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force, officers included, was fomething under 7000 men; but in the true style of eaftern armies, they were incumbered with fuch a multitude of futlers, fervants, and various retainers, that the camp at the outfet contained above 38,000 perfons.

This body began to move in the neighbourhood of Corah and Allahabad in the beginning of April, and arrived at the Jumna, which forms the Maratta boundary on that fide, about the middle of May, 1778. They pafled the river in boats, under the fire of their artillery, notwithstanding the oppofition of the Maratta ftates in that quarter; and after a fkirmish with the enemy's horfe on the other fide, which they obliged without much lofs to difperfe or retire, found the town and fort of Calpy totally abandoned, neither garrifon nor a fingle inhabitant remaining.

They afterwards spent about three months in the Diamond country of Bundelchund, where they entered deeply into fome difputes relative to the fucceffion, which then prevailed in the family of the late Rajah. The nature and ifflue of thefe tranfactions are not, and probably never will be well understood. During this time they furprised and facked, without any apparent warrantable caufe, the city of Mow, which was under the protection of the Marattas. The refiftance was however fo confiderable, though the fortifications were out of all condition, and the attack made in the night, that public thanks were iffued to the troops for their good conduct and bravery. Upon Leflie's death, in the beginning of October, the command devolved upon Colonel Goddard; and whatever the nature of the fervice had been, there were no lefs than a thoufand fepoys at that time in the hofpital.

They continued at Calpy to the beginning of June, and on the first day's march from thence are faid to have loft between three and four hundred men of all forts, who died raving mad, under the preffure of the exceffive heat and the want of water. One of the beft officers in the army loft his life on that day; and several others only recovered after experiencing long illnets and great danger. If the Marattas could have forefeen the unaccountable conduct that brought on this misfortune, the whole army must have perifhed; but, to their great furprife and infinite joy, they found the wells open, and the water plentiful and pure, at the place where they halted on the evening of this dread

ful day.

We find by a letter from the rajah of Berar to the governor-general, that they were in a ftate of continual hoftility with the Maratta chiefs and the officers of the Paifhwa, through the whole courfe of their progrefs; and that they levied great fums of money in the countries through which they paff ed. That prince accufes them in the fame letter, of having loitered away their time in the Bundelchund countries, contrary to every principle of policy. It appears from other authorities, that they were attended by an agent of Ra gonaut Row's, and that they levied contributions in the name of his matter. This cannot but appear a little extraordinary, as every idea of intending to fupport Ra

gonaut's

gonaut's pretenfions in any man- undoubtedly was the main, if not

ner, was repeatedly and formally difclaimed in Calcutta; and fo far from avowing any hoftile intentions with refpect to the detachment, its object was held out to be merely the protection of Bombay against the defigns of the French; and to which place it was declared they would take the direct course, pay for every thing they wanted, and obferve the ftricteft order and difcipline in their march through the Maratta countries.

the only motive for the Bombay expedition. This was no less than a fcheme for entering into a treaty offenfive and defenfive, and in all refpects of the most comprehenfive nature, with Moodajee Boofla, the Rajah of Berar; to engage that prince to enforce his claims to the throne of the Ram-Rajah, whichwas now faid to be entirely vacant by the death of the confined prince without iffue; to apply the whole force of the Company to his establishment in the Maratta empire; and farther, to fupport him in his claims upon the Nizam of the Deccan.

This bold and comprehenfive fcheme was, however, warmly contefted on various grounds, by the minority in the fupreme council. Of these were the following:

The detachment was fent out under the orders of the prefidency of Bombay, which they were inftructed to obey in all cafes relative to their march, proceedings, and final destination. But the counfels there were fo various and fluctuating, and the inftructions fo contradictory, that the command- Its being directly contrary to ers derived from that state of uncertainty, a latitude of acting as circumftances might invite or opinion dictate. On one day their march was countermanded, and the folid reasons afligned of its difficulty, the inevitable dangers to which they would be expofed, and the prodigious expence with which its profecution must be at tended. In a few days, again they were directed to proceed, without any caufe being affigned for this change of fentiment and inftruction. The fame uncertainty prevailed with refpect to their Courte; Poonah, Bombay, and Surat, being at different times held out as the objects of their deftination.

