By this time the English being arrived at Azim-abad, marched along the streets and markets to a house close to Mirza-qhalil’s quay, which now goes by the name of Maar8ff-gunj; and plant­ing their cannon there, they commenced battering the citadel. But, as the wall in that part consisted only of some brick-work, hardly made up with mud, it soon gave way, and afforded a large breach. The English, with dint of cannon-balls and bombs, drove the besieged from it, and at day-break, they got into the citadel, and from thence into the city. On the first news of the breach being made, Mir-cassem had dispatched some thousand horse to attack the English, under the command of his own nephew, Mir-abboo-aaly-qhan, and of his Paymaster, Mir-roshen-aaly-qhan. These officers having set out from camp in the evening, marched the whole night, and in the morning they arrived near the city, resolved to advance under cover by Mehdy-gundj and Begum-poorah, in order to come out at the Naqhas, or Horse-market, where they intended to commence their attack on the back of the besiegers. Being arrived near Shah-medjnoon’s* hospice, they heard from the runaways that the English had got into the citadel by the breach, and from thence into the city. These words struck them with dismay. At first they stood motionless, and doubtful whether they were to fall to or to retreat; when at once, some English Talingas, who had advanced as far as the western gate, suddenly made their appearance on the outside of it. At sight of this, all that body of cavalry, without taking notice of the smallness of their number, or inquiring whether they were followed by more, disbanded at once, and fled with so much blindness and precipitation, that some threw themselves head­long into the lake, where they were drowned; and others, in endeavouring to cross over, stuck in the mire and clay, and miserably perished. Roshen-aaly-qhan himself was amongst the latter. In his flight, he fell headlong into a deep place, lost his horse and turband, and escaped with his slippers in his hand, in which wretched condition he arrived in camp. Mir-cassem, finding that fortune had turned her back upon him totally, and was now siding with his enemies, conceived that he had no other part left, but that of a retreat. He therefore decamped, and Mir-Cassem being totally ruined, thinks of taking shelter in Shudjah-ed-döulah’s dominions. marched to Muhib-aaly-poor. There Mir-abdollah, overcome by the thoughts of parting with his house, consort, family, and property, quitted the army without leave, and, having cut his way with all the pains imaginable through crowds of peasants intent on plunder, he arrived in town with only his person; and, such silent retreats becoming now of fashion, Ahmed-qhan-coréishy soon was of the number. Such a desertion, after all, was of a piece with his character, as well as with that of many others. On Mir-cassem’s forgiving his misdemeanours, and restoring him to favour, he had taken care to assume in his presence, and in that of his relations, a high flown style, and to talk much of the duties and fidelity incumbent on generous grateful minds. But people who knew how much his heart was ulcerated against Mir-cassem these three years past, believed nothing of his protestations; and the event verified their suspicions; for this man, who had been ordered to assemble and to send provisions to the camp at Shimshir-nugur, instead of that, repaired to Dáod-nugur, where he busied himself in schemes of revenge. From Shimshir-nugur, Mir-cassem advanced to Sheh-poora, which is a district inhabited by Rohillas under several Zemindars; there he forded the river Sohon, and encamped on the other side, at a town called Nelitoo, which was full of traders. At that place he stopped a few days, in order to give time to his consort, his seraglio, and his treasures to join him from Rhotas, under the command of Mir-suléiman-qhan, his steward, a man on whom he reposed the utmost confidence, and who had the absolute management of his favourite women, as well as of his jewels and treasure.

