A History of the Mahrattas v2.c32.144

v2.c32.144

(April.)—The greatest consternation prevailed in Poona, and according to the invariable practice of the inhabitants on such occasions, dreading alike their friends and foes, all began to pack up their property and fly to forts or retired villages, where they esteemed themselves secure. Troops flocked to Rugoba’s standard and he advanced for a few days towards the capital; but having no funds to support his army, which soon amounted to thirty or forty thousand men, becoming suspicious of their fidelity, and indulging hopes of more effectual support from Sindia, Holkar, or eventually the English, with all of whom he was negotiating, he suddenly shaped his course towards Burhanpoor. This resolution he adopted at a time when the ministers, jealous of each other, dreading the resentment of Rugoba, and doubting the intentions of Sabajee Bhonslay as well as of the Nizam, were on the point of releasing the Raja of Satara, as a measure calculated to have ensured them the aid of many of the Mahratta soldiery, who were discontented or neutral. But the retreat of Rugoba at once turned the scale of opinion in their favour, and the design was abandoned. He was followed by the combined armies of Hurry Punt Phurkay, the Nizam, and Sabajee Bhonslay, which together amounted to fifty thousand men; but the pursuit was purposely retarded by Nizam Ally in order to obtain possession of some territory, promised by the ministers for his treachery to Rugoba; and thus the fugitive Peishwa had leisure to levy contributions from the country as he went along. The crisis, however, was passed, he had lost an opportunity of retrieving his affairs, and the birth of Mahdoo Rao Narrain, on the 18th April, gave a finishing blow to his ever being recognized as Peishwa. Notwithstanding the suspicions created by the scheme which was adopted for eventually imposing upon the country, there is very little doubt but that the child was the son of the murdered Narrain Rao.