Poona ministry, and have taken forcible possession of the Péshwah's districts in Guzerat; but he could adopt no decisive measure without the permission of the governor-general. Mr. Hastings new treaty. Mr. Hastings also rejected the convention of Wurgaom; and, on April 15, instructed Colonel, now General, Goddard, to negotiate a new treaty with the Mahrattas, on the basis proposes a of that of Poorundhur, with a proviso against the admission of the French; and if this failed, Mr. Hornby's plan in regard to Guzerat might be followed. Nana Furnawees dallied with the new proposals; and it was not till October, when reports of a coalition between the Nizam, Hyder Ally, and the Mahrattas began to arise, that, being pressed for a reply, he declared Nana that the surrender of Rughoba, who had escaped from Furnawees' Sindia, and again thrown himself on British protection, and of Salsette-were the only terms on which any new negotiation could be based or admitted. These were necessarily inadmissible; and the Council and General Goddard prepared for war. On proposing their plan to Futteh Singh Gáikwar, they found him indisposed to commit himself with the Mahratta ministry, and General Goddard proceeded to occupy districts in proposal. The taken. the Péshwah's districts in Guzerat. These were over- Guzerat come without material resistance, and on February 15, 1780, Ahmedabad, the capital of the province, was captured. taken by assault. Ahmedabad and Holkar. Mahadajee Sindia and Holkar now advanced with about 20,000 horse. They crossed the Nerbudda on February 29, Proceedings and avoided the English, with whom Sindia always of Sindia professed great friendship; and he now released Mr. Farmer and Lieutenant Stewart, who had remained with him as hostages of the Wurgaom convention, and whom he had most hospitably entertained. General Goddard was not, however, to be deceived by indefinite negotiations which would have sacrificed the fair season, and pressed for Sindia's decision; but finding his terms inadmissible, they were rejected, and the campaign continued. On April 2, General Goddard attacked the Mahratta camp, and again on the 14th; but beyond forcing the leaders to take up new positions, no other advantage was gained. On May 8, Colonel Hartley was detached into the Koncan, where the Mahratta forces had been very active, with good effect; but Goddard General Goddard was unable to leave Guzerat in the advises a presence of the Mahratta cavalry, which evaded all his the north." attempts to bring them to a decisive action, and he advised the governor-general to make a diversion in Bundelkhund and Malwah, in order to draw off Sindia, or Holkar, or both from Guzerat. diversion in His suggestion was at once adopted by Mr. Hastings, and a force, which consisted of drafts of men from Goddard's army, was employed for the purpose under Captain Popham. The whole force consisted of 2,400 men, with a small detachment of European artillery. Popham crossed the Jumna in February 1780, defeated a Mahratta force which was levying contributions, and took the fort of Lahar by storm. He then effected, on August 4, with admirable intelligence and great valour, the capture of the celebrated fortress of Gwalior, always heretofore deemed impregnable, which closed his operations for the season. His diversion had proved most effective, and was gallantly and judiciously conducted from first to last. The Bombay forces resumed the campaign after the close of the monsoon of 1780, and their first operation was the siege of Bassein, which, fortified by the Portuguese, was unusually strong; but it surrendered on December 11, on which day also, Colonel Hartley, who had been covering ard captured. the siege operations, and engaged in almost incessant fighting for six weeks, defeated a spirited attack made on him by Ramchunder Gunnésh, at the head of a division of the Mahratta army, of 20,000 men, and who was killed in the action. The whole British army now united. The Bengal Government had written to Bombay that they intended to make peace with the Péshwah; but until a truce was demanded by the Mahratta ministry, the war was to be carried on with vigour. A peace with the Mahrattas was the more desirable, as war had broken out between Hyder Ally and the Presidency of Madras, and Nizam Ally's reputed league with him and the Mahrattas was now considered more probable than before. General Goddard, as the Mahratta troops had retreated from the