A History of the Mahrattas v2.c56.29

v2.c56.29

The views of the Marquis of Hastings were more enlarged; he aimed at their complete suppression by eradicating the predatory system from Central India, so as to carry peace to those desolated provinces, and security to the rest of the country. Berar was supposed to be settled by the late subsidiary alliance; and the Peishwa, crippled by the treaty of Poona, might, it was hoped, see the necessity of refraining from hostilities, secret or avowed, if he wished to retain the territory still left to him. The plan, therefore, of the Governor-General embraced principally the possessions of Sindia, Holkar, the Rajpoots, the Nabob of Bhopaul, and the principalities of Bundelcund. The former treaties with Sindia and Holkar became virtually annulled, from the period when their dependants began to ravage the territory of the British Government. Many proofs of secret hostilities, particularly on the part of Sindia, had come to the knowledge of the Governor-General, besides the treaty of confederacy, by which all the Mahrattas engaged to serve and obey the Peishwa; he therefore determined on submitting a plan of a treaty of concert and alliance to those two states—to declare the treaties of 1805 annulled, so that he might be at liberty to admit the claims of every state, tributary or otherwise, that had any pretensions to independence; and to guarantee rights and possessions in all instances where the state or principality agreed to make common cause against the predatory system; but he resolved to admit of no neutrality. He adopted as a principle, not to disturb occupancy; but to treat with the existing government, or chiefs, who might be in possession of the country at the time. Thus Umeer Khan, though an undeserving instance of the operation of this general benefit, if he agreed to the proposals and dismissed his Patans, was to be guaranteed in the Jagheer which he held from Holkar. On these principles, and to the above effect, as soon as the military preparations were in sufficient progress, orders were dispatched to the various Political Agents.