ABSTRACT
John Malcolm embarked at Calcutta, 30 August 1802, sailed to Masulipatam, and thence journeyed overland, to Hyderabad, Poona, and ultimately Bombay. At Poona, he assured the Peshwa that the Governor-General was thinking about him, 'and with that anxiety which the welfare of a prince excited, on whose conduct at this critical period the peace of India in a great measure depended.' Malcolm took the vicissitude calmly; he sent Close at Poona a note, to explain what had happened, gave his parole and went to sleep again. The Persian tragedy, however, was at once forgotten, in news closer to British interests—the sudden descent of Yeswant Rao Holkar on Poona and the Peshwa's flight to the Company's protection. Within a year of his disastrous defeat in 1801, Holkar swept up to Poona, spreading consternation. Holkar attacked him and by his own personal recklessness scattered his troops and Mahadaji Sindhia's, winning a battle, 25 October 1802, that for a time seemed desperate.
