A History of the Mahrattas v2.c38.23

v2.c38.23

² Mahratta MSS., and letters. I am not certain if it be twenty lacks of rupees, or pagodas, that are mentioned in an original Mahratta letter from Sindia's camp, which is my principal authority for this fact. ['Hastings has been criticized,' writes Dr. V. A. Smith, 'for his indifference to the aggrandizement of Sindia, but the fact was that he could not afford to quarrel with the Marāthā chief.' On the other hand Māhādajī Sindia was convinced by the military ability of the English during the operations of 1780 and 1781 that it was safer to be their ally than their enemy. (O.H.I., pp. 535–6.)]