om the Bombay government had
sent to share the authority and direct the movements of Egerton. These
civilians, seeing a large body of Mahratta horse before them, overcome
by fear, ordered a retreat; and the Mahrattas following them, cut to
pieces nearly four hundred men, and carried away the greater part of
their baggage and provisions. Alarmed at their position, the civilians
now sent a deputation to the Mahrattas, to know upon what terras they
would permit them to march back to Bombay without molestation. The
Mahrattas demanded that Ragoba should be delivered to them; and Ragoba
was forthwith sent to their camp. But this weak compliance had the
effect of emboldening the Mahratta chiefs. They demanded a second price
for permitting the retreat; and this price was a treaty by which the
English should agree to give up all the acquisitions they had made in
that part of India since 1756, and send orders to Colonel Goddard
to return to Bengal. A treaty was signed to this effect; and having
delivered up two hostages as sureties for its fulfilment, the
dishonoured army was permitted to march back to Bombay. When Colonel
Goddard heard of these reverses he was at Boorhampoor, the ancient
capital of Candeish, and nearly a thousand miles, by the route he had
taken, from Calcutta. He had been detained in this city by perplexing
letters and advices from the field-commissioners; and on receiving the
intelligence, he resolved to march to Surat on the western coast, where
he would be in an English settlement, with the sea open to Bombay, and
ready to act as occasion might require or orders from Calcutta might
direct. Favoured by the natives, whose goodwill he had gained by the
strict discipline which he maintained among his troops during his
march from Rajaghur to Boorhampoor, he reached Surat, a distance of two
hundred and fifty miles, in nineteen days. On his arrival Goddard was
promoted to the rank of general; and shortly after he received the
commands of the supreme council at Calcutta, to take upon himself all
future wars or negociations with the Mahrattas. He proposed an amicable
treaty with the Mahratta confederated chiefs, on condition that they
would annul the recent treaty with Colonel Egerton, and give up all
connexion with the French. At the time he proposed this treaty, Ragoba,
who had escaped from Poona, was at Surat; and the chiefs replied that
they would listen to no negociation until he was given up, and until
Salsette