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began to augment his troops; and it was understood that he was on the point of making common cause with his minister, to fly with him from the capital, and endeavour to raise the Mahrattas against the company. Mr. Elphinstone then considered it indispensable to order the subsidiary force to march upon Poonah; but Bajee Rao, when he saw the sword about to be drawn, lost courage, and Trimbuckjee was delivered into the hands of the English. This they considered an important triumph, having long foreseen that they must ultimately come to a rupture with this person, who had shown a disposition the most evidently hostile ; yet to have driven him from power merely because he supported his master's interests, and opposed a foreign influence, would have been extremely odious in the eyes of the nation. But the crime of Trimbuckjee, being aggravated in their view by every possible circumstance, as being committed on a Bramin of high sanctity, and within the precincts of one of their holiest shrines, threw a great degree of popularity on the vigorous steps taken by the resident for its punishment.

The English conducted their prisoner to the strong fortress of Tannah, in the island of Salsette, and watched him so narrowly that they did not admit a single native into the guard. This excessive precaution was perhaps the very circumstance which defeated its own object. The vicinity was filled with the minister's adherents; and a groom in the service of one of the British officers, in passing near the terrace where the accused was allowed to walk, chanted gayly what was supposed to be a Hindoo song, but which really communicated a plan contrived for his escape. Through a small gap in the wall of the edifice he reached a stable; and not being missed for a few minutes, succeeded in crossing the narrow channel which separates Salsette from the continent. He immediately hastened to the southern districts, where he began to levy troops, and raise the whole country against the English.

The peishwa avowed total ignorance of the course taken by Trimbuckjee after his escape, as well as of the place of his retreat; and as no proof could be obtained of the falsehood of these declarations, the good understanding between the two states was not at first interrupted. Bajee's conduct, however, became more and more unsatisfactory. Troops were indeed sent, ostensibly to put down the insur

rection; but they reported that they could not find as enemy; and, in fact, they held a friendly communication with the very individual whom they professed to view in that character. The British resident learned that the prince was in active correspondence with the insurgents; that he had held an interview with Trimbuekjee at a village seventeen miles from Poonah; and had even forwarded to him liberal supplies of money; being at the same time employed in military preparations, with the intention, as was suspected, of co-operating with him. Secret negotiations were also carried on with Sindia, Holkar, and other Mah. ratta chiefs, for the purpose of uniting the whole confederation for the overthrow of British power. All remonstrances relative to these proceedings having been met by a positive denial, as well as by a refusal to adopt any of the measures demanded as proofs of an amicable disposition, it was thought inconsistent with sound policy to allow this combination to reach maturity. Mr. Elphinstone ordered the subsidiary force to advance upon Poonah, and gave notice to the peishwa that hostilities would commence within twenty-four hours, unless three of his strongest fortresses, Singurh, Rayree, and Poorunder, should be provisionally placed in the hands of the English, and assurance given that within a month Trimbuckjee would be again delivered up. Bajee Rao delayed some time to give any answer; at length, with that infirmity of purpose which usually appeared in the hour of danger, he agreed unconditionally to all these terms. The fortresses were surrendered, and a price set on the head of the minister. Still the resident gave warning that these concessions could not be considered as final; that the peishwa had forfeited the confidence of the company, and could not expect the treaty of Bassein to be renewed, unless under modifications, the extent of which must depend upon the next despatch from the governor-general. Accordingly it was soon after announced that amicable relations could only be restored on the following terms :-That the subsidiary force should be augmented by 5000 horse and 3000 infantry, for the maintenance of which territories yielding a revenue of 34 lacks of rupees must be ceded; that in this cession the strong city of Ahmednugger should be included; that his highness should renounce the character of head of the Mahratta confed

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eracy, and cease to hold direct communication with any of the native powers. These severe conditions the peishwa sought by every effort to mitigate or elude; but as the resident remained inflexible, a treaty to this effect was signed on the 13th June, 1817.

In carrying on the narrative of the transactions at Poonah, we have been led beyond the commencement of the administration of the Marquis of Hastings, who arrived in the end of the year 1813. The company, in appointing to this high station so eminent a military character, seemed to intimate a conviction that the pacific or merely defensive policy on which they had for some time acted could not be much longer maintained. Lord Hastings, in fact, soon indicated a disposition to resume the more active scheme of government so ably pursued by the Marquis Wellesley. He appeared resolved to suppress the growing power of the predatory associations, to renew the alliances with the Rajpoot and other minor chiefs, and generally to establish the control of the English over the Indian states. His attention, however, was for a time drawn off by movements in a new and somewhat unexpected quarter.

