The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

reason to doubt that the presence of Ragoba at Bombay would continue to be an
insuperable bar to the completion of the treaty concluded with the Mahratta government;
nor could any sincere cordiality and good understanding be established with them, as long
as he should appear to derive encouragement and support from the English." That Sir John
Clavering died soon after, and that the late Edward Wheler, Esquire, succeeded to a seat in
the Supreme Council. That on the 29th of January, 1778, the Governor-General and Council
received a letter from the Presidency of Bombay, dated 12th December, 1777, in which
they declared, "that they had agreed to give encouragement to a party formed in Ragoba's
favor, and flattered themselves they should meet with the hearty concurrence of the
Governor-General and Council in the measures they might be obliged to pursue in
consequence." That the party so described was said to consist of four principal persons in
the Mahratta state, on whose part some overtures had been made to Mr. William Lewis, the
Resident of Bombay at Poonah, for the assistance of the Company to bring Ragoba to
Poonah. That the said Warren Hastings, immediately on the receipt of the preceding
advices, did propose and carry it in Council, by means of his casting voice, and against the
remonstrances, arguments, and solemn protest of two members of the Supreme Council,
that the sanction of that government should be given to the plan which the President and
Council of Bombay had agreed to form with the Mahratta government; and also that a
supply of money (to the amount of ten lacs of rupees) should be immediately granted to the
President and Council of Bombay for the support of their engagements above mentioned;
and also that a military force should be sent to the Presidency of Bombay. That in defence
of these resolutions the said Warren Hastings did falsely pretend and affirm, "that the
resolution of the Presidency of Bombay was formed on such a case of imminent necessity as
would have rendered it dangerous to postpone the execution of it until the orders from the

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