After his departure, Mahmed-shah turned his views towards his own affairs. He was assisted by the counsels of the Vezir Camer-eddin-qhan, by Nizam-el-mulk, and especially by Ishac-qhan, a nobleman lately come within the circle of administration, but who by his personal attachment, and by the many important services he had rendered in the engagement at Carnal, and throughout the whole war with Nadyr-shah, had greatly endeared himself to the Emperor. He was made Divan of the Qhalissah or Exchequer-office. Emir-qhan was decorated with the title of Umdet-el-mulk or the greatest of the State, and the charge of third Paymaster-General; and that of Sedr was bestowed on Azim-ollah-qhan. On the twenty-ninth of the same month M8rteza-qhan received the Qhylaat of Mir-t8rki, as did Naamet-ollah-qhan, nephew to Nizam-el-mulk, that of Caräol-beghy. On the eighth of the first Reby, the elephant-office was bestowed on Hady-aly-qhan, brother to Emir-qhan, in a Qhylaat of six pieces; and Sëyd-selabet-qhan, son to Saadet-qhan, was made Superintendent of the Ahedian guards, After Nadyr-shah’s departure Mahmed-shah endeav­ours to dismiss the T8ranian party from the administra­tion. as was Emir-qhan himself of the Ala-shahians. The Post-office and the Gazette-office were bestowed on the Physician, Maasoom-aaly-qhan. On the seventeenth of Shaaban the dignity of Mahi or fish was bestowed on Isaac-qhan, as well as on Selabet-qhan; Saad-eddin-qhan, Mir-ateshy, received the office of the registered favours.

After all these promotions, the Emperor turned his thoughts towards the management of his own affairs. He had long ago harboured suspicions against the zeal and fidelity, not only of Camer-eddin-qhan and Nizam-el-mulk, but against all the T8rani­ans in general; nor had these suspicions received any alteration by their conduct all along the troubles of Nadyr-shah’s invasion. Resolved, therefore, to weaken their confederacy, he was fearful to act openly; but, as he had given his confidence to Emir-qhan and to Isaac-qhan, he wished to hear their opinion about what line of conduct he ought to pursue. Emir-qhan who joined a deal of courage to the most keen discernment, was for the Emperor’s acting openly, and for his dismissing Camer-eddin-qhan from the Ministry; and in his private conferences with the Emperor, he used to tell him, that should His Majesty vouchsafe to extend the Princely hand of his goodness so as to overshadow the head of his faithful servant, and steadily to persist in that resolution, he entertained no doubts, but that he might bring the affairs of the Empire under whatever regulation he should think proper. The Emperor who now reposed the highest confidence in his zeal and abilities, resolved to dismiss Camer-eddin-qhan, and waited only for the time when Nizam-el-mulk should be gone to his Viceroy­alty of Decan. Nor was the latter less desirous of revisiting countries where his authority had suffered from his absence in consequence of the troubles and confusion occasioned everywhere by Nadyr-shah’s invasion, and in consequence of that spirit of insubordination and independence which betrayed itself in the behaviour and conduct of his son, Nasyr-djung, whom he had left in Decan as his Deputy-General. Fearful of some disorders that would overset the tranquillity of those countries, he transferred his office of Prince of Princes to his eldest son, Ghazi-eddin-qhan, who was also son-in-law to Camer-eddin-qhan, obtained the Emperor’s consent for such a transfer, saw the young Lord invested with the Qhylaat of his new office, and then obtained leave to depart; after which he went out of the city and took up his abode in tents. On his departure the Emperor sent secretly the scrutoire of the Vezirship to Emir-qhan; but this nobleman who was some­what sanguine in his temper, having commenced doing some open acts, and holding about Camer-eddin-qhan some disagreeable discourses, that proved equally unbecoming the dignity and station of the one, as well as the eminent rank of the other, the latter, who was soon informed of these new matters, wrote to Nizam-el-mulk, who still was encamped in the suburbs, and asked what he thought ought to be done in such a conjuncture? The Viceroy answered: “That to resist His Majesty’s will, or to oppose the pleasure of one’s master and Lord, was neither proper nor laudable, and that he had nothing more to do, than to ask His Majesty’s leave, and to come with him in Decan.” On this intimation, the Vezir addressed a supplique to the Emperor in these terms: “Your faithful servant is not conscious of ever having been guilty, and is far from being guilty now; but as a great alteration seems to have taken place in your Imperial mind, possibly on the suggestions of interested men, and your faithful servant is not a man to harbour thoughts of ingratitude or of disobedience, he is going to Decan with Nizam-el-mulk. Let your Majesty confer the direction of the public affairs on what­ever zealous subject you shall devise.” Camer-eddin-qhan, having forwarded this supplique, went to Nizam-el-mulk’s encampment and took up his abode under tents. The Emperor, who had little firmness and resolution in his temper, was surprised and confounded at the contents of this petition; and sending for both Emir-qhan and Isaac-qhan, he asked them their opinion on the posture of affairs. The former made the same answer which he had already made some days before, and the Emperor said nothing, but dismissed that nobleman.