A History of the Mahrattas v2.c37.33

v2.c37.33

The Bombay Government expressed some impatience at General Goddard’s allowing himself to be thus amused, as they imagined that his army might have been better employed in reducing the fort of Bassein, which they considered of value as a permanent acquisition ¹; but General Goddard was constrained to this mode of operations; the time would not have admitted of his forming a regular siege, and to quit Guzerat at that period was to leave their ally Futih Sing at the mercy of the enemy. It was evident that Sindia wished to draw him into a long pursuit; and although no decisive advantage was gained, the mere circumstance of forcing Sindia and Holkar to decline a battle and retire before his army, was of importance in the neighbourhood of the new acquisitions. At the request of the Presidency, however, Lieutenant-Colonel Hartley was ordered down to Bombay, and (May 8.) quitted the army near Baroda on 8th May. The presence of this reinforcement in the Concan was very necessary.