A History of the Mahrattas v2.c35.19

v2.c35.19

Colonel Upton’s correspondence bears ample testimony of sincerity and moderation; but he was ill-qualified to conduct a negotiation with Mahratta Bramins. The ministers greatly extolled the just and honourable motives which ‘had determined the great Governor of Calcutta to order peace to be concluded.’ But when Colonel Upton proposed retaining Salsette, &c., the cession of Bassein, and the revenues of Baroach, they affected to consider such an application as perfectly unauthorized, and pertinently asked the envoy, ‘how the Bengal Government, who had so justly condemned the war, could yet be so ready to avail themselves of its advantages.’ The only reply to this was that Salsette had been taken possession of as a precautionary measure, long deemed necessary to the safety of Bombay and the prosperity of its commerce; but the ministers persisted in their language, and expressed a wish ‘that they had not, on a supposed confidence of the power of the Governor of Calcutta over the people of Bombay, suspended hostilities, and thereby, at an enormous expense, maintained a vast army inactive, with which they should otherwise long since have settled the business.’ They demanded the immediate surrender of the delinquent Rugoba, and the entire restoration of the territory occupied by the Bombay Government since the commencement of the war, on which they would, as a favour to the Governor-General, agree to pay twelve lacks of rupees, in order to reimburse the East India Company for the expenses incurred by the Bombay Government. They seconded their arguments with threats, and mistook the mild remonstrances of the envoy for timidity. Colonel Upton, conceiving the negotiation at an end, expressed this opinion to the Governor-General and Council in a letter, dated 7th February, when they immediately determined to support the cause of Rugoba with the utmost vigour. They prepared troops for embarkation, ordered a large supply of treasure to be transmitted to Bombay, and directed troops to be sent from Madras. They wrote letters to Rugoba, to Nizam Ally, and Hyder; and endeavoured in the same manner to induce Moodajee Bhonslay, Mahadajee Sindia, and Tookajee Holkar to embrace their cause, or at all events to engage their neutrality.