Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/123

Rh of this important treaty, and expresses himself thus in his Private Journal: —

'Sindhia subscribes to all the conditions which I dictated, and has swallowed a hitter drench in so doing. I should have thought myself oppressive had he not been so thoroughly false a fellow. The engaging to co-operate in the extirpation of the Pindárís, whom he has fostered — to whom he has plighted protection, and who really have hitherto constituted a material part of his strength, — must be deeply mortifying.'

After explaining the main features of the treaty, he goes on: —

'Important as those points are, they fall short in that respect of our emancipation from the article in our treaty of 1805, by which the British Government had debarred itself of the right of entering into relations with any state over which the Maráthás claimed prerogatives. As the Maráthás advanced this pretension with regard to every state of Central India, except Jaipur — this strange gratuitous engagement prevented our forming any confederacy which should check Maráthá combinations. Every state, quite to the Indus, has solicited me to take it under British protection; but I have, till now, been restricted from meeting the petition. In consequence of the present treaty, I shall immediately fashion this league of the western states, guaranteeing to Sindhia or Holkar any acknowledged dues from those states which prescription has established ... We are in a fair way of achieving arrangements which will afford quiet and safety to millions who have long been writhing under the scourge of the predatory powers, as well as under the ferocious cruelty of the Pindárís. I trust that my soul is adequately grateful to the Almighty for allowing me to be the humble