A History of the Mahrattas v1.c14.22

v1.c14.22

A.D. 1669.—The years 1668 and 1669 were those of greatest leisure in Sivajee's life. Some of his contemporaries, speculating on future events, supposed, from his apparent inactivity, that he would sink into insignificance¹; but he employed this interval in revising and completing the internal arrangements of his government; with which, and his various institutions, we shall now endeavour to make the reader acquainted. They will be found well worthy of attention, not only in themselves, but as a key to elucidate the forms of government afterwards adopted by every Mahratta state. Sivajee's regulations were gradually formed and enlarged, but, after a certain period, underwent no change by the extension of his territory, until he assumed the ensigns of royalty. Even then, the alterations directed were rather in matters of form than innovations on established rules. The plans of Mahratta encroachment, which were afterwards pursued so successfully by his nation, may be traced from a very early period; and nothing is more remarkable, in regard to Sivajee, than the foresight with which some of his schemes were laid, and the fitness of his arrangements for the genius of his countrymen.