It was this at encampment that Mirza-nedjef-qhan, who had escaped from 8d8a, by the way over the mountains, came out of that hilly country, and joined Mir-cassem. On hearing of his intention to take shelter in Shudja-ed-döulah’s country, and of a treaty being on foot with that Prince, that officer, who was fully acquainted with his temper and politics, strongly objected to his taking such a resolution. “Never,” said he, “never think of putting yourself in that Prince’s power. Retire within the fortress of Rhotas with your family and treasures; and leave the army and the management of the war to me. I shall pick up amongst your troops a good body of choice infantry, with a greater proportion of cavalry, in which last, I shall admit none but those that are well mounted, and who have robust­ness and good will enough to follow me day and night on horseback. With these, I shall be eternally hanging on the rear of the English, and shall cut them so much work, that they shall not find time to range themselves in battle array, or to take their meals; after having done so much, let happen what it will, and let fortune favour which party soever she may be pleased.” The Navvab objected to the air and water of Rhotas, and shewed a disinclination from shutting himself up in that mountain; for as to the rest, the advice was good; but it was not in his destiny to avail himself of it. Mirza-nedjef-qhan observing his reluctance, proposed turning towards the Bondulcund, and joining the Marhattas, a powerful people, who might be roused into action; and he offered to lead the way. But this scheme did not please Mir-cassem; he objected to the length of the way, to his own ignorance of the country, to the diversity between his temper and that of the Marhattas, and to their riveted inclination for sack and plunder. With such sen­timents in his heart, he thought that his getting into Shudjah-ed-döulah’s country, and in the Emperor’s Court, would prove the end of all his toils. This inclination of his did not receive a little strength from the letters which came from Mirza-shems-eddin, to the same purport; they advised him to think of an alliance with Shudja-ed-döula; and Mir-suléiman, his steward, for purposes of his own, was urging the same measure. Mirza-nedjef-qhan, finding every one bent on going to Shudja-ed-döulah, declared, that in that case, he would be obliged to quit the Navvab’s service. Nevertheless, no party was determined Is strongly dissuaded by Nedjef-qhan, who proposes an excellent plan. yet; when letters came from Ahmed-qhan-coréishy, purporting that the English were arrived at Muhib-aaly-poor. This intelligence, although false and of Coréishy’s forging, equally sur­prised and consterned the Navvab; his perturbation of mind cannot be described. Another letter came again from the same artificious hand, with advice, that the English had sent, in all speed by water, a party of troops to Zemaniah, with a view to intercept his way into Shudja-ed-döula’s country. That perfid­ious man, not contented with sending these two forged intelli­gences, incited the Zemindars of his djaghir to plunder the lag­gers of Mir-cassem’s army, and to seize some of his baggage, which was on the road. The Zemindars did as they were bid; and the runaways coming to camp, spread the unwelcome news everywhere. Mir-cassem, confounded at such an universal desertion, quitted his camp, although he intended to tarry there a few days, and went forward. It was at this spot that letters came from my father, advising me to retire upon the family estate, as the times were unfavourable for serving Mir-cassem; nor was I much disinclined from taking such a resolution, as the Navvab had the worst opinion of my connexions with the English. But such was my attachment to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, that I could not bear to part with him, no more than with Mirza-bakyr and Mirza-abdollah, until I had seen them in a place of Mir-cassem, surrounded by traitors, is promised an asylum by perfides. safety. I thought it unworthy and ungenerous to part with them, and therefore I continued with the fugitive army. Mir-cassem, the next day, marched to Saharseram, and from thence he advanced farther, and encamped at Sanot-mehnía, on the banks of the river Durgàoty, where the army was mustered and paid. The payment having lasted until it was dark, some people that had accounts to settle with the several officers, coming to high words with the clerks, a great outcry was raised, according to the custom of the latter; and this being soon echoed throughout the whole army, caused such an uproar, that Mir-cassem, astonished at those confused cries, came bare-footed to the door of his tent walls, and could not help exclaiming, That, to all appearance, those ungrateful soldiers had raised a sedition. But, as the Divine Providence reserved that army and its master for purposes of its own, the uproar and tumult subsided of themselves. The next morning, Mir-cassem finding Nedjef-qhan totally averse from going to Shudja-ed-döula’s country, dismissed him with a present of one lac and a-half of rupees, and of five elephants; after which he marched forward, and encamped on the banks of the little river of Kerem-nassa. There he received letters and a parcel from Mirza-shems-eddin, his agent at Shudja-ed-döula’s Court. The parcel contained a Coran, on some blank leaves of which glorious book was written that Prince’s safe conduct and promise, under his hand and seal. This sight seemed to please him. From the Kerem-nassa, he marched into Radja Balvand-sing’s country, which is of Shudja-ed-döula’s jurisdiction, and he encamped on the banks of the Ganga, where we shall leave him at present, to resume our narrative of the consequences of the disaster at 8d8a-nala.