152 Lieut. -Colonel Br ices' Translation of the 



" you expect from Sawuntwarri have arrived ere this ; send them on to Sera 

 " as they come in." 



In the hand-writing of Haui Pant Farkia, to the same. 



" 9th of March I77O. 



" Send on the new levies as soon as possible. You may go as far as nine 

 " rupees monthly pay to each man. They should for the most part have 

 " fire-arms, though a few PaClidkar'is (men using the double-edged broad- 

 " sword) may also be enlisted, but not too many of them." 



The health of the Peshwa declining about this time, he returned to 

 Poona, from whence he writes a short letter to the same person on a military 

 subject. It is as follows : 



" Poona, 15th of September 1770. 



" You may attack DurkunhuUi, if you think you have the means of doing 

 " so with effect, but on no account run tlie risk of failure ; on the contrary, 

 " wait till I reach the place with the army which will march from hence." 



On the Peshwa quitting the army in the field, it was left under the com- 

 mand of his first master in the military art, his maternal uncle Tryambak 

 Rao Marna. After the rainy season was over in Poona, Madhu Rao took 

 the field again to join the army. 



This movement must have taken place early in November, for in that 

 montli he wrote the following confidential letter. It is not difficult to suppose 

 that the inuendoes contained in it have reference principally to his uncle 

 and his party, though tiie language is by no means so plain as to give much 

 insiglit into the real objects of the communication. 



Madiiu Rao to Nana Farnevis. 



« 22d of November I77O. 

 " In consequence of my not having been able to see you before I marched, 

 " you were obliged to entrust what you had to say to Hari Pant. It does 

 " not in the least signify ; I know your disposition towards me, and I feel 

 " assured that you will act for me in my absence with the utmost zeal and 

 " fidelity. Professions on your part are quite unnecessary to convince me 

 " of this. You recollect there were three or four points we discussed, four 

 " or five days since, which were not to be made known to others, and 

 " which you will of course not mention. You spoke out to me on that 

 " occasion without reserve, and I replied with the same degree of con- 

 " fidence, but it must go no farther. I repeat it, this must never be spoken 



