A History of the Mahrattas v2.c38.18.3

v2.c38.18.3

and Nana Furnuwees, in prosecution of his own views on Salsette, which he hoped the British Government might be induced to cede, in order to propitiate his favour, gave out that the Peishwa had engaged in a new treaty with Hyder, to which the French were parties. But the death of Hyder, which happened on the 7th of December, 1782, had a speedy effect in deciding the measures of the Mahratta minister, and the ratification of the treaty of Salbye was the immediate result. As already noticed, the treaty was ratified by the Peishwa on the 20th December, 1782, formally (1783.) exchanged on the 24th February, 1783, and the term for restoring the districts on the Bombay side limited to the 24th April. Before that date an outrage was committed, which, had it happened at a time when peace was less essential to the British Government, might have occasioned a renewal of the war. The Ranger, a small ship of the Bombay Marine, on her voyage from Bombay to Calicut with several military officers of distinction as passengers on board, was unexpectedly attacked by the fleet of Anund Rao Dhoolup, the Peishwa’s (Apr. 8.) admiral, consisting of two ships, one ketch, and eight gallivats; and after a very gallant defence, in which most of the crew and passengers were killed or wounded, she was at last overpowered and carried as a prize into Viziadroog.