History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.287.2

v2.c41.287.2

Another letter was received on the same date from Mahārāja Sābājī Bhonsle which is complimentary in character and in which there is no demand for *chauth*, though there is a reference to its non-payment.⁴ A letter received from Beṇirām Pandit on the 17th December, 1774, informed Mr. Hastings of his interview with the Wazir Shuja'-ud-daulah at Fyzabad and referred him to a letter from Mr. Motte for further particulars. The affair of Mr. Rogers now becomes important. On the 17th, three letters were written to Krishna Chandra Sandi, Rājā of Kujang, Gopināth Dev, Rājā of Karara and Kaldip (Kokilo Dip) but really Al or Aul, and Mādhavji Hari informing them of the dispatch of one Gobardhan Bhattāchārji to enquire into the case. A separate letter was written to Rājā Gopināth Dev asking him to release the crew of two ships wrecked near his coast.¹ The proposal for taking the ashes of the late Rājā Jānoji Bhonsle was received in a letter received from Beniram Pandit on the 21st January, 1775. Benirām requests Mr. Hastings to obtain a passport from the Wazir Shuja'-ud-daulah so that the ashes may be consigned to the Ganges. He says that he met the Wazir at Lucknow and Mr. Middleton. He also states that he will start for Nagpur in four or five days. In the meanwhile, Gobardhan Bhattāchārji reached Rājā Gopināth Dev who denied all knowledge of Mr. Rogers and the crew of the two lost ships.