A History of the Mahrattas v2.c37.9

v2.c37.9

On the side of Bengal a detachment of two thousand Sepoys was in readiness to follow General Goddard’s route, but, on hearing that the war was inevitable and might have broken out before they could have reached their destination, their march to Surat was countermanded. Mr. Hastings, desirous it would seem of embracing any proposal for effecting a diversion, and perhaps of giving the country a rallying point of insurrection against the Mahrattas, entered into an alliance with their turbulent tributary, the Rana of Gohud.