A History of the Mahrattas v2.c39.7

v2.c39.7

De Boigne next made overtures to the Raja of Jeypoor, and was commissioned by him to raise two battalions; but having inadvertently communicated this circumstance to the Governor-General, in an official form, Mr. Hastings, who had no objections to tolerate, although he could not sanction, his being so employed, ordered him to Calcutta—a summons with which M. de Boigne immediately complied. Mr. Hastings was so pleased by the prompt obedience shown to his commands that he permitted him to return; but before he could reach the upper provinces, events had occurred which induced the Raja of Jeypoor to alter his intentions. This change was a severe disappointment to De Boigne; but the Raja made him a present of 10,000 rupees. At this juncture De Boigne heard of Sindia's intended expedition to Bundelcund, and proposed to raise two battalions, of eight hundred and fifty men each, for that service, to which after some negotiation Sindia agreed. No advance of money was granted, but De Boigne was allowed for himself one thousand rupees, and for each man indisfrom the Emperor, Sindia preferred accepting it, and set out for Agra, towards which the imperial court was advancing. A meeting took place on the 22d October, but immediately afterwards Afrasiab Khan was assassinated by the brother of the late Mirza Shuffee, in whose murder Afrasiab Khan secretly participated.¹ As Sindia derived most advantage from the death of Afrasiab Khan, and as the assassin sought and found asylum in his camp, he did not escape suspicion of being accessory to the murder; but those who knew Mahadajee best never accused him of a deed so atrocious. The event, however, vested Sindia with complete authority at Delhi and placed him in a situation which he had only hoped to attain at some remote period. He refused the office of Umeer Ool Oomrah, but with his usual sagacity obtained for the Peishwa that of Wukeel-i-Mootluq, or supreme deputy, a dignity first conferred on the great Nizam Ool Moolk by Mohummud Shah; and Sindia, reversing the domestic policy of the Bramins, who always endeavour to be first in power but second in name, secured for himself the appointment of deputy to the Peishwa, so that he thus held by authority the executive power in Hindoostan, and a rank, which if he ever should be able and desirous of asserting it, would supersede that of all other ministers in the court of the Peishwa. The Emperor also conferred on him the command of his army, and gave up the provinces of Delhi and Agra to his management. For all which Sindia engaged to pay sixty-five thousand rupees monthly,