Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s5.2

v4.c56.s5.2

It was reported to Resident Collins by Sindhia's ministers in 1802 that Perron annually collected 80 lakhs from the Hindustan territory entrusted to him, but accounted for only 40 lakhs to his master. Thus he made a net profit of 40 lakhs every year, to which he added his lawful salary, commission on tribute collection and other emoluments,—another gain of 18 lakhs. Every month that he continued in Sindhia's service meant an increase of five lakhs in his hoard, and from this sordid motive he ruined his master and left his soldiers in the lurch to be butchered by the English, without giving them time to form and accustom themselves to an indigenous body of commanders in the place of the mercenary foreigners who had run away. The fabulous wealth which enabled a French weaver's son to buy a seigneurie at Fresne, live as a Nawab, and marry his daughters to French noblemen bearing historic names like Montesquiou, Oudinot, and Rochefoucauld,—was acquired by dishonourable means. His treachery was only exceeded by his cowardice.