The principal of those that contributed to all that decay, was Nizam-el-mulk, who was styled the wise Minister*. He was son to Ghazi-eddin-qhan-Bahadyr, and grandson to Abed-qhan. His own name was Camer-eddin, and he descended from Sheh-sheab-eddin. His maternal grandfather, Saad-ollah-qhan, was supreme Vezir to the Emperor Shah-djehan, but his paternal grandfather, Abed-qhan, was one of the most venerable Magistrates of Samarcand*, from whence he came into Hindostan in that Emperor’s life-time, and was taken into the service of the Imperial Prince Aoreng-zib, who on his mounting the throne, raised him to the grade of five thousand horse, and twice promoted him to the office of Sadr-el-soodoor*. Being at the siege of Gol-conda*, with that Prince, he was struck by a musket-ball, and fell at once both from the palfrey of fortune, and the horse of existence. His son, Shehab-eddin, came to be one of the Lords and Grandees of Aoreng-zib’s Court, and rose by degrees to the grade of seven thousand horse, and to the title of “Victorious in War,” serving as a principal General in his armies. At the taking of Bidjapoor, he was decorated with other titles of honor. After his master’s demise, we find him Governor of G8djrat, under Bahadyr-shah. He died in the year 1152, and left a son called Camer-eddin-qhan, alias Nizam-el-mulk, who in Aoreng-zib’s reign was honoured with the surname of “The Sabre-drawing Lord*,” and the grade of five thousand horse. At the end of that Prince’s reign, he was Governor of Bidjapoor*. In the beginning of Bahadyr-shah’s reign, he was Governor of A8d, with the title of “Lord of the Age*.” A little after, we find him disgusted at the absolute authority assumed by the Vezir, Assed-qhan, or his son, the Generalissimo Zulficar-qhan, and resigning both his Government and title, to take up the garb of a Fakyr, and to lead a retired life. At the beginning of the reign of Muëz-eddin-djehandar-shah, he was requested to re-assume his grade and title, and to appear again at Court. On the first year of Feroh-syur’s reign, he was decorated with the titles of “Composer of the Kingdom*,” and “Victorious in Wars,” promoted to the grade of five thousand horse, and appointed to the Viceroyalty of Decan. But some time after, that important office having been bestowed on Husséin-aaly-qhan, the famous brother of Abdollah-qhan, Nizam-el-mulk returned to Court, where, as an atonement for that recall, he received the great Fodjdary of Moorad-abad, which was equal to a Viceroyalty. Under the young Emperor, Refy-el-derjat, he was, by Abdollah-qhan’s recommendation, promoted to the Government of Malva. But that did not prevent his falling out with him, as well as with the Viceroy, his brother; for in the beginning of Mahmed-shah’s reign, he gave them the slip, and went into Decan, where he at once possessed himself of some of the provinces that go by that name, and in process of time, of all the six and-a-half Governments that compose that part of the Empire. On Mahmed-amin-qhan’s demise, he was promoted to the office of Vezir, which he held but a short time. Being dissatisfied with the Grandees of the Court, and likewise with the Emperor him­self, whose sentiments seemed altered, he quitted the Court, and retired to his Government of Decan, with which he lived satisfied. Still he was recalled to Court, and on Qhan-dö8ran’s death, was decorated with the title of “Lord of Lords*,” then vacant. But hearing at the same time that his second son, Nassyr-djung, whom he had appointed Deputy in Decan, had become rebellious, he resigned his office of “Lord of Lords,” in behalf of his eldest son, Ghazi-eddin-qhan, and returned again to Decan, as we have already mentioned in the First Volume, and likewise in this Volume. Nor is that Decan to be thought of slightly. It contains the aggregate dominions of several ancient Kings, and it is in such an extensive tract that he governed with an absolute authority for the space of seven and thirty years. His character was so highly respected amongst all the Lords and Grandees of Mahmed-shah’s Court, although some of them were of equal dignity, that they never wrote or spoke to him but as to their superior, and never demeaned themselves in his presence but with deference and submission.

