It is not proposed to discuss here the evil results, terminating in the disgraceful convention of Wargám, which arose from the ill-considered measures of the Bombay Government. It suffices to say that the Maráthá nation had good cause to be dissatisfied with the action of the British authorities, who had attempted to force upon them, as a ruler, one whose ascendancy was repudiated by all the influential chiefs of their race.
The Nizám had also his grievances, which inclined him to co-operate with the Maráthás and Haidar. On the occupation of the Sarkárs, or the coast region of the Madras Presidency on the Bay of Bengal, one of these districts, that is, Guntúr, was granted as a jágír to Basálat Jang, with the assent of his brother Nizám Alí, the ruling Nizám. Some years afterwards Basalat Jang took into his service a force of French troops, whom he declined to disband, while the Nizam, on being applied to, refused to interfere. In 1778, when war with France seemed imminent, the Madras Government availed themselves of the agency of Muhammad Alí of Arcot to enter into negotiations with Basálat Jang, ignoring his suzerain, the Nizám. The result was that Basálat Jang ceded the district for a certain rental, and dismissed his French troops, on condition that the English Government agreed to defend him against the attacks of Haidar on Adoni. No sooner had the Madras Government acquired possession of Guntúr, than they leased it to Muhammad Alí. This was unquestionably an invasion of the rights of the
