पान:आंग्ल प्रभा.djvu/6

TT = é. arrangements about the garrisons of forts, the Subha Armat or the naval establishment, and all the great offices connected with Customs. In the case of the forts, the three principal officers were selected from three different castes, the Havildar or the head being a Maratha, the Subnis being a Brahmin, and the Karkhannis a Parbhu. It was this constitution which kept up the Maratha power throughout the troubled times which followed Shivaji's death. Though Rajit Sam's aji did not pay much attention to these internal arrangements, Rajaram followed his father s traditions faithfully, and set up his Ashtapradhan Council eve at Jinji. Shahu on his accession to the throne, changed the Councillors, but retained the Council. Though each Councillor had his separate department, he was also a Military Commander, except in the case of the Nyayadhisha and Panditrao, and is in Shivaji's time, so under Shahu, the Pratinidhi and the Sachiva, the Mantri and the Amatyo, assisted the State in its wars, as much as the Senapati and the Peishwa themselves The Conncil is frequently mentioned as holding Majlasi or meetings for purposes of consultation, adopting measures of State policy, dispensing justice, and maintaining the dignity of the State, both at home and abroad. The great Council meeting, where Bajirao advocated the forward policy of marching up to Delhi, and was opposed by the Pratinidhi, is a matter of history. On Shahu's death, a change for the worse took place. The predominance acquired by the Peish was, by reason of the great services rendered by them, necessarily tended to dininish the importance of the other members of the Council. When the seat of power was removed from Satara to Poona, these offices became hereditary, but their, holders ceased to be of much importance in the councils of the State. The ινο successors of Shahu were not personall y fitted to wild the authority exercised in their name by the Peishwas. Though they were honoured as titular heads of the State, their movements were kept under strict control. In fact after the failure of Damaji Gaikwad's attempt to undo the grants of the sanads transferring the power to the Peiswa, as noted above, the Raja was kept a prisoner in the fort of Satara, and an establishment of about Rs. 30,000 a year was attached to his Court. It was no till the elder Madhaorao Peishwa showed more liberality towards the Raja that he could claim a garden for his pleasure-house, and attendants, musicians, and singers were attached to his Court, and a decent provision was made for his near relatives by Nana Fadinavis. In the nature of things, there was, however, nothing to prevent the continuance of the old arrangement of associationg the great Military and Civil Commanders in the Councils of the State, but the Peishwas apparently contented themselves with