* After his departure he asked Issac-qhan his opinion, and conjured him by everything sacred, as he valued his Emperor’s welfare, and that of the Empire, to say without disguise, and without regard to persons or times, whatever he thought advantageous to the public. Issac-qhan, who owed his preferment to Emir-qhan, and had promised that nobleman that, in whatever circumstances he might chance to be, he would never give an advice contrary to his benefactor’s opinion, declined answering, and remained silent. The Emperor, astonished at his reluctance, urged him with the most soothing entreaties, and the most sacred oaths. The other answered in these terms: “If I speak according to the dictates of my con­science, I commit a breach of a solemn promise, and break a serious agreement; and if I abide by the stipulations of that agreement I become guilty of ingratitude to you, and likewise commit a kind of treason with respect to the public. Better then to say nothing, and your Majesty shall vouchsafe to hold me excused.” The Emperor astonished at these words, became more eager than ever, and made use of so many entreaties and so many sacred oaths, that Issac-qhan, unable to resist any more, delivered himself in this manner: “Although Emir-qhan is undoubtedly a man of merit, and a man of courage and counsel, yet he bears, amongst the Grandees of India, a certain character of preferring a bon-mot to any consideration whatever, and of acting with an unbecoming airiness of language and behaviour; on the other hand, those who, like your humble servant, have been introduced to preferment by his means and owe to his recommendation the honour of kissing the Imperial threshold, of paying their respects personally to Majesty, and of reaching to the highest dignities and honours; those, as well as myself, have not yet acquired any adequate weight in the eyes of the Hindoo Radjas, and of the Grandees of Hindostan, or of the Lords of the Court. In the eyes of all these powerful people, we are still the men of yesterday, and our station, as well as rank, is yet that of yesterday. Those same men look up to Nizam-el-mulk and to Camer-eddin-qhan with the highest respect, and accustomed long-hand to obey their dictates, and to conform to their pleasure, submission is become natural to them, and they think it an honour to be instrumental in putting their com­mands in execution. To fall out then, with two such Ministers on the bare strength of the abilities of such men as we are, can­not, in the opinion of your servant’s deficient mind, be productive of any good. As to the rest whatever you shall have determined in your Imperial mind, will undoubtedly prove to be the most advantageous party.” The Emperor at these words recovering as from a profound sleep, abandoned his late purpose, and resolved to live upon good terms with both Nizam-el-mulk and Camer-eddin-qhan. The next day Emir-qhan came to Court as usual, and on observing an alteration in the Emperor’s air and appearance, he with much surprise asked the reason of that change. The Emperor answered: “I have reflected on the intended proceeding, and find that to discontent the T8ranian Lords, who are now the main hinge upon which my affairs turn, is not a proper measure; nor can it redound to my honour. It becomes, therefore, important to the welfare of this Empire, that they remain quiet and satisfied; and it is incumbent upon you likewise, as you value your character of a zealous faithful servant, to abstain henceforward from any thing that may raise dissensions, or give them umbrage.” Emir-qhan thoroughly sensible of the great change that had taken place these two days, hastened out of town, and going to Nizam-el-mulk, he made him as well as Camer-eddin-qhan every apology in his power, and he desired them both to explain their intentions, as he was resolved to act in conformity to their pleasure. Nizam-el-mulk, after having passed many encomiums on Emir-qhan, added, that as some coolness had of late taken place between him and Camer-eddin-qhan, he thought it expedient that he (Emir-qhan) should repair for sometime to Ilah-abad, which, after all, added he, is your Government and office. Emir-qhan promised to comply with their advice, and took his leave from them; and having likewise obtained the Emperor’s consent, he set out of the capital, and encamped in the environs, where having spent some time in provid­ing a field-equipage, putting his affairs in order, and appointing proper Agents to act for him in his absence, he continued his voyage; whilst Issac-qhan, who remained at Court, acquired the highest ascendant over the Emperor’s mind, was held in the high­est esteem, and became extremely respected by both Nizam-el-mulk and Camer-eddin-qhan. After this departure, there were some other changes at Court. Ab8l-mans8r-qhan, son-in-law to Saadet-qhan, who had been honoured with the Government of A8d, repaired to that capital, and applied himself to all the arts that could support and increase the power of his Government. Zekeriah-qhan was suffered to remain in his Government of Lahor and M8ltan, in which he had been continued by Nadyr-shah himself, and that Governor’s youngest son, who bore a character for courage and resolution, and who on his having accompanied Nadyr-shah and served him as guide in his expedition against the Afghan, N8r-mahomed-qhan-lëili, had been honoured by the conqueror with the surname of Shah-nevaz-qhani,* was suffered to continue in Pendjab, where he seemed to have no business but that of quieting the districts bestowed on him, and of enjoying their revenues.