New History of the Marathas v3.c37.s2.67

v3.c37.s2.67

" I have lately received with peculiar satisfaction a convincing proof of the good effects of Mr. Duncan’s judicious management upon the minds of the neighbouring Powers, by an application from Nana Phadnis, the first Minister of the Maratha State, for leave to build a house for himself in the city of Benares for the avowed purpose of resorting to it occasionally to perform religious duties : and this application has given the more pleasure as the resolution was deliberately adopted upon the report of Mahadji Ballal Pandit, his own household Diwan, whom he sent privately last year with a caravan of pilgrims to make his observations and who it seems had given a most favourable account of the mildness and regularity of the British Government.