134 Lieut. -Colonel Briggs' Translation of the 



" He urges this step very strongly, and assures liis father that he will 

 " take care to prevent any opposition to the continuation of the estates 

 " from the other quarter (meaning on the part of the Peshwa). Dadajj 

 " Gangadhar writes to his father to rely entirely on the interest at his 

 " Highness Ragoba's head-quarters. Such is tiie nature of the letter 

 " written by the minister's son. It is clear therefore that their views are to 

 " settle the affair here, and only to keep up appearances with you. 



" For myself, you know I am but a humble individual, and merely 

 " represent this for the information of his Highness the Peshwa. I have 

 " no one to look to but yourself, whose influence with his Highness is 

 " notoriously greater than that of any one beside. Pray write to him, and 

 " forward this letter to him. I could not venture to send it the whole 

 " distance to his camp, for fear of its miscarrying, so I beg of you to 

 " despatch it by an active camel messenger by express. 



" Such were my orders, and I was directed to communicate them to no 

 " one but yourself. I enjoin you by the most sacred oaths, not to reveal 

 " what I have written. 



" I hope your Excellency will not be offended at the liberty I take wheu 

 " I suggest that Holkar's estates in the Deccan may be resumed for the 

 " present ; this measure will, I think, promote the good of his Highness 

 " Madhu Rao's affairs. If you cannot venture on such a step yourself, 

 " you might wait till you receive an answer, when there will be no respon- 

 " sibility with you, and you can have nothing to be apprehensive of. 



" Send on this letter quickly. I have done my duty : the rest remains 

 " with you." 



This letter must have reached Madhu Rao about the time of his forming 

 the treaty with Hyder, and in the midst of other important business. His 

 agent at Indur had formerly written to him, that he might under any 

 circumstances rely on Holkar's minister Gangadhar Yeswant, and his 

 son, as being attached to his interests in preference to those of his uncle ', 

 but the object of the minister in effecting the adoption of an infant 

 through Ragoba's power in Malwa, and thus securing to himself the 

 sole administration of the Holkar estate, seems to have made him change 

 his party. 



The reply to the letter of Nana Farnevis, forwarding the foregoing 

 document, conveys a good idea of the deliberation the young Peshwa 

 observed in his conduct towards the chief families of the state. 