Koncan, now prepared to advance on Poona; and the Bhore Ghaut was carried on February 8, 1781. But Nana Furnawees dispatched a force of 12,000 men, under Puréshrám Bhow Putwurdhun, by another pass, to act upon General Goddard's rear, and intercept convoys from Bombay; and on March 15, a sharp affair occurred between him and Captain Mackay with two battalions of Sepoys, in which the Bhow was fairly beaten off with heavy loss. But there seemed no prospect of a successful advance above the Ghauts, so long as the Mahratta army occupied positions on the flank and rear. Nana Furnawees was by no means alarmed. He had every confidence in Puréshrám Positions and Bhow, who occupied the road to Panwell and had been the Mahratta largely reinforced, till his army amounted to 15,000 forces. horse. In addition to this force, Holkar was at the foot of the Kussoor pass with 15,000 horse, while above the Jumbers of Mr. Hastings dispatches a force for the purpose. Captain Popham's proceedings. Gwalior surprised and taken. Bassein besieged, Goddard advances towards Poona Ghauts, in Goddard's immediate front, Hurry Punt was posted with 25,000 horse, 4,000 infantry, and some artillery. The Mahrattas had, in fact, put forth their utmost power to destroy Goddard's troops, if possible; and their whole army was over 60,000 strong. retreat. On April 15, a convoy under Colonel Browne, which had fought its way from Panwell with great bravery and credit, reached Goddard's camp, and he prepared to retreat. During General his march to Panwell he was pertinaciously attacked Goddard's by the several Mahratta corps in succession; but he finally reached his destination on April 23, with a loss of 466 in killed and wounded, with some baggage and stores, which it was impossible to save. Considering the rugged nature of the country and the roads, and the immense superiority of the Mahratta forces, the retreat had been conducted with masterly skill; but the Mahrattas, nevertheless, claimed it as a victory. The season was now too far advanced for further operations, and the English troops were cantoned near Kullian. diversion. Sindia defeated by Colonel Bhoslay. Mr. Hastings' diversion against the Mahrattas in Malwah and Bundelkhund had produced the desired effect, for Sindia success of had been obliged to leave the Deccan, and proceed to rings the defence of his territories. He met Colonel Carnac on March 7, 1780, who retreated carefully for some days, and, on the 24th, attacked his camp at night, and Carnac. routed his force. On April 4, Colonel Carnac was joined by Colonel Muir; but Sindia eluded further collision, and it was impossible to bring him to action. About this period considerable anxiety prevailed as to the part Moodajee Bhóslay of Neutrality Berar would take in the existing contest. Mr. Hastings of Moodajee had hoped to secure his active co-operation against Hyder Ally, the Nizam, or the Poona ministry; but he did not commit himself to an open rupture with any, and his neutrality, when, with a force of 30,000 horse at his disposal, he might have attacked and overrun Bengal, was purchased by Mr. Hastings for thirteen lacs of rupees. Peace with the Mahrattas was, however, Mr. Hastings' grand object, provided it could be obtained without any material sacrifice; and, on October 13, 1781, Sindia, Sindia's who was unable to prosecute the war against Colonel overtures Carnac, had made the first advance to it, by a treaty with Colonel Muir; by which, on engaging to remain neutral, and to further a general arrangement, his districts near the Jumna were restored to him. Moodajee also had offered his mediation : and on September 11, 1781, the Council of Madras wrote to the Péshwah their desire for a general accommodation. Mr. Anderson, who had previously distinguished himself in the negotiations with for peace. Moodajee Bhóslay, was now dispatched by Mr. Hastings to Sindia's camp. His neutral position enabled Sindia, under the authority of the Poona ministry, to act as plenipotentiary on the part of the Mahratta nation; and a treaty was finally concluded with him at Salbye, on May 17, 1782. It consisted of seventeen articles. All conquests made since the treaty of Poorundhur were to be restored; the Gáikwar's territories were to remain inviolate, and Rughnonath Rao was to be allowed 25,000 rupees a month, and permitted to reside where he wished; Hyder Ally should be obliged to surrender his conquests from the English and the Nawáb of