the Battle o it P a n i p u t. 93 



fnafid of the expedition % taking with him Biswas Row, the el deft for* 

 of Bala Row, then feventeen years of age, as the nominal commander in 

 chief, according to the ancient cuitom.of the Mahrattas*. The army un- 

 der his command was very numerous, and they fet out on their expedition 

 without delay ; but, as foon as they had paffed the Ntrfa/ddaf, the Show 

 began to exercife his authority in a new and offenfive manner, and both in 

 fettling the accounts of the army and revenue, and in all publick buiimefs, 

 he mowed a capricious and felf-conceited condud. He totally excluded 

 ifrom his counfel Mulhar Row and all the other Chiefs, who were expe- 

 rienced" in the affairs of Hindoftan, and who had credit and influence with 

 the principal people in that country, and carried en every thing by his 

 own opinion alone* 



"When he came to Scrorgn, he difpatched Vakeels with prefents to all 

 the principal Chiefs in Hindoftan, inviting them to an alliance and co-opera- 

 tion with him, for the purpofe of fettling the affairs of Hindoftan. Among 

 the reft: a Vakeel came with the above propofal to the Naval? Shuja- 

 ul-dowla, bringing with him a prefent of fine cloths and jewels, to a 

 sconfiderable amount, and informing him at the fam£ time, that, whenever 

 rthe Bhow fhsuld arrive near him, he would difpatch Naroo Shunker 

 to conduct Shujah-ul-dowla to him. Shuja-ul-dowla anfwered him 

 ;in the language of profeffion, but determined in hisown mind to keep him- 

 felf difengaged from both parties, and to be a fpectator of the expected con- 

 teft, till his future conduct mould be determined by the event, when he 

 defigned to join the victors. 



* Properly Maharafilrat. + Properly NermeJd. 



