Factions at the imperial court – Escape of Mina Jewan Bukht – Afrasiab Khan negotiates with the English – Governor-general declines all interference – Afrasiab Khan has recourse to Mahadajee Sindia – Sindia’s progress since the treaty of Salbye – Benoit de Boigne – Sindia accepts the invitation of Afrasiab Khan – Marches to Agra – Afrasiab Khan assassinated – The whole power falls into the hands of Sindia – his policy in regard to the Peishwa – The Emperor confers on him the command of the army, &c – Mohomedan chiefs submit – The Dooab taken possession of – Agra, and Aligurh taken – Effect of the news of these events at the Poona court – Sindia intoxicated by his success, prefers a demand on the British Government, for the Chouth of Bengal – Determination of the acting governor-general, to send an envoy to the -Peishwa’s court – Sindia’s objections – Affairs in the Deccan
At the imperial court we left Afrasiab Khan, and Mohummud Beg Humadanee, struggling for the superiority. The former at first obtained the advantage, owing principally to his having the control of the emperor’s person, but foreseeing no probability of reducing his rival with the means at his disposal, he contemplated an alliance with some of the neighbouring states, and cast his eyes successively towards the nabob vizier, the English, and the Mahrattas. Whilst hesitating in his choice, the emperor’s son prince Mirza Jewan Bukht made his escape from Delhi, fled to Lucknow, where the governor-general then was,
and threw himself on his protection and that of the nabob vizier. He was promised an asylum; but although he entreated assistance in his father’s name, Mr. Hastings declined affording it. The prince’s flight, however, alarmed Afrasiab Khan, and he voluntarily offered to make any arrangement for the emperor, which the governor-general and the nabob vizier might suggest, provided they would support him with a sufficient force to suppress the rebellion of Mohummud Beg. But these overtures being also rejected, Afrasiab Khan had recourse to Mahadajee Sindia362.
Since the ratification of the treaty of Salbye, Sindia had obtained considerable advantages. Several of the minor Rajpoot chieftains, contiguous to Malwa, had returned to their former allegiance as Mahratta tributaries. The fortress of Gwalior, after a protracted siege, was restored by the Rana of Gohud, who was constrained to surrender himself a prisoner on a verbal promise of maintenance and protection363. A body of troops was sent into Bundelcund for the purpose of endeavouring to reduce that province. These troops were under the command of Appa Khunde Rao, who was attended by a body of regulars, raised by a European gentleman named Benoit de Boigne364.
But Sindia, whilst prosecuting those objects, was anxiously watching the confusion and contentions in the imperial territory. He had been invited to
take a part both by Mohummud Beg and Afrasiab Khan, but as the invitation sent by the latter was ostensibly from the emperor, Sindia preferred
accepting it, and set out for Agra, towards which the imperial court was advancing. A meeting took place on the 22d October, but immediately afterwards,
Afrasiab Khan was assassinated by the brother of the late Mirza Shuffee, in whose murder Afrasiab Khan secretly participated365. As Sindia derived most advantage from the death of Afrasiab Khan, and as the assassin sought and found an asylum in his camp, he did not escape suspicion of being accessory to the murder; but those who knew Mahadajee best never accused him of a deed so atrocious. The event, however, vested Sindia with complete authority at Delhi, and placed him in a situation, which he had only hoped to attain at some remote period. He refused the office of Umeer Ool Oomrah, but with his usual sagacity, obtained for the Peishwa that of Wukeel-i-Mootluq, or supreme deputy, a dignity first conferred on the great Nizam Ool Moolk by Mohummud Shah; and Sindia, reversing the domestic policy of the Bramins, who always endeavour to be first in power but second in name, secured for himself the appointment of deputy to the Peishwa, so that he thus held by authority the executive power in Hindoostan, and a rank, which if he ever should be able and desirous of asserting
it, would supersede that of all other ministers in the court of the Peishwa. The emperor also conferred on him the command of his army, and gave up the provinces of Delhi and Agra to his management. For all which Sindia engaged to pay sixty-five thousand rupees monthly, in order to defray the expenses of the imperial household, and to that sum additions were gradually to be made, according to the increasing prosperity of the provinces366.
As Sindia appeared at the head of a powerful army, many of the officers serving with Mohummud Beg Humadanee withdrew from his party, and paid their respects to the emperor. Mohummud Beg likewise acknowledged Sindia’s authority, accepted a command, and was sent to reduce Raghoogurh, in the province of Kichwara, which he effected, and remained in that country for a considerable period.
