Secret Correspondence of the Cowt of the Peshzea. 1 17 



siderable body of troops had taken part with the Nizam against the regent 

 Ragoba ; but on discovering the active part the young Peshwa had taken, 

 and owing to the private overtures made to him, he had joined the Mah- 

 rattas, and contributed mainly to effect the reconcihation which was subse- 

 quently brought about between the uncle and nephew. 



The following letter, written by Moro Babu Rao, the cousin of Nana, to 

 the latter, gives a very full explanation of the state of affairs. 



" South bank of the Godaveri, 22d August 1763. 

 " It is some time since I heard from you : I beg of you always to patronize 

 " me by your correspondence. I wrote to you from Aurungabad, and also 

 " sent one or two letters afterwards, which I trust have been received. I 

 " got one letter from you which contained no news ; and I am still in igno- 

 " ranee where you now are, or what you are about. With regard to us, 

 " we were in the Nawaub's (Nizam's) camp with Bhosla and the rest of the 

 " chiefs. Meanwhile his Highness (Ragoba), accompanied by Besalet 

 " Jeng (the Nizam's brother), came into the neighbourhood of our (the 

 " Nizam's) camp. At this time his Higlmess Ragoba's troops were in 

 " great consternation. On our part the Mahratta auxiliaries were nu- 

 " merous and formidable. His Highness Ragoba's affairs were desperate, 

 " for if he had been defeated by the Muhammedans, the Hindu government 

 " might have been subverted. Taking this circumstance into our con- 

 " sideration, Gopal Rao (the chief of Mirch), and others of the Poona 

 " party, made efforts to gain over Bhosla, and to induce him to desert the 

 " Nizam, Overtures had been made to us through his Highness (Madhu 

 " Rao) for more than a month, when we at length deputed Ramaji Belal 

 " and Hahi U'maji to proceed to his Highness Ragoba's camp, and to make 

 " terms for us all. His Highness, however, could not be brought to confide 

 •' in our promises, and he hesitated in attacking the Nizam's army, owing 

 " to its strength, but marched to Ahmednagar. Bhosla was now gained 

 " over, and he resolved not to accompany the Moguls beyond the Godaveri. 

 " We also took measures for breaking with the Nizam ; and Gopal Rao 

 " accordingly demanded some forts to be given into our hands, in order to 

 " have places of safety for our families. This request not being acceded 

 " to, afforded us a plea to quit the Moguls in disgust. I, with many others, 

 " went to Mungulwehra.* The instant we reached home (that is the 



A town near Punderpore, on the Bliima. 



