This letter, and some others of a like style, together with the concert that seemed to subsist between the principal men at M8r­sh8d-abad, overset entirely the brainless head of Sháocat-djung, and what contributed not a little to this disorder, was the arrival of two strange beings that appeared at the same time at P8rania. The one was a certain light-headed Mir-maaly-qhan, one of the many ones that had a sister amongst Saadet-qhan’s consorts, once Sovereign of A8d. He made suddently his appearance in Sháocat-djung’s Court, and as suddently was taken into his ser­vice. This man, who was an ancient friend of Mir-djaafer-qhan’s, acquired a complete command over his mind; and as he soon became thoroughly acquainted with the young man’s temper, he filled his head with chimeras. The other of these two men, was one Habib-beg, who had been for years together in Aaly-verdy-qhan’s service, and was of a temper inclined to oddities, whims, and profligacy. This man having somehow fallen under Seradj-ed-döulah’s displeasure, at Calcutta, had thought the place too dangerous for his safety, and had fled for his life to P8rania, where he also was inlisted amongst the friends and favourites of Sháocat-djung’s; and these two men, in hopes of turning to account that young Prince’s propensity to flattering proposals, too care to keep alive that high opinion which he had now con­ceived of himself; nor did they cease to flatter him to his heart’s content. Totally ignorant of the world, and circumvented, as well as deceived, by the false representations of those sycophants, he thought that the misfortunes which had brought them so far, were so many advantages for himself; and now being full in the focus of flattery, he bubbled into high-flown notions of his person, which he really thought superior to any thing under the orb of the moon; and being made sensible by those two men of his own importance, he was often heard to say: “That after having taken possession of Bengal, he would, just to clear his way, fall first upon Ab8l-mans8r-qhan’s son, and then would subdue the son of Ghazy-eddin-qhan;* and that after having placed on the throne an Emperor of his own liking, he would push on as far as Lahor and Cab8l, from whence I shall proceed to Candahar and Qhorassan,* where (added he) I intend to take up my residence, as the climate of Bengal does not suit my state of health.” Such were the notions of that young man’s, and such were his projects. But as his father had found means to open a correspondence with Zya-ed-döulah, and with Djelal-eddin-mahammed-qhan, who were the favourite friends of Mir-sheab-eddin-umad-el-mulk, the Vezir, he soon obtained from thence leave to take possession of the three provinces governed by Seradj-ed-döulah, under condition of sending to the Presence the latter’s confiscation, and of forwarding regularly an annual tribute of one coror of rupees.

On the receipt of that patent, his pride, which had already reached to the sphere of the moon, now rose to the sun’s orb; and he commenced picking up quarrels with the principal officers and Commanders of the old Court. Those men, whom his father had been at so much pains to attach to his person and family, and who had spent their lives in his service, were now taken to task for the childish reason of their having, in his youth-time, disobeyed some orders of his, whilst they had injunctions to the contrary from his father, and of course acted consistently with their duty. Most of those old soldiers were now degraded, lost their appointments, or were used with contempt, to the heartfelt satisfaction of Mir-maaly-qhan, and of Habib-beg, his associate, as well as of all those who had been the companions of his boyish pastimes; and who being mostly as thoughtless as himself, were so far from repressing his ardour, that they would add fuel to it. All these beheld with satisfaction the depression of the old Grandees, in hopes that they would soon succeed to their places; as they reckoned that every mark of contempt or disgrace set upon them amounted to as much as a mark of distinction conferred upon themselves. The two new comers especially were the foremost, in exacting him to a full execution of his authority, and mean­while they were contriving opportunities to get from him rich dresses of honour, and elephants, and horses, and jewels, and new offices. As to my own part, seeing how matters went, I sometimes observed to them, “that they ought first of all to con­trive how to strengthen their Prince’s Government, and how to confirm his power; and that this being once solidly established, it would be time then to think of getting jewels and elephants.” My observation did not avail; no