A History of the Mahrattas v2.c36.8

v2.c36.8

² Mr. William Gamul Farmer, of the Bombay Civil Service, happened to be at Poona for the benefit of his health, and took that opportunity of ascertaining the views of the French, which he communicated to the Governor, probably for his private information, but as it contained useful intelligence, it was put upon record; the letter was dated Poona, 11th November, 1777. ‘This St. Lubin is a most perfect adventurer, and I believe has cheated even the ministry of France in this business. He introduced himself to the confidence of Monsieur de Sartine, as to Indian matters, by a memorial he presented relative to this country, which Monsieur de Corcelle assures me he has frequently seen. In this memorial he has not forgot himself. He has made himself the generalissimo at one time of Hyder’s army, the very man who framed the treaty between him and the Mahrattas, for which he the next day received two lacks of rupees: but what chiefly introduced him to this business was his particular intimacy with the Raja of the Mahrattas. He was the constant companion of his children, used to learn them to ride, in short he had not in the world a better friend than the Raja. There certainly could not be so fit a man in France to send out to sound the ground here to form an alliance with the Mahratta state, if circumstances should prove favourable. You may perfectly judge from this of what the character is capable in the way of representation.