Arcot; and, in consideration of Sindia's hospitality to the English hostages, and his humane behaviour at Wurgaom, the district of Baróch was bestowed upon him. This treaty was ratified by the governor-general; and afterwards, but not before he had heard of Hyder's death, by Nana Furnawees. The Mahrattas had gained the rejection of Rughoba as regent, and recovered Bassein and the districts in Guzerat: on the other hand, the English retained Salsette, and had secured the independence of the Gáikwar's state; and, with comparatively slender means and resources, had maintained the war with credit, against the whole power of the Mahratta nation, for a period of nearly seven years. Treaty of CHAPTER XXIII. OF EVENTS AT MADRAS, AND THE SECOND MYSORE WAR, Ir will be remembered that in the treaty with Hyder Ally, exe cuted at Madras, detailed in Chap. XV. of this Book, a clause of offensive and defensive alliance had been introduced by him; and that, in his subsequent struggle with the Mahrattas, the Council of Madras, from whom he had almost implored aid, had evaded compliance with it. They would probably have assisted him, for the dread of the Mahrattas in Madras was very great, and Hyder was a powerful barrier between Mahratta encroachment and the Carnatic; but they had found it impossible to do so in the face of Sir John Lindsay's coalition with the Nawáb, and their endeavours in favour of a Mahratta alliance against Hyder Khan. Sir John was removed. His successor, Sir Robert Harland, proved even more intractable; and by the end of 1772, Hyder, reduced to extremity, was obliged to satisfy the Mahrattas by large sacrifices. Excited by the comparatively helpless position of Hyder Ally, requires the attacked and the Nawab of the Carnatic, in 1773, called upon the Council of Madras to assist him against the Rajah of Tanjore, who The Nawab of had been already attacked, in 1771, by the combined the Carnatic forces of the English and the Nawáb, and forced to pay coercion of a sum of fifty lacs of rupees. He was now accused of Tanjore. intriguing with Hyder and the Mahrattas, which the Council affected to believe; or in any case, as he might join the French or some native power, he were better disposed of.' Tanjore Tanjore was therefore attacked and captured in August captured, and 1773, and the rajah, who was taken prisoner, was made the territory over to the Nawab, who annexed Tanjore to his own dominions. This disgraceful proceeding did not escape ing is denotice in England. In April 1775, the directors de- England. clared the act to have been violent and unjust; and American they removed the president, Mr. Wynch, from office, and appointed Lord, formerly Mr., Pigott, in his room, who, in April 1776, proceeded to Tanjore and restored his The rajah is dominions to the rajah, fixing his annual tribute at restored. fourteen lacs of rupees. The proceed nounced in War. Mr. Paul proceedings. Violent pro This restoration brought about the strange episode of Mr. Paul Benfield's transactions with the Nawáb: and though only a junior civilian, he claimed about Benfeld's 240,000l., for instalments of which he asserted he had received assignments on the revenue of Tanjore. There was little doubt that members of the Council were personally interested in the claims, and, therefore, in the support of Mr. Benfield; and on Lord Pigott's opposition to him, the proceedings in Council grew very violent, and culminated in the arrest ceedings in of the governor, and his confinement for eight months. Mr. Hastings had approved the conduct of the majority in Council; but, on its proceedings becoming known in Disapproved England, the directors reversed them, and directed in England. Lord Pigott, with the majority who had acted against him, to return to England. Mr. Rumbold was appointed governor of Madras, and Sir Hector Munro to be commander-in-chief; but before he could embark for England, Lord Pigott had died at Madras. Council. French and In the year 1778, war was renewed between England and France; and the Carnatic became again the scene of war between active operations. Sir Hector Munro laid siege to English. Pondicherry, and an attempt to relieve it was made by a French fleet; but this was defeated by Sir Edward taken. Vernon, and the place surrendered in October, when the The fortificagarrison was allowed to march out with the honours of tions war. The fortifications, which had been renewed, were Pondicherry destroyed. K K |