Although the Qhan was a man of great sense, and naturally averse to such kinds of intrigues, yet he lent a willing ear to the devil’s suggestions, that enemy of mankind; and on the intreaties of the Princess, he sent (at least so it is reported) two or three times for the girl, on her mistress’s repeated intreaties, or at least, they imputed that foible to him. This was soon known, and soon was laid hold of, as a sufficient cause for a breach. The Navvab parted with him; and in public Derbar, or in full Court, he drew up narratives of that proceeding, as hav­ing dishonoured his house and family, and rent the veil that covered their chastity; although in reality such a publication tended only to dishonour it still further; but he had his motives in that. For he was fearful, lest the English should find fault with him for parting, on so easy terms, with a man to whom he confessedly owed the highest obligations. This at least is what occurs to feeble minds like mine; for otherwise such a conduct is incomprehensible. Be it as it will, the Navvab having intro­duced the subject more than once at his levee, and always with a deal of acrimony, he at last (this was the 16th Sufur, in the year 1191) dismissed Aaly-hibrahim-qhan from his office; and the same day he carried his eldest son, Behram-djung to the palace, and got him installed in that office by Mubarec-ed-döwlah, who honoured him with a rich dress of honour, called Qhylaat. Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, on this intelligence, which he received with a deal of ease and tranquillity, retired to a corner of his house, and from that time intirely abstained from going to Court or making visits. But notwithstanding that retreat, such was the opinion entertained of his probity and disinterestedness, that although his revenue was but small, and his usual temper seemed altered by his disgrace, yet he lived in the utmost honor and estimation; and the public opinion on his account ran so strong, that his house became a rendezvous for the high and low.

It was in those times of Mahmed-reza-qhan’s prevalence, that his favourite, Séyd-mahmed-qhan, a Persian by birth, but a man shrewd and wary to a high degree, who had got such an ascendant over his master, as to govern him intirely, married one of the relicts of Rezy-eddin-mahmed-qhan, and got by that means Some stric­tures on Séyd mahmed-qhan, a favourite of Mahmed-reza qhan’s. possession of his estate. The matter came to pass in a pretty strange manner. It appears that Rezy-eddin-mahmed-qhan, intending many years ago to perform a pilgrimage to the glorious Mecca, had given him a paper by which he appointed him his executor in his absence; and that although the testator had long ago altered his resolution, and many years had elapsed since that transaction, he had departed this life without minding the paper. He left a great estate in money and jewels, with a very noble palace, and a fine bath. After his decease Séyd-mahmed-qhan, armed with that paper, which had been all this while for­gotten in his hands, took possession of the deceased’s estate, brought his wives and son under his controul, and some time after, he managed so dexterously, and interposed the mediation of so many proper persons, that he espoused one of the deceased’s consorts, but a different one from the lady that had a son (altho’ still the person most beloved of the deceased’s three consorts, and likewise the person which proved the richest in money and precious effects). He bound her by the formality of a marriage, and took possession of both her charms and wealth. But this marriage became so very odious to the public, and it excited such a detestation in all ranks against the word executor, that Sadr-el-hac-qhan, the first Magistrate of the Province, being then upon his death-bed; and his physician, Ased-ollah-qhan, who had an unlimited influence over his patient’s mind, having introduced a certain pretended Arabian, one Séyd-mahmed (who by-the-bye is indeed a strange fellow likewise) for a very proper man to be made his executor; this word was no sooner pronounced, than the dying man’s consort, who actually was at hand behind a veil, fell a-crying; and she exclaimed as loud as she could, that she was an old woman, that needed neither an “executor nor a husband,” and that she would suffer none at all. The sick man overcome by her intreaties and tears, retracted his word, although accustomed to obey implicitly his physician’s nod; and he died without appointing any executor at all; nor is there any thing so strange in that. What is really very strange, is that the physician, ruffled by this refusal of appointing that man of an ambiguous character for an executor, quitted the house exceeding discontented, and never returned since.

