A History of the Mahrattas v2.c55.81

v2.c55.81

The ministry was chiefly composed of a set of Purvoes,¹ a cast frequently remarkable for great fidelity and bravery, and when poor, they are often frugal to parsimony; but it may be observed of the Purvoes, that wherever they attain power and can command wealth, they are lavish and improvident. The head of this ministry was Rowjee Appajee who died in July, 1803, but having previously adopted his nephew Seetaram Rowjee as his son, he was, with the consent of the Resident, appointed his successor. After a patient trial of his ability and resources, Seetaram was found incompetent to the duty, and his uncle Babajee, hitherto at the head of the army, was invited to assist him. Futih Sing, the brother of the Gaekwar, and the heir apparent, whose liberty had been purchased from one of Holkar’s commanders who carried him off from Poona in 1803, was also at the same time brought into the administration. Futih Sing chose as his secretary Gungadhur Shastree,² originally in the service of the Phurkay family at Poona, and a man of considerable activity and address, who had been very useful to the Resident in the important measures he had effected. Lieutenant-Colonel Walker placed the highest confidence in the integrity and fidelity of the Shastree, and upon the death of Babajee, and great misconduct on the part of Seetaram, Gungadhur Shastree supported as he was, both by Futih Sing and the Resident, soon became prime minister in all but the name.