DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0311
287
CHAPTER IX.
TRIMB.TJKJEE, 1815-1817.
CHARACTEK OP BAJEE RAO—HXS POLICY—TRIMBXJKJEE—MURDER OE TIIE
SHASTREE—ACTION OP THE RESIDENT—BAJEE RAO GIVES WAY—IM-
PRISOHMENT OP TRIMBUKJEE—HIS ESCAPE—KEW TROUBLES—PREPA-
RATIONS POR WAR—A CRISIS, AND NEW TREATY.
The settlement witli the Jageerdars, described in the preceding
chapter, whilst it added to the Peshwa’s power, served in some
respect to draw closer his alliance with the British Grovern-
ment. The military resources, placed apparently under his
control, were at first a source of alarm, and he rushed eagerly
into a plan which had frequently been submitted to him before
to raise a brigade under the command of British officers, and
render him independent of his feudatories.
The stability which his government now acquired led him
to form exaggerated expectations of gaining new strength,
mixed with some obscure dreams of restoring the authority of
the first Peshwas; but, in Mr. Elphinstone’s opinion, Bajee
Rao never seriously entertained a thought of an increase to
his own power at the expense of the British alliance previous to
the events that I have now to relate.
As the character of the prince determined the course of
the events that culminated in his ruin, I give the portrait of
the man as drawn by Mr. Elphinstone after some years of
residence at Poona. It is taken from a report on the resources
and character of the Peshwa’s' Gfovernment, drawn up in
Rovember 1815.
‘ The character of his Highness the Peshwa has always
perplexed those who have been interested in discovering his
sentiments or calculating on his conduct. This is partly owing
CHAPTER IX.
TRIMB.TJKJEE, 1815-1817.
CHARACTEK OP BAJEE RAO—HXS POLICY—TRIMBXJKJEE—MURDER OE TIIE
SHASTREE—ACTION OP THE RESIDENT—BAJEE RAO GIVES WAY—IM-
PRISOHMENT OP TRIMBUKJEE—HIS ESCAPE—KEW TROUBLES—PREPA-
RATIONS POR WAR—A CRISIS, AND NEW TREATY.
The settlement witli the Jageerdars, described in the preceding
chapter, whilst it added to the Peshwa’s power, served in some
respect to draw closer his alliance with the British Grovern-
ment. The military resources, placed apparently under his
control, were at first a source of alarm, and he rushed eagerly
into a plan which had frequently been submitted to him before
to raise a brigade under the command of British officers, and
render him independent of his feudatories.
The stability which his government now acquired led him
to form exaggerated expectations of gaining new strength,
mixed with some obscure dreams of restoring the authority of
the first Peshwas; but, in Mr. Elphinstone’s opinion, Bajee
Rao never seriously entertained a thought of an increase to
his own power at the expense of the British alliance previous to
the events that I have now to relate.
As the character of the prince determined the course of
the events that culminated in his ruin, I give the portrait of
the man as drawn by Mr. Elphinstone after some years of
residence at Poona. It is taken from a report on the resources
and character of the Peshwa’s' Gfovernment, drawn up in
Rovember 1815.
‘ The character of his Highness the Peshwa has always
perplexed those who have been interested in discovering his
sentiments or calculating on his conduct. This is partly owing