A History of the Mahrattas v2.c55.67

v2.c55.67

Every day made it more evident that the Peishwa’s government was now aiming at the revival of the old Mahratta policy, and was running a course equally incompatible with the Peishwa’s alliance and his political existence, unless it were expected that he could overturn the British Government. By Trimbukjee’s advice, he had sent agents in the preceding year¹ to the courts of Sindia and Rughoojee Bhonslay; he also dispatched an envoy² to Holkar, with whose court Bajee Rao had never before held any friendly communication, but, what was still more extraordinary, he sent an agent³ to reside with the Pindharees, and had a secret interview at Kopergaom with some of their chiefs. The object of his missions to the Mahratta courts above named was to negotiate a secret treaty of general confederacy and support, which was actually concluded. The declared intention seems to have been for the purpose of strengthening themselves, and uniting together in case the British Government should meditate further encroachment on any of the states concerned, or to act offensively against the British should an opportunity arise, either in consequence of their expected failure in the Nepaul war,⁴ then going forward, or on any future occasion; but those of his countrymen who know Bajee Rao best are of opinion that notwithstanding these extensive and apparently well-ordered intrigues, he had neither a fixed plan, nor any serious intention of making war upon the English at this period; certain it is