But whilst the Viceroy was endeavouring to reclaim his grand­son, and to write love letters, the latter was pushing forwards; and he was already arrived at Ghyássp8r, from whence he for­warded a letter to Mehdi-nessar-qhan, to give him notice “that trusting to his promises he had quitted the Royal state, he enjoyed in Bengal, to come so far; and that he expected now that he would be so good as his word, and would come in the state and manner agreed between them.” It must be observed that Mehdy-nessar-qhan had already and before the arrival of the letter, embarked his family and furniture in boats which he intended to dispatch to Ghazip8r; his intention being to exert himself to the utmost, if Seradj-ed-döulah should come; and if he should not, then he was resolved to take his servants and friends with him and to repair to Shah-djehan-abad; for he doubted in his mind whether Seradj-ed-döulah would act up to what had been agreed to between them or could undertake such a mighty enterprise; and such was he in his temper of mind, when the letter in question came to hand. On seeing which he sent for the poor man’s mother (a lady whom he considered as his own), and to whom he bore the tenderest respect, with the most filial attachment; and he shewed her the letter, informing her of Seradj-ed-döulah’s arrival, and requesting her opinion. The lady astonished at what she heard, answered in these terms, which do so much honor to her understanding: “Brother, you will never be able to cope with Aaly-verdy-qhan; and although the man, who commands here, is only a Gentoo and a writer, nevertheless he is his deputy; and with the force he can muster, he will be able to reduce a hundred such ones as yourself. As to Seradj-ed-döulah, he is Aaly-verdy-qhan’s grandson, and the grand­father is doating upon him. His coming so far will do him no great harm; they will join again, and become one again, like sugar and milk that have got a slight simmering; nor shall you be found to have done much more than to have sought your own death to no purpose at all. Your boats are these many days ready. Embark your consort and your daughter, and dispatch them immediately; and as to yourself, get upon a fleet horse, and disappear from hence.” This was a salutary advice; but Mehdy-nasser-qhan retained already by the point of honor, and controuled by the strong hand of destiny, constantly answered the entreaties of that sensible lady only with these words: Had not Seradj-ed-döulah come so far, I should be gone; and I was ready to go; but now that he is arrived, I cannot retreat without losing my character, and without exposing myself to the reproach of pusillanimity and ungenerousness. After such a desertion I will never be able to bear the sight of my acquaintances. As to the rest, if I am to live, and we are able to turn away this Bengally writer, Aaly-verdy-qhan shall not meddle with us; nor shall dominion and sovereignty escape our hands; and if my time draws to an end, then I must sub­mit; nor is it an unknown adage, that whoever is to be buried in the morning, will never sleep in his bed that evening. After having said so much, he took his final resolution, embarked his family, entrusted my mother with some jewels and some vessels of gold and silver (which he destined to his daughter), and quit­ting his house, he set out at the dawn of the day to meet Seradj-ed-döulah, whom he found at the town of Ghyássp8r called Bar; and after a short conference, he dispatched letters in his name as well as in his own to the officers and Commanders residing at Deher-banga, and on the northern shore of the Ganga, inviting them under great promises to come over and join Seradj-ed-döulah. He wrote to some other persons likewise; and there was a probability of his being shortly at the head of an army; for letters were coming from most of them, in which they were professing their readiness to embrace his party, and announcing their departure. This much is certain, that numbers that had already marched, were obliged to go back, on hearing that Mehdy-nessar-qhan was dead, and that the undertaking had miscarried; for Mehdy-nessar-qhan had such a talent for engag­ing people in his interest, and such a command over the hearts of military men, that there was no doubt of his being able to get himself followed; nor do I remember to have seen or heard that he had been at any time surpassed or even equalled by any one in that important qualification. After the conference with my mother he took up his abode in Djaafer-qhan’s garden, where Seradj-ed-döulah was already; and that spot was soon resorted to by the inhabitants of Azim-abad, and all the persons of note from the neighbourhood. And now a message was sent to Djankiram, the Deputy-Governor, commanding his attendance. The man was stunned by the message, and he fell headlong in a sea of astonishment and incertitude. “To pay Seradj-ed-döulah a visit, might be found fault with by Aaly-verdy-qhan, who would object that government and sovereignty did not admit of such complaisances and such submissions; and to stand upon a defence, in which Seradj-ed-döulah might come to any harm, would prove an irremissible crime for which no circumstances and no plea of necessity