t Panwell. No sooner had they got
there than there was a quarrel between Egerton and Carnac. Most
unfortunately Mostyn, who would have acted as mediator, was taken
ill on the very day after landing, and was obliged to return to
Bombay; and I hear there is hardly any chance of his recovery. The
army did not reach the top of the Ghauts till the 23rd of
December--instead of, at the latest, three days after landing--and
actually spent eleven days before it arrived at Karlee, only eight
miles in advance of the Bhore Ghauts. Of course this encouraged the
enemy, and gave plenty of time for them to assemble and make all
their arrangements and, when we last heard, they were harassing our
march. For the past two days no news has arrived, and there seems
to be little doubt that the Mahrattas have closed in round their
rear, and cut off all communications."

"It is monstrous that they should march so slowly. The whole thing
has been a hideous blunder, and the idea of encumbering a force of
four thousand men with something like thirty thousand camp
followers, and with a train of no less than nineteen thousand
bullocks, to say nothing of other draught animals, is the most
preposterous thing I ever heard of. In fact, the whole thing has
been grossly mismanaged.

"I don't say that the conduct of the Mahrattas has not for some
time been doubtful, if not threatening. It is well known that the
Governor General and the Council at Calcutta have most strongly
disapproved of the whole conduct of the Council at Bombay. Indeed,
no explanation has ever been given as to why they took up the cause
of Rugoba, the scoundrel who grasped the crown; and who was privy
to, if he did not instigate, the murder of his nephew, the young
Peishwa.

"He was not unopposed, for Nana Furnuwees and Hurry Punt, two of
the leading Mahratta ministers, formed a regency under Gunga Bye,
the widow of the murdered Peishwa. While matters were undecided,
the Bombay Council opened communications with Rugoba, who they
thought was likely to be successful; and promised to assist him, if
he would advance a considerable sum of money, and cede to the
Company Salsette, the small islands contiguous to Bombay and
Bassein, which had been captured from the Portuguese by the
Mahrattas--an altogether inexcusable arrangement, as the Mahrattas
were at peace with us, and Rugoba was not in a position to hand the
islands over. That matter, however, was settled by sending an
expedition,