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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 113
enemies of Bajee Rao, the Peishwa, and to use all possible means
of undermining that minister's influence. At the same time
they agreed it was "expedient to try what effect a cautious and
well-managed compliance"' might have upon the Peisliwa, so
they sent also a letter and a pnisent to him by Captain Inchbird.
The reports of their proceedings are very different, the one
keeping a regular journal, the other only noting down such
matters as related to his mission. Captain Gordon entered into
details. Leaving Bombay on the 12th of May, he arrived, on
the following day, at Rajahpore,* where he was courteously
received by the Seedee and furnished with a guide, who accom-
panied him to Bancoot. On the loth, as lie was sailing up the
river ]\Ihar, or Savitri, a Mahratta officer stopped his boat,
demanded his passport,,and, finding that his mission was not
authorised by Bajee Rao, put him under arrest. After a short
detention and ait-examination of his despatches, he was suffered
to prosecute his journey, but, on the 19th of May, narrowly
escaped being seized by some troops of Sambhajee Angria. The
next day he ascended the Ghauts, for the first time in his life.
As Gordon proceeded, he found that the English name was
held in honour by the officers of Government, and, wherever he
went, met with a polite welcome. The Rajah was not at Sattara,
being engaged in the siege of a place callc;d Myrah, at a distance
of five days' journey. Thither he hastened, and, on the 8th of
June, was received by the Rajah.
Gordon returned to Bombay by Poonah, and traversed the
Mahratta territories. The result of his mission was satisfiictory.
He brought a complimentary letter from the Rajah, and had
become convinced that Bajee Rao would not molest Bombay, as
he knew how much he was indebted to it for the prosi)erity of
his own territory. The Rajah, Peishwa, and principal chiefs
coincided in the opinion that the English ought to be respected.
All this information, which must have had atranquillising effect
upon the European population of Bombay, was furnished by
Captain Gordon at a cost which, in these days of expensive
missions, will raise a smile of contempt on the face of a
professional diplomatist; the bill of his expenses amounted to
296 rupees, and lie was permitted to retain tlie presents he had
received, which were valued at 240 rupees.f
Of more immediate importance was the mission of Captaiii
Inchbird, of the Bombay Marine, who may be regarded as the
first of those distinguished men who have since conferred
celebrity on the diplomacy of the English and iMahrattas, the
* Eajahpore, or Rajlipuri, is the capital of the small state of the Seodee, or
Hubshee, and is situated on the north side of the river of tlie same nan.e. Jiii-
jeera, where the Seedee has a palace and fort, auJ whence he derived his title, is
separated from Rajahpore by a shallow and narrow channel. The other island
fort is called Kan si.
t Manuscript Copy of Captain Gordon's Journal.
I
VOL. I.