* THANKS without measure, and praises founded on eter­nity, ought to be sprinkled over the magnificent and exalted Court of the Just One without equal, since the multifarious system of worlds, with a tongue both ideal and audible, warbles melodiously a confession of his unity in endless duration and from primeval origin; and the many-coloured variety of ages, in all the vicissitudes of places and limits, and the interchange of night and day, indicates and pronounces on the broad diploma of his great­ness, the stupendous diversity of events and revolutions. Saluta­tions also from eternal time without beginning to eternal time without end, are justly due to that splendid present from heaven, viz., the Chief of Prophets, and to the family and companions* of that noble being, the final cause of existence, and the means of connecting the sustenance in this world, and a provision for the other: To him and to them be grace and peace to the day of judgment and consternation!

It is agreed and confessed amongst those that look on the register of time, and the vicissitudes of days and nights, that books of history, and a review of the different stations and various successions of men are of manifold conveniency, and produce an infinity of advantages, as if the inspection of the historical page afforded an insight into the phenomena of the Almighty Artist’s full powers, and a glimpse into the most glorious part of the Creator’s performance. It affords information like­wise about the several races of mankind, and an insight into the institutions and good qualities of their principal leaders, as well as in the actions of their followers, and in the imitative motions of those that have copied those actors of so exalted a stage. On the other hand, men, by such an inspection of the meanness of insolence, and of the turpitude of oppression, are often put upon their guard, and often reclaimed from their shameful conduct: All truths so well known to the intelligent and virtuous, and so universally admitted amongst those endowed with experience and penetration, that it would be needless to insist upon them, It is, therefore, in that view, that this most defective of mankind, and this humblest individual in the creation, namely, Gh8lam-hossein, son to Hedäiet-aly-khan, grandson to Sëid-aalim-ollah, and great-grandson to Sëyd-faïz-ollah, the Tebätebaite, of the race of Hassen,* (on all whom may God’s mercy rest for ever. through the merits of his Prophet, and of his Saint,* has thought proper, in the victorious month of Sufur, of the year 1194 of the retreat of the Prophet, (on whom, as well as on his offspring, be salutation and grace for ever!) to undertake this work, his intention being to furnish to some intelligent man the means of giving the public at some distant time hereafter, an idea of the preceding reigns; and to prevent his being stopped short, as by a chasm, on discovering that links are wanting from the chain of past events: for it is certain, that to this day no one has thought of filling up the chasm, by writing the history of India since Aoreng-zib’s demise. It is then, to put such a clue in his power, that I have imposed on myself this task: trusting therefore to my personal knowledge, and to what I have been gathering from persons of eminent rank and credit, I have strung the whole together in a plain unornamented style, where my errors shall be the more excusable, as I cite perpetually my authorities; and by God’s blessing, I have entitled it Sëir Mutaqherin (View of Modern Times), as containing the whole series of events, from the year 1118, to the year 1195, since the venerable flight of the last and chief of messengers, down to the present days.