Radja Ram-naráin having kept the mask on, and put up with the insolencies and extortions of the mace-beares, until his time was arrived, at last drove away those men, and made use of their ministry to ask Mahmed-c8li-qhan, “What he meant by endlessly sending his disorderly servants with haughty messages, about the accounts of Azim-abad, and the expenditure of the public money?” I owed you, added he, as to my superior, a visit and a present, and that ceremony I have gone through. But that is all; for I acknowledge no master, but the Nazem of Bengal; and if you are displeased with this message, take your party by all means. This message awakened Mahmed-c8li-qhan from his lethargy. He fell into a passion, exhaled his anger alternately in a abusive language, and in high-flown threats, and at last he swore that to-morrow he would unkennel from his hole, that man who was so daring as to talk with a tone of indepen­dence with him. At the same time he sent word to the Prince, that to-morrow he would make an attack upon the place; request­ing that the troops of His Majesty might assist in punishing that deceitful, faithless man. Accordingly the Prince sent for my father, and directed him to be ready at day-break, with all the troops and Commanders in his service, in order to attend Mahmed-c8ly-qhan, whom he was to obey in whatever he should com­mand. On hearing this order, Yahya-qhan, who was cousin-german, as well as son-in-law, to the Vezir Camer-eddin-qhan, got up directly, and with a view to shew his bravery and zeal, as he thought, but, in fact, only his ignorance and impudence, he mounted his horse, and having assembled his people, he advanced with them close to Haider-nevaz-qhan’s seat, where my father was encamped. There he kept his people under arms the whole night, and threw up what he thought an intrenchment, for his pro­tection; without it once coming into his head, that such a work, in the middle of an encampment, and at such a distance from the walls, would answer no other purpose than that of tiring his people, spending his money uselessly, and betraying his igno­rance. At day-break my father, at the head of the Generals and Grandees of the Prince’s Court, mounted; and all, with their soldiers, ranged themselves before their Lord’s tent, as did Mahmed-c8li-qhan’s Commanders and men, before that General’s quarters; and I, the poor man, was in my father’s company. They all received orders to prepare for an attack, and were dismissed accordingly. Amongst the Commanders of Mahmed-c8li-qhan’s troops, was one Mir-hossëin-qhan, a man who had so good an opinion of himself, as to think he was the principal Commander, and also the bravest soldier in the army. This man set out with his own men, and took post at Ram-naráin’s seat, over against the little gate, or wicket of the city. Every one in the same manner sought out some spot which he thought would answer his purpose. My father with both his old soldiers, and his new levies, took post in the plain over against the horse-market, and the tower opposite to it; and as most of the Prince’s Commanders had been formerly in my father’s service, or were otherwise attached to him, they strove to be in his company, and wished to distinguish themselves under his eyes.

At this very moment, and whilst my father was advancing to the attack, his younger brother, Abdol-vehhab-qhan, who was of the same age and temper of mind with me, the poor man, and who had for me, his idiot nephew, the utmost kindness, made at once his appearance. This nobleman, after having kissed his elder brother’s stirrup, said that he had brought his family with him, and landed them at the garden or seat of Lon-golah, close to the mausoleum of their forgiven father, where he wanted to plant a standard, which he requested from my father, as a safeguard for his family and baggage. As it appeared that there would be an attack, and he was apprehensive lest his family should suffer by the garrison’s making a sally, the stan­dard was granted; but as I had by no means any confidence in it, I requested that his family should be brought directly to the place where we were, as being more to be depended upon, than any standard whatever. My advice was not attended to. He took the standard-bearer with him, placed him at the door of the garden, took leave of his family, and came back to the field of battle, being unwilling, said he, to part company with his good brother and good nephew in a day of battle. That noble­man had come from Bagal-p8r, notwithstanding all the representa­tions of Alla-c8li-qhan’s sons, with whom he lived, and who objected, but in vain, to the journey he intended. These representations did not affect him; for so soon as he came to hear that his elder brother cut such a conspicuous figure in the Prince’s army, and Court, he quitted his place of residence, and setting out with his consort, family, children, and dependants; and with whatever savings he had been able to set by these many years, he came to render his brother a visit. A moment after, a ball of cannon came amongst us from the city walls; and, as if this had been only a signal, the cannon commenced firing everywhere against