This young Prince conducted by his rising fortune arrived at Fatehp8r,* and on the fifteenth of the same month, in the Roshen-aqhter ascends the throne under the name of Mahmed-shah year 1131 of the Messenger’s retreat, at about four astronomical hours of the morning, he availed himself of a victorious hour and of the luckiest moment, to step forth on the theatre of the world, and to grace the throne with all the attractions of his beauteous person. It was then that the steps of that sublime place were dignified by the mention of his name, and then that the silver and gold coin distributed on the occasion, received an accession of value from the honour of his stamp. He assumed the auspicious titles of the Succourer of Religion and the Father of Victory.* From that moment provisions that had risen to an immoderate price, commenced becoming cheaper, and once more plenty shewed its face in every market. It was remarked that the Navvab Cadeffiah,* his mother, a Princess of great keenness of mind and great wisdom, had taken care to nurse in the shade of obscurity and silence that fondling of the sun of glory. Fully sensible of the complexion of the times, and of the necessities of her situation, she made it a point to conform herself to the pleasure of the two brothers, who were now become the omnipotent disposers of the Empire; and her precaution went so far that, when she quitted the capital to pay a visit to her son, gone to Ecber-abad, she set out with so modest a retinue, and she appeared with so much reserve, that she declined the voluntary attendance of numbers of people of distinction, that had been in her husband, the late Djehan-shah’s service. On hearing that they were preparing to follow her, and to augment her cortege, she requested them to forbear, and even forbade their coming to the gate of her apartment, and sending in their Nuzurs and offerings.

It being observed on her son’s ascending the throne, that the three preceding reigns had been so momentary and so confused as to serve only to confound history, it was enacted that to prevent all confusion in the records, the seven or eight months that had elapsed under the short lived reigns of those three Princes, should be omitted entirely, and that they should be com­prehended within Mahmed-shah’s reign, which, of course, was made to commence immediately on Feroh-syur’s demise. At the same time, to provide for some of the most urgent expenses of his mother’s female household, a sum of fifteen thousand rupees was allotted for that purpose. But the command of the G8lal-para,* and the office of Nazur, or superintendent of that household, were conferred on trusty eunuchs of the Vezir’s dependance, as it had been practised with the three preceding Princes; (on whom be mercy for ever!) and the Minister in provid­ing eunuchs, guards, upholsterers, elephant-drivers, menial servants, cooks, and even water-carriers, took care to place none in that number but his own servants. It was on the same principle, that Himmet-qhan, one of the Vezir’s intimates, a man who enjoyed already five or six offices, was preposed over the new monarch’s person, as his tutor, and moreover entrusted with the privy purse, as well as with the treasury of the palace. All this was patiently The young Emperor is encircled day and night by the Vezir’s dependants. submitted to by the young Emperor, who, sensible of the critical­ness of his situation, formed no opposition to any of the Vezir’s pleasures, and had besides the good sense to shew him every demonstration of deference and regard. But this did not produce the least abatement in the jealousy with which he was watched. For whenever he went abroad, which happened once or twice a month, for the purpose of taking an airing, he was encircled by a body of Sëids, who did not lose sight of him, nor ever carried him farther than the seats and gardens in the suburbs, which at most are at one or two cosses from the castle; and then it was always in order to come back before the dusk of the evening. But whilst the Vezir was busy in quieting the capital, troubles were rising?? the neighbouring provinces.

Chebilram-naagur, Governor of the province of Illahabad, refused to acknowledge his authority, and even thought it unsafe, on account of some improper behaviour of his to the two brothers. These in return took a resolution to make an example of him; and Hossëin-aaly-qhan had already sent his camp-equipage for­wards, when news came that the obnoxious Governor had died suddenly. This piece of news could not but please the Viceroy; but, however, as it deprived him of an opportunity of signalising himself, he was heard to sob and to say: Is it not a pity that we should be deprived of the pleasure of seeing that proud man’s head on the point of a spear? Immediately after that piece of intelligence, news came that Gurd-hur-bahadyr, son to Dia-bahadyr, cousin to Chebilram, whose sword-bearer he had been, The Gov­ernor of Illah-abad rufuses to acknowledge his authority. had seized on the Government after his uncle’s demise, and was raising troops, as well as repairing the towers and fortifications of Illahabad. The Viceroy, on this intelligence, ordered a bridge of boats to be thrown on the Djumnah, and sending for Mahmed-shah to Ecber-abad, he published that he was going to take Illah-abad, ordering at the same time his vanguard to march instantly. It was at this conjuncture that Emir-djemlah thought proper to make again his appearance upon the stage of the world, in order to be invested with the office of Grand-almoner. But this did not hinder Ratan-chund from continuing to act in all matters relative to finance and government, and even in those relative to distribu­tive justice and to ecclesiastical matters with so unbounded a sway, that the Moteseddies and Crown-officers were like so many ciphers in his presence; nor did they give any sign of life, but when any paper was to pass the seals in their custody. At last, even matters of distributive justice came to be of his resort; and it was impossible to become a Cazy of some city, or to have any judicial or ecclesiastical preferment, without his good-will being previously secured. One day he brought to the Vezir a person of whom he had made Cazy or Judge of a certain city. The Minister, at such a sight, turned towards a nobleman over against him, and said with a smile: “Our Ratan-chund, do ??see, can manufacture Cazies also, and he recommends likewise to ecclesiastical preferments.” The other answered: “True, my Lord, the Lord Radja after having finished his worldly affairs, is turning his attention to religious matters.”

