Secret Correspondence of the Court of the Feshwa. 159 



MoRABA Farnevis to his cousin Nana Farnevis. 



" iGth of March I772. 

 " You write, that in consequence of urgent affairs, you shall not be able 

 " to accompany Dada Sahib, and beg to be excused. I am instructed to 

 " say you are permitted to remain. Naro Pant and Jenardhun Ram are 

 " to accompany him. Make proper arrangements, though you do not come 

 " yourself." 



From the same to the same. 



" 29th of March 1772. 

 " His Highness has been very ill for the last few days, so that no business 

 " could be done on Sunday with Dada Sahib (his uncle). They are to 

 " meet on Friday. His Highness is, I think, worse to-day, and is extremely 

 " weak. He has been prevailed on to be weighed.* Bhosla marched this 

 " day. He goes first to Jejuri, and then returns home. He is now at 

 " Balapur. On his taking leave, three guns, besides elephants and horses, 

 " were presented to him. 



" When you have leisure, come over here." 



During the rainy season between June and September, the Peshwa's 

 health improved. As no later letters, however, have been found by me 

 than the last which has been recorded, we are left in doubt as to the turn 

 afeirs took after the meeting of the uncle and nephew. The Mahratta 

 historian. Grant Duff, observes :t " As the health of his nephew declined, 

 Raghunat'h Rao (Ragoba) began intrigues with Hyder Ali and the 

 " Nizam, in order to obtain complete enlargement, and secure his succes- 

 " sion as Peshwa. The correspondence was intercepted by the ministers, 

 " and nineteen persons were sent into hill-forts ; and the confinement of 

 " his uncle would have become more rigid than ever, but Madhu Rao 

 " perceiving his death was certain, interposed, and observed it was natural 

 " for his uncle to desire his liberty." He also states, that " Raghunat'h 

 " Rao was sent for to Tewur ; that a reconciliation took place, and 

 " Madhu Rao, in presence of Sakaram Bapu (whom he had reinstated 

 " in the office of minister), recommended his brother Naravan Rao, the 



• In order to propitiate the gods, great men are weighed against gold, and the amount is 

 distributed in charity. 



f Vol. ii. page 241. 



