A History of the Mahrattas v1.c21.1

v1.c21.1

A.D. 1727.—The declining empire of the Moghuls having been thrown into a state of great anarchy by Nizam Ool Moolk and his countrymen, the Tooranee Moghuls, the Nizam, relieved from immediate apprehensions from Mohummud Shah, became alarmed at the spreading power of the Mahrattas, and beheld, in their systematic and persevering encroachments on the divided revenue of the Deccan and Carnatic, the extinction of his own resources as well as those of the empire. To avert these evils, by endeavouring to consolidate his own power, and to create divisions among the Mahrattas, the measures which he adopted seem to have been planned with considerable skill; but in forming designs founded on the character of the people, he overlooked the abilities of his opponent, nor contemplated that he should, in pursuit of his own schemes, only strengthen the power of the Peishwa.