Lt Col John Briggs, who spent long years in India in the 18th & 19th C, studied Maratha history, documents and formed opinions about Indians of the time. In one of his statements he writes 'I have generally found the people intelligent in a very high degree.. 1/n ..They are usually liberal in their opinions; & the Hindus especially are tolerant on the subject of religion: for tho tenacious of interference in the exercise of their own, they oppose no worship or custom which does not affect themselves. 2/n

8th to 10th March 1771, less than a month after #Delhi was back under Maratha control after #Panipat1761, Hyder Ali and Tipu were defeated in a battle at Chinkurli/Moti Talao, on the outskirts of Srirangapatnam...and they escaped from the battleground disguised as fakirs. 1/n ..the walls of Srirangapatnam and the Cauvery around it saved the Mysore ruler but he had to pay a tribute of 50 lakhs to the besieging army under Trimbak rao Pethe, maternal uncle of Sadashivrao Bhau along with cession of territory.. 2/n