would avail with so impassionate a lover as Aaly-verdy-qhan, who would not fail to put him to death; the old man’s doating fondness for the young Prince being of such a nature, as admitted of no regard for any thing else.” At last he took to the expedient of sending a shrewd man to sound the ford; and this was Mustapha-c8ly-qhan, a brother of Seradj-ed-döulah’s father-in-law. This nobleman was requested to examine Seradj-ed-döulah’s disposition, and to dis­cover what were his real intentions. Mustapha-c8ly-qhan paid his respects, and commenced discoursing on a variety of subjects. The young Prince had been warned beforehand by Mehdy-nessar-qhan not to speak to any of the messengers that would be sent by Djankiram, nor even to admit them in his presence, lest they should come to discover his real intention, and to discourage their master from coming in person. Seradj-ed-döulah, who both from the impatience of youth, and from natural imbecility, was incapable of concealing a secret, disclosed it at once to Mustapha-c8ly-qhan, requesting him at the same time to bring Djankiram over. The envoy, who was an able, well spoken man, imme­diately promised to comply with his pleasure; and he was dis­missed with regard and honor. By one of those strokes of destiny, it happened that when Mustapha-qhan was introduced, Mehdy-nessar-qhan was out, and intent upon some business; so that this nobleman whose very admission he wanted to prevent, went away quietly after a long conference. Mustapha-qhan being gone in this manner, gave full information to Djankiram; and the latter who was preparing to wait on Seradj-ed-döulah, now ordered the gates of the city-walls to be shut up, and guards to be stationed everywhere, whilst himself took his post in the castle. This intelligence was no sooner brought, than Seradj-ed-döulah, who was incapable of dissembling or of containing him­self, wanted to set out immediately, to get the gates opened, and to rub that Gentoo’s ears (for such was his expression), being abundantly confident that no one would dare to fire at him, or even to touch his person. Mehdy-nessar-qhan represented, “that gates were not to be opened in that manner; nor fortresses to be taken by sixty or seventy men; and that the whole depended on his taking patience a few days more, when he would have an army at his command.” This rational observation served only to precipitate matters. That foolish young man, who had no discernment enough to distinguish between a proper and an improper moment, and betwixt good and bad advice, answered bluntly: It is upon your words and your promises I have parted with an Empire, or at least with the Royal state I enjoyed, and am come so far; and you want now to skulk from a little fighting? Mehdy-nessar-qhan, who had never been of such a temper, as to put up with reproaches in that style, replied with warmth, and spoke in these words: “Had you listened to sober counsel, you would not have admitted into your presence people that came to sound your intentions; nor would you have all at once informed them of your secrets. Now informed they are. The game has escaped out of your net, and has escaped, because you have opened the net yourself. The Gentoo is now put upon his guard; and now after all that, you with only these sixty or seventy men that are about your person (all of whom surely cannot be men of valour and capacity), you want no less than to take castles, and to conquer provinces? Absurd! In two or three days, at most, numerous troops will be flocking to you from all parts, and then it will be time to think of bringing this affair to the conclusion which you wish.” To all this that ignorant, imprudent young man answered nothing, but the very words he had already uttered; and Mehdy-nessar-qhan unwilling to retreat on one hand, and convinced on the other that matters were taking a desperate turn, at once took his resolution and resolved to die. Accordingly he put some affairs in order, passed the whole night in prayers and in recommending himself to the divine mercy; and at day-break he displayed the standard of prowess. So that at the head of his sixty men, he advanced to take the fortress of Azim-abad. This event happened at the A. D 1754-55. end of Redjeb, or in the beginning of Shaaban, in the year 1163 of the Hedjra. This handful of men was then at the eastern gate; and as the wall of that part appeared steep, and thronged with armed men, he, under pretence of going to visit the monu­ment of his dear master, Zin-eddin-ạhmed-qhan, mounted the young Prince upon his own horse, and advanced thither on foot, inclining towards a small gate that goes by the name of the Wicket of the Begum’s quarters. But as that part, although somewhat lower, was likewise found guarded by armed men, especially by those commanded by the Gentoo Mehta-djesvent-nagur, a relation of Radja Dia-bahadyr, an engagement took place, and a firing commenced from the wall. Mehdy-nessar-qhan having placed Seradj-ed-döulah with a few men in a particular spot at the foot of the rampart, where he was under cover and safe, went himself with the rest, and proceeded still by the foot of the wall, looking out for some easier ascent*; and having found one at last, he