The extensive region which slopes downward from the summit of the Himmaleh to the plain of Hindostan has always been occupied by fierce and warlike tribes. Being, however, as formerly described, broken into a number of narrow valleys separated by steep and lofty ridges, it had been parcelled out among various independent chiefs, never before united in such a way as to prove dangerous to the central kingdoms. Lately, however, the Gorkhas, a rude but brave race of men, led by a warlike commander, had conquered the valleys of Nepaul, the finest which intersect the magnificent range of the Himmaleh. Thither they transferred the seat of their government, and having by a skilful policy conciliated the neighbouring princes, had made this acquisition a step to farther conquest. They accordingly proceeded to subdue different chiefs, till their territory extended above 800 miles in length, and comprehended nearly the whole mountain-region of Northern India. They then cast a longing eye over the wide plain that spreads beneath, covered with all the riches of tropical cultivation, and capable of affording an ample revenue. Being generally superior to the native troops both in courage and disci VOL. II.-Q

pline, they might perhaps, in favourable circumstances, have founded an empire equal to that of Aurengzebe. They had, however, to encounter, not the fallen fragments of Mogul greatness, nor the loose squadrons of Mahratta horse, but the disciplined strength of that new power which had be come paramount in Hindostan. The British, by the numerous victories gained in the last war, had extended their boundaries along nearly the whole line of this mountain domain. The Gorkhas, on seeing their career thus checked, hesitated for some time whether they should commit themselves against so formidable an adversary. Meanwhile, they appropriated certain small portions of territory, on which, by the vague tenures prevalent in that country, they might found some ancient claim. Repeated complaints being made, they at length agreed that deputies from either side should meet in order to examine and decide the pretensions to the land in dispute. The commissioners assembled ; but those of Nepaul, it is alleged, showed a singular insensibility to the clearest proof of the total absence of all right on their part to the favoured spots of which they had taken possession; and even where they were obliged to yield, the supreme authority evaded or retracted its sanction. length, the governor-general, considering the claim to a particular district most clearly established, sent a detachment, which provisionally occupied it, till these endless discussions should terminate. The Nepaulese did not at first oppose this movement; but as soon as the troops had retired during the unhealthy season, leaving only a small post to guard the frontier, they advanced in force and drove out the party, of whom several were killed and wounded. After this there was no longer room to hesitate as to the immediate necessity of warlike operations.

At

Ameer Sing, the able and enterprising commander of the Nepaulese, on grounds which it seems impossible fully to understand or justify, had taken post on the western extremity of their conquests. Lord Hastings, who in 1814 sent into the field a force of 30,000 men, availing himself of the position assumed by the enemy, formed the plan of enclosing his army, and cutting it off from the central territories. Generals Ochterlony and Gillespie, at the head of their respective divisions, marched, the one to attack Ameer in front, the other to occupy the passes by which he might

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effect his retreat. The latter speedily penetrated into the Deyra Dhoon, one of the finest valleys which diversify the Himmaleh, and the main channel of communication between the eastern and western districts. Somewhat unexpectedly he found this passage commanded by the fortress of Kalunga, or Nalapanee, rendered formidable, not by artificial bulwarks, but by its position on the top of a hill, where it could only be approached through a thick and entangled jungle. That gallant officer, however, perceiving that this post formed the key of the territory, hesitated not to attack it. He divided his army into four detachments, who, advancing from different points, were to meet at the summit, and engage in a common assault. Such a plan is at first view imposing; yet it appears founded on false principles, and in practice is likely to prove extremely perilous. The chances are many that the different corps will not all reach their destination at the same moment; and if one arrive before the others, it will have to encounter the undivided attack of the enemy's force. Such was the case now; one division, making their way through every difficulty, arrived in front of Kalunga before they could be supported by the rest of the army. The general then came up, and seeing his troops thus exposed to the whole fire of the besieged, led them at once to the assault, hoping, with this corps alone, to carry the place. They accordingly dislodged the outposts, and arrived under the very walls; but were twice driven back by showers of grape-shot, arrows, and destructive missiles peculiar to Indian warfare. Gillespie, however, determining to carry the fort or die, placed himself at the head of the storming party, and cheered them on, waving his hat, and pointing with his sword to the gate. At this moment a ball pierced his heart,-he fell; and all hopes of success were at once abandoned. The arrival of another division served merely to cover the retreat of the former. Colonel Mawbey, however, who succeeded to the command, felt deeply the importance that this first and great military operation should not be finally abortive. But he was obliged to delay his meditated attack on that obstinate stronghold till a battering-train was procured from Delhi. Three days afterward a breach was effected, and an assault commenced, under the command of Major Ingleby; but the resolute defence and formidable