Covetousness and ambition seemed to be the basis of his character; but if we can pass over that, we shall find him endowed with a number of excellent qualities. He was a man of eminent merit, who filled a very exalted station that equalled him to the greatest Kings, with all the talents and all the sublime qualifications which his situation required. His Palace was at all times open to the poor, the needy, and the aged, as well as to the learned and the deserving; in one word, to all that had any suit to prefer. To all these he ever paid a strict attention, being careful to relieve their wants. His character for distinguish­ing merit, and for rewarding it to its full extent, was so universally spread, that men of parts, and also people of all sorts, flocked to his Court from all the neighbouring countries, from Arabia, and from Mavera-al-nahr*, from Qhorasan, from Harac, and from R8m; and all were sure to advance their fortunes in his service. Fond of public works, he finished the walls of the city of Boorhanpoor, which he had commenced in the year 1141, and he re-peopled the city of Feridapoor which he found ruined, and to which he gave the name of Nizam-abad, building in it Mosques and Caravanseras, as well as a Palace and a bridge. He likewise raised walls round the city of Haïder-abad, and built a superb Mosque at Aoreng-abad. The canal that runs through the middle of that city, is a work of his. Afford repose O Lord of mercy and forgiveness, to such servants of Yours! He was a man of great equality of temper, and a learned one, fond of uttering extempore verses; and there is a Poem and a volume of Poetry of his, actually extant. He departed his life thirty-seven days after Mahmed-shah’s demise, and it was the fourth of the second Djemady, in the year 1161 of the Hedjrah. Mir-gh8lam-aaly, the Poet of Belgram, has comprehended in six words the chronogram of those three illustrious men deceased at the same time. It is in an enig­matic style.

“Past are they all three, whilst I am sobbing and saying, ah! for one.

Gone are the King, the Vezir, and Assef-djah.”

But he has spoken in a more open manner in the following verses:

“Fallen are, ah! the three columns of this Empire;

Disappeared are they from this world, as three precious pearls from an unlucky hand.

I have comprehended these three invaluable losses in this single verse:

Gone is the King, the Vezir, and the Assef of this age.”

After complimenting our readers with that digression on those eminent personages, we shall return now to the thread of our history. The Emperor and his Vezir being now satisfied as to Nizam-el-mulk’s intentions, the dignity of Lord of Lords, with the office of first Paymaster, was bestowed on Saadat-qhan, son to another Saadat-qhan, who lived under Feroh-syur; and in the fourteenth of Redjeb of the same year, the Vezir Ab8l-mans8r-qhan went to Court, where he was received with the utmost distinction, and complimented with a sabre and a poniard of jewel-work, with a variety of other jewels, and with a Qhylaat of seven pieces. He was at the same time installed with a rich belt in the Government of Acbar-abad-agrah. The command of the Ahedian Guards was at the same time bestowed on Ahmed-aaly-qhan, son to his sister; and as Issac-qhan’s sister had of late been married to Shudjah-ed-döwlah, son to the Vezir, this alliance raised that popular nobleman’s power to the utmost pitch; and he soon succeeded his father, the late Issac-qhan, in the Divanship of the Qhalissah. But a man who suddenly came to cut a great figure at Court, was Djavid-qhan. This eunuch, who had from a long time intimate connections with Oodem-báy*, mother to the reigning Emperor, became so great a favourite with that Prince also, that he fancied himself a Minister of State, and indeed soon came to act as such, through the insinuations of that Princess, on the mind of the weak Prince, her son. As he was an ancient slave of the Imperial household, in high favour with the late Emperor, and in consequence of his connections with the Empress’s mother, possessed a perfect knowledge of everything within both the sanctuary and the palace, he was thought the fittest person for the office of Nazyr, an important charge that gives an absolute controul within the Seraglio, and was vacant since R8z-afzoon-qhan’s decease. In this manner he came to be master of the Emperor’s private hours. That Prince, who in conformity to his material origin was in fact full of levity, and carried a head without brains, soon came to follow the example set him by that man. He fell into a course of crapulence and debauch; and he abandoned the helm entirely to him. So that the latter who was now decorated with the title of Navab-Bahadyr, or the valiant Deputy, commenced meddling in every matter of State, and at last came to have his opinion abided by, as a matter of necessary form. Such an authority in an eunuch was more than the high spirit of Ab8l-mans8r-qhan could bear, and as the other made no secret of his influence, every day furnished new matter of discontent, and incessantly afforded fresh fuel to that fire, which in a little time blazed out in a flame. About this time the office of second Paymaster, with the Fodjdary of Moorad-abad, was bestowed on Intyzam-ed-döwlah, one of Camer-eddin-qhan’s sons, and a few days after a Qhylaat of mourning was given to Ghazy-eddin-qhan on the demise of his father, Nizam-el-mulk; it was Djavid-qhan who put an end to his mouring, and brought him to Court. On the seventeenth of Redjeb, the charge of Comptrol­ler of the Qhalissah-office, together with a military augmenta­tion of a thousand horse to his grade, was bestowed on Asker-aaly-qhan, and a few days after the Government of the Province of Adjmir was presented to the Vezir. About this time, being in Shaaban, Haddy-aaly-qhan, that illustrious proselyte of a new sect, departed this life, and was entombed near Shah-nom8d, his Director’s monument. Terbiyet-qhan likewise died in this month; nor did this year produce any more important events. But now the scene will become more interesting.