hratta country, and near Surat. He sent orders to this effect to
his officers.

Shamsheer, a descendant of the first Peishwa, refused to obey him;
and the British force entered Bundelcund and, being joined by a
powerful chief--with eight thousand irregular infantry, four
thousand horse, and three regular battalions of infantry, commanded
by a European officer--captured several strongholds. Shamsheer then
treated for peace but, after having delayed the advance for two
months, finally broke off negotiations, suddenly; and the British
at once laid siege to Calpee, which capitulated on the 4th of
December. Finding himself unable to resist the farther advance of
the British, Shamsheer then surrendered.

In October, Ambajee Inglia, who had acted as Scindia's
representative and held, under him, extensive territories, had
offered to renounce his dependence on Scindia, and become a
tributary of the British. Negotiations were, as usual, spun out to
a great length; but a treaty was concluded with him, on the 16th of
December, by which he agreed to surrender Gwalior and the lands to
the north of it, and to remain as an independent sovereign of the
other territories in his possession.

A corps, under Colonel White, was sent to take possession of the
fortress. The commandant refused to recognize the arrangement but,
upon batteries being erected, a breach was soon effected, and the
garrison surrendered.

The news came that Scindia had broken his treaty, and had been
defeated with great slaughter by General Wellesley, who afterwards
besieged the strong fortress of Gawilghur. Guns were brought up,
with great difficulty, over thirty miles of mountains and ravines.
They opened fire on the 13th of December and, as soon as a breach
was practicable, the place was carried by storm, and a large
quantity of guns and ammunition fell into the hands of the British.

The Rajah of Berar, terrified at the defeat of Scindia, now sent to
ask for peace, and ceded the district of Cuttack; thereby placing
the whole of the maritime provinces, between Madras and Calcutta,
in the hands of the British. Scindia, finding himself forsaken by
his ally, also made peace, surrendering a considerable portion of
his territories.

1804 opened quietly, but peace was not long maintained. Holkar had,
after his expulsion from Poona, made peace with Scindia and, when
hostilities commenced, had waited to see the result before
committing himself. At first he viewed w