XX. MAHRATTA WAR, AND PEACE.

I.

THAT by an Act passed in 1773 it was expressly ordered and provided," that it should not "be lawful for any President and Council at Ma

dras, Bombay, or Bencoolen, for the time being, "to make any orders for commencing hostilities, "or declaring or making war, against any Indian "princes or powers, or for negotiating or conclud"ing any treaty of peace, or other treaty, with any "such Indian princes or powers, without the con"sent and approbation of the Governour-General "and Council first had and obtained, except in "such cases of imminent necessity as would ren"der it dangerous to postpone such hostilities or "treaties, until the orders from the Governour"General and Council might arrive."That nevertheless the President and Council of Bombay did, in December 1774, without the consent and approbation of the Governour-General and Council of Fort-William, and in the midst of profound‐ peace, commence an unjust and unprovoked war against the Mahratta Government; did conclude a treaty with a certain person, a fugitive from that government,

government, and proscribed by it, named Ragonaut Row, or Ragoba; and did, under various base and treacherous pretences, invade and conquer the island of Salsette, belonging to the Mahratta Government.

II.

That Warren Hastings, on the first advices received in Bengal of the above transactions, did condemn the same in the strongest terms; declaring, that "the measures adopted by the Presidency " of Bombay had a tendency to a very extensive " and indefinite scene of troubles; and that their "conduct was unseasonable, impolitick, unjust, and "unauthorized."And the Governour-General and Council, in order to put a stop to the said unjust hostilities, did appoint an ambassadour to the Peshwa or Chief of the Mahratta State, resident at Poona; and the said ambassadour did, after a long negotiation, conclude a definitive treaty of peace with the said Peshwa on terms highly honourable and beneficial to the East India Company, who by the said treaty obtained from the Mahrattas a cession of considerable tracts of country, the Mahratta share of the city of Broach, twelve lacks of rupees for the expenses of the said unjust war, and particularly the island of Salsette, of which the Presidency of Bombay had possessed themselves by surprise and treachery; that in return for these extraordinary concessions, the articles principally insisted

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insisted on by the Mahrattas, with a view to their own future tranquillity and internal quiet, were, that no assistance should be given to any subject or servant of the Peshwa, that should cause disturbances or rebellion in the Mahratta dominions, and particularly that the English should not assist Ragonaut Row, to whom the Mahrattas agreed to allow five lacks of rupees a year, or a Jaghire to that amount, and that he should reside at Benares; that nevertheless the Presidency of Bombay did receive and keep Ragonaut Row at Bombay, did furnish him with a considerable establishment, and continue to carry on secret intrigues and negotiations with him, thereby giving just ground of jealousy and distrust to the Mahratta State; that the late Colonel John Upton, by whom the treaty of Poorunder was negotiated and concluded, did declare to the Governour-General and Council, "that while Ragonaut Row resides at Bombay "in expectation of being supported, the ministers

can place no confidence in the Council there; "which must now be productive of the greatest "inconveniencies, and perhaps in the end of fatal "consequences." That the said Warren Hastings, concurring with his Council, which then consisted of Sir John Clavering, Richard Barwell, and Philip Francis, Esquires, did, on the 18th of August 1777, declare to the Presidency of Bombay, that "he "could see no reason to doubt, that the presence of

Ragoba

Ragoba at Bombay would continue to be an "insuperable bar to the completion of the treaty "concluded with the Mahratta Government; nor "could any sincere cordiality and good under"standing be established with them, as long as he "should appear to derive encouragement and sup66 port from the English." That Sir John Clavering died soon after, and that the late Edward Wheler, Esquire, succeeded to a seat in the Supreme Council. That on the 29th of January 1778, the Governour-General and Council received a letter from the Presidency of Bombay, dated 12th December 1777, in which they declared, "that they had agreed to give encourage"ment to a party formed in Ragoba's favour, and "flattered themselves they should meet with the hearty concurrence of the Governour-General "and Council in the measures they might be "obliged to pursue in consequence." That the party so described was said to consist of four principal persons in the Mahratta State, on whose part some overtures had been made to Mr. William Lewis, the Resident of Bombay, at Poona, for the assistance of the Company to bring Ragoba to Poona. That the said Warren Hastings, immediately on the receipt of the preceding advices, did propose and carry it in Council, by means of his casting voice, and against the remonstrances, arguments, and solemn protest of two members of the Supreme Council,

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Council, that the sanction of that Government should be given to the plan, which the President and Council of Bombay had agreed to form with the Mahratta Government; and also, that a supply of money (to the amount of ten lacks of rupees) should be immediately granted to the President and Council of Bombay for the support of their engagements above mentioned; and also that a military force should be sent to the Presidency of Bombay. That in defence of these resolutions the said Warren Hastings did falsely pretend and affirm, "that the resolution of the Presidency of

Bombay was formed on such a case of imminent

necessity as would have rendered it dangerous "to postpone the execution of it until the orders "from the Governour-General and Council might "arrive; and that the said Presidency of Bombay

were warranted by the treaty of Poorunder to

join in a plan for conducting Ragonaut Row to "Poona on the application of the ruling part of the "Mahratta State;" whereas the main object of the said treaty on the part of the Mahrattas, and to obtain which they made many important concessions to the India Company, was, that the English should withdraw their forces, and give no assistance to Ragoba, and that he should be excluded for ever from any share in their Government, being a person universally held in abhorrence in the Mahratta Empire; and if it had been true (instead fo being, as