Anglo-Maratha Relations- During the Administration of Warren Hastings, 1772-1785 (An Old and Rare Book)

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The scope of the present work is confined strictly to the political and diplomatic relations of the English and the Marathas during the administration of Warren Hastings; the domestic history of the Marathas during this eventful period is, therefore, beyond my province. But foreign policy cannot be understood except in the context of domestic needs and conflicts, particularly during the period which I have chosen. I have found it necessary to deal with Poona politics as the background which explains the different phases of Anglo- Maratha relations. Vast masses of unpublished documents lying in the National Archives of India, New Delhi, Bombay Record Office, the British Museum and India office Library have been fully utilised to make the narrative complete and up-to-date.

Strengthened by the support of the Court of Directors, the Bombay Government sought every opportunity for territorial aggrandisement on the western coast of India. The first Anglo- Maratha War had its origin in this policy of the Bombay Government. Taking advantage of the internal conflict in the Maratha Empire they harboured Raghunath Rao and, in alliance with him, launched a war against the Poona Government for the consolidation of their territorial position. These developments constitute the subject-matter of the first two chapters.

In Chapter III I have tried to show how the Regulating Act, which made the Bombay and Madras Governments subordinate to the Government of Bengal in matters of war and peace, and which was obviously intended to ensure unity of policy and of action, led instead to disunity and wrangling. Armed with superior power the Government of Bengal, itself divided into two parties, made peace with the Poona Government much to the annoyance of the Bombay Government.

In the second half of the eighteenth century the East India Company desired the annexation of several islands on the western coast of India. These were Salsette, Bassein, Kenery, Hog, Elephanta and Karanja. These were then occupied by the Marathas and the East India Company hoped that it might be possible to acquire these territories by peaceful means. In March 1768 the authorities of the Company wrote to the Bombay Government, "We cannot directly point out the mode of doing it, but rather wish they could be obtained by purchase than war". Next year, the Bombay Government opened negotiations with the Poona Government and the Court of Directors observed that it was 'a very proper measure'. Salsette and Bassein with their dependencies and 'the Marattas proportion of the Surat provinces' were all that the East India Company sought for in western India. The Court advised the Bombay Government that they should be 'ever watchful' to obtain these territories and they should have this in view in all their 'treaties, negotiations and military operations". The negotiations with the Marathas did not produce the desired result and the project was temporarily abandoned.

The possession of the islands was considered necessary by the East India Company for the defence of Bombay and the matter was revived four years later. Thomas Mostyn arrived from England in 1772 with instructions from the Court of Directors that he should immediately negotiate with Peshwa Madhav Rao "for certain advantages to the settlements on the coasts of Malabar and above all for the cession of the islands, Salsette and Bassein, which added so much to the security and value of Bombay." Mostyn was no stranger to India. He had visited Poona in 1759 as a member of Price's mission. Again, in 1767, Mostyn was sent to Poona Court by the Bombay Government for preventing the Marathas from joining Haidar Ali and the Nizam.