Minute by His Excellency the Viceroy [‎25v] (8/10)

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allow him the opportunity which had been promised him for it^^ming
the administration of Baroda.
27. A second warning was given to Mnlhar Rao when Sir Lewis Pelly
was appointed to succeed Colonel Phayre. Sir Lewis Pelly, on his arrival at
Baroda, described the state of affairs to be very critical, as has been mentioned
in paragraph 7 of this Minute. At the same time he did not suggest that
Mulhar Bao should be then deposed. He reported that Mulhar Bao professed
his readiness to accept his advice—had indeed accepted it upon some matters,
and so far as he could judge sincerely desired to reform the administration.
Although after what had previously occurred the Government of India could
attach but little value to such professions, there were certainly at that time
no sufficient reasons for deviating from the course which had before been
adopted and announced to Mulhar Bao, namely, that he should still have
the benefit of the period of grace originally given to him, together with every
assistance which could be afforded to him by Sir Lewis Pelly.
28. The suspension of Mulhar Bao, in consequence of the evidence which
was obtained of his complicity in the attempt to murder Colonel Phayre, occur
red soon after Sir Lewis Pelly's arrival at Baroda. In the 8th and following
paragraphs of this Minute I have shown that the evidence by itself would
not have justified the deposition of Mulhar Bao without further inquiry.
29. The administration of the State of Baroda was necessarily then placed
for the time in Sir Lewis Pelly's hands; and much further information was
obtained which added very materially to the previous evidence of the mis-
government of the Baroda State, of Mulhar Bao's misconduct, and of his
incapacity to carry into effect the necessary reforms.
30. Mr. Dadabhoy Nowrojee, the Minister in whom Mulhar Bao pro
fessed to place confidence, and who, so far as the Government of India could
judge, had been sincerely desirous of reforming the administration, resigned
office; no explanation was afforded of the reasons for his resignation.
Sir Lewis Pelly found that the finances of the State had been grossly mis
managed. The revenue during the past year was found to be 94 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. (£940,000), and the expenditure during the same time no less than 171
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees (£1,710,000), out of which sum 40 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees (£400,000) had been expended
in gifts chiefly made to favorites and courtesans, and 30 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees (£300,000) more
had been spent in building and repairing palaces and other personal expenses of
Mulhar Bao. The manner in which the accounts were kept was most unsatis
factory An East India Company trading post. . In the Baroda State Treasury a sum of less than two thousand
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. (£200) was found when Sir Lewis Pelly assumed the administration,
while 40 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees (£400,000) were afterwards discovered by Sir Lewis Pelly
concealed in the Palace, and further considerable sums had undoubtedly been
removed.
31. The enquiries that were made respecting the attempt to poison
Colonel Phayre naturally led to an enquiry into the circumstances of the death
of Bhow Sindia in 1872, which, as I have mentioned before, was generally