In the mean time the governorgeneral brought forward that grand fyftem of policy which had hitherto been referved, and which

the inftructions fent from England for fully confirming the treaty of Poonah, and for inviolably adhering to its conditions; as militating against the repeated inftructions of the Company, to avoid being drawn by any means into the family fquabbles or political contentions of the native powers; the immenfe wafte of treasure with which the project must neceffarily be attended; and the critical nature of the feafon when this wafte, to which no prefent estimate could affign any other limits than the total exhaufture of the refources, would take place; a feafon that was everywhere pregnant with danger; under the immediate preffure of a French war; and the affairs of Europe bearing fuch a general afpect, as fully indicated the propriety, if not neceffity, of preferving the British force and

refources

refources in India whole, unim- which have fo long fubfifted between these two rival ftates: a measure dictated to themselves by its neceffity. That the inevitable confequence would be, a ftrict league and confederacy between

paired, and in condition to encounter any unforeseen dangers that might arife, or to profit of any favourable circumftances which might poffibly occur. But they obferved, that independent of these greater objects, the mere fituation of the Company's private affairs at home, would at this time prefcribe the strictest œconomy; their charter was now nearly expired, and it could not be doubted, as affairs ftood in England, but that a large fum of money would be required for its renewal.

They further stated, that a project which, from its nature, was evidently capable of convulfing the whole continent of India to its utmost extremity, could not, in any ftate of things, or from whatever quarter it originated, but be exceed ingly prejudicial in its progrefs, and highly dangerous in the iffue, to the interefts of the Company. They ftrongly urged the breach of faith and injustice, as well as the diflike and evil repute which they muft neceffarily create, of our entering into fo unwarrantable a fcheme of hoftility againft our ancient friend and ally the Nizam of the Deccan. They reprefented, that befides being otherwife powerful, he was by far the richest prince in India; that by this measure, he muft, in an inftant, be converted from a friend to a moft bitter and implacable enemy. That he abominated Ragonaut Row, had been long at variance with the Berar Rajah, was ftrongly attached to the Poonah government, and united in the ftricteft friendship with Hyder Ally. That his first meafure undoubtedly would be, to cure the inveterate animofities VOL, XXV.

thole three formidable powers, for punishing the pride, and pulling down the dangerous power of the Company. That if this great and formidable confederacy fhould by any fortune prove totally unequal to its object, even in that cafe, highly improbable as it was, the fuccefs of the Company's arms would only ferve to precipitate affairs into a ftill more ruinous and dangerous ftate. That a remote and doubtful danger would be readily hazarded, to efcape that which was certain and immediate. And, that however contrary to their prefent policy and difpofition, jealous as they already are, and with reafon, of that power and of all other Europeans, and however contrary to their interests in any other ftate of things, they would, notwithstanding, of neceffity, call in France upon fuch terms of advantage as the chofe at present to require, to their affiftance; and all the ftates of India, whether Hindoo or Mahomedan, would join with her in exterminating a nation, whofe boundless ambition and extravagant fchemes of domination and conqueft,went to the overthrow and destruction of all others.

Thefe arguments and opinions were oppofed and overruled, upon the idea of the infinite present and future benefits which would accrue to the Company from the placing Moodajee Boofía at the head of the Maratta empire; as well as the facility with which that bufinefs [B]

might

might be accomplished. Inftead of furthering, it would afford the fure means of totally defeating the views of France. That reftlefs and ambitious nation was negociating, and had probably already concluded a treaty with the Marattas. The prefent government of Poonah was entirely in their interests; and it was reported that the port of Choul, and perhaps other fettlements of great advantage, would be granted to them. This was the time to counteract the views, and to prevent the ef'fects of an alliance, which from its nature muft prove fo fatal, if firmly established. The Marattes were 'now divided at home; the mini fters holding their power only at the will of a faction; the dependent ftates diffatisfied with their government, and confequently eager for any change or revolution; while their armies were engaged and overborne in the unequal conteft with Hyder Ally. On the other hand, the Berar Rajah was great in power, and his force fresh and unimpaired; and as to Hyder Ally, no doubt could be entertained but that, instead of joining against us, he would to his utmost affift in placing Moodajee Boofla on the throne of the Ram-Rajah. As to recalling the troops, it would now be fcandalous; would degrade the Company, and render its councils and military force contemptible in the eyes of all India. And, with refpect to the Nizam of the Deccan, it was infifted, that his views and condu& had for fome time borne an afpect unfavourable to the interefts of the Company, and which indicated much more a difpofition to hoftility, whenever a fair opportunity offered, than to-friendship.

