126 Liexit. -Colonel Briggs' Translation of the 



" for it ; so pray comply with any requisition he may make of you to com- 

 " plete it. 



" Tear this letter." 



The pleasure-house, situated in the midst of a beautiful cypress garden on 

 a handsome lake in the skirts of the town of Poona, is still standinar. 

 and is known by the appellation of the Hira Bagh (the diamond garden). 

 It forms one of the most picturesque objects of the place, and has fre- 

 quently employed the pencils of the European amateur artists of both sexes 

 since we took possession of the country in 1818. 



The same subject is alluded to in another letter, dated the 26th of March : 



" You will learn all the news from the accompanying letters. Do you 

 " never go to see how my new garden and pleasure-house are going on ? 

 " What sort of a place are they making of it ? How far is it advanced ? 

 " Write me all the particulars. Do you find my agent zealous in the 

 " undertaking, or does he throw obstacles in the progress of the work ? 

 " Let me hear also every little particular you can learn regarding Anan- 

 " divalli (the residence of his uncle's wife and family). Wiite these with 

 " your own hand, without letting any one see the letter. 



" I wish you would have the female apartments over the terrace of the 

 •' new pleasure-house prettily painted, so that they may be worth looking at, 

 " This is a point I leave entirely to your own taste. You can let me know 

 " what is your opinion on this subject." 



" Tear this letter." 



In another letter, dated the 6th of September I767, Madhu Rao mentions 

 having sent some very fine muslin, which he begs may be worked in gold 

 for his lady ; witli the usual injunction of destroying the order. 



The following military letters, written by a youth of twenty-one, are 

 spirited, and mark the character of the writer : 



Madhu Rao, in liis own hand, to Nana Farnevis and Govind Sivarani, 

 dated the 6th of March I766. 

 " The news in this quarter are that the fort of Mudgiri has fallen. It 

 " is a very nice place, resembling Dowlutabad. It was very unlikely to be 

 " carried by storm, but God so ordered it. This is the truth, for no one 

 " looking at it would say it could be taken in the way it was. It is certainly 

 " very strong. It is close to Sera. Hyder Naic is at Puttan (Seringa- 

 '.' patam), from whence he has sent an agent to treat for peace, but we have 



