History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.203

v2.c41.203

The original letter from the Rājā was sent to the Governor by Muḥammed Riza Khān for orders. In this Jay Nārāyaṇ writes that his father died two months ago. “His county has been plundered by the Marhattas. Sambhājī Gaṇeś, who is staying at Jajpur, has rebelled against Rājā Jānujī³ Consequently the Raja’s people have come from the Deccan to summon him (to Nagpur). The whole country from Balasore to Cuttack is undefended, and Sambhājī has designs to loot it. Should a letter of encouragement be sent to the writer, he will stay in his country with a satisfied heart. Sends to Murshidabad his brother, who will relate all particulars to the Khān.”¹ On the 2nd September, 1769, Sambhājī Gaṇesh wrote a letter received by the Governor on the 2nd September in which he states that Mr. Alleyn is equal to the business of the English factory and that the zamindars of Qila’ Marichpur have been ordered to restore the cargo of the stranded sloop to Mr. Alleyn.² Another letter was received from the same person on the 5th October stating that there was no further necessity of appointing a resident at Katak as Udepurī Gosāin was sufficient on the side of the Marathas and Mr. Alleyn on the side of the English.³ On the 25th October a letter was received from Rāmchandra Gaṇesh that he had arrived at Cutchwarah on this side of the Nurbada with a commission from the Peshwa Mādhav Rāo I to regulate the affairs of the empire, and inviting the governor to unite with him for the attainment of this important end.⁴ This Rāmchandra Gaṇesh Kāṇade was a Konkanasth brahman of the Śāṇḍilya *gotra* who rose in the reign of Shāhu I