A History of the Mahrattas v1.c20.16

v1.c20.16

In the meantime, several important changes had also taken place at the Mahratta court, chiefly owing to the death of three of the principal ministers—Pureshram Trimbuck, Ballajee Wishwanath and Khundee Rao Dhabaray. Sreeput Rao, second son of the Pritee Needhee, had succeeded his father Pureshram Trimbuck previously to the return of Ballajee Wishwanath from Delhi. The Peishwa's health had suffered considerably from the fatigue of the journey and the labour he had bestowed on different arrangements after his return: he therefore obtained permission from the Raja to retire for a short time to Sassoor, where his family resided, but his constitution being completely exhausted, he only survived a few days.¹ He left two sons, Bajee Rao and Chimnajee, and two daughters, Bhew Bye, married to Abbajee Naik, the brother of Bappoojee Naik, a rich banker of Baramuttee; and Annoo Bye, the wife of Narrain Rao Ghorepuray of Eettul Kurinjee,² connections which have reference to future circumstances. Ballajee's eldest son, Bajee Rao, was not formally invested with the dignity of Peishwa for nearly seven months after his father's death; the reason for this delay is no where explained, but it may be attributed to the absence of the principal officers; or Bajee Rao may have joined the army, which did not return beyond the Godavery for some time after the battle of Balapoor.