A History of the Mahrattas v2.c51.35

v2.c51.35

neighbourhood of Ahmednugur. A long train of evasion and delay followed the meeting between the chieftains. They declared they had no designs hostile to the British Government, nor any intention of obstructing the articles of the treaty of Bassein; but they alluded to their having received no official copy of it from the Peishwa, and mentioned that there were many points of it to be discussed, which the Peishwa was bound to have consulted them upon, before he signed its stipulations. Their professions of friendly intentions were only made with the view of gaining time, in the hope of Holkar’s being induced to embrace their cause. Their whole conduct, in other respects, indicated their hostile determination; and the menacing position which they occupied justified the warlike preparations of the British Government. General Wellesley having been vested with full powers, as Political Agent of the Governor-General, as well as military commander of the British troops in the Deccan, proposed, as the test of the friendly declarations of the chiefs, that they should withdraw their armies, Sindia to Hindoostan and Rughoojee Bhonslay to Berar, whilst he should also direct the British troops to retire within their own territories. This plain and distinct proposal, so characteristic of its author, perplexed the Mahratta chiefs, as there was no evading compliance except by a subterfuge too palpable to be overlooked or justified; after much discussion, it was finally rejected; the Resident withdrew from their camp on the 3d August, which was considered a declaration of war.¹