History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.116.4

v2.c41.116.4

He was informed on the same day that the Nawāb would shortly come to Calcutta and then it would be possible to state what decision had been arrived at regarding the payment of the *chauth*.⁴ On the 18th August the Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī informed the governor that Raghunāth Pandit had come to demand *chauth* and was journeying to Calcutta with him. He was informed on the 22nd that the Maratha business would be settled after his arrival in Calcutta.⁵ On the 24th of September Rājā Jānujī Bhonsle wrote to the Governor praising the valour and honesty of the English and stating that Mīr Qāsim 'Alī wrote to him several times requesting assistance and sent a person of distinction to him with promises of money but that he could not enter into any alliance with such a perfidious person. Raghunāth Pandit had been sent to the Governor and the Rājā hoped that all balance due on account of *chauth* would now be paid up. Two letters received from the Marathas in Orissa disclose the fact that Chimnāji Sāhu was still the *ṣūbahdār* of the province of Orissa and Bhavānī Pandit was the *dīwān* of Katak. In a letter received on the 5th October Bhavānī Pandit says that Rājā Jānuji has written to him stating that negotiations regarding *chauth* do not come to any conclusion and therefore he has received orders to march to Bengal, settle matters with the advice of the Governor and the Nawāb and drive out the enemy (the Emperor Shāh 'Alam and his *wazīr* Shuja'-ud-daulah).