LETTER CCXXXVI.
To MAHOMMED GHYÂS; same Date. (4th March.)

FIVE months ago, we sent by two Hurkârehs a letter, together with a dress, to Moodhojee Bhonsillah, to which we have hitherto had no answer: we have, therefore, again dispatched two more Hurkârehs, whom you must secretly forward, but not directly or avowedly from yourself, with the letter which they have in charge for the aforesaid. This matter is to be kept profoundly secret. After being satisfied of the [favorable] disposition of the aforesaid, you must, from time to time, send a person to him, and privately sound his views; employing always [on the occasion] such language as may be most conducive to the improvement of [our mutual] friendship and regard.

OBSERVATIONS.

The reader will scarcely require to be informed, that Moodhojee Bhonsillah was the Râjah of Berar, and one of the principal members of the Mahrattah state. The mode adopted by the Sultan, of drawing this person over to his interests, would not appear to have much consulted the dignity of the latter; however it may have been demanded, by the caution necessary to be observed in such a correspondence. I possess no means of ascertaining what success Tippoo had in this intrigue; but I believe that Moodhojee Bhonsillah took little or no very active part in the ensuing hostilities.* It was, indeed, the uniform policy of that chieftain, in all the contests of his neighbours, to maintain, as long as possible (virtually, at least, if not formally), such a line of neutrality, as generally left it very doubtful to which side he most leaned: nor was he used to make much distinction, on these occasions, between the chiefs of his own nation, and the other circumjacent powers. His son and successor, Raghojee Bhonsillah, has not, however, adhered to his father’s system, in this respect.