A History of the Mahrattas v2.c57.2

v2.c57.2

The regular battalions raised by the Peishwa were transferred as part of the contingent which was placed under the direction of the British Government, and now termed the Poona auxiliary force; but at Bajee Rao's particular request, that he might be able to confer the command on Captain Ford, one of the battalions was to be retained in his own pay, and in lieu of it a new corps was to be recruited. Every exertion was made to raise the stipulated number of horse; but the Peishwa's emissaries opposed the recruiting by every means they could devise. From Punderpoor the Peishwa, instead of returning to Poona, proceeded to Maholy, a village near Satara, and a sacred place at the junction of the Yena and Kistna. During his stay there, Sir John Malcolm arrived at Poona, having, on his appointment as Political Agent to the Governor-General, with his usual great activity, visited all the native courts in the Deccan, for the purpose of consulting with the Residents, previously to entering on the scene of operations in Malwa; and the Peishwa, on hearing of his arrival, invited him to a conference at Maholy.