One of the associates and favourites of that unhappy Gov­ernor’s was Ráo-shitab-ráy, who became therefore a partaker of the Navvab’s resentment. He was taken to task; imperious exactors were set over him; and pretences sought everywhere for his ruin. But as he was a man of fortitude and courage, he shut himself up in his house with a few friends, and resolved to risk his life in defence of his honour. This air of vigour had its effect; and for sometime he was not meddled with by the Nav­vab. Nevertheless, matters went hard with him still; for Mir-cassem-qhan obtained from the Emperor the government of the fortress of Rhotas, with the Imperial Divanship of Azim-abad, and the management of those Djaghiry-lands that belonged to Semsam-ed-döulah, now deceased (all which offices had been in Rai-shitab-ráy’s possession); and it was an account of his management in these offices, that was required of him with so much rigour, and so much chicanery. Luckily for him, that his attachment to the English, and the services he had rendered to that nation in the battle against Qhaden-hassen-qhan, had made such an impression on their gratitude, that they resolved at any rate to have him out of the Navvab’s hand. They interposed therefore so effectually, that it was agreed on both sides, that his affair should be examined and judged by the Council of Calcutta. The Navvab, who reckoned on the Governor’s sup­port, consented; and Shitab-ráy, who trusted to the vigour of his friends, went down with Major Carnac and some others. As nothing could be proved against him, and he was greatly esteemed by the English, the Governor and Council contented them­selves with ordering that he should quit the Navvab’s dominions. Shitab-ráy wanted no better; and he returned up to Azim-abad, in company with Mr. Ellis and Mr. Lushington, two persons who had been appointed Chief, and second, of the factory in that city. Mr. Lushington, in particular, who had a high regard for Shitab-ráy, taking a whole battalion of Talingas with him, escorted him by the way of Chapra, and Saarun, until he saw him across the river Sordj8, which also goes by the names of Deva and Gagra, and forms the boundary between the provinces of Azim-abad, and that of A8d. Mr. Lushington, after having seen him safe in Shudja-ed-döulah’s dominions, parted with him, and returned to Azim-abad.

The Navvab, by such means as these, and such confiscations, as well as by the order and regularity he introduced in every branch of the administration, and especially in the finances, came to be possessed of an immense hoard of ready money. But there remained a relation of Ram-naráin’s, and it was Mansaram, who was actually collecting the revenues of the country of Tir8t, on the other side of the Ganga. Mir-mehdi-qhan, who was a near relation of the Navvab’s, having been appointed Fodjdar of that district, Mansaram, who was equally brave and thoughtless, put himself upon his defence, was killed in an engagement, and by his death put an end to the dispute. Mir-cassem-qhan, after having introduced order in his finances, and subordination in his dominions, turned his views towards providing for his defence. He was amassing and manufacturing as many guns and flint-muskets as he could, with every necessary for war.* Gurghin-quan, the Armenian, was the man proposed to that particular branch; he was the principal General of his troops, and the trusty confidant of his heart; nay, the Navvab seemed to have sold himself to him totally. But he had also several other Generals besides, whether Hindostanies or foreigners, every one of whom he had appointed to some particular branch. The most illustrious and most considerable amongst the latter was, Mahmed-taky-qhan, the Tabrizian, of Coozza-calan,* whom he had appointed Fodj­dar Mir-cassem provides him­self with several able Generals. of Birbohom, with orders to raise men, but to discipline only such as might prove able-bodied and serviceable. The man attached himself so heartily to his task, that he attracted a general admiration. He raised a body still more numerous and better composed than he had been directed; and he applied himself so assiduously in arming, and exercising them in mock-engagements and in daily manœuvres, that he approved himself superior to those of his rank; it being acknowledged that no one would have discharged that office with so much abilities as he did. This officer had the qualities of a Commander-in-Chief, and did richly deserve that high employment; much better at least, than such a cloth-seller by the yard, as was Gurghin-qhan. Had he commanded in the day of battle, as did Gurghin-qhan,* he would have preserved his honour and character; nor had the engagement ended as it did; Although he had but a small force, and his measures were thwarted by the jealousy of Séyd-mahmed-qhan, the Deputy Governor of M8rsh8d-abad, and by the refrac­tory behaviour of several Commanders, such as Sheh-háibet-ollah, Aalem-qhan, and Djaafer-qhan, all of whom were enjoined to obey his commands in the first battle against the English, and all of whom disobeyed his orders. His conduct and name have been inscribed on the leaves of the historical page. As for Gurghin-qhan, his elevation seemed to have taken place, on pur­pose to demolish and to overthrow Mir-cassem-qhan’s power and grandeur. But this observation escaped his master; or if it did not, he was purblinded by his destiny, as we shall shew in the subsequent part of this history.

