Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/353

Book IX "What advantage, he said, can you Europeans derive from the possession of this post, situated in the center of Indostan? If you hold it with your own troops, it will only serve to weaken your army every time you quit the neighbourhood of Aurungabad. If you leave it to the care of Salabadjing's, his enemies, who are yours, will find means to get it, as Shanavaze Khan lately did. Would it not be better to give it me? If I obtain it by your means, you have too much experience of my character to doubt of my gratitude; and the confusions which reign in the court of Salabadjing, the situation of your northern provinces, and the war in which you are engaged with the English in the Carnatic, may soon give me opportunities of rendering important services to your nation." Mr. Bussy replied, that his principal motive for taking possession of Doltabad had been to secure a certain refuge for the personal safety of Salabadjing against all the accidents of war, and all the convulsions of his Government. Balagerow, although disappointed, manifested no umbrage, but continued in his camp, waiting from events some better opportunity of renewing his plea.

Many had conjectured the motives of his return, and the enemies of Salabadjing expected an immediate rupture between them; and Nizamally, encouraged by this hope, solicited his alliance, promising to give him Doltabad if ever in his power. But Balagerow gave no encouragement to his proposals; on which, he with much hypocrisy pretended to be at length convinced of the misdemeanors of his late conduct, and assured Salabadjing and Mr. Bussy that he should cheerfully accept and abide by their determination of his fortune. His professions, although doubted, were accepted; because the seduction of some of his connexions, and the imprisonment of the most dangerous, had greatly weakened his means of mischief; but, not to shock by too sudden an humiliation the public respect to his birth, it was agreed to give him the government of Hydrabad, which, although much abridged of its ancient domain, still remained a very considerable province of the Decan. Nizamally affecting to be perfectly satisfied with the lot, visited Salabadjing, received the investiture in public, and made ostentatious preparations to proceed to