POONAH. 145 
event that might never have taken place, had the service been 
entrusted to a less able olEcer. Rapidity of movement was in this, 
as in every other Indian war, of the first importance, and to render 
this practicable, a regular supply of provisions was absolutely neces- 
sary. Of this branch of the military art General Wellesley has 
shown himself a perfect master; -and has added to it a decision in 
council, and a spirit in action, which have rarely appeared in India. 
The provinces which his arms have conquered, have been concili- 
ated by the protection he has invariably afforded them from all 
military oppression; and a personal confidence has been excited 
by the suavity of his manners, and an invariable attention to their 
religious prejudices. Uniform success attended him in the Mahratta 
war; but since the disturbances excited by Holcar he has not com- 
manded, and events have been less prosperous. It is natural there- 
fore that the Paishwa should wish anxiously for his return, with a 
firm conviction that the tide of victory will again attend him. In 
this respect his Highness's expectations will, I think, be gratified. 
Holcar, who is an active and able man, had very wisely em- 
ployed the time, while his rival Scindiah was engaged in a destruc 
tivewar, to occupy all the estates of his family, to replenish his 
coffers, and recruit his forces. Had he been satisfied with this, he 
might have tranquilly retained the possession, although an illegiti- 
mate son of the late Holcar, and consequently not the representative 
of the family; but, instead of this, he made the most unreasonable 
demands of property beyond Delhi, which, he said, had been held 
prior to the battle of Paniput; and, on being refused, commenced 
actual hostilities by levying contributions on the Jeypoor Rajah, an 
ally of the British. Colonel Monson entered his country, and took 