1778.

In pursuance of this project, which was carried by the cafting voice, against the ftrenuous oppofition of two members of the fupreme counJuly 18th, cil, Mr. Elliot was appointed on an embaffy to Naigpoor, the feat of the Berar Rajah, and furnished with the neceffary powers and inftructions, to negociate and conclude the treaty with that prince; and in confequence of which, Ragonaut Row was to be entirely laid aside. At the fame time orders were sent to Leslie, that, inftead of purfuing the direct way through the great province of Malva, which feemed at first to have been intended, he should bend his courie towards the dominions of Berar, with a view of fupporting the negociation, and of carrying into execution the purposes of the treaty.

While these measures were in agitation and purfuit at Calcutta, the Marattas having refused to comply with the conditions which were propofed from Bombay, that prefidency declared the treaty of Poonah violated, and to be no longer binding on the Company; and at the fame time paffed refolutions to accept the offers of those chiefs who were in the interest of Ragonaut Row, and accordingly to accompany the latter with an army to Poonah in the beginning of the following month of September. At the fame time, they directed Colonel Leflie to proceed in a direct course with the detachment to Poonah, instead of the route thro' the Guzerat to Baroach or Surat, which feemed to have been predetermined.

Thefe advices were received at Calcutta about the middle of Au

guft;

geft; and it seems a moft fingucircumftance that thofe determinations at Bombay, which went fo directly to operate against the conditions and tendency of the new treaty propofed with Moodajee Boofla, were fo far from being countermanded, that they met with full approbation. In the mean time, Colonel Leflie fhewed no great difpofition to attend to any orders which urged his departure from the Bundelchund country. His unaccountable delay in that country, as well as the unwarranted hoftilities which he was charged with committing, had feveral times been brought up as objects of cenfure by the miBority in the fupreme council. His death, which we 0&. 3d. have already poticed, put an end to all attempts at farther enquiry, and prevented his difmiffon from the command of the army, which had been at length determined.

The death of Mr. Elliot, on his way to the court of Berar Rajah, which happened fomething fooner, threw an unexpected delay and embaraffment in the way of that negociation. The bufinefs, in confequence of that check, lay dormant for fome time, and feemed apparently to have been given up. It was, however, again revived; when it was determined that Colonel (fince General) Goddard, who fucceeded Leflie in the command of the detachment, fhould be furnished with the fame powers which had been communicated to Mr. Elliot, and fhould accordingly proceed in conducting the negociation. The authority given to Bombay to direct the courfe and point out the objects of the

detachment, was upon that account revoked, and General Goddard ordered to make his way to the Nerbudda, which forms the northern boundary of the Berar Rajah's dominions.

In the mean time, Bombay feemed rufhing with rather too much impetuofity into the Maratta war; and was fo confident in its fuccefs, that instead of propofing to wait for, or regretting the delay of Goddard's detach ment, they appeared apprehenfive that any other fhould partake in the glory and advantage of the revolution. Neither did they feem provided with all the information which could either warrant an undertaking of fuch danger and magnitude, or afford the guidance neceffary to its direction when undertaken. They were not only mifled with refpect to the number and power of Ragonaut Row's adherents; they were equally mifinformed with refpéct to the ftate and fituation of the Maratta armies; which it feems they underftood to be totally engaged at a great diftance on the Kriftna, in the lofing wars with Hyder Ally. It was likewife reported, and feems to have been credited, that the Bombay army would be joined on the borders by 20,000 horfe, under Ragonaut's partizans. Thus the expedition to Poonah was rather confidered as a fort of holiday adventure, than a matter of difficulty and danger.

Though expedition feems to conftitute the foul of fuch an enterprize, the movements of the Bombay army were unaccountably flow. In a few days after the army paffed over to the continent, Captain Stuart was detached with [B] 2 a felect

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