The imperial districts in the Dooab were speedily taken possession of, and Ryajee Paten was sent by Sindia to besiege Agra, the governor of which at first refused to give it up, but on the 27th March it surrendered, when the emperor’s second son, Akber, was appointed nominal governor of the province, and Ryajee367 Patell real governor of the fortress. The widow and brother of Afrasiab Khan resided in the fort
of Aligurh, but refused to admit Sindia’s garrison, and sustained a siege until the middle of November, when they also surrendered.
The news of Sindia’s success was received by the people at Poona with surprise and joy: a small body of the Peishwa’s troops was sent off to join him as a measure of state policy, to preserve the appearance of the Peishwa’s co-operation and supremacy; but Holkar and Nana Furnuwees were jealous of his elevation, and Sindia, at no period of his life, was so little on his guard to prevent that jealousy from being turned against him. In the first intoxication of success he so far lost sight of his usual prudence, as to make a demand, under the emperor’s authority, for the Chouth of the British provinces in Bengal. To this arrogance he was probably encouraged by the departure of Mr. Hastings on the 8th February for England; but Mr. Macpherson, who had succeeded to the temporary charge of the supreme government, not only denied the existence of such a claim, but insisted on its being disavowed; and Sindia, perceiving that the acting governor-general would not submit even to temporize with encroachment, acknowledged its impropriety. Mr. Macpherson conceived that the ambitious nature of Sindia’s policy was very dangerous, and endeavoured to raise some counterpoise to his progress by exciting the jealousy and rivalry already entertained towards him among the other Mahratta chiefs. Moodajee Bhonslay being at Poona when the demand for the Chouth of Bengal was made, the Bombay government, by Mr. Macpherson’s desire, paid him extraordinary attention, which had the effect of gratifying Moodajee
and alarming Sindia. Nana Furnuwees was encouraged in a desire he had frequently expressed of having a British resident at the Peishwa’s court, and Mr. Charles Malet was chosen for that important mission. Although no part of the treaty of Salbye precluded the British government from sending an envoy to Poona, yet as considerable delicacy was due towards Sindia, it was desirable that he should give his assent to the appointment; and it was supposed that this could be best obtained by Mr. Malet’s proceeding in person to Sindia’s camp; but the latter was too sagacious not to perceive the loss of influence which Mr. Malet’s mission would occasion him. He observed, that after having been entrusted for three years with the management of the English affairs at the court of Poona, the appointment of a political agent of their own would naturally impress the chiefs of the Deccan with an idea that the British government was dissatisfied with his conduct, and had revoked the confidence it had previously reposed. But these objections, however plausible, were not of sufficient weight to dissuade Mr. Macpherson from the measure which he deemed it necessary to adopt. It was determined that Mr. Malet should proceed as envoy to the court of Poona; but before the arrangement was finally settled, events had taken place to the southward, which rendered the appointment still more essential to the interests of the British government.
362. Scott.
363. Scott.
364. As M. de Boigne’s progress in the Mahratta service will be found conspicuous, his previous history becomes interesting. M. de Boigne was born at Chamberri, in Savoy, in the territory of the king of Sardinia. He began his career as an ensign, in the regiment of Clare, in the Irish brigade, in the service of France, a corps then famous for its discipline. Seeing little prospect of advancement, and hearing that Russia, then at war with Turkey, was much in want of officers, in the Grecian Archipelago, he resigned his commission, and repaired to Turin, where having obtained letters of recommendation from the Sardinian minister, he proceeded to Greece. Soon after his arrival, he was promoted to the rank of captain, in a Greek regiment, in the Russian service. Being employed on an injudicous descent made upon the island of Tenedos, he was taken prisoner by a sally from the Turkish garrison, and conveyed to Scio, where he was kept until the peace which was soon after concluded. On being released, he embarked for Smyrna, at which place, happening to meet some Englishmen from India, he was so struck with their account of the country, that he resolved on trying his fortune there. He proceeded to Constantinople, and thence to Aleppo, where he joined a caravan for Bagdad; but in consequence of the successes of the Persians against the Turks, the caravan, after they had arrived near Bagdad, being under an apprehension of falling into the hands of the victors, retraced their steps to Aleppo. De Boigne, balked in his endeavours of getting to India by that route, repaired to Grand Cairo, where be became acquainted with Mr. Baldwin, the British consul-general, and through his influence and kindness, not only obtained a passage to India, but by a letter from that gentleman, to Major Sydenham, town-major of Fort St. George, M. de Boigne, soon after his arrival at Madras, was recommended so Mr. Rumbold, the governor, and appointed an ensign in the 6th Native Battalion, under that presidency. M. de Boigne’s corps was with Baillie’s detachment, destroyed by Tippoo; but De B. being at the time detached