NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PEISHWA. 151 



tended to reduce the Mahratta power to a state of vassalage ; 

 and accordingly, after some months of delay and evasion, 

 the proposal was decidedly rejected. The governor-general, 

 however, embraced every opportunity of pressing this wise 

 and politic measure ; and, contrary to what might have been 

 expected, circumstances occurred which produced a favour- 

 able disposition towards it. The peishwa, the nominal head 

 of the Mahratta confederation, and a prince of spirit and 

 ambition, saw his power controlled and narrowed by that of 

 the new military chiefs. Sindia, in particular, commanded 

 a force much superior to that of his master, and began more 

 and more to act as the real lord of Maharashtra, viewing 

 the other as little more than a pageant of state. The sove- 

 reign had long objected to an expedient so hazardous both 

 to himself and his people, as that of calling to his aid a 

 foreign race, who had already acquired such an alarming 

 ascendency. At length, however, he agreed to accept their 

 aid, on the condition that the subsidiary force should not 

 actually enter his territory, but take a station on the frontier, 

 to be employed when he should think it necessary. This 

 qualification was evidently made with the view that, without 

 allowing the English to gain any real footing, he might use 

 their name and the dread of their interposition to establish 

 his own influence over the native leaders. Marquis Wel- 

 lesley, however, conceived that if he succeeded thus far, it 

 would not be long before he should accomplish his object, 

 and resolved to accept the proposition. But events imme- 

 diately occurred which enabled him, with unexpected facility, 

 to realize his utmost wishes. 



The rival houses of Sindia and Holkar, after recently 

 emerging from the lowest obscurity, had divided between 

 them nearly the whole military power of the Mahratta state. 

 For some time they ranked nearly equal ; but after Mahad- 

 ajee Sindia had risen to greatness, his family necessarily 

 acquired a very decided preponderance. The power of the 

 Holkars, however, revived under an illegitimate branch, 

 Jeswunt Rao, who by boldness, enterprise, and a peculiar 

 talent for predatory warfare soon raised himself, notwith- 

 standing the stain on his birth, to be the head of his house, 

 and the leader of all who fought under its banners. Dis- 

 sensions soon arose between him and Sindia, whose territory 

 he did not spare in the course of his ravages. After various 