Whilst this singular affair was a subject of general animad­version, Mahmed-reza-qhan thought proper to marry Mahmed-aaly-qhan, his brother’s relict, a nobleman who had been suc­cessively Governor of Islam-abad, H8gly, and Pooraniah, at which last place he had departed this life. This lady had two sons from her late husband, who had left her a great fortune in money and jewels; nor would she hear of a second marriage. But by a proper mediation, and the use of proper means, she was after a deal of trouble and intreaties, prevailed upon to yield her consent. It is said that at the period when Mahmed-reza-qhan was a Náib or Deputy-governor of all Bengal, he had already conceived an attach­ment to this lady (which of course must have been of old stand­ing; for he had already had a glimpse of her charms some years before, when in the height of his power). His house was necessarily resorted to by both the women, his relations, and those of many other persons of distinction; at which time he had often oppor­tunities of taking a peep at them, and as often conceived the desire of enjoying their company; for which purpose he used to employ a variety of means to overcome the reluctance of some fair ones that rejected his proposals. Although there was then a great deal of talk about these matters (which somehow never failed to become public), and a great deal of slander, about the answers of some of those women, which were always given at length, and in the very words*, yet it would be improper to mention them here; and it would be a pity to spend any time in relating such subjects. It was in those times that Mahmed-aaly-qhan’s consort, frequenting her brother-in-law’s seraglio, on account of her near relation to the family, he found means to see her once, and conceived for her person an inclina­tion which he could not satisfy, but some years after, when the lady becoming a widow, was prevailed upon to consent to a marriage, and was married in all the forms prescribed by law*; and let the credit of this story stand upon the faith of the reporters and memorialists.

By this time the dispute between the Governor and the General having risen to the utmost height, each of them used to write his complaints to the King of England, and to the Com­pany, and each of them received yearly answers. The third year after the General’s arrival, by which time Colonel Monson was already dead, there came a letter from home, mentioning the Governor’s intended departure, and that in that case, he must place the General in his stead. The General was likewise wrote to by his friends, that as the Governor was coming home, he, the General, had been appointed to the Government of The General attempts to take posses­sion of the Government. Bengal. On this surmise the General, without waiting for the opening of the dispatches to the Governor, concluded that he had been in fact appointed to that high office; and coming into the Council-room, he took his seat where the Governor used to sit, as President of the assembly. The latter reprimanded him for such a precipitation and want of sense; but the General, naturally violent, becoming still more violent on what was just passing, uttered a number of inconsiderate words, and a quantity of unworthy expressions. On which the Governor, according to the custom of his nation, submitted the whole of the dispute, with its questions and answers, to the decision of the Supreme Royal Court of Justice; and those Magistrates on mature examination adjudged the cause to the Governor; moreover, they reprimanded the General for his hastiness in such terms, as But returns confounded and abashed. affected the credit of his assertion. In this manner the Governor kept his station and rank; but the General, unable to digest the shame he had undergone, retired extremely ruffled to his house; and a sense of his disgrace pressing incessantly upon his lofty mind, he became so deeply affected, as to fall sick. He was an old man; and his sorrow and resentment preyed so much upon his constitution, that he soon appeared to be quite dispirited and sunk. It happened that in those very letters from home, that had caused so much ill blood, the Governor had received a license to marry a Lady to which he was greatly attached*; and having on that account given a great entertainment, he, first of all others, invited the General to honour it with his presence. The latter excused himself on his sickness, and on the weakness of his body; but the Governor himself having repaired to his house, and by dint of entreaties prevailed upon him to come with him to the assembly, the General made such a long stay The General dies of a bro­ken heart. there, that on his return home, he found himself much worse. Unhappily the physician whom out of precaution, he had brought from home, and who was particularly attached to him, having mistaken his case, so as to order a clyster against the General’s intreaties and inclination, the remedy as soon as it was received, brought on a Syncope; and the General surrendered his soul to his Maker.