Secret Correspondence of the Court of the Peshxca. 115 



which assistance, the remainder of the cessions made by the Hydrabad 

 state to the late Peshwa in I76O were to be formally reUnquished. 



In this alarming state of his affairs, the young Peshwa marched to oppose 

 his uncle Ragoba ; but having learned what sacrifice the latter was about to 

 make, and reflecting on the ascendancy which so unnatural a war must give 

 to the Nizam, the hereditary enemy of the Mahrattas, he offered no resis- 

 tance when the two armies met, but threw himself into his uncle's power, 

 by whom he was retained as a state prisoner, and Ragoba reassumed all the 

 functions of head of the Mahrattas. The consequences of this revolution 

 soon became apparent. The personal adherents and friends of the young 

 Peshwa were dismissed, and some of them imprisoned and disgraced ; mea- 

 sures which gave great umbrage to a very powerful party inimical to the 

 regent. In addition to this, Ragoba now hesitated to fulfil the engagements 

 which he had made with the Nizam, who immediately prepared for war. 

 The Mahrattas also took the field ; but avoiding an action with the enemy, 

 plundered the Nizam's territories. Many of the partizans of the young 

 Peshwa joined the Nizam, who, emboldened by this circumstance, penetrated 

 to Poona, and not only sacked, but burned that town. This imprudent 

 step created much disaffection among his Mahratta partizans, who received 

 secret communications from the young Peshwa to return to the cause of 

 their country, without regard to his condition. Meanwhile the Mahratta 

 army burned the suburbs of Hydrabad, and having approached the Nizam's 

 army, harassed it by skirmishes, without venturing on a general engage- 

 ment. 



The war had become so unpopular with the Mahratta chiefs allied with the 

 Nizam, that placing little reliance on them, that prince was induced to 

 retire towards Aurungabad. On reaching Rakisbori, a town on the banks 

 of the Godaveri, the Muhammedan head-quarters and part of the cavalry 

 had already crossed when the army of Ragoba appeared in sight. He was 

 too experienced a general not to perceive his advantage, and he instantly 

 engaged that portion of the enemy which was still on the south bank. A 

 desperate conflict ensued ; the regent Ragoba's troops fell back ; and his 

 own elephant being surrounded by the enemy, he was a prisoner in their 

 hands. His gallant nephew, regardless of the injuries he had sustained, 

 and of all personal advantages which must have accrued to him on the death 

 or captivity of his uncle, addressed the corps of one hundred cavalry 

 which formed his guard, and persuaded them to follow him in effecting the 



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