in camp at Ujjén, to come to his aid. It may freely be asserted that the fate of India was in the hands of Daolát Ráo. Had he marched to the aid of his suzerain, not only would no treaty of Bassein have been signed, but he would have attained, with one bound, the influence and power of his predecessor.
Daolát Ráo cast away the opportunity — never to recur. Why did he do so? Was it, as he gave out, that he was not strong enough, or did he doubt the intention of the Péshwa to throw himself, unless relieved, in the hands of the British?
A glance at the relations between Daolát Ráo and M. Perron at this period will tend to elucidate the question. Perron had hardly returned to Aligarh before he received from Daolát Ráo a pressing requisition to send him another brigade, as with his then force he was not strong enough to march to the assistance of the Péshwa. Daolát Ráo had then three brigades with him; one, belonging to Perron's force, commanded by Sutherland; one, an independent brigade, commanded by Filoze; and a third belonging to the Bigam Sombre. Perron had with himself three brigades. When, therefore, he received the requisition to send one of these to Ujjén, he thought he read in the order a resolution to despoil him of his power. Although, then, he saw that the moment was critical, that by delaying to comply he risked the independence and even the existence of the Maráthá empire, yet regard for his own interests and the dread of throwing too much power into the hands of
