cantoned a few miles off to the west. The Peishwa, however, was impressed with the idea that the English had retired to their present position through fear, though Mr. Elphinstone himself continued to remain at the Residency. He, therefore, as if in defiance, pushed forward his own troops, and it was announced that he intended to form a camp between the old cantonments of the British and the new. Some of the Mahrattas were constantly riding round the camp, abusing our men and officers; and an English officer was even attacked, plundered, and wounded, escaping narrowly with his life.
It was not until these unequivocal demonstrations had been made that Mr. Elphinstone summoned from Seroor, on the south bank of the Godavery, Brigadier-General Lionel Smith, with the force under his command, consisting of a light battalion, and a corps of 1,000 auxiliary horse. These forces left Seroor on the 5th of November, and had marched half way to Poonah, when the Peishwa being apprised of the fact, put his own army in motion also, and threw a strong battalion between the Residency on the skirts of the town and the camp at Kirkee, for the purpose of cutting off the communication between the two.
Mr. Elphinstone having demanded the reason of this hostile proceeding, was told that the Peishwa had only anticipated the hostile movements of the English, for he was determined to be no longer the victim of his irresolution: Bajee Rao then mounted his horse and joined the main body of his army, which forthwith advanced on the Residency. Mr. Elphinstone and his suite had barely time to mount their horses and cross the river towards the English camp, ere the Mahrattas took possession of the buildings, from which there had not been time to remove anything. The Residency was plundered and afterwards burned, on which occasion much valuable property was destroyed; but the most irreparable loss was that of Mr. Elphinstone's manuscripts and library.
Meanwhile the Resident and his party made good their
