A History of the Mahrattas v2.c37.95

v2.c37.95

The movement towards the Ghauts, from which Goddard calculated advantageous political results, had completely failed, and the Bombay Government, in the prospect of keeping Guzerat and the Concan, did not regret that an end was put to the negotiation; even Mr. Hastings, in that view, considered the rejection of his proposals as a circumstance by no means unfortunate. The opinion of the Bombay Government, in regard to a system of defence and sending back the Madras troops to the assistance of their own Presidency, was now adopted by Goddard; but as the season for taking forts was nearly at an end, he proposed raising a work and establishing a strong garrison at the Bhore Ghaut, of which Mr. Hornby disapproved and judiciously observed that a large garrison left at the Bhore Ghaut, a pass which experience had shown they could at any time carry with ease, would be but a waste of money and of men. The capture, as Mr. Hornby observed, of Rajmachee, a fort a little to the north of the Bhore Ghaut, which might have been easily reduced, would, with a very small garrison, have served both to form a depôt and to distress the enemy.