कर्नल फेर यांस विषप्रयोग केल्याबद्दलची चौकशी. ( २०५ ) रणापाशीं ठेऊन विनंती केली कीं, महाराज, हा माझा पेशा; आणि माझे वडील हें- च काम करीत होतें, व याचाच हा सर्व प्रताप; असे ह्मणून त्यांनी सवाई माधव- सवसाहेब यांचा जुना जोडा उचलला, आणि तो मोट्या अदबीने रुमाळांत गुंडाळून आपल्या कार्खेत मारला. त्यानंतर फारच आग्रह झाल्यावरून मोठ्या नाखुषीनें ते दरबारांत बसले. महादजी शिंदे यांच्या वंशजांनीं तो जोडा मोठ्या काळजीने संराक्ष- ला होता असे म्हणतात. * काय ही स्वामीभक्ति ! किती साधेपणा! आणि कितीही नि रभिमानता ! ! त्या प्रतापशाली आणि निभिमानी पुरुषाचे महाराजा जयाजीराव हे वंशज, आणि मध्यहिंदुस्थान आणि बुदेल खंडांतील पंचवीस लक्ष प्रजेचे स्वामी यांनी बंडाच्या प्रसंगी इंग्रजसरकार यांस परकाष्ठेचें सहाय करून आपण त्यांचें दिलजान- दास्त अ होत असे त्यांच्या प्रत्ययास आणून दिले आहे. He was the nominal slave, but the rigid master, of the unfortunate Shah Allum, Emperor of Delhi. + + Although by the ticaty of Salbye, Sindia was recognized, as far as related to the British Government, an independent prince, he continued to observe, on all other points which referred to his connection with the Poona Government, the most sern- pulous attention to forms. When he became master of Shah Allum and his capital, he made the degraded emperor sign a Commission appointing the Paishwah viceregent of the empire, and received from the head of the Mahratta state one as his deputy in that high office; but when he came to Poona, during the rule of the second Madhao Row, a scene was exhibited, which stands perhaps alone amid the mummery to which the mock humility of artful and ambitious leaders has resorted to deceive the world. The actual sover sign of Hindoo State from the Sutleje to Agra, the conqueror of the princes of Rajputana, the commander of an army composed of sixteen battalions of regular infantry, five hundred pieces of cannon, and one hundred thousand horse, the possessor of two thirds of Malwa and some of the finest provinces in the Deccan, when he went to pay his respects to a youth who then held the office of Paishwah, dismount- ed from his elephant at the gates of Poona ; placed himself in the great hall of audi- ence below all the mankarries, or hereditary, nob of the State; and when the Paishwah came into the room, and desired him to be seated with others, he objected on the ground of being unworthy of the honour, and untying a bundle that he carri- ed under his arm, produced a pair of slippers, which he placed before Madhao Row, saying “ This is my occupation, it was that of my father. " Madhajee, at the moment he said this, took the old slippers * the Paishwa had in use, which he wrapped up carefully, and continued to hold them under his arm, after which though with appar- ent reluctance, he allowed himself to be prevailed upon to sit down. This was not the only instance in which Madhajee Sindia professed to feel pride, instead of shame, at the recollection of the origin of his family, as well as of its occupations. He had ad- ded to their property as Mahratta Ryots in the Deccau, by some purchases, and he desired to be called by the title he derived from his humble inheritance. The feeling was national, and made him popular; but he had no doubt other motives; these indeed &re described in & common saying in India, “ that Madhajee Sindia made himself the govereign of an empire, by calling himself a Patail, or headman of a village, But though we may smile at a conduct which appeared an endeavour to reconcile sta- tions and duties that were incompatible, it must be confessed, that this able chief was throughout his life consistent in the part he acted ; which appeared more natural, from the manly simplicity of character which led him equally to despise the trappings of State and the allurements of luxury. (Memoir of Central India, by Sir. J. Malcolm, Vol. I. Page 122-25. )
- These old slippers, Captain Stewart was informed, were carefully preserved by
the successor of Madhajec Sindia. +
