A History of the Mahrattas v2.c49.1

v2.c49.1

A.D. 1800.—The first of the events alluded to, in point of time and importance, was the death of Nana Furnuwees. His health had long been in a declining state; but he continued to transact business almost to the last with his accustomed order and punctuality. He died on the 13th March, ‘and with him,’ says Colonel Palmer, ‘has departed all the wisdom and moderation of the Mahratta government.’ Nana Furnuwees was certainly a great statesman.¹ His principal defects originated in the want of personal courage, and in an ambition not always restrained by principle. In the later unhappy years of his life, on the testimony of English as well as Mahratta authority, he is entitled to the high praise of having acted with the feelings and sincerity of a patriot. He honourably advised Bajee Rao to such measures as he believed advantageous, unmindful of any consequences. He was decidedly averse to the admission of a body of foreign troops, in the manner proposed by the Marquis Wellesley, if the energies of the government could possibly be restored without their aid. He respected the English, admired their sincerity and the vigour of their government; but, as political enemies, no one regarded them with more jealousy and alarm. The life of Nana may be said to have been entirely public; and its events have been so fully recorded, as well as the motives for his conduct, that it is unnecessary to enlarge on his character. In private life he was a man of strict veracity, humane, frugal, and charitable. His whole time was regulated with the strictest order, and the business personally transacted by him almost exceeds credibility.