CHAPTER X.

The Nabob of Surat deposed-The Rajah of Tanjore deposed-The Nabob of

Arcot deposed

526

CHAPTER XI.

Two sets of Princes, connected with the English: one, whom they made resign

both the military and the civil Powers of their Government; another, whom they

made resign only the military Part-Endeavour to make the Peshwa resign the

military Part of his Government-Negotiations for that Purpose from 1798 to

1802-Negotiations with Dowlut Row Scindia for a similar Purpose-The De-

pendance of all the Mahratta States expected as the Effect of the Resignation to

the English of the military Power of any one of them-Negotiation with Scindia

ineffectual-War between Scindia and Holkar---The Peshwa driven from Poona

----For the sake of being restored by English Arms, the Peshwa consents to the

Resignation of his military Power---A Treaty for that Purpose signed at Bassein---

The Governor-General expects, that the other Mahratta States will not dare to

quarrel with the English on account of the Treaty of Bassein---Scindia assembles

his Troops, and marches to the Vicinity of Boorhanpore---Persevering Attempts

to make Scindia execute a Treaty similar to that of Basscin---The Peshwa restored

---Probability of a War with the Mahratta Princes on account of the Treaty of

Bassein---Junction of the Armies of Scindia and the Rajah of Berar---Scindia

and the Rajah required by the English to quit their present menacing Position,

and replace their Armies at their usual Stations---Scindia and the Rajah evading

Compliance, the English regard them as Enemies---Arguments by which the

Governor-General endeavoured to prove that the line of Policy which led to this

Crisis was good---Investigation of those Arguments...

CHAPTER XII.

Objects to which the Operations of the Army in the North were to be directed---

Objects to which the Operations of the Army in the South were to be directed.---

Minor objects of the War---General Lake takes the Field---History of the French

Force in the Service of Scindia, and of his Possessions in the Dooab---History of

the Emperor Shah Aulum continued--- Battle of Allyghur, and Capture of the

Fort--- Battle of Delhi, and Surrender of the Emperor to the English---Agra

taken---Battle of Laswaree---French Force in the Service of Scindia destroyed,

560

and his Dominions in the Dooab transferred to the English---Operations of the

Army under General Wellesley in the South---Ahmednuggur taken---Battle of

Assye-Boorhanpore and Asseerghur taken---Scindia makes an Overture toward

Peace Battle of Argaum--Siege and Capture of the Fort of Gawilghur---Ope-

rations in Bundelcund-in Cuttack---in Guzerat---Negotiation with the Rajah of

Berar-Treaty concluded---Negotiation with Scindia---Treaty concluded---En-

gagements with the minor Princes near the Jumna---Scindia enters into the de-

fensive Alliance---Governor-General's Account of the Benefit derived from the

defensive Alliances, and the Mahratta War---Investigation of that Account ...

CHAPTER XIII.

...... 620

Necessity inferred of curbing Holkar-Intercourse between Holkar and Scindia

renewed-Governor-General resolves to take the Holkar Dominions, but to give

them away to the Peshwa, Scindia, and the Nizam-Holkar retreats before the

Commander-in-Chief, toward the South-The Commander-in-Chief withdraws

the Army into Cantonments, leaving Colonel Monson with a Detachment in

Advance-Holkar turns upon Monson--Monson makes a disastrous Retreat to

Agra-The British Army from Guzerat subdues Holkar's Dominions in Malwa-

Holkar, by a Stratagem, attacks Delhi-Brave Defence of Delhi-The Holkar

Dominions in Deccan subdued-Defeat of Holkar's Infantry at Deeg-Rout of his

Cavalry at Furruckabad―The Bajah of Bhurtpore, one of the allied Chieftains,

joins with Holkar-Unsuccessful Attack upon the Fortress of Bhurtpore-Accom-

modation with the Rajah of Bhurtpore-Disputes with Scindia-Prospect of a War

with Scindia-Holkar joins the Camp of Scindia-The British Resident ordered by

the Commander-in-Chief to quit the Camp of Scindia-Scindia endeavours to pre-

vent the Departure of the Resident---Marquis Wellesley succeeded by Marquis Corn-

wallis-Cornwallis's View of the State of the Government-Of Wellesley's System

of subsidiary and defensive Alliance-Cornwallis resolves to avoid a War with

Scindia, by yielding every Point in Dispute---To make Peace with Holkar by

restoring all the Territories he had lost---To dissolve the Connexion of the British

Government with the minor Princes on the Mahratta Frontier-Negotiations

between Scindia and the Commander-in-Chief--Death of Lord Cornwallis--Sir

G. Barlow adheres to the Plans of Lord Cornwallis-Holkar advances into the

Country of the Seiks-Pursued by Lord Lake---A fresh Treaty concluded with

Scindia-Treaty with Holkar-Financial Results.

