________________
दक्षिणा प्राईझ कमिटीच्या सभासदांचे अभिप्राय. The Historical account of Malhar Rao's Political career, given in this poem, will be found to be almost correct when compared with Pope's or Grant Duff's History of the Marathas. In addition to the text much valuable information is contained in the foot- notes, which, though not many, are based upon Sir John Malcolm's Central India, and can therefore be taken as a good authority. It may be said, there- fore, that the poem comprehends as much historical instruction as it is possible for a work of this sort, the chief function of which is rather to please than to instruct. The poem is, on the whole, most satisfactory. It is undoubtedly not the work of a mere versifier. Now and then, the writer rises very high and puts forth genuine poetic thoughts. Throughout, the language of the poem is easy and forcible. It is free from the common modern fault of too much Sanscritism. The metres adopted, viz. 1, 3, उपजाति, वसंततिलका, &c. are also short and sweet. The writer seems to have acquired a nice tact of lively depicting scenes and events. The scenery around the Narbuda, and the Tapti, the aweful gran- deur of the Satpura Mountains, the energetic and
