A History of the Mahrattas v2.c50.3

v2.c50.3

(A.D. 1799.)—In 1799 the Nabob of Surat died, and the year following, during the prevalence of the disturbances to which we have now alluded, Mr. Jonathan Duncan, Governor of Bombay, proceeded to Surat, commissioned by the Governor-General to assume charge of the government of that city, granting to the Nabob’s brother, who was the heir apparent to the naib-ship, an annual pension, on condition of his resigning all pretensions to the exercise of authority.¹ Mr. Duncan was at the same time directed to endeavour to obtain the Gaekwar’s share of the Chouth of Surat without reference to the negotiations with the Peishwa for his portion of it. Two wukeels having been sent by Govind Rao to congratulate Mr. Duncan on his arrival, the latter conceived the opportunity favourable for making the application in question, to which he added a request that Chourassy, the district immediately surrounding Surat, might be added to the grant. Govind Rao readily promised to bestow both the one and the other on the East India Company, without requiring any condition on their part, merely observing that it was incumbent on the Company to obtain the Peishwa’s sanction to the measure, which, had the Peishwa been able to maintain his authority independent of the English, would have been tantamount to a refusal; both because the Poona court was particularly anxious to perpetuate the Mahratta claims on Surat, owing to an extravagant idea of its consequence which they derived from the Moghuls; and because, in regard to the cession of Chourassy, the same objections urged by the British Government, and admitted by Nana Furnuwees at the time of Govind Rao’s accession, were precisely applicable on this occasion.¹ The reason of Govind Rao’s