Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/97

Rh Trimbakjí's guilt was clear, and that of the Peshwá scarcely admitted of any doubt, but the latter vehemently protested his own innocence, and his personal repudiation of the crime was accepted; the victim, however, was an accredited envoy, whose safety was specially guaranteed by the Governor-General, and the murder had to be avenged. The Resident therefore put the Peshwá's sincerity to the test, and immediately demanded the apprehension of the guilty favourite. A crisis now arose; Bájí Ráo hesitated between the sacrifice of a powerful and useful accomplice, and a rupture with the British Government, and thus every subterfuge was exhausted, and delay resorted to to save the culprit; but Mr. Elphinstone remained firm to his reasonable demand, and at last, on the 11th of September, Trimbakjí was surrendered and confined in a fort near Bombay. This incident being terminated, the negotiations which had been interrupted were renewed, but the Peshwá took little interest in them, devoting himself with more zest to the formation of a Maratha combination against British supremacy. On the other hand, the murder of a high-caste Bráhman which had been committed almost before the eyes of the foremost Maráthá prince lowered his cause in public estimation, while the manner in which the crime had been avenged by the Resident gave Government an advantage when the struggle became imminent.

As former representations, sent to England, referring to the atrocities perpetrated by the Pindárís, produced