A History of the Mahrattas v2.c34.8

v2.c34.8

It so happened that the treaty was signed at Surat by Rugoba on the 6th March, the day before this dissent was made, but the President and the other members at once decided that it was more advisable to proceed; in short, that inaction would be tantamount to desertion of the cause, and equally impolitic and spiritless. Governor Hornby seems to have had an idea that his fifteen hundred men might overcome the whole Mahratta army; nor is the confidence and inexperience of Colonel Keating less apparent, for on meeting the forlorn Rugoba at Surat, he congratulates the Bombay Government on their good fortune at finding the ex-Peishwa so entirely dependent on them for his future success. The British detachment, accompanied by Rugoba, proceeded to Cambay, where they landed on the 17th (17th.) March; Colonel Keating, however, before he quitted Surat, probably in order to show his new ally his alacrity, for it could be attended with no other advantage, commenced the war by attacking a party of horse belonging to the ministerial army, which appeared in the neighbourhood. The Mahrattas withdrew and awaited his embarkation, when they took ample revenge by plundering all within their reach who acknowledged the English authority.