The expedition which Hastings had sent westward was not so speedily or completely successful as most of his undertakings.  The commanding officer procrastinated.  The authorities at Bombay blundered.  But the Governor-General persevered.  A new commander repaired the errors of his predecessor.  Several brilliant actions spread the military renown of the English through regions where no European flag had ever been seen.  It is probable that, if a new and more formidable danger had not compelled Hastings to change his whole policy, his plans respecting the Mahratta empire would have been carried into complete effect.

The authorities in England had wisely sent out to Bengal, as commander of the forces and member of the Council, one of the most distinguished soldiers of that time.  Sir Eyre Coote had, many years before, been conspicuous among the founders of the British empire in the East.  At the council of war which preceded the battle of Plassey, he earnestly recommended, in opposition to the majority, that daring course which, after some hesitation, was adopted, and which was crowned with such splendid success.  He subsequently commanded in the south of India against the brave and unfortunate Lally, gained the decisive battle of Wandewash over the French and their native allies, took Pondicherry, and made the English power supreme in the Carnatic.  Since those great exploits near twenty years had elapsed.  Coote had no longer the bodily activity which he had shown in earlier days; nor was the vigour of his mind altogether unimpaired.  He was capricious and fretful, and required much coaxing to keep him in good humour.  It must, we fear, be added that the love of money had grown upon him, and that he thought more about his allowances, and less about his duties, than might have been expected from so eminent a member of so noble a profession.  Still he was perhaps the ablest officer that was then to be found in the British army.  Among the native soldiers his name was great and his influence unrivalled.  Nor is he yet forgotten by them.  Now and then a white-bearded old sepoy may still be found who loves to talk of Porto Novo and Pollilore.  It is but a short time since one of those aged men came to present a memorial to an English officer, who holds one of the highest employments in India.  A print of Coote hung in the room.  The veteran recognised at once that face and figure which he had not seen for more than half a century, and, forgetting his salaam to the living, halted, drew himself up lifted his hand, and with solemn reverence paid his military obeisance to the dead.

Coote, though he did not, like Barwell, vote constantly with the Governor-General, was by no means inclined to join in systematic opposition, and on most questions concurred with Hastings, who did his best, by assiduous courtship, and by readily granting the most exorbitant allowances, to gratify the strongest passions of the old soldier.