A History of the Mahrattas v2.c56.36

v2.c56.36

In September it was intimated to Sindia through Captain Close, the Resident in his camp, that the army of the Deccan was about to advance for the extirpation of the Pindharees, and as a matter of form passports were requested for the free ingress and egress of the British troops through his territory. At this period Sindia’s army at Gwalior was more than usually turbulent, a circumstance principally attributable to a strong excitement, caused by reports of the Peishwa’s determination to break with the English, and a general hope that their master was about to join him. Sindia, in reply to the applications for passports, stated that he had not given up his intention of punishing the Pindharees, and requested that the troops might be stopped; but this being declared impossible after what had happened in the last two years, the passports were granted. Before the middle of October, the views of the Governor-General were completely unfolded to Sindia, by a paper prepared and sent from the camp at Sikundra. It contained remonstrances on his evasive conduct, for having harboured freebooters, who had plundered the British territory at the very time when he was pledging himself to punish their depredations, and it combated the plea he had advanced of inability to suppress them; if, however, that plea were admitted as personal exoneration, it constituted a virtual dissolution of the treaty, and more especially annulled those stipulations in regard to his dependants in Rajpootana; because, if unable to restrain such dependants, when they committed aggressions on the British Government, the treaties which bound that Government to regard them as the subjects of Sindia, could no longer be considered in force. The paper in question further declared that the British Government had no other view than the effectual extinction of all predatory associations; and Captain Close was authorized to communicate the mode in which Sindia’s aid was solicited for that purpose. He was required to place his troops at the disposal of the British Government, to be stationary or employed at its option, with a British officer superintending each of the principal divisions; and any of Sindia’s officers, supporting or harbouring freebooters, were to be dealt with as rebels. A contingent of five thousand horse to be employed under the direction of British officers against the Pindharees, and funds allotted for its expenses for three years from the pension payable by the British Government and the tribute demandable from Boondee and Joudpoor. The lands recovered from the Pindharees, belonging to Sindia, to be restored to him; and to the rightful owners, in all cases where they co-operated for their suppression; where they did not, the whole to be given up to Sindia. As a security for the fulfilment of the proposed terms, the forts of Hindia and Asseergurh were demanded, but Sindia’s flag was to be allowed to fly, and a few of his troops permitted to remain in each of them. The tribute due to Sindia by the Rajpoot principalities was not to be affected by any agreements which the British Government might make with them; on the contrary, its due receipt was to be guaranteed to him. A treaty to this effect was signed by Sindia on the 5th November, and ratified by the Governor-General on the following day. Hindia was given up according to the terms of the treaty; but Jeswunt Rao Lar, the Killidar of Asseergurh, refused to obey the order of surrender. The three principal divisions of Sindia’s army were thus stationed: the first at Ajimere under Bappoojee Sindia, the same person who treacherously deserted on Monson’s retreat; the second at Jawud under Jeswunt Rao Bhow; and the third, at Bhadurgurh under Colonel Jean Baptiste.¹ The British officers chosen to superintend those divisions, were, in their respective order, Major Ludlow, Captain Caulfield, and Major Bunce.