5

666

HISTORY

OF

BRITISH INDIA.

BOOK VI. .

FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION FOR THE GOVERNMEnt of india,
IN 1784, TO THE TERMINATion of the wAR WITH THE MAHRATTAS, IN 1805.

CHAP. I.

Administration of Mr. Macpherson-State of the Government in India, internal, and external-Board of Control pays, without Inquiry, the Debts of the Nabob of Arcot-Orders the Assignment of the Carnatic Revenues to be given up-Absorbs the Power of the Directors-Lord Cornwallis appointed Governor-General-Commencement of the Proceedings in Parliament relative to the Impeachment of Mr. Hastings-The best Mode of proceeding rejected by the House of Commons-Articles of Charge against Mr. Hastings-Three Bills to amend the East India Act-Proceedings in Parliament relative to the Impeachment of Mr. Hastings-Impeachment voted-Proceedings in Parliament tending to the Impeachment of Sir Elijah Impey-Motion for Impeachment negatived-Mr. Pitt's declaratory Act.

CHAP. I.

UPON the departure of Mr. Hastings from Bengal, Mr. Macpherson succeeded, as senior in council, to the power and dignity of Chief Governor of the British establishments in India. Certain peculiarities marked the history of this Mr. Macpher

1785.

1785.

BOOK VI. gentleman in the service of the Company. He sailed to Madras in 1766, purser of an India ship; and having obtained the means of an introduction to the son succeeds Nabob of Arcot, insinuated himself quickly into his inmost confidence. As the Mr. Hastings. Nabob had, from the first moment of his deliverance from the terror of the French, been in a state of perpetual struggle with the servants of the Company for a larger share of power, Mr. Macpherson appears to have flattered him with the hopes of advantage from an application to the British minister; and to have prevailed upon the Nabob to make use of himself as the organ of the attempt. The project was, to persuade the minister, that the Nabob was suffering under a load of oppression by the Company's servants. Mr. Macpherson arrived in England, in execution of this commission, towards the end of the year 1768. Upon his return to Madras he was, during the administration of Governor Dupré, admitted into the civil service of the Company, and employed by that Governor in the most confidential transactions; particularly, in writing his dispatches, to which the superior skill of Mr. Macpherson in the art of composition afforded a recommendation. In the year 1776, Lord Pigot was Governor of Madras. Mr. Macpherson had ascended to the rank of a factor in the Company's service; when a paper, purporting to be a memorial to the Nabob of Arcot, was presented to the Council by their President. It had no signature; but recapitulated various services, which the writer had rendered to the Nabob in England; and the concurrence of circumstances rendered it but little possible that he should be any other person than Mr. Macpherson. Mr. Macpherson was called before the Board; and asked whether, or not he acknowledged the production. Mr. Macpherson replied, "That he could not give a precise answer; that it was not written in his hand, nor signed by him; and that it referred to transactions before he was in the Company's service." Lord Pigot regarded this answer as not only evasive, but a satisfactory proof that Mr. Macpherson was the author; and as the transactions appeared to him to be those of a man unfit for the service of the Company, he therefore moved that he should be dismissed. The following are words of the memorial; "The object of this commission was to procure relief from the oppressions under which the Nabob was labouring : To procure this wished-for relief, the means to be employed were, if possible, to raise in the breast of the Prime Minister a favourable respect for the Nabob; then to lay before him the distress of the Prince; likewise to show the advantage which would arise to the state, from granting him the proper protection." In describing his first interview with the Minister, the Duke of Grafton, the memorialist said, “I expatiated upon the superior merits of the Nabob; showed