those parts where they could descry bodies of our troops. So that balls in plenty went over our heads, and spread in Ram-naráin’s seat, which was near the city-walls, and over against the small gate called the Ranny’s wicket, where Mir-husséin-qhan had taken his station, in expectation of an assault. By this time the fire of cannon and musquetry was increasing on both sides; and it appeared that ours was somewhat superior. Mah­med-c8li-qhan himself, mounted on an elephant, and surrounded by a great number of men, came amongst us. This was over against the horse-market-tower, where commanded M8rly-dur. This man, on observing an uncommon throng of men against that part, concluded that Mahmed-c8li-qhan himself must be there, or possibly some other principal Commander; and accord­ingly he exhorted the gunner to fire amongst that multitude, and if possible, to hit the man on the elephant. The gunner did as he was bid, and sent his balls in plenty, killing people at the right and left of Mahmed-c8li-qhan, over whose head some balls passed every moment. One of these passed a very little way above mine, and furrowed the ground for some time. Such an unprofitable bravery being not of my liking, I could not help saying something of it to my father, who was in his palenkin at a small distance from Mahmed-c8li-qhan. “My Lord,” said I, “what advantage are we likely to reap by standing like so many marks against these cannon-balls of the enemy’s?” To this he answered coldly by these words: You know that I meddle with nothing. “It may be so,” replied I; “but then the matter must be mentioned to the General of the army; and it must be represented to him, that if an assault is intended, it would answer no purpose at all to stand there mounted on an elephant, and to offer so fair a mark to every cannon-ball from the rampart. I added, that should his amhary chance to be hit, such an accident would be enough to put the whole army in an uproar, and to dishearten the bravest, in which case the whole would take fright, and disperse immediately. If we intend to take the place by assault (an operation after all, which requires more vigour of mind than I see anywhere in this army), it is such a piece of work as cannot be reckoned easy; for the Governor has within the place to less than four or five thousand horse, and ten or twelve thousand musqueteers, with a large number of swivels, and a quantity of large cannon, disposed over every part of the walls. He has abundantly every thing necessary for a vigorous resistance; and in case of need, he would be supported by the whole body of the nobles and gentlemen settled within the city. But there is more than all that. Even after having got within the city, an enemy would find a resistance in every street, and would be obliged to renew the engagement; nor does it appear, that the artillery which I have seen, will ever be able to make a breach into such stout walls and ramparts. A few days ago, when a salutary advice was given, no one would hear it; and now, that all men talk of fighting, they only come to a slaughter, and to no purpose stand exposed round the walls, mounted upon their elephants, like so many marks to shoot at. One would think that the best expedient would be to avail themselves of some buildings close to the walls, in order to get over them; after which they might march under cover of houses and streets, up to Moorid-qhan’s house, which is on the water-side, and close to the citadel. Under cover of that building, and of the neighbour­ing ones, the troopers might alight, and stand ready for an assault against the walls of the fort, which being an old build­ing of two hundred years standing, and entirely out of repair, so that hardly the bricks and stones can stand together, it might be brought easily down by a couple of guns properly served for one day, or even less; and as soon as such a large breach is effected, the place may be easily taken by assault, or by only ordering the musqueteers to march up. I concluded, by saying, that such a scheme was far from being impracticable; and that it was likely to be attended by success.” My father listened attentively to this advice, and he was going to impart it to Mahmed-c8li-qhan, when the latter, of his own motion, quitted the place where he was, and advanced west­ward. My father followed, and I went with him, towards some ruined buildings, over against the horse-market-tower; there Mahmed-c8li-qhan stopped, and making his elephant kneel, he sent for my father, whom he desired to mount on his amhary, where he commenced speaking earnestly to him. After advanc­ing some hundred yards, my father sent for me, and I ran up thither, and made a bow to the General; on which my father said, that the Lord-Navvab wished to send me on an embassy to Ram-naráin. I expressed my readiness, but observed, that it would not be possible for me to get admittance, at a time when the Radja, shut up within the walls, was intent on his defence, and nothing came from the ramparts but bullets and balls. At these words, the General beckoned to a man on horseback, and on his coming near, he said: “This gentleman is an acquaintance of mine, and belongs to