A History of the Mahrattas v2.c59.36

v2.c59.36

class, were the old aristocracy of Sivajee and his descendants, such as the Purdhans, the Pritee Needhee, Angria, and the Raja of Akulkote. A third class was that which was raised by the Peishwas; some of whom had established claims by their early submission or former services to the British Government; but even of those dependants of the Peishwa, who had adhered to him to the last, it was, as remarked, ‘politic and humane to allow them a liberal maintenance, but it was neither required by humanity nor policy to give such persons the command of troops, paid from the revenue which had fallen into the hands of their conquerors’.¹