A History of the Mahrattas v1.c27.46

v1.c27.46

His friend Ramchundur warned him on his death-bed of the opposition and jealousy he might expect from Gopika Bye Rastia, the Peishwa’s wife, as soon as her children became of an age fit to be entrusted with public affairs. To prevent these, Sewdasheo Chimnajee was the first to propose that the Peishwa’s eldest son, Wiswas Rao, should be early employed, and he honourably endeavoured to instil into all the sons of his cousin the necessity of great acquirements for enabling them to fill the high stations to which they were born, and always recommended that they should be engaged in business and in war as early as possible. The affection which Ballajee Rao had always shown towards his cousin Sewdasheo Rao received a severe shock by his intended desertion when he went to Kolapoor; and notwithstanding the conduct of Sewdasheo Rao, both towards her sons and in the administration, the seeds of hatred, perceived by Ramchundur in the mind of Gopika Bye, grew up the more rank, when the actions of the minister were such as defied detraction and ought to have silenced her jealous fears. The activity and diligence of Sewdasheo Rao were a reproach to the less energetic disposition of the Peishwa; but independent of jealousy, where confidence has once been shaken, abundant materials for discord continually arise between a prince and his minister, without the influence of a woman’s wiles to blow it into flame.