The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-05-10
Gaa $nH.ce.

thar the Enghih troops had engaged their mott
powerful enemies o. India, and had not aban-
doned the hope of an entire Reduction Of a Dew
err which had been their tcourge and their ter
ror. In Octoher, Gen. Hokar, who command
ed the Mahratta5 paned The Jumna with his ca.
valry, but toon retreatod. They were check
ed BY Col. Burn, and General Frazier had adj
vanced to the Jumna, with the grand Engliih
army, on the Sd November, Cen. Lake re-
iates, that they were prepared to attack the
Mahrattas, fhoud they attempt to pats again
the Jumna but at length general engagement
gave the field to the Englifh, who loG their
brave Gen. FRAZER, in the end action on the
l3th Nov. The fucceis was announced at
Calcutta on the Goth OF Nov. by Gov Wei
leney, and Gen. Monton devolved the
command by the death of Gen. Frazier. The
killed, wounded and milling on the part of the
Engli!h, are given at 644, and 81 pieces Of ord
nance were taken. Ofthc European officers,
the Engliih LOFT one General, three Captains
and feventeen Lieutenants. Nothing is iaid of
the ioiies OF the hiahrattas, but thcy are to be
calculated from the contufiOn into which they
were thrown, and from the defeats and retreats
which are mentioned. The celebrated author
of the hiftory of the military tranfaclons in Ia
dia, tayS of the Mahrattas, "Their country
lies between Bombay and Golcondah; its IL
mlts are not known with any degree OF certainty
to Europeans, and we are equally ignorant OF
the origin and hiRory Of the people They
have now figured for near a century (fpeakng in
l765)as the mott enterprGng folders of Indof-
tan, and as the only nation of Indians which
teems TO make war an occupation by choice,
for the RaipCurs are folders by birth. OF
late years they have often been at the gates Of
Delhi; fometimes in arms againt the throne
10 defence of it againft the Afghans, or Pitans
he !trcngth of their arms coniifts in their mn
;nerous cavalry, which is more capable of re-
fitting fatigue than any in India large bodies
ofthem having been known to march so miles
day. They avoid general engagements,
and ieem TO have no other idea in making
war, but that of doing as much mitchell AS
poiiible TO the enemy's country. The raDidi
~ of their motions leaves the prince with whom
they war little chance of itrking a Deceive
blow aga;nf them or even of attacking with eff
feet any of their detachmcnts. Great pari
mony, in their eXpences, and continued
collections of treafureS, have been The princi-
pal cauies OF rafting them in els than certu
ry, from people of uncomfortable note. TO i
nation, which at preitut fnkes terror into all
the countries between Delhi and CaDe Cormo-
rim. They often LET out bodies of men, and
iometimes whole armies; but the hiring them
is dangerous reiource for the offer of better
terms teldom fails TO make them change fdes
and they feldom relinqnilh their practice of
plundering, even i'll the countries which they
aro hired to defend. But notwithstanding their
warkc character, they are in other rerpeffs
the mott fcrupulous obiervers the religion of
Brama, never eat any thing that has life, not
even killing the infects that moleit them: how
evera bufialoe, facrificed with many france ce
remonies, atcnes for the blood of their own
fpecics, which they flied in war" The Came
writer obferves that their treaties are hardly
fufPenfon Of hoi!ties. This military people
have not yet fubmitted to Britfh power. 1t is
an important object to reduce them and the
work snot yet accomplished. The Britifl know
they pofefs the rcfources Of European grnius
rom the many Europeans among them, and
viii probably purdue their itIccef6, till the mott
arduouS military campaigns give complete vi6to-
ry. Kennel tells us that the name, according
10 Feriihta, is taken from province in Deccan.
Sevagee, born in 1923, was the founder of ths
empire, and owed his power to his own ambi-
ton. He died in 1850. His fon was put 70
death by ArungZebe, in 1880, and iucceeded
by Sahoo, who held his powerabove fiftyvears
AT his death in 1910, they had overrun the
greateft part ofIndia. Ram r aiah whofucceeded
by his imbeci!ity Lon many Of their co1oueris.
and the Mlniitcr and the General agreed TO di-
vide the dominions, one fixing at Poonah and
the ether at VaEpour. In 1913, they invaded
Bengal. The Engiih negotiated at Poonah
upon the iubjeGt of their prtteniions i'm 177s
and in 7ss negotiated a peace MIR. Kennel
thinks the Englifh have little TO fear at pre-
TENT from their power. He confeiies, that it
appears impoliible to discriminate their poAefi-
ons on map. or to afcertain the fun of their
revenue. lie obferves I" The mott intelligent
and beft Informed perfons that | have conrulted
on the occafon, will not venture to give ain o.
pinion of it." One perlon has ffated the re-
venue at l 2 millions 0eriing, and the military
eitabliihment at 100000 troops. Since the
peace of l7ec, the Mahrattas have extended
their frontiers towards the Jumna, near which
the late battles were fought. Mr.. Kennel NOT
only confoileS his want of information, i'm his
lat edition Of his memoir rrfpeSiug the reve-
uues, but refoetting the tributary Gates. II
IS only from the reduction OF the country we
can expect 4 more accurate hiRorv, and tin we
can obtain it we NUT feel the great uncert liptv
which rcfts or their aglrs, not lcCs than the
EngIl'h do the dangers from fuch enterpriCrr
and dtpredatng neighbours. It is only in their
final iucceis that We mut expect that the En-
gllih viii give us full account Of the rro,rcrs
OF their arms. sal PEI.
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Curo~can 3nttliiarnre.