Strange attack of the city of Azim-abad by sixty men. got over it with most of his men slightly wounded, and even with an arrow lodged in his own arm. Some others, like Emanet-qhan, with a few more, got in by a water-course, that had been enlarged by the rain; and having opened the gate from within, they introduced Seradj-ed-döulah with the few men that were with him; so that this particular part of the city-wall was evacuated by the garrison; and the way into the city was left open and free. Mehdy-nessar-qhan with a Dajma upon his person, and a sabre in his hand, was advancing on foot in a menacing posture at the head of his friends, who were followed by Seradj-ed-döulah mounted upon Mehdy-nessar-qhan’s horse; nor did he meet with any obstruction in his way, until he found himself at the gate of my mother’s apartment, over against Hadji-gundj, betwixt which and the Begum’s quarter, the ground is full of houses. There Djankiram made his appearance with all the apparatus of war. He was mounted on his elephant, preceded by some field-pieces and rockets, and a large number of men; but notwithstanding that appearance of firmness, he looked like one amazed and confounded, and in dread of what might happen. Hassen-aaly-qhan with his body of troops preceded him; and the two parties met about the chock or market-place, facing the castle gate. His people could not amount to less than four thousand men, besides the garrison spread upon the walls. On sight of this Emanet-qhan, one of Mehdy-nessar-qhan’s friends and follow­ers, a man of great courage and prowess, brandished his spear, and spurring his horse, he threw himself amongst those that followed Hossëin-aaly-qhan, and had formed a line extending southwards betwixt the castle-gate and the market-place. But not one of those men had the courage to face that warrior. They all gave way at once; and skulking in the shops, and behind the stalls, they were firing upon him from under cover. The man like a courageous lion, that has got amongst a herd of timorous deer, was now falling upon one, and then rushing upon another; until some one getting upon the top of a house, or into some other lofty part, took aim leisurely, and shot him in the head; and that brave man falling from his horse, spent his life honourably in the field of braves. Just at this time Mehdy-nessar-qhan was advancing still at the head of his small troop; and numbers of the enemy, who knew him personally, were calling out to him, to have pity on himself, and to forbear advancing. Some of his people were making the same entreaties; but these words served only to raise his anger; and turning to these latter, he answered: These words of yours do not suit my circumstances at present. Let any one of you who loves me better than he does himself, step forth and march before me. It must be observed that whilst Emanet-qhan was engaged, Mirza-medar-begh the Decanian, seeing his friend’s danger, called out to his two sons and to his son-in-law, to follow him; and spur­ring his horse directly, he advanced to his assistance with two or three more; but before he could come up, Emanet-qhan was already slain,—and himself after having done much execution both with his spear and then with his sabre, was shot dead from a house; so that his sons and son-in-law seeing him fall, fled from that scene of slaughter; but having in their flight mixed with the few that were with Mehdy-nessar-qhan, they bore down their ranks, and communicated their own fears; so that these also commenced skulking about and dispersing. As the street was narrow, and it could not hold more than six horses in front, the five or six runaways, by running full speed amongst them, made them give away; and some of these availed themselves of the shelter afforded by houses and shops. Mehdy-nessar-qhan being then close to the Cotval’s Chabotra or tribunal, got in a shop; and as soon as the runaways were gone, he came out again, with his sabre in his hand, and continued advancing; but by this time one half of his followers had disappeared; and the rest dis­heartened by the flight of Medar-beg’s sons, and by the desertion it had occasioned, were hardly to be kept together, and they often turned about to look behind. At the heels of the runaways, arrived Mehta-djesvent-nagur, armed and quilted*; and as A singular combat between two noblemen equally stout and brave. he knew Mehdy-nessar-qhan personally, he called out to him: “My Lord Qhan, you have got over the wall at the spot where I com­manded, and have of course occasioned a stain upon my charac­ter; but still you are my acquaintance and friend. Why do you expose yourself in such a manner? It is not too late yet to be gone. For God’s sake, begone directly, and live.” These words seemed to excite both a smile and some peevishness in Mehdy-nessar-qhan. He answered with warmth: Pray, what do you mean, Mr. Mehta, by such counsels, and so much care of me at this time? You and I are now foes to one another. After having said so much with a deal of warmth, he recollected himself, and added these two verses of the poet:

“Stand forth now with whatever thou canst muster of manliness and courage;

Brandish thy sabre, thy poniard, thy battle-axe, and thy spear!”