A History of the Mahrattas v2.c39.6

v2.c39.6

rich presents, and furnished him with letters of credit on Cabul and Candahar for 12,000 rupees. He set forward on his journey in company with Major Brown, at that time deputed on a mission to the Emperor; but Major Brown's progress having been interrupted by the jealousy of the Emperor's ministers, M. de Boigne, in consequence of being supposed one of his suite, was also detained, and took this opportunity of inaction to visit Sindia's camp, on the invitation of Mr. Anderson, the Resident. Sindia being suspicious of De Boigne, and desirous of ascertaining his real character which he expected to discover from the letters in his possession, caused all his baggage to be stolen by some dexterous thieves, whom he employed for the purpose; and although, on Mr. Anderson's application, the greater part of the baggage was restored, the letters and credits were not given up, a circumstance, as M. de Boigne conceived, equally ruinous to his fortune and his journey. It was then he first thought of endeavouring to get employed in the service of some native prince; and Gwalior being at this period besieged by Sindia, De Boigne formed a scheme for its relief, which he communicated to the Rana of Gohud through an officer named Sangster, a Scotchman, who commanded one thousand well-disciplined Sepoys, and a very respectable train of artillery, in the Rana's service. De Boigne proposed, on receiving an advance of 100,000 rupees, to raise two battalions within the Emperor's territory, east of the Jumna, in such a manner as to prevent suspicion, and in conjunction with Sangster from Gohud to fall on Sindia's camp by surprise. There was little doubt but the plan would have succeeded, had not the Rana been afraid to trust De Boigne with the requisite advance of money; but in order to intimidate Sindia, he published the proposed scheme, in all his ukhbars, as about to take place. The knowledge of the circumstance excited the enmity of Sindia towards De Boigne, although he saw the merit of the suggestion.