New History of the Marathas v2.c33.41

v2.c33.41

Readers may be aware that for some years, the Emperor Shah Alam's affairs were managed by his chief adviser Mirza Najaf Khan, who was a protege of the British and, being in their pay, opposed any plan of the Emperor to trust his fortunes to Maratha management, in preference to the British protection which he was enjoying at Allahabad. Another strong supporter of the British cause was Balavant Sinh, the Raja of Benares, whose death on 23rd August 1770 removed the last obstacle to the establishment of Maratha influence at the imperial Court. The British always dreaded a combination of northern powers under Maratha hegemony, and had since the day of Plassey made it the main object of their policy to oppose such a combination. Mir Qasim and the Nawab of Bengal also worked strongly against their British antagonists. As the Emperor would be the central figure of any hostile combination, the British held him tightly in their grip at Allahabad. None understood these currents and cross-currents of the political situation better than the Emperor himself. Twelve years had passed since the murder of his father and yet he, a homeless wanderer all the time, was no nearer the goal of his ambition. He had amply judged what benefits he could expect from his British protectors, and what faith he could place in their sweet professions. Now as the Marathas appeared on the northern scene, swiftly restoring their lost prestige, the Emperor called upon his British patrons either to advance and oppose the Maratha aggression openly, or allow him freely to choose his own way. Mere soothing promises had been too much for him to bear with patience. He would no longer be satisfied with specious promises and demanded immediate action, not advice. He said he was no Emperor without the possession of Delhi.