it appeared to me to be extremely desirable that the Peishwa should immediately place himself under the protection of the British power, by retiring to Bombay. Bombay. I considered that this measure would preclude all hazard of precipitating hostilities with Jeswunt Rao Holkar, by any advance of the British troops for the protection of the Peishwa's person, and would enable the British government to open a negociation with Jeswunt Rao Holkar for the restoration of the Peishwa on the Musnud of Poona, under every circumstance of advantage. This event would also enable us to combine, with our other measures, under great advantage, the proposed negotiation with Scindia for the conclusion of defensive arrangements. It was obvious also, that the Peishwa's arrival at Bombay would afford the most favourable opportunity of the adjustment of the terms of the defensive alliance with the Peishwa, on the basis of my original propositions, with the addition of such stipulations as might appear to be expedient with reference to the actual crisis of affairs. 16. With these sentiments I transmitted instructions to the government of Bombay, for the reception and accommodation of the Peishwa at that Presidency; and for regulating the conduct of that gང vernment, in conformity to the measures which I had resolved to adopt. 17. Since the dispatch of these instructions, I have received advices from Poona, stating, that although Amrut Rao continues adverse to the arrangement proposed by Jeswunt Rao to Holkar, the affairs of government are conducted under the authority of Amrut Rao's name, and that a considerable force had been detached to the Concan, with a view to seize the person of the Peishwa. By advices from Bom bay, it appeared that the Peishwa availed himself of the offer of the ship Herculean, and had proceeded on that ship to a strong fort in the Concan, named Laverndroog, where his person might probably be secured against the attempts of the usurper. 18. The dispatches from Bom bay further state, that the Peishwa had formally recognised the engagement concluded between him and the British Resident, and had applied for a detachment of British troops, in part of the stipulated subsidiary force, for the immediate protection of his per son. 19. By the latest accounts it appears, that Dowlut Rao Scindia is collecting his forces, with a view of opposing Jeswunt Rao Holkar; and that Scindia has ac tuaily commenced his march from his capital of Ougein towards Poona. 20. Both Jeswunt Rao Holkar and Amrut Rao have employed every endeavour to induce the Resident at Poona to continue at that city, manifestly with the view to obtain the countenance of the British government,in sanctioning the projected revolution in the govern ment of the Mahratta empire. The Resident has prudently rejected every advance of this nature, and has persisted in his resolution to retire to Bombay, for which Presidency he with difficulty obtained permission to depart on the 28th ultimo. 21. At the conferences holden by the Resident with Amrut Rao, and Jeswunt Rao Holkar, on the eve of the Resident's departure from Poona, both those chieftains expressed their solicitude for the preservation of the friendship of the British government, and di rectly rectly and earnestly appealed to the Resident for his advice in the present situation of affairs. Jeswunt Rao Holkar expressly intimated a wish for the mediation of the Resident, for the express purpose of effecting an accommodation with the Peishwa. The Resident informed Jeswunt Rao Holkar, that for this purpose it was indispensably necessary that both parties should consent to refer their differences to the mediation of the British government, but that the Resident could not undertake such orders without the orders of the Governor General; the Resident at the same time advised Amrut Rao and Jeswunt Rao Holkar to explain their views by a direct application to the Governor General. At the Resident's final interview with Amrut Rao, that chieftain delivered three let ters to my address, one from himself, and the other from the persons who exercise the functions of ministers of the state. The purport of those letters is to solicit the countenance and support of the British government, by the appointment of a Resident in the place of Colonel Close, whose departure from Poona to Bombay is represented by Amrut Rao and his ministers to be an abdication of his station of representative of the British government at the court of Poona. 22. I have also had the satisfaction to receive from Dowlut Rao Scindia a letter, soliciting the continuance of the friendship of this government towards his state and that of the Peishwa, and containing a request that I will act in concert with him in the present crisis of affairs at Poona, 23. This appeal to the British power from all parties involved in the actual commotions of the Mahratta states affords the most favourable opportunity for our successful and pacific mediation. 24. In the present conjuncture of the affairs of the Mahratta empire, your Honourable Committee will remark, that the British government must either persevere in its pacific and equitable efforts for the restoration of the Peishwa's authority, or must abandon all hope, consistently with our faith, honour, or permanent interests, of concluding with any of the Mahratta states those defensive engagements which are es sential to the complete consolidation of the British empire in India, and to the future tranquillity of Hindustan. 25. Reviewing the general state of affairs in the Mahratta empire, I, entertain a confident expectation of the complete accomplishment of all our views, and of the restoration of tranquillity within the Mahratta dominions, by the means of amicable negotiation. It appears probable that Scindia will cordially co-operate with the British government in the restoration of the Peishwa's authority, and will consent, in the actual state of his own affairs, to become a party in the proposed system of defensive arrangements. It cannot be supposed that Jeswunt Rao Holkar will reject any reasonable proposals of accommodation, supported by the combined power and influence of the British government and Scindia. The intentions of the Rajah of Berar appear to be uncertain. chieftain now ostensibly favours the cause of Jeswunt Rao Holkar; but I have every reason to believe that the Rajah of Berar is actuated entirely by the cautious po That licy of apparently favouring the cause of the successful party. His Highness the Nizam is disposed to concur in any course of measures which the British government may adopt for the success of our mutual views of defensive alliance with the Mahratta states. 26. Since the commencement of this dispatch, I have received advices from Bombay, notifying the embarkation of the Peishwa, under convoy of the ship Herculean, from Laverndroog for Bassein, and the arrival of Colonel Close from Poona, at Bombay, on the 3d instant. 27. These events will probably accelerate the conclusion of defini tive engagements with thePeishwa, and will enable Colonel Close immediately to open a negotiation with Amrut Rao and Jeswunt Rao Holkar. 28. I have directed Colonel Close, and the Governor of Bombay, to apprize your Honourable Committee of the existing state of affairs at the time when this dispatch shall pass through Bombay. I have the honour to be, Honourable Sirs, Fort William, INCLOSURE (A). In Letter from the Governor General to the Secret Committee; dated the 24th December 1802; Received overland the 9th May, 1803. Governor General's Instructions to the Resident at Poona, dated 23d June 1802; with Inclosure. To Lieutenant-Colonel Close, Resident at Poona. SIR, IN obedience to the commands of his Excellency the most noble the Governor General in Council, I have now the honour to address you, for the purpose of communicating to you his Excellency's sentiments on the propositions of the Peishwa, detailed in Colonel Palmer's Letter, No. 295, dated the 30th of November, 1801, and of conveying to you his Excellency's instructions for your guidance in conducting a negotiation for the conclusion of subsidiary engagements with the court of Poona; and I am directed to take this opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatches. 2. The observations and instructions which I am ordered to com-` municate to you are as follows: 3. The negotiations at Poona have assumed such different aspects at various periods of time, during Colonel Palmer's residence, and have been involved in such intricacy and difficulty, that it is become recessary to revise with accuracy the whole course of our transactions at that court for some time past, in order to draw just conclusions with regard to the ge neral disposition of the state of Poona towards the British government. |