on escort duty, to convey grain from Madras, escaped. A short time after this event, in consequence of an act of injustice, which he conceived he had experienced from the Governor, Lord Macartney, respecting the adjutancy of a detachment, he resigned his commission in the Company’s service, with an intention of proceeding to Calcutta, and thence overland to Russia. Lord Macartney, when he became sensible of the injustice, would have repaired it, but M. de Boigne appearing determined in his purpose, Lord M. gave him letters of recommendation to the governor-general, Mr. Hastings, by whom, on his arrival at Calcutta, he was kindly received, and by him furnished with letters, not only to the British authorities in the upper provinces, but to the native princes in alliance with the English government, which, owing to the presents, an individual so recommended would have thus received, ensured civility, together with considerable pecuniary advantage. De Boigne experienced this advantage in a peculiar degree, on his arrival at Lucknow, where the nabob made him rich presents, and furnished him with letters of credit on Cabul and Candahar for 12,000 rupees. He set forward on his journey, in company with Major Brown, at that time deputed on a mission to the Emperor; but Major Brown’s progress having been interrupted by the jealousy of the Emperor’s ministers, M. de Boigne, in consequence of being supposed one of his suite, was also detained, and took this opportunity of inaction to visit Sindia’s camp, on the invitation of Mr. Anderson, the resident. Sindia being suspicious of De Boigne, and desirous of ascertaining his real character which he expected to discover from the letters in his possession, caused all his baggage to be stolen by some dexterous thieves, whom he employed for the purpose; and although, on Mr. Anderson’s application, the greater part of the baggage was restored, the letters and credits were not given up, a circumstance, as M. de Boigne conceived, equally ruinous to his fortune, and his journey. It was then he first thought of endeavouring to get employed in the service of some native prince; and Gwalior being at this period besieged by Sindia, De Boigne formed a scheme for its relief, which he communicated to the Rana of Gohud, through an officer named Sangster, a Scotch-man, who commanded one thousand well disciplined Sepoys, and a very respectable train of artillery, in the Rana’s service. De Boigne proposed, on receiving an advance of 100,000 rupees, to raise two battalions within the Emperor’s territory, east of the Jumna, in such a manner as to prevent suspicion, and in conjunction with Sangster from Gohud, to fall on Sindia’s camp by surprize. There was little doubt but the plan would have succeeded, had not the Rana been afraid to trust De Boigne with the requisite advance of money; but in order to intimidate Sindia, he published the proposed scheme, in all his ukhbars, as about to take place. The knowledge of the circumstance excited the enmity of Sindia towards De Boigne, although he saw the merit of the suggestion. De Boigne next made overtures to the Raja of Jeypoor, and was commissioned by him to raise two battalions; but having inadvertently communicated this circumstance to the governor-general, in an official form, Mr. Hastings, who had no objections to tolerate, although he could not sanction his being so employed, ordered him to Calcutta, – a summons with which M. de Boigne immediately complied. Mr. Hastings was so pleased by the prompt obedience shown to his commands, that he permitted him to return; but before he could reach the upper provinces, events had occurred which induced the Raja of Jeypoor to alter his intentions. This change was a severe disappointment to De Boigne; but the Raja made him a present of 10,000 rupees. At this juncture De Boigne heard of Sindia’s intended expedition to Bundelcund, and proposed to raise two battalions, of eight hundred and fifty men each, for that service, to which, after some negotiation, Sindia agreed. No advance of money was granted, but De Boigne was allowed for himself, one thousand rupees, and for each man indiscriminately, eight rupees a month. To the privates M. de Boigne gave five and a half rupees monthly, and paid the officers proportionally from the balance. The battalions were formed, as nearly as possible, on the plan of those in the English service, and armed, disciplined, and clothed after that manner; the labour which this imposed on an individual may be easily conceived by any person acquainted with military affairs. De Boigne gradually got European officers of all nations into his corps. Sangster, from the service of the Rana of Gohud, joined him, and became superintendant of his cannon foundry. The continuation of his memoirs will appear in the progress of the Mahratta history. What I have here stated is on the authority of General Count De Boigne himself, from notes taken in his presence. I avail myself of this opportunity to express my acknowledgments to General Count de Boigne, for the obliging manner in which he communicated various points of information, during my visit to his hospitable mansion at Chamberri.
365. Francklin’s Life of Shah Alum.
366. Bengal Records.
367. Ryajee’s surname was Sindia. He was a favourite commander of Mahadajee Sindia, and a Paten of Panoura, a village near Assee Oomra. Ryajee Patell must not be confounded with another eminent person, Ramjee Patell, whose surname was Jadow. Ramjee commenced his career in the humble capacity of Bargeer, in the service of Ryajee.
This collection transcribed by Chris Gage