Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/183

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insuring his good behaviour, it became necessary to conclude a permanent treaty with him in 1818. Sindhia practically forfeited no territory, but he agreed to certain exchanges of districts by which he was not the loser, and in this manner he ceded Ajmere to the British Government, a province which was much required to exclude Maráthá influence from Rájputána, and to maintain a restraining check over the affairs in that turbulent locality. When Daulat Ráo's duplicity with regard to Asírgarh became known (in 1819), Lord Hastings contented himself by sending the incriminating correspondence to Gwalior, with an intimation that the fort would be retained in perpetuity; but with politic moderation he made no further demands, and took no more notice of the incident. Since that time the attitude of the Mahárájá towards the English changed completely, and far from objecting to a proposal by which the command of a body of his troops was given to British officers, he willingly accepted a treaty in 1820, which, though not in name, was practically the same as a subsidiary alliance. Under this protection, he recovered many of the provinces which his insubordinate commanders had usurped, his finances which were in great disorder improved, and a system of regular government was soon introduced, which relieved the inhabitants of the crushing tyranny which oppressed them.

Nor was the feeling of resignation to British guidance exceptional in the north; in the Deccan