154 MAHRATTA WAR. 



several aspirants. There was therefore, perhaps, a strong 

 probability that ere long some one of these leaders would 

 gam the supremacy, and wield the entire resources of the 

 Mahratta power. It seems impossible to deny that in such 

 a case an able warrior might have become very formidable 

 to Britain, both by the great extent of territory which he 

 would have commanded, and by the success which might 

 have been expected from disciplining his troops after the 

 European manner. He would also have enjoyed the pros- 

 pect of being aided by the French, while the English would 

 have had to dread the doubtful faith of the nizam and other 

 native princes whom they held" in vassalage. 



The governor-general, having determined upon war, 

 formed a very comprehensive plan of operations both for the 

 aggrandizement and permanent security of the British em- 

 pire in India. General Wellesley, from the Mysore frontier, 

 and Colonel Stevenson, from Hydrabad, were instructed to 

 make a combined movement upon Poonah, to drive out the 

 force occupying that capital, re-establish the authority of the 

 peishwa, and prosecute, if necessary, the war against Sindia 

 and the Rajah of Berar. A force, destined to control the 

 whole Mahratta confederation was, agreeably to the same 

 plan, to be permanently stationed in that city. Meantime, 

 General Lake was ordered to advance from Bengal into the 

 interior provinces, to attack and disperse the army trained 

 under European officers by De Boigne, and now commanded 

 by an officer of the name of Perron. The result of operations 

 in this quarter would, it was hoped, extend the British fron- 

 tier to the Jumna, and thereby include the imperial cities of 

 A era and Delhi. It was also expected that possession 

 might be obtained of the individual who still bore the title 

 of Great Mogul, which, even in its lowest depression, 

 commanded great reverence throughout Hindostan. At the 

 same time the maritime territory of ( 'attack, belonging to 

 the Rajah of Berar, was if possible to be added to the British 

 territories, which would then comprehend the whole eastern 

 coast from Arracan to Cape Comorin. With the same 

 view the Bombay presidency were to send an expedition to 

 reduce Baroach and the neighbouring coast of Guzerat. In 

 the event of success in this great enterprise, the company 

 would be masters of the whole circuit of the Indian coast, 



