Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/159

Rh of poisoning Gokla, the general of his army, if in consequence we would admit him to terms .' He had also wished to impress the natives of India by the capture of the Peshwá, without being forced to grant beforehand any conditions whatsoever, and he considered that the sum of money allotted for the maintenance of such a man was altogether too large. He had fixed two lakhs as the proper amount, believing that any surplus would be used to foment intrigues against the British authority. On the other hand, Malcolm pleaded that the Peshwá if driven to desperation would have taken refuge in Asírgarh, that it was impossible at that period of the year to besiege it, that as long as Bájí Ráo remained at large there would be no peace in the Decean, and that the war would have been needlessly protracted for several months.

Lord Hastings was not convinced by this reasoning; but he acknowledged the importance of the capture, and 'the zeal and ability manifested by Sir J. Malcolm,' and stated in 1822, 'Now, after the lapse of four years from the period of Bájí Ráo's surrender, I am happy to state that none of the ill consequences I apprehended, from the very favourable terms offered by Sir J. Malcolm, have taken place, except that perhaps a larger actual expense has been incurred than would have sufficed to put him down. On reviewing the whole transaction, however, I see no reason for admitting that my original view, based on the facts before stated, was erroneous .’