attention was paid to it, and the Prince went on as he had commenced. One day he took into his head to seize and confine Lally, the Colonel, who com­manded the artillery, a Gentoo of capacity and courage, whom Sáyd-ahmed-qhan, his father, had attached to his family by treat­ing him with the utmost regard and distinction. He sent for both me and my younger brother, Naky-aaly-qhan, and having carried us into his closet, he exposed his views against that officer. I heard patiently what he said, but did not answer a single word; whereupon he intreated me to conceal nothing from him, but to tell him whatever I might think advantageous for his affairs, and proper for his circumstances. So much earnestness put me off my guard, and I could not help answering in these terms: “Let Wise advice given him by the author. us examine first, what is the reason that so many Generals of the army, and so many Grandees of the State, have conceived so much aversion against Seradj-ed-döulah’s person, as to apply to you for their deliverance, although he has unquestionably upon their gratitude all the rights acquired for him by Aaly-verdy-qhan’s repeated favours, and long reign; and then it will be found out, that it is solely because none of them think either their lives, or their honour, or properties safe; because they have been every one of them insulted and outraged; and because they think you incapable of so senseless a behaviour; but as soon as they shall see that you do not spare your father’s best servants; that you are searching to circumvent and to demolish them; and that you are no better than Seradj-ed-döulah himself; rest assured that they will be disgusted at you, and will return to Seradj-ed-döulah.” This advice of mine, bold as it was he had sense enough to approve; and sending for an elephant, he made me a present of it, and dismissed me to my home. But in few days after, his thoughtless companions brought him again to their own way of thinking. He resumed his project, and having found means, underhand, and on the incitement of a higher pay, to prevail on Lally’s men to disperse, and to inlist in other corps, he put the rest under command of his own son, Séif-eddin-mahamed-qhan, a boy, born these two days; and getting upon his elephant, he marched in an hostile manner against Lally’s house, and quarters. At sight of this, the few officers and men that had yet stood by that Com­mander, forsook him, and he was left alone in his house. Mah­med-sáyd-qhan, and my younger brother, Naky-aaly-qhan, went in, and taking him by the hand, brought him to Sháocat-djung. This thoughtless man wanted to put him to the whip immediately. He was opposed by the two officers that had brought him, who strongly interceded in his behalf, and objected to the indignity of the proceeding; but all to no purpose; he persisted in putting him to the whip. At last Mahmed-sáyd-qhan, losing all patience, spoke to him in a firm tone of voice: “My Lord and Master,” said he, “punishments of such a kind are not to be inflicted upon officers;” and these words having been approved by all present, they joined in interceding for him again; and at last the man was saved from the whip; but he was put under confine­ment, and his elephants, horses, money, effects, and furniture, were all seized and confiscated; so that the man, in one day, saw himself reduced to his last rupee. A few days after, his wife and family were ordered to attend him; and thirty rupees being put in his hand, to bear his charges, he was placed in a boat, sent on the other side of the Cosséy, towards Bir-nagur, and left to himself. After this expedition, Sháocat-djung assumed a higher tone of voice with his Commanders. He spoke harshly, and in obscene language to them; and by such a strange alteration, he lost the hearts of every one of them. He now commenced speaking irreverently of his ancestors, and mention­ing them in very indecent language. One day, sitting in full Court and at noon-day, at which time the hall of audience is always crowded, he turned towards the Commander-in-Chief, Car-guzar-qhan, and said: “Doubtless, Car-guzar-qhan, after the con­quest of Bengal, shall compliment me with the pay of his new raised men.” The officer, surprised at this speech, but without losing his presence of mind, answered directly: Yes, my Lord, and Master; for I hope they shall get so much booty, that they will not grudge such a portion of their pittance. “You are mistaken,” replied Sháocat-djung; “I am not such a sot as Aaly-verdy-qhan, who always used to give to his men every thing that was found in an enemy’s camp. For my part, I will not part to them with so much as a handful of straw, above their pay.”