A History of the Mahrattas v1.c17.202

v1.c17.202

Sumbhajee’s character has been sufficiently depicted and scarcely requires a summary. He inherited some military virtue and was far from deficient in ordinary ability; but dissipation, vice, rashness, and cruelty, completely obscured his few good qualities, and a longer life would in all probability have greatly increased the catalogue of his crimes. But the Mahratta people, though for the last three years much estranged from him, heard of the murder of the son of Sivajee with indignation, and this cruel execution, meant to strike the leaders with terror, aroused their vengeance without alarming their fears.