A History of the Mahrattas v2.c53.16

v2.c53.16

Sindia and Holkar repaired to Kotah, and afterwards moved towards Ajimere. Holkar was a decided advocate for continuing the war; Shirzee Rao was strenuous in support of this proposal, and whilst he continued to sway the councils of his son-in-law, Holkar had entire influence in Sindia’s administration. But the violence of Shirzee Rao defeated his own purposes, and Holkar was instrumental in removing him from power and placing Ambajee Inglia at the head of Sindia’s administration. Holkar, with Sindia’s connivance, had at first confined Ambajee, and after exacting from him a large sum of money, on which the troops subsisted for some time, he was released and appointed as has been just mentioned. Holkar expected to find in him a willing coadjutor, and from the reputation of his wisdom much more was hoped than from the rash violence of Shirzee Rao; but the temporizing policy of Ambajee, the rekindling rivalry of the two chieftains, the separation of their camps, and above all, Sindia’s conviction of their impotency to contend with the British Government, paved the way to a pacification which had by that time, owing to a change in the government, become the primary object of the British Cabinet.