The government of Berar was required to accept the part assigned it in
this combination, and to march a large body of troops immediately into
Bengal. To enforce the request on the part of the ruling member of the
Mahratta state, menaces of instant hostility by the combined forces were
added by Mahdajee Sindia, Tuckoojee Hoolkar, and Nizam Ali Khan, in
letters written by them to Moodajee Boosla on the occasion. He was not
in a state to sustain the brunt of so formidable a league, and
ostensibly yielded. Such at least was the turn which he gave to his
acquiescence, in his letters to me; and his subsequent conduct has
justified his professions. I was early and progressively acquainted by
him with the requisition, and with the measures which were intended to
be taken, and which were taken, by him upon it. The army professedly
destined for Bengal marched on the Dusserra of the last year,
corresponding with the 7th of October. Instead of taking the direct
course to Bahar, which had been prescribed, it proceeded by varied
deviations and studied delays to Cuttack, where it arrived late in May
last, having performed a practicable journey of three mouths in seven,
and concluded it at the instant commencement of the rains, which of
course would preclude its operations, and afford the government of Berar
a further interval of five months to provide for the part which it would
then be compelled to choose.
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