Highness had only to refer to the treaty of Salbhey. I replied that his lighness's amicable professions were at all times acceptable to your Lordship, and that I felt myself particularly honoured by the kind expressions which his Highness had desired to be conveyed to me: that I trusted it was known to his Highness, that your Lordship was not only determined to adhere to subsist ing treaties, but desirous of strengthening, by the most liberal means, the friendship which at present unites both states.

Gopaul Rao, seemingly satisfied with these observations, began to discourse on topics of a private kind, in which I joined with all cordiality. After a certain interval, however, I reverted to public subjects, by noticing that reparation was still to be received from the Durbar on account of the Dow Tricum Pursand, and that I had yet received no reply from his Highness on the subject of Mr. Duncan's suggestion for the future discharge of the collection formerly made in Chourassee, on account of his Highness's Sircar.

2. The reparation I alluded to, Gopaul Rao assured me would be made, though perhaps with some delay; but with respect to Mr. Duncan's suggestion for the discharge of the Chourassee collections, his Highness, he said, had not judged a reply neces sary, as in relation to all such matters he conceived the treaty of Salbhey to be suffici ently explanatory and conclusive. I answered that certainly the treaty of Salbhey was the basis of the amity subsisting between the two governments, but that

evidently it was a basis that would admit of a desirable superstructure; that on this point there was happily no difference, but that in every event I could renew my assurances, that in no step by the British government would your Lordship allow of any of his Highness's just rights being trenched on or injured. Here Gopaul Rao smiled, and told me, with an air of great good humour, that let his Highness's rights be improved or injured, it was still his wish to abide by subsisting treaties. This remark I received with indications of assent, and thus allowed the conversation to close.

3. As the whole of Gopaul Rao's observations at this meeting were of a general kind, yourLordship will perceive, that in replying to them I have used remarks equally general.

In the course

of the conference, indeed, he seems to have purposely avoided all inquiry into the nature of the stipu lations of the treaty to which he so frequently referred; and hence I am led to conclude, that in paying me the visit, his object was merely to go through the form of replying to an intimation from me, which appeared to be such as ought not to be allowed to pass entirely without notice.

4. The Peishwa having adjusted the affairs on which he proceeded to Sassoor, returned hither on the evening of the 7th instant. Jeswunt Rao Holkar's intention of visiting the neighbourhood gains more credit daily, and the Peishwa holds frequent councils for the deliberating on measures by which to obviate an event that so seriously threatens his interests.

on the other hand, that the subsidiary force will be permitted to be employed for the purpose of chastizing such of his dependants as are engaged in an obstinate rebellion against his authority; and it is further agreed that the Honourable Company's government will take no concern with. any of his relations, servants, or subjects, with respect to whom his Highness is considered abso

lute. It is further declared by the contracting parties, that this defensive alliance, which is mean for the preservation, permanent prosperity, and honour of the Peishwa's government, shall last and hold good as long as the sun and the moon shall endure.

(A true Copy.)

N. B. EDMONSTONE, Sec, to Gor.

Instrument.

IN order that the English may essentially assist and support the Sircar of the Feishwa, and defend his person, the Peishwa hereby subsidizes, from the English aforesaid, a corps of British troops consisting of six native battalions, with their proportion of artillery and his said Highness, for the purpose of subsisting and bearing the charge of the said corps, doth hereby cede to the English, forts and territories yielding an annual revenue of twenty-five lacks of rupees, to be furnished in part from the province of Guzerat, and

part from the Carnatic, or the whole from either of those quar

(A true Copy.) (Signed) B. CLOSE, Res. at Poona.

(Secret)

Sir,

Poona.

I AM directed by his Excellency the most noble the Governor-General to acknowledge the

2. His Excellency entirely approves the whole of your conduct during the late negotiation, in the course of which his Excellency considers

considers that you have manifest ed great ability, firmness, and zeal for the public interests. His Excellency will hereafter enter fully into the detail of your late proceedings; for the present, his Excellency confines his communication to you upon the subject to those points which appear to require immediate notice.

