The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

purpose of using the forces of the said Ranna in opposition to the Mahrattas.

That, among other articles, it was stipulated with the said Ranna by the said Warren
Hastings, "that, whenever peace should be concluded between the Company and the
Mahratta state, the Maha Rajah should be included as a party in the treaty which should be
made for that purpose, and his present possessions, together with the fort of Gualior, which
of old belonged to the family of the Maha Rajah, if it should be then in his possession, and
such countries as he should have acquired in the course of war, and which it should then be
stipulated to leave in his hands, should be guarantied to him by such treaty."

That, in the late war against the Mahrattas, the said Ranna of Gohud did actually join the
British army under the command of Colonel Muir with two battalions of infantry and
twelve hundred cavalry, and did then serve in person against the Mahrattas, thereby
affording material assistance, and rendering essential service to the Company.

That, in conformity to the above-mentioned treaty, in the fourth article of the treaty of
peace concluded on the 13th of October, 1781, between Colonel Muir, on the part of the
English Company, and Mahdajee Sindia, the Mahratta general, the said Ranna of Gohud
was expressly included.

That, notwithstanding the said express provision and agreement, Mahdajee Sindia
proceeded to attack the forts and lay waste the territories of the said Ranna, and did
undertake and prosecute a war against him for the space of two years, in the course of
which the Ranna and his family were reduced to extreme distress, and in the end he was
deprived of his forts, and the whole not only of his acquired possessions, but of his original
dominions, so specially guarantied to him by the British government in both the above-

<<   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   >>

More intriguing information