A History of the Mahrattas v2.c38.25

Language: English

v2.c38.25.1

The war, however, was not at an end with the successor of Hyder Ally. Tippoo, although to the Mahrattas he professed his acquiescence in the terms of the treaty of Salbye, continued hostilities against the English.² Mahadajee Sindia called upon him to desist, threatening him, in case of refusal, with an immediate attack from the united armies of the English and the Mahrattas. Tippoo, however, persisted; and in consequence, Sindia on the 28th October concluded a new treaty with the English, for the purpose of enforcing compliance. It was as much the wish of Nana Furnuwees as of Sindia to oblige Tippoo to conform to the terms of the treaty of Salbye, in order that he might appear to the other powers of India a Mahratta dependent as well as a tributary; but Nana’s jealousy of Sindia’s assumption of authority and his own projected alliance with Nizam Ally impeded the scheme of this league, in which Sindia and the English would have borne parts so prominent. In the meantime, a separate treaty was concluded by Tippoo and the English Presidency at Fort St. George. Mr. Hastings had authorized the Madras Government to negotiate a treaty, of which that of Salbye was to be the basis. But instead of following their instructions, from an over anxiety to terminate the troubles and distresses in which they found themselves involved, they were led into a train of most injudicious proceedings;

v2.c38.25.2

in the course of which they were systematically insulted by Tippoo, their representatives treated with indignity, the British nation held up as supplicants for peace, and finally, on the 11th March, the treaty of Mangalore was signed, in which even allusion to the treaty of Salbye was omitted; a circumstance than which nothing could have been more gratifying to Tippoo or more offensive to the Mahrattas.¹ The strongest disapprobation of this omission, and of many other points of that humiliating pacification, was expressed by the Governor-General, and he was only prevented from disavowing and annulling it by the confusion which must have resulted to the Company's affairs, in consequence of the fulfilment of a part of the terms, before it could have been possible to obtain their ratification. The Poona government affected to disbelieve that any treaty could be settled without their concurrence, and declared that such an agreement would be a violation of the treaty of Salbye. But Mr. Hastings had previously apprised Mahadajee Sindia, through Mr. Anderson, of the instructions sent to the Madras Government, and he now explained the departure from his orders of which that Government had been guilty, stating likewise some part of the motives which had operated to induce him to ratify their proceedings;

v2.c38.25.3

in consequence of which, as the leading parties in the Mahratta state were anxious to prosecute their respective views, there was little difficulty in reconciling them to a measure which had become irrevocable.¹ The first proceeding of Nana Furnuwees, in his designs on Tippoo, was a formal demand on that prince for arrears of tribute; Tippoo admitted the justice of the demand, but offered various excuses for not immediately complying with it. At the same time that the demand was made on Tippoo, a like formal application was preferred to Nizam Ally for the outstanding Mahratta claims to Chouth and Surdeshmookhee within his territory. But a secret understanding existed between the courts of Poona and Hyderabad. They were on the best terms, insomuch that a short time previous to making this demand Nana Furnuwees had assisted the latter state to suppress a formidable rebellion which was headed by Ihtisham Jung, the Jagheerdar of Neermul. Nizam Ally, in reply to the application, proposed, as had been secretly agreed in order to cover their designs on Tippoo, to hold a conference with the Poona minister on the frontier. Accordingly each of the parties, attended by a large army,² set out from their capitals, and in the month of June had a meeting at Eedgeer near the junction of the Beema and Kistna.

v2.c38.25.4

Many points of importance regarding their mutual claims were discussed, some of which had existed for a long period, but it was agreed that such of the Mahratta *thannas* as had been displaced by Nizam Ally since 1774, should be re-established in the Moghul territory; and that the claims for Chouth and Surdeshmookhee of the two past seasons should be put into an immediate train of payment, adopting as a rule in all cases the practice usual in the time of Mahdoo Rao Bullal. Where any considerable doubt existed, the demands were to lie over until a general settlement could be made upon the admitted claims in the time of Nizam Ool Moolk; according to which Nizam Ally bound himself to pay up all arrears. Thus far the result of this conference was publicly known, but the principal object, as already alluded to, was an offensive alliance against Tippoo for the recovery of the districts which both states had lost by the encroachments of Mysore. Nizam Ally, who overestimated the value of his own alliance, demanded as a preliminary article of the agreement the restoration of Ahmednugur and Beejapoor.

v2.c38.25.5

Nana Furnuwees promised to give up Beejapoor, after they should recover the territory north of the Toongbuddra, but after a prolonged discussion, neither party being very well satisfied nor as yet by any means prepared to prosecute their scheme, the conference terminated in a general treaty of alliance, the particulars of which were to be specified as soon as they found themselves prepared to enter upon its execution.¹ After levying the tribute due by the Naik of Sorapoor,² both parties returned to their respective capitals in July, and Nana Furnuwees took this opportunity of endeavouring to possess himself of the ever coveted island of Jinjeera, but the mediation of the British Government prevented the attack, until events of greater moment diverted all immediate designs from the Seedee.³