172 MAHRATTA WAR. 



the possessions which she had wrested from them. Ac- 

 cording to the adherents of the Wellesley policy, the 

 systein pursued by that nobleman was so far advanced 

 towards maturity that only one short effort, of easy and 

 assured success, was necessary to place all India in a state 

 of tranquillity, and to keep down those discordant elements 

 which would otherwise lay waste the country itself. By 

 stopping short at this point, great part of the empire was 

 involved in calamity and disorder, and the foundation laid 

 for another expensive and even perilous struggle. 



Marquis Wellesley had announced the necessity, from 

 the state of his health, of returning to Europe as soon as 

 the contest with Sindia and the Rajah of Berar should 

 have been brought to a termination. On learning, how- 

 ever, the rupture with Holkar, he intimated his willingness 

 to remain, and bring it also to a close. The views of the 

 government at home were different. On the 30th July, 

 1815, Marquis Comwallis arrived at Calcutta; where, 

 learning that the war was still going on, he determined to 

 proceed 3 immediately into the upper provinces, and make 

 personal inquiry into the state of affairs. In his zeal for 

 the public service, however, and to fulfil the anxious wish 

 of his countrymen, he had undertaken this duty at a period 

 when his age and infirmities rendered him very unequal to 

 its performance. Under the fatigue of the voyage his ill- 

 ness daily increased, till on reaching the village of Gazypoor 

 on the Ganges, he was obliged to land, and after lingering 

 for some time died on the 5th of October. Having been 

 unable to reach his destination, while his mind as well as 

 body were impaired by indisposition, he had been little 

 able to receive or consider any fresh information. His 

 place was supplied by Sir George Barlow, the senior mem- 

 ber of the supreme council, who had reached that station 

 through various gradations of service, which he had filled 

 with distinction ; hut his previous habits had not accus- 

 tomed him to take comprehensive and statesmanlike views 

 of public interests. Regarding with the deepest respect 

 the views of his predecessor, and considering them as 

 supported by the government at home, he refused to listen 

 to any arguments, or admit any of the modifications, sug- 

 gested by Lord Lake. 



That commander, although he disapproved of the new 



