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 CHAPTER XIV

Combination of the Maráthás and the Nizám with Haidar against the English – Fruitless Negotiations

During the progress of these festivities an ambassador named Ganésh Ráo arrived at Haidar's capital with proposals from the Poona Darbár that he should join the Maráthás and the Nizám in expelling the English from Southern India. The history of the complicated transactions which led to this design will show to the unprejudiced reader, on the one hand the moderation of Haidar, and on the other the perfidy of the Nawáb of Arcot and the weakness of the Madras Government.

It may be remembered that in March, 1775, the Bombay Government had made a treaty with Raghubá, in which they agreed to support his pretensions. But it soon became apparent that the great mass of the Maráthá nation, including the powerful chiefs, Sindhia and Holkar, were adverse to his rule, being stimulated in their opposition by the astute policy of Náná Farnavis, who, it is alleged, desired to supplant in his own person the family of the Peshwá.