History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.161

Language: English

v2.c41.161.1

A reply sent to Jānujī informed him that at a conference held at Murshidabad every point was thoroughly discussed before the Nawāb Saif-ud-daulah and Muḥammad Riza Khān. "With regard to the money affair, tell the Rājā to let his heart rest perfectly at ease, and to consider the English Sirdars as security for the due payment of the stipulated sums."¹ A reminder was received from Rājā Jānujī on the 24th of August, 1767.² The perfidy of Englishmen in India in the 18th century is now well-known. Lulled into security by the repeated promises of the Englishmen Jānujī waited for eight years and when, exasperated beyond all limits of endurance, he and Raghunāth Rāo Dāda Ṣāḥib wrote strongly to the English East India Company, a letter was sent to Udepurī Gosāin in such a tone of injured innocence as proved the writer to be a master of the gentle art of statecraft.³ Udepurī replied protesting his own innocence. Interesting bits of information come out of this letter. Udepurī Gosāin was not permitted to return to Nagpur to bring the negotiations to a close. The Governor of the English East India Company and their tool, the Nawāb Nāzim Saif-ud-daulah, did not ratify the treaty which Jānujī fondly hoped he had entered into with them, and finally the poor man prayed to be supplied with copies of letters from Raghunāth Rāo Dāda Ṣāḥib and Rājā Jānujī Bhonsle. Another strong letter was addressed to this ambassador asking him to supply information, which did not lie in his power.

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The English offered the Maratha envoy and his chief, friendship, harmony and "concord from his inmost soul" but no money, not a single rupee of the crores which had accumulated.¹ A letter from Udepurī Gosāin informed the Governor that affairs will not be settled till he went to Nagpur.² On the 13th of December, 1767, Udepurī Gosāin and Mīr Zain-ul-'Abidīn Khān were directed to come to Calcutta immediately. Another long letter was received from Rājā Jānujī on the 16th of the same month. In this it is stated that Jānujī sent replies to Nawāb Nāẓim Saif-ud-daulah and Muḥammad Riza Khān.³ Śivarām Bhaṭṭa was still in rebellion and thought that a breach of peace between the English and the Marathas would be to his own benefit. Two more letters were received on the same day addressed to the Governor and a third to Muḥammad Riza Khān. The last letter contains the information that the proposal for the cession of Orissa was made through the Nawāb and his Naib and it was proposed to pay 13 lakhs of rupees annually. The cession of Orissa was practically agreed upon and Udepurī was recommended for the Ṣubahdārī of Orissa. Zain-ul-'Abidīn is accused of perfidy. Jānujī stated that the cession of Orissa was never made a condition precedent to the payment of 12 lakhs of rupees.

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A payment of a larger sum of money immediately in full settlement of the amount due as chauth might have brought Orissa immediately to the English, but as Jānujī definitely states, the English procrastinated and the negotiations fell through.⁴ Similar letters were written by Divākar Pandit to Muhammad Riza Khān and Rāja Jānuji to Nawāb Nāzim Saif-ud-daulah. Finally, Udepuri Gosāin wrote once more to be permitted to go to Nagpur to conclude the negotiations. Muhammad Riza Khān sent for Mīr Zain-ul-'Abidīn Khān and asked him to explain his conduct but the latter protested his innocence and finally stated that the solution of all puzzles depended upon Udepuri Gosāin.¹ On the 24th of December, 1767, letters were written to Bhavānī Pandit and Dāmodar Bhañja informing them that Mr. Portsmouth had been appointed to survey the English districts contiguous to the sea-shore and requesting them to give him all possible assistance. The letter to Dāmodar Bhañja proves that the latter had been recognised as Rāja of Mayurbhañja in 1767 and Dāsarathi Bhañja was no more.² The war of Nārāyan Deo, Rāja of Parlakimedi, continued. English gasids to Madras were harrassed and Muhammad Riza Khān was directed to apprehend the Rāja's brother.⁴ Even on the 19th February the proposed treaty was not completed and a letter written to Jānuji informed him that he would learn the condition of the English from the letters of Nawāb Saif-ud-daulah and Muhammed Riza Khān.

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Another letter to Rāja Jānuji Bhonsle contains an expectation of order for the evacuation of Orissa.⁴ On the 20th of the same month a letter was received from Rāja Nārāyan Deo of Parlakimedi, stating that he had never interrupted the gasids of the English Company. He states that though he received *sanads* from Qāsim 'Alī Khān he prized the friendship of the English more than any body else.¹ Sambhājī Gaṇesh, the new *Ṣūbahdār* of Orissa, wrote a long letter received on the 10th of April 1768, stating that a body of 50,000 horse would be placed at the disposal of the British and that Mr. Alleyn had imparted all necessary information to him. Sambhājī writes that all particulars will be imparted to Udepurī Gosāin when he comes to Katak.² Sambhājī sent a reminder, which was received on the 29th April of the same year, in which it was stated that the letter received on the 1st of the same month was written on his arrival in Katak. This Sambhājī relieved Bhavānī Paṇḍit and ruled Orissa till 1771.³ On the 3rd May, the Rājā of Sambalpur complained against Sambhājī Gaṇesh, stating that a certain agent (*wakīl*) had been prevented from coming and the new Maratha governor was creating great disturbance, Sambhājī himself sent another reminder which was received in Calcutta on the 4th of May.⁴