Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s6.18

v4.c56.s6.18

The Governor-General knew that the great Marātha sardārs felt an unspeakable aversion to the Treaty of Bassein, and would annul it by force if they had the least hope of success. But he also knew that Bhonslé’s army was contemptible, that Sindhiā would not stand up to English troops unless he was joined by Holkar, and that a union of hearts between Sindhia and Holkar, which alone could threaten danger to the British Power and disturbance to the British protectorate of Haidarabad, was an impossibility. But, while holding firmly on to his legal position of vantage, he avoided making a declaration of war as long as possible, in order to throw the guilt of aggression on Sindhiā. Daulat Rao’s imbecile political manœuvres and the cowardly selfishness of his advisers, made him lose seven months in hesitation and secret intrigue, and then go to war at the wrong time, like a moth that long buzzes round a candle and at last blindly rushes into the flame only to destroy itself.