If Mir-cassem-qhan was assiduously busy in providing the necessaries for war, he was no less attentive in whatever could contribute to introduce regularity in the state, and subordination and punctuality amongst the Zemindars. The principal amongst them therefore were ordered to attend at Court. This order gave umbrage to Cam-car-qhan, who feared to be called to an account for his attachment to the Emperor, as well as for the arrears due by his Zemindary to the treasury of the province; and he retired with his troops into the mountains of the Ramgur. But Buniad-sing, and Fateh-sing, who trusted to the merit of having forborne to join the Emperor, and of having always lived in the Courts of the preceding Governors, readily obeyed the summonses, and were put under confinement. So mild a treat­ment could not be expected by Pahluvan-sing, and the other Zemindars of the Sercar, or province of Shah-abad, who all go by the name of Bodjp8riahs. Those men, fearful of being taken to task for their attachment to Ram-naráin, and called to an account for their robberies and violences of all kinds, did not obey the order, but put themselves upon their defence. The Navvab, who had determined with himself to demolish all the ancient men of consequence in these provinces, but, above all, to extirpate the Zemindars that should prove refractory; and who intended to ruin all their castles and strongholds, sent first of all his own nephew, Aaly-qhan, to take possession of Cam-car-qhan’s country. He afterwards associated to him Assed-ollah-qhan, son to Mir-hosséin-qhan, a man little scrupulous in shedding blood; after which dispositions, he determined to depart himself for Saharseram and the districts of Shahabad.

It was just in these conjunctures I arrived at Azim-abad from my journey to Calcutta, and I visited the Navvab in Doctor Fullar­ton’s company, a man who was a great friend of mine, as well as in high favour with that Prince. He received me with distinc­tion, and spoke with the utmost kindness; but as I had tarded very much in my voyage, he seemed really to be somewhat displeased, and he expressed his discontent in some complaints. I brought several excuses forward, which he seemed to accept, but being never without some suspicion or other in his mind, I perceived that he was not really satisfied, and that there lurked in his heart some particle of discontent. It was about this time, likewise, that my father resolved, on his side, to pay a visit to the new Navvab. He had observed that his estate, which although mostly acquired by purchase, is deemed a Djaghir, was seated in the Navvab’s dominions, and, of course, at the Navvab’s mercy; and as he was resolved to live henceforward upon that estate, and to avoid the troubles of the busy world, it became incumbent upon him to be upon some terms with one in whose dominions he was to spend his days. He therefore expressed his desire to Mirza* Shems-eddin, an intimate friend of his, and a favourite of the Nav­vab’s. Mir-cassem-qhan, who remembered how inferior to my father he had been, and yet was conscious of that superiority of rank and dignity, so undeniable in his visitor, to which he would be obliged by the rules of decency to pay an adequate regard, declined the interview under some pretence; and when at last he consented, it was on such conditions as strongly evinced the difference he conceived between a reigning Navvab, and a disgraced Prime Minister. My father, on the other side, on hearing of the high pretensions of Mir-cassem-qhan’s, was disgusted, and he repented of his having come so far as Azim-abad. Luckily that I was myself in that city. As soon as I heard of this misunderstanding, I went to my father, and prevailed upon him not to stand upon the etiquette, but to put up with the pride and pretensions of Mir-cassem-qhan’s, as a necessity to which the times strongly pointed. The representation had its effect; and he submitted to them. But when the interview came to take place, it happened that the Navvab himself overawed the aged appearance of his noble visitor, and by a sudden recollection of his former greatness, at once receded from his own pretensions, although they had been submittted to; and getting up from his Mesned of State, he advanced some steps, embraced him as an equal, made him sit close to himself on that same Mesned, and took care to express himself in such respectful terms, as might pour a stream of Mir-cassem receives the author’s father in the most respect­ful manner. gladness over the old nobleman’s heart. The visit having lasted some time, my father got up, and was dismissed with the utmost honour and deference. The Navvab granted him his request with the best grace, and ever after made it a point to shew him the utmost regard and respect.