Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/384

 BHARTPUR.

374

ment. At the commencement of the Mardtha war, in 1803, a treaty was concluded wnth him by the British Government, as a consequence of which Lord Lake was joined by a Bhartpur contingent of horse, which did good service at the battle of Laswari (Laswaree), and throughout the campaign against Sindhia. For these services, the British Government transferred to Bhartpur 5 districts, yielding But when war broke out with Holkar, the Raja 7 lakhs of rupees. of Bhartpur first attempted evasion and then refused to send his contingent and when the routed troops of Holkar were pursued to the glacis of Dig, a destructive artillery fire was opened from the ramparts on the British troops. Thereupon Lord Lake attacked Dig, and carried it by assault. Bhartpur was then invested on the 7th January 1805. The town was 8 miles in circumference, surrounded by a mud wall of great height and thickness, protected by numerous bastions, and a broad and deep moat filled with water. The garrison was estimated at 8000 men and the artillery at hand for employment in breaching bore no proportion to the defensive strength of the works. Four successive assaults were repulsed; and finally the British army, with a loss of 388 killed and 1894 wounded, was compelled to Though victorious, the Rd.jd was evidently alarmed at the withdraw. pertinacity of the assailants, aad his success was followed by overtures Ranjit Singh surrendered the fort, and agreed to expel for peace. Holkar from his territories. By this treaty, the five districts conferred on him in 1803 were resumed, and he agreed to pay an indemnity of 20 Idkhs of rupees (say ^200,000), 7 lakhs of which were subsequently



remitted.

Ranjit Singh of Bhartpur died in 1805, leaving four sons.

Randhir Singh, ruled

for eighteen years



The

eldest,

the second, Baldeo Singh, suc-

Balwant Singh was now the ceeded, but only ruled eighteen months. rightful heir; but his cousin, Diirjan Sal, grandson of Ranjit Singh, seized the fortress of Bhartpur and imprisoned the heir in 1826.

An army

of

25,000 men, well provided with artillery, led by Lord Combermere, Notwithstanding the large force of marched against Bhartpur.

and thickness of the walls offered such resistance it became necessary to resort to mining. The mines were commenced on December 23rd, and sprung on the 17th January following, when a sufficient breach was effected, and the Diirjan Sal was made prisoner fortress carried by assault on the i8th. artillery,

the strength

to the breaching batteries that



Balwant Singh, then an regent,

and a

political

infant,

was placed

mother acting as In 1835, Balwant

in power, his

agent superintending

affairs.

charge of the administration, and died in 1853, being succeeded by his only son the present Mahardja, Jaswant Singh, who

Singh was put

in

was born in 1852. During his minority, the administration was carried on by a political agent and council of seven Sardars. The government