A History of the Mahrattas v2.c56.22

v2.c56.22

(March 17.)—The Nabob of Bhopaul, however, died on the 17th March, 1816, and Rughoojee Bhonslay on the 22d of the same month. Wuzeer Mohummud was succeeded as Nabob of Bhopaul by his son Wuzeer Mohummud; and Rughoojee Bhonslay was succeeded by his only son Pursajee. But Pursajee, whose intellect was always weak, fell into a state of idiotism immediately afterwards, and his cousin Moodajee, usually styled Appa Sahib, the son of Venkajee Munnya Bappoo, who commanded at the battle of Argaom, was chosen regent, although not without considerable opposition. To secure an ascendancy by no means fully established, Appa Sahib applied to the British Resident to be admitted to the defensive alliance, before proposed to Rughoojee, which was promptly acceded to, and a treaty was signed 27th May, 1816. A stipulated money payment,¹ calculated to defray the additional expense of field charges for one regiment of cavalry and six thousand infantry, was to be paid by the Nagpoor government, and a contingent of three thousand horse and two thousand foot was to be maintained by the terms of the alliance. A subsidiary force was immediately formed, and until Appa Sahib was secured in the government, the whole continued in the neighbourhood of the capital; it being agreed, that when the troops were required in advance, or even on ordinary occasions, two battalions only should remain at Nagpoor. By the end of October, 1816, Appa Sahib had completely established his authority, but being immediately assailed by the intrigues of the Peishwa, he very soon came into the views of the Poona court; being, however, apprehensive that if he threw off the support of the British Government during the lifetime of Pursajee, a party might endanger his power, he one night caused Pursajee to be secretly strangled, and on the following morning it was announced and believed that he had been found dead in his bed.