IN this year Sálár Jang, who has been already mentioned, went to the place appointed for him. He was debarred from calling on the name of God and hearing the word of God according to the practice of every Mussalman in his last moments, for during his lifetime he had refrained from reading the Qurán and they dared not even mention in his house the name of the ‘Súra Yásín,’ which is especially intended for these moments; and if there was any occasion to refer to it, they spoke of it as the Nanáwán, or ‘nameless thing.’ This fact suffices to show at once how far he was either tolerant, religious, or fearless.

In this year Haidar Beg, when he heard of the dignified bearing and noble qualities of Lord Corn­wallis, who had arrived in Calcutta as Governor, went to Bengal. This nobleman, who was free from all guile and entirely without motives, was completely deceived by his apparent openness, and treated him with courtesy and trust. Accordingly, Haidar Beg, embracing the opportunity, carried several points with Lord Cornwallis and returned to Lucknow successful and exultant. Among these matters were: (1) a reduction in the annual payment to the Company; (2) a remission of the arrears of past years; (3) the aboli­tion of the taxes imposed to meet the expenses of the cantonments, and the removal of officers who were employed in the service of the Súbah. Nine months elapsed between his departure and his return.

Immediately on his return he quarrelled with Jhao L’al and made Bareli over to Mirz Mahdi, who has already been mentioned, a man who, it was notorious, had not even the ability to fill the post, and who was one of Tikait Rai’s associates and reckoned among his protégés. Jhao L’al’s house and all his property were confiscated to meet the accounts, and he was himself imprisoned. After a year and a half he managed to satisfy Haidar Beg and was released.

Two months after Haidar Beg’s return, Colonel Hauper was removed, and Mr. F.* was appointed, and at the same time the news of Lord Cornwallis’ intention to visit Lucknow was received. The Wazír went to Allahábád to receive him, and Haidar Beg went as far as Benares, and they returned together. In accordance with custom they entertained the Governor and pre­sented money, goods, and curiosities; but Lord Corn­wallis would not take anything whatever of all they presented, and he endeavoured to out-do all previous Governors in the marks of respect and courtesy which he showed the Wazír. In fact, Lord Cornwallis, as the couplet puts it,—

inasmuch as he was himself straightforward, thought the Wazír and Haidar Beg were also so. In his large-heartedness and his appreciation of degrees of nobility, he took the Wazír to be like the Wazírs and Princes of other countries, and fancied that previous Gover­nors, not having been of noble family, had failed to pay due regard to the high descent of the Wazír, and used to interfere unnecessarily in his affairs. So he said to himself that, if he respected the dignity of the Wazír, it would show his discrimination and further the interests of the Company, for most can be made of men of rank in this way. Accordingly he adopted the line of policy described. The Wazír now made a great mistake and began to fancy himself somebody of importance, and to think that he had for no reason submitted so long to the worry of Gover­nors. When Lord Cornwallis discovered the extent of Haidar Beg’s impostures and the Wazír’s want of dignity, he became ashamed of himself, and resolved to remedy what he had done, but for some rea­sons this resolution did not take the shape of pub­lic action. This made the Wazír more obstinate. The first reason was the stability of the Governor’s char­acter. It was not usual with him to run impetuously or readily in the opposite course to what he had pur­sued. The second was his want of skill in civil admin­istration and details of government. The third was the complicity of Mr. F. with the Wazír and Haidar Beg. All the faults he had detected in his time, he concealed owing to his great avarice. The fourth reason was that Haidar Beg Khán conciliated the Governor’s staff and the members of Council and most of their friends in Calcutta, even their very servants, through the skilful offices of Tafazzul Husen Khán, so that no one might mention his villainies, and if any one made preparations for exposing him, he might be foiled by the multiplicity of his friends. For all these reasons, how could Lord Cornwallis, with his military simplicity, gain a complete insight into all the ramifications of Haidár Beg’s rascality and deceit?