All this while the preparatives for the siege were going on with so much vigour, that Gurd-hur’s Vekil or Agent thought it high time to come to camp, and to entreat the Viceroy’s forgiveness for his master’s misdeeds. He offered to submit, on condition of being suffered to remain in his Government, or of having it exchanged for some other, with the addition of some title of honour, as an atonement for his loss. The conditions having been accepted, Gurd-hur was to come out of the castle of Illahabad, to sur­render his Government with the place, and to be transferred to that of A8d, with the title of Bahadyr or Valiant. But whilst this agreement was discussing, commotions and broils were rising in the country of Bundi, in consequence of certain disputes about an hereditary principality, from which Radja Bihim-sing, one of the heirs, had been ejected by Bedha-sing, the other heir. The dis­possessed Prince retired to the Viceroy’s camp, to whom he paid his court assiduously, in hopes of being reinstated in his right; and, at last, he obtained a body of six thousand horse, all veteran troops, and all Sëids of Bar, who reckoned themselves to be so many countrymen, and so many kinsmen of the two brothers. They were commanded by his Paymaster-General, Sëid-dilaver-aaly-qhan, who had orders to reinstate the Gentoo Prince, and then to repair with him and with another Gentoo Prince, called Gudj-sing, as far as the frontiers of Malva, where he was to wait for fresh orders. On the other hand, as little reliance was reposed on all the promises made by Gurd-hur, a large body of good troops was sent under Häider-c8li-qhan, towards Illahabad, to enforce the execution of the treaty. Häider-c8li-qhan, who was a man of character and abilities, laid siege to that fortress, and pushed his works forward; but as he did not command alone, little progress was made in the siege, the Governor making it a practice to enter into a negotiation for surrendering the place, and then to stand again upon his defence, and to drive the besiegers from their works. The siege drawing to a length, Hossëin-aaly-khan crossed the Djumnah, and marched towards Illahabad; and the report of his march having intimidated the besieged, Gurd-hur, who now found no safety for himself in the plain, retired within his fortress, to which he conducted himself a great quantity of ammunition, and a variety of provisions. His family, at the same time, gave countenance to the refractory spirits of that province, and the holders of Djaghir-lands, in particular, laid hold of that opportunity to withhold their rents. Such a state of things having engaged the Viceroy’s attention, he reflected on the natural strength of the place, which was at the confluence of two mighty rivers,* on the courage and personal abilities of Gurd-hur, and on the difficulties he would to all appearance have to encounter in a siege likely to be protracted to a length, and which would consume in that single operation a precious time, which was required in other parts of the Empire, where the enemies of his family might avail themselves of his absence to excite com­motions, susceptible of blazing into a mighty flame. Sensible of all the difficulties of his situation, he was likewise discouraged by some sparks of disunion which then broke out between him­self and his elder brother, the Vezir Abdollah-qhan. It was about the division of the jewels and treasure found at the castle of Ecber-abad; and messages full of discontent and peevishness were passing and repassing between them, but only in secret, Ratan-chund doing every thing in his power to conceal these dissensions from the public eye. Whilst the Viceroy was revolving in his mind how he might act, letters came from the Governor, Gurd-hur, which promised that he would submit, if Ratan-chund were sent to him with full power to grant what concerned his former demands, as well as the safety of his person. The two brothers pleased with so fair an opportunity of smothering a flame which might have risen to a great height, dismissed Ratan-chund, who setting out with a good body of troops about the end of the second Rebi, soon arrived at the city of Illahabad, where the Governor of the fortress paid him a visit, and a treaty was soon concluded The Gov­ernor of Illah-abad submits. between these two Gentoos, to which they both swore upon the waters of the Ganga, this being the most sacred oath amongst them. By this treaty, the Government of the province of A8d was given to Gurd-hur, with all the Fodjdaries contained in it, as an atonement for his parting with the fortress of Illahabad; and this being evacuated accordingly, it received a new garrison, and came again within the power of the two brothers. It was the second year of Mahmed-shah’s reign. Ratan-chund, after putting the finishing hand to this treaty, returned to his two masters, who received him with every demonstration of regard and honour.