A History of the Mahrattas v2.c58.36

Language: English

v2.c58.36.1

Peishwa’s brother Chimnajee Appa fled to the southward with Appa Dessaye Nepankur and Naroo Punt Apty, and surrendered himself to a party, detached to intercept him by General Smith. Colonel Adams, as soon as the pursuit ceased, proceeded against Chandah, which was held by the partisans of Appa Sahib, and after a short siege carried the place by assault. Bajee Rao, followed by General Doveton, fled in great consternation to the northward, and for six days his army suffered severely from fatigue and privation. He had faint hopes of aid from Sindia; but all he now desired was a good opportunity of throwing himself in the way of the British general. He had made many overtures to Mr. Elphinstone, but as they always implied an ability to treat, he was distinctly told his submission only could be accepted. He again dispatched agents to Mr. Elphinstone and to the Resident at Nagpoor, but continued his route, forded the Taptee on the 5th May, and advanced towards Sindwa, where he intended to cross the Nerbuddah; but finding that point guarded, and that Sir John Malcolm had made every preparation to intercept him, he sent forward an agent, Anund Rao Chundawurkur, with a letter to that officer, and retired to wait the result at Dholkote, in the neighbourhood of Asseergurh. That fortress, though stipulated to be given up by Sindia in the treaty of the 5th November, was still held by his Killidar, Jeswunt Rao Lar, who had always refused to surrender.

v2.c58.36.2

Here Bajee Rao, with about eight thousand men, remained in a state of the utmost disquietude and alarm; he was unacquainted with the country, and excepting the Vinchoorkur and Aba Poorundhuree, abandoned by almost every person of consequence in the Mahratta country; the fords and passes to the northward were guarded, and troops were closing in upon him on every side. His agent reached General Malcolm’s camp at Mhow, near Indore, on the 16th May. On receiving the Peishwa’s overtures, Sir John Malcolm, who had been furnished with a copy of the Governor-General’s instructions to the Commissioner in the Deccan, resolved to make the Peishwa’s letter the basis of a negotiation for his surrender. Accordingly, two of his political assistants, Lieutenants Low and M’Donald, were dispatched towards the camp of Bajee Rao, instructed to open a negotiation, requiring him to renounce all sovereignty for himself and family for ever in the Deccan, to which he was never to return; and to surrender Trimbukjee and the murderers of the Vaughans. After these preliminaries, Lieutenant Low was to insist upon his immediately separating himself from Ramdeen and all proscribed rebels and Pindharees, and advance to meet Sir John Malcolm, who in such case promised to become the medium of an adjustment with the British Government, and obtain for him a liberal maintenance at such holy city as he might select for his future residence.

v2.c58.36.3

The Governor-General did not approve of any deputation to Bajee Rao, both because it had a tendency to cramp the military operations against him, and conveyed an impression of the Peishwa’s being in a condition to treat, when he was, in fact, eager to submit. Some circumstances proved the justness of these opinions; and, in several respects, there was an inconsiderate zeal evinced in the proceedings on this occasion, which has not escaped censure. The Marquis of Hastings, although he had given the outline of the conduct to be observed towards the Peishwa, reserved to himself the particular terms to be granted to him, after obtaining his submission to a justly offended nation; but before his sentiments, in regard to the first steps taken by Sir John Malcolm, could be received, Bajee Rao, on the 3d June, after a protracted negotiation, surrendered himself,¹ on condition that the stipulated maintenance should not be less than eight lacks of rupees a year; which was promised to him by Sir John Malcolm, from an idea that it should not be less than the pension of his brother Amrut Rao. The Marquis of Hastings deemed the amount too great, and seeing that his deposal was declared, and his country almost entirely reduced, knowing also the intriguing disposition of Bajee Rao, and the amassed treasure which he and his adherents might secrete for purposes hostile to the British Government, it was generally considered the extreme of liberality.

v2.c58.36.4

But there was a conditional promise to Bajee Rao, in favour of Jagheerdars who had adhered to his cause, and of Bramins and religious establishments supported by his family, which was quite unnecessary, and certainly should have been avoided; because it implied that Bajee Rao was in a condition to treat, not only for himself, but for others; it detracted in some degree from the liberality of the British Government in the settlement of the conquered territories; and it obtained for Bajee Rao, amongst such of the Mahrattas as were disposed to advocate his cause, praise which he did not merit, and honour which it never could have been the intention of Sir John Malcolm to confer. Whilst commenting, however, in this instance on the supposed failings of the politician, justice is due to the generous feelings of the man: Sir John Malcolm saw the prince whom he had visited nine months before in the midst of a gay court, and in a newly erected palace on the banks of the Kistna, now a harassed and houseless fugitive; he forgot the manner in which he had been so grossly deceived; he thought only of the contrast in the Peishwa’s situation, and of the benefits which the British Government had derived from its connexion with that misguided and unfortunate individual; and he pitied those faithful adherents, who still followed their sovereign in hopeless adversity, and forfeited their all, when, by personal submission, they might have secured their possessions.

v2.c58.36.5

The Marquis of Hastings ratified the terms; and Beithoor,¹ a place of sanctity near Cawnpore, was appointed for Bajee Rao’s future residence, to which he was immediately conducted.