the corps of Sheh-hamid-eddin, a Commander of Ram-naráin’s; he was yesterday entertained within the walls in that Commander’s house, and he is now coming out of thence. It appears by his report, that Ram-naráin said to the above Commander, that he (Ram-naráin) had made a visit to me, had submitted to my will, and thereby incurred the resentment of the Viceroy of Bengal for ever; and that nevertheless I had attacked him, and sought his destruction, at the very time he thought that all was adjusted and settled. On these overtures,” added the General, “Hamid-eddin has thought proper to send with this gentleman a mes­sage to me, to give me notice, that if I could resolve on forgiv­ing Ram-naráin’s behaviour, he would undertake to bring him to me again. Now I desire you to go to Ram-naráin, and to tell him from me, that if he chooses to shew himself at the gate of submission and love, we also shall forget what is past, and remain firm in our promises and agreement; as we bear him no ill will at all, and on the contrary, we are desirous to see him obedient and faithful.” To this I answered, that if all that had any foundation, how came it that Ram-naráin had not sent out a man of his own with a message? On this objec­tion, the man on horseback answered, that the message he had brought was from him, and in consequence of his order to Sheh-hamid-eddin. On hearing which words, the General added: “No matter. Where is the inconvenience in our sending a mes­sage to the Radja? So soon as you shall be returned from the city, we shall know better what we are to think of the truth or falsehood of this piece of news.” These words imposed me silence; and finding that he was incapable of distinguishing the probable from the improbable, I said that I had no objection, and that if such was his pleasure, I would go; but that I thought the Lord-Navvab ought in the meanwhile to retire to some place, and to recall his people; this being the shortest method for silencing their fire, and for rendering the way to and from the city, as free as before; indeed, the only one that could put it in my power to find access to the Radja. I added, that on my coming back I would give an account of what I had seen and heard. The General replied, that unless the Radja ceased firing on his own side, his people could not slacken their fire. To this I answered, “That the Radja was necessitated to do as he did, as the enemies were marching up to an assault, and he had only put himself upon his defence; that should he cease firing, the besiegers would in a moment get over the walls, and master the city. How then could he cease firing? And unless firing should cease, how could I make my way good into the city? Musquet-balls and cannon-balls do not make any distinction between an enemy and an embassador.” The man on horse­back, on hearing these words, said: “Let him come with me, and I will carry him thither in all safety.” With all my heart, answered I, I will go wherever he will go himself; and so say­ing, I took my leave. We went together for some while, when Abdol-vehhab-qhan, my uncle, out of tenderness for me, joined us by the way, and said that he would never suffer his good nephew to go alone. The man on horseback availing himself of every cover to shelter himself from the balls that flew about, went on until we arrived at Ram-naráin’s seat, which was the post which Mir-husséin-qhan, with some thousand musqueteers, had chosen for his station; and as the balls flew about like a storm of hail, it became utterly impossible to get out of the garden, or even to shew one’s head without the enclosure of it, as it was close to a tower, and there was no such thing as a shelter or a cover in the interval. There I took some repose, and getting up again, I bid the man proceed, and that I would follow. The man, astonished at the danger, excused himself, and said that we must first of all look out for our way, and then set out with it; but the balls rained in such quantities, that there was no venturing out at all. The man nonplused, wrote a note to Hamid-eddin, and prevailed upon his servant to carry it. The servant came back in a little time, and said there was no passing forwards. The man, instead of being quiet, commenced urg­ing his servant, and at last he offered him five rupees to carry the note.—The servant, impatiented, asked, “Whether he thought money more precious than life? And since you,” said he, “that are my master, dare not venture out, how can I, who am but a servant, venture upon such an attempt? I am a man myself, and have about me some of that very flesh and that very blood, which my betters are so careful of. Poor men are just such men as the rich ones.” This dialogue diverted me a little; I was inclined to listen, but the man nonplused said, that we had better go back. I answered, as I had hitherto done, that he was my guide, and that I would follow him. The man, ashamed of himself, returned; and on our being arrived close to Mahmed-c8li-qhan, that General asked us, “What news?” I answered, “Please to ask my guide.” The General soon found out what was the matter; and the man confounded, hung his head, said not a word, and shrunk away.