The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c11.47

c11.47

Although adventurers of all nations were equally welcome in Sindhia’s army, Frenchmen and Englishmen, naturally from their long connection with and acknowledged interest in the country, formed the majority. The only result was dissension and disagreement. Sutherland could not get on with Perron and the latter’s promotion as Commander-in-Chief after De Boigne’s resignation did not improve their relations. Even the Savoyard Drugeon was jealous of his French superior and wrote to De Boigne on 30 April 1802: ‘Here M. Perron, so far as concerns power, is as autocratic as the King of Prussia, and as regards money, he resembles Croesus, for it falls upon him like the most abundant rain by night and by day in the form of rupees. Courted at the same time by all the Rajas and grandees of the country, even by the Prince who fears him, as indeed do all his chiefs; for like him, they are all of them, so to speak, under Perron’s orders. At the same time M. Perron must not deceive himself despite his strength (you have prepared the soup for others who to-day have only got the trouble of eating it) and imagine that he has served the Prince well.’¹ They had all dared the unknown dangers of a long journey to a fabulously rich land with the sole desire to be put on ‘the way to lacks’, they all wanted to have a share of the excellent soup and could not brook the least disappointment.