Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c33.s5.31

v3.c33.s5.31

We shall here complete the story of the Maratha dissensions in the North. The news of the capture of Delhi on 10th February 1771 caused the wildest exultation at the Court of Punā. It recalled to the memory the capture of the same imperial city by the Bhāu on 2nd August 1760, and was popularly believed to have undone the work of Panipat. The credit of this "great achievement" was given to Visāji and Sindhia. On 26th April, the Peshwa's orders were received at Delhi appointing Visāji Krishna to the command of the Maratha forces in Hindustan, supplanting Ramchandra Ganesh. That fallen chief set out from the environs of Delhi, in the deepest humiliation, for the Deccan. But Holkar and Sindhia sent some of their highest officers to intercept him at Faridabad and induce him to come back. To them he replied, "I have no quarrel with Sindhia or Holkar. I am going away to the Deccan because Visāji has not given me the Peshwa's letter. He is sending me off after lowering my position, and I can therefore return only if these two generals and Visāji come here and personally entreat me to go back.” This was done, after he had proceeded to Palwal.