Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/101

Rh Bhonsla died, and his son Pursají, being blind and imbecile, was incapable of ruling. Thereupon two chiefs contested the right of being named regent or virtual master of this important principality. Mahdují, Raghují's nephew, commonly called Apá Sahib, being next heir according to native custom, had the best title to the office, and he enforced his claim by the capture of his rival; but feeling himself still insecure, he proposed the conclusion of a subsidiary alliance with the British Government. The importance of this overture could be scarcely overrated, and it became all the more apparent, even to the Indian Council, after the Pindárí irruption, just mentioned, had shown the apparent ease with which these detestable freebooters were able to devastate with impunity a British province. The Governor-General therefore experienced little difficulty in complying with Apá Sahib's request, and a subsidiary treaty was signed on the 27th May. By such an alliance, security was obtained for 300 miles of frontier, which up to that time was almost totally unguarded ; the secret plans of the Peshwá and of Sindhia to re-establish the Maráthá confederacy were disconcerted; and a military position was occupied near the Narbadá, from which the territories of the latter prince were exposed to attack, and whence Pindárí raids might in future be more easily intercepted.

'I regard this event as giving me the fairest ground of confidence that I shall be able to achieve all I wish to effect for the Company's interest without any war. This rests