garrisoned with British troops. On that point the Governor and his Council were speedily of one mind. To keep the ravening Maráthá hordes out of the country lying between Etáwah and Allahábád, was a clear necessity alike for the masters of Bengal and their ally the Nawáb-Wazír. The Governor, for his part, made light of any immediate danger. The new Peshwá Náráyan Ráo was a youth of nineteen, and the Maráthás were 'sick of a long campaign.' But Hastings' colleagues voted for prompt action, and he admitted frankly, if not without regret, the need for such a course.
A civil officer was sent to administer the two provinces in the Company's name, pending the question of their future disposal. Hastings knew that the Company were strongly set against any enlargement of their dominions. He was willing to hold Kora and Allahábád in trust for Sháh Alam, if that prince would only have agreed to follow his advice. But the Emperor would agree to nothing until his arrears of tribute for Bengal were duly paid. To all such demands the Governor and his colleagues turned a deaf ear. Before the famine of 1769-70 Bengal had been drained of specie in order that the tribute might be regularly paid. Since then, chiefly in consequence of the famine, no payments had been made. And meanwhile the Emperor had not kept faith with his English friends. He had not only flung himself into the hands of their worst enemies; he had even intrigued against the Bengal Government by sending Major
