Page:Mádhava Ráo Sindhia and the Hindu Reconquest of India.djvu/40



was mentioned above that in 1759 the Maráthás in Hindustán were under the command of two sons of Ránojí Sindhia. These were Dattáji and 'Madhoji, or Mádhava Ráo, two young men who had already distinguished themselves against the French and their 'Nizám' in the war of 1751. Of the former of these we shall have nothing further to record: he endeavoured to secure the friendship of Najib and the Rohillás in the event of any conflict with Ahmad Sháh that might be approaching; and he then went off to the Punjab accompanied by Malhár Ráo Holkar, to meet the Afghans by whom they were defeated and forced to fly, though not till Dattáji had fallen.

The heart of the exhausted Empire had now almost ceased to beat. Never in modern times has a civilised country fallen into such a condition. The state Of France during the Hundred Years War was bad enough, but there was still a centre of royalty and a spark of patriotic spirit left, among the governing classes, if the people at large had lost hope. Here, the ruin of the government had been gradual and