A History of the Mahrattas v2.c46.9

v2.c46.9

The death of Mahdoo Rao was an event of such awful importance to the political existence of Nana Furnuwees, that the consideration of its consequences withdrew his mind from the deep affliction which the untimely end of that amiable young prince would have disposed him to indulge. He carefully suppressed the request of Mahdoo Rao in his cousin's favour, dreading that by such an arrangement he should not only be deprived of power, but perhaps of liberty and of life. His first care, on ascertaining the nature of the accident, was to send off notice to Pureshram Bhow, requiring his immediate attendance at Poona with every man he could collect; and the day after the Peishwa's death, Rughoojee Bhonslay and Doulut Rao Sindia were recalled for the purpose of deliberating on the succession to the musnud. Tookajee Holkar, being in Poona, immediately visited the minister, who not only made use of all the popular prejudice existing against the name of Rugonath Rao, but described the enmity which, from the first dawning of reason, had been instilled into Bajee Rao by his mother, against the whole of those officers who had now any experience in the affairs of the state; he showed the danger to be apprehended from the connexion between his family and the English,¹ dwelt upon the happy state of prosperity and union which then prevailed in the Mahratta empire, and enlarged on the increasing benefits to be expected, if the existing course of policy were carefully preserved. In these sentiments Holkar concurred, and the disposition of the other chiefs being sounded, Nana ventured to disclose his plan; by suggesting that Yessooda Bye, the widow of the deceased prince, who had not yet attained the age of womanhood, should adopt a son, in whose name he proposed to conduct the government as heretofore. Some objections were raised by Balloba Tattya, one of the principal ministers of Sindia, but they were overruled by his colleague in office Jooba Bukhshee, who observed that their master was too young to be able to judge for himself, but he thought his safest course was to be guided by the experience of the elder chiefs and to follow the example of Tookajee Holkar. At length, after some discussion, the consent of the principal chiefs was obtained in writing, and in the month of January they again retired from Poona.