A History of the Mahrattas v2.c52.6

v2.c52.6

The army in Hindoostan under General Lake was still in the field to watch the motions of Holkar, whose menacing position, as well as the tone of his language, the general report of his hostile intentions, and his having put to death three officers,¹ British subjects, who wished, in consequence of these reports, to take advantage of the Governor-General's proclamation and retire from his service, afforded strong indications of an approaching rupture. Superadded to these were the machinations already mentioned, which were ascertained from his intercepted correspondence; but it was scarcely credible that he could intend risking a war; and General Lake believed to the last that affairs with Holkar would be amicably adjusted. In Holkar's letters to General Lake, as is frequently the case when insolence is designed on the part of a Mahratta, it is difficult to discover whether friendly profession, arrogance or humility predominates. In his first letter, professing that he had no intention of saying anything improper, he requested General Lake to retire towards Agra, ‘as his near approach to his victorious army appeared likely to produce unpleasant circumstances.’ In his next, he declares that from him the general shall never have any other language than that of friendship; ‘but if anything contrary to friendship shall appear from you, then I am helpless.’ At length it became absolutely necessary to ascertain the designs of Holkar, and the Governor-General directed General Lake to intimate to him the necessity of withdrawing his troops from the frontier of the allies of the British Government. Whatever claims might be urged by the Holkar family against the Rajpoots and others, such claims, he was told, could not be considered to rest in him; but the British Government was willing, with the consent of the Peishwa, to arbitrate the existing difference between him and his brother Khassee Rao, on principles of equity and justice: Jeswunt Rao was also invited to send wukeels to the British camp. To these proposals Holkar replied by promising to withdraw his troops; and in the middle of March sent wukeels to General Lake’s camp at Ramgurh. These persons produced a letter from Holkar, in which, after many friendly professions, he recommends the general to consent to the propositions they would offer, otherwise, ‘his country and his property were on the saddle of his horse; to whatever side the reins of his brave warriors should be turned, the whole of the country in that direction should come into his possession.’ The wukeels submitted the following propositions: 1st. ‘That Holkar should be permitted to collect Chouth, agreeably to the custom of his ancestors. 2d. That the ancient possessions formerly held by the family, such as Etaweh, &c.; twelve districts between the Ganges and Jumna, and a district in Bundelcund should be ceded to him. 3d. That the country of Hurriana, which was formerly in the possession of the family, should be given to him. 4th. That the country then in his possession should be guaranteed, and a treaty should be concluded with him on the same terms as that with Sindia.’ These demands were altogether extravagant, and were treated as such by General Lake. Most of these countries mentioned in the second and third propositions had been conquered from Sindia; Etaweh had not