13 -i mahijatta war. 



the 11th February, 1756, the ships took their stations, and 

 next day opened so tremendous a fire, that the batteries 

 were soon silenced. On the 13th the enemy delivered up 

 the town, solely, as it appeared, through terror at this 

 overwhelming discharge of artillery; for the fortifica- 

 tions, constructed of solid rock and huge blocks of stone 

 were of such strength that no weight of metal could ever 

 have effected a breach. The treasure, ships, guns, and 

 every thing constituting the strength of this piratical state- 

 tell into the hands of the victorious squadron. 



The influence of the Mahratta confederation continued 

 constantly to increase. Sindia and Holkar, on the invita- 

 tion of the Nabob of Oude had crossed the Jomna, and 

 invaded the Rohilla territory, which thev soon overran, but 

 were obliged to retire on the approach of the Afghan mon- 

 arch. But it was not till 1760 and 1761 that those grand 

 expeditions were undertaken which promised at first to 

 make them masters of the Mogul throne, and extend their 

 dominion over the whole of India. Having called forth, 

 however, the strength of Ahmed Abdalla, thev experienced 

 those signal overthrows, particularly in the battle of Panni- 

 put, which we have already noticed in tracino- the fall of 

 that empire. The tidings of thai fatal dav filled all Maha- 

 rashtra with mourning. The disaster pressed with peculiar 

 weight on Ballajee Rao, who, having suffered for some time 

 under declining health, fell a victim to .rrief, and died in 

 June, 1761. 



The office of peishwn was now become quite hereditary 

 and Madoo Rao, son of the deceased, was immediately ele- 

 vated to that distinguished rank, under the regency of his 

 uncle, Ragonaut Rao. This chief, afterward well known 

 to the English under the familiar name of Ra<r ba, had 

 already acquired considerable military reputation. Four 

 years, however, had not elapsed, when the young peishwa 

 showed a power and decision of character which "fitted him 

 for executing in person the duties of his exalted station. 

 in 1764 and 1765 he undertook his celebrated expedition 

 against Hyder, the triumphant issue of which displayed at 

 once h.s own abilities, and the almost inexhaustible re- 

 sources ol his military system. He carried on also, chiefly 

 through the agency of his general Trimbuck Mama, the 

 other enterprise against Hyder which is mentioned in the 



