DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.34827#0057
1817-18.
71%^?
41
us, partly no doubt from the hopelessness of resistance, partly
also from the hope of good government and anxiety for peace.
The Peshwa has gone to Chanda, and if he keeps to the north-
ward I should suppose Sindia would join. It was a pity the
grand army was broken up. On the other hand, if Bajee Rao
turns on Hyderabad it is not unlikely there will be an insurrec-
tion there. If, however, which is most likely, he receives a
blow from Adams, Doveton, or Smith, all chance of other states
joining him will end ; most likely the bulk of his troops will
return to plague me, either in the shape of banditti, or recruits
for our irregular horse. We must have a little cutting up of
banditti before this country is quiet, but on the whole I hope
to see all settled within the year, and in another year at
furthest to hand over the country to the Government of
Bombay. I then go home for want of an appointment;
but as to enjoying, &c., there as you speak of, you forget that
all the world has not 1,000L a year, though you have. It is
hard to say what my future plans may be, and in that un-
certainty lies a good deal of the pleasure of my present life.
It is really a very pleasant one, the present active and interest-
ing, the future uncertain, but promising. The beauty of it is,
that what I formerly wished to do, but durst not, from fear of
the bad consequences of leaving a good place, is now become
the height of prudence when I have no place to lose. Till I
get home I willingly renounce all hope of seeing you, for I
should think it worse than insanity for you to return from the
Cape. I really am astonished at your proposing it. Wherever
you go, do not fail to write to me. There is nothing I ever
receive with more interest than one of your letters. I cannot
say I ewv?/ your Ciceronian studies on the voyage, but I
envy them if I were idle, and I hope I shall one day
partake them with inhnite satisfaction by the fireside at
home. To return to politics, I have only taken the favour-
able and what I think the true view of them; but there
is something alarming in the great strides we are making
towards universal dominion. We never before attempted the
complete conquest of a country. Even Mysore was saved from
71%^?
41
us, partly no doubt from the hopelessness of resistance, partly
also from the hope of good government and anxiety for peace.
The Peshwa has gone to Chanda, and if he keeps to the north-
ward I should suppose Sindia would join. It was a pity the
grand army was broken up. On the other hand, if Bajee Rao
turns on Hyderabad it is not unlikely there will be an insurrec-
tion there. If, however, which is most likely, he receives a
blow from Adams, Doveton, or Smith, all chance of other states
joining him will end ; most likely the bulk of his troops will
return to plague me, either in the shape of banditti, or recruits
for our irregular horse. We must have a little cutting up of
banditti before this country is quiet, but on the whole I hope
to see all settled within the year, and in another year at
furthest to hand over the country to the Government of
Bombay. I then go home for want of an appointment;
but as to enjoying, &c., there as you speak of, you forget that
all the world has not 1,000L a year, though you have. It is
hard to say what my future plans may be, and in that un-
certainty lies a good deal of the pleasure of my present life.
It is really a very pleasant one, the present active and interest-
ing, the future uncertain, but promising. The beauty of it is,
that what I formerly wished to do, but durst not, from fear of
the bad consequences of leaving a good place, is now become
the height of prudence when I have no place to lose. Till I
get home I willingly renounce all hope of seeing you, for I
should think it worse than insanity for you to return from the
Cape. I really am astonished at your proposing it. Wherever
you go, do not fail to write to me. There is nothing I ever
receive with more interest than one of your letters. I cannot
say I ewv?/ your Ciceronian studies on the voyage, but I
envy them if I were idle, and I hope I shall one day
partake them with inhnite satisfaction by the fireside at
home. To return to politics, I have only taken the favour-
able and what I think the true view of them; but there
is something alarming in the great strides we are making
towards universal dominion. We never before attempted the
complete conquest of a country. Even Mysore was saved from