142 MAHRATTA WAR. 



withstood several most furious charges ; and they wertf 

 finally unable to make a serious impression on any part of 

 the line. The loss, however, was very severe, amounting 

 to upwards of three hundred, among whom were fifteen 

 European officers. 



After this action the military authorities decided that 

 even retreat was no longer practicable, and consequently 

 that there remained no resource but negotiation. This, of 

 course, was equivalent to offering the enemy a carte, blanche 

 as to the terms on which the invaders should be allowed to 

 return to Bombay. In vain did Hartley remonstrate acrainst 

 this humiliating step, and point out a course by which the 

 retreat might have been effected ; in vain did Carnac ad- 

 vance objections, which, however, he forbore to press ; 

 nothing could shake the pusillanimous determination of the 

 commanders. They were even prepared to give up Ragoba, 

 had not that chief made a private agreement to surrender 

 himself to Sindia. The British themselves, by treating 

 with the latter, obtained somewhat more favourable terms : 

 still the convention of Worgaom, if not the most disas- 

 trous, was much the most disgraceful event which had 

 marked the annals of our army in India. All the points 

 in dispute were yielded ; all the recent acquisitions were 

 to be restored ; and orders were sent that the troops now 

 marching upon Bengal should proceed no farther. 



Both at Bombay and at home the utmost indignation 

 was felt at this convention. Mr. Carnac, Colonels Egerton 

 and Cockburn, were all three dismissed from the service. 

 Their conduct in the present instance certainly appears 

 quite indefensible, and it is not a little remarkable that it 

 formed a decided contrast to that exhibited by them on 

 former occasions. Cockburn, in particular, had distin- 

 guished himself by exploits of the most daring valour, and 

 was considered one of the best officers in the service ; but 

 the qualities which had fitted him for a secondary part 

 proved insufficient to guide his judgmept in this higher 

 and more arduous station. The treaty was immediately 

 annulled, as having been concluded without sufficient au- 

 thority, and the arrival of Colonel Leslie with his detach- 

 ment was alone waited for in order to commence offensive 

 operations. This officer, however, had not made the des- 

 patch which was expected. His march having been 



