On this day, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser published a report headlined “Calcutta News”. It was about the battle at Ashteen (or Ashta) between Peshwa Baji Rao II and the British.

The report said: “The following is the account of an action fought at Ashteen on the 20th February last, between the British cavalry composing General (Joseph) Smith’s division of the army of the Deckan, and that of Bajee Row, headed by Gokla (Bapuji Gokhale).

“The cavalry, with General Smith’s division of the army of the Deckan, in the action with Bajee Row’s army at Ashteen on the 20th February last, consisted of two squadrons of the 22d light dragoons, and the 2nd and 7th regiments of Madras cavalry.”

Bapuji Gokhale was killed. The Peshwa escaped to Khandesh. On June 2, 1818, he surrendered his royal claims to the British.