3. His Excellency is satisfied that by the terms of the instrument which the Peishwa has executed and delivered to you, and by the declaration made to you under his authority, by Ragonaut Rao, as stated in the second paragraph of your private dispatch of the 25th ultimo, the Peishwa has in fact concluded a defensive alli. ance with the British government on the basis specified in your private dispatch of the 14th ultimo, and it is accordingly his Excel lency's resolution to carry into immediate and complete effect that part of the engagement to which the British government is pledged. His Excellency, however, deems it to be extremely desirable that the Peishwa should execute, at the earliest practicable period of time, an engagement in the form of preliminary articles, specifically stating the fundamental principles and stipulations of the alliance, to serve as a basis for the conclusion of a definitive treaty as soon as the state of circumstances may admit.

4. It is his Excellency's intention to issue immediate orders to the governments of Fort St. George and Bombay, and to the Resident at Hydrabad, to make every practicable effort for the execution of

VOL. 6.

that part of the arrangement which depends on the speedy advance of the British troops, for the protection of the Peishwa's person, and for the re-establishment of his authority.

5. His Excellency relies on your judgment and discretion to concert with the Peishwa, and with the public authorities at the sta tions from whence the subsidiary troops will be furnished for the immediate occasion, the most expeditious mode of placing the Peishwa under the protection of the British troops,

6. His Excellency is anxious, if possible to avoid any hostilities with the troops of Jeswunt Rao Holkar, and with that view it may be expedient to apprize him of the general nature of the engagement concluded with the Peishwa: but the period of such communication must be regulated by your discretion.

7. It is proper to apprize you, that it is the Governor General's intention to avail himself immediately of the state of affairs at Poona, and of the defeat of Scindia's troops by Holkar, to renew overtures to Scindia for the purpose of inducing that chieftain to enter into the terms of the general defensive alliance concluded with the Nizam in October 1800. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c. (Signed) N. B. EDMONSTONE, Secretary to Gov.

(A true Copy.) N. B. EDMONSTONE, Fort William, Sec. to Gov. 16th Nov. 1802.

(Most Secret.)

4. The immediate march of the

Sir,

Poona.

I AM directed by his Excellency the most noble the Governor General to acknowledge his receipt of your letters under dates the 28th, 29th, and 30th ultimo. By command of his Excellency I have now the honour to communicate to you his Excellency's detailed instructions for the guidance of your conduct in the present crisis of affairs in the Mahratta state.

2. You will be apprized by his Excellency's commands, conveyed to you in my dispatch of the 16th instant, that his Excellency considers defensive engagements with the Peishwa to have been actually concluded, and that it is his Excellency's resolution to carry them speedily into effect. The expression, however, which respects the time of carrying them into effect, must be understood with reference to actual and contingent circumstances combined with certain political considerations by which his Excellency deems it proper to regulate his proceedings on this important oc

casion.

3. In fulfilling the obligation now imposed on us of re-instating the Peishwa in his government and restoring his authority, his Excellency is auxious, first, to avoid all contest with either Holkar or Scindia; and secondly, to refrain from checking the progress of the present warfare between those chieftains, for reasons hereafter assigned.

tion of the Peishwa, in the present state of circumstances, might either occasion hostilities with Holkar, or, by depriving both him and Scindia of the object for which they contend, suppress the contest between them. It might possibly produce both those effects, by inducing Holkar and Scindia to compromise their differences, and to unite in a common cause against us; and although there can be little doubt of the issue of a contest between the British government and Holkar singly, or confederated with Scindia, his Excellency would consider any system of measures calculated to precipitate such an event, to be inconsistent with the pacific views which have uniformly regulated his conduct in seeking to combine the principal powers of Hindustan in a general system of defensive alliance and guarantee, unless such a course of proceeding should be indispensably necessary for the accomplishment of the main object of securing the effect of the defensive engagements now contracted with the Peishwa. In his Excellency's judgment that necessity does not exist. Admitting that the Peishwa, having been reluctantly compelled by the exigency of his affairs to solicit the aid of the British government, would be anxious to annul his late engagements with the British power, if any other means were left for the re-establishment of his authority, it is not probable that in the actual state of affairs, the Peishwa would throw himself upon

the