Intelligence coming at this time that Mr. Amyatt was draw­ing near, the Navvab, who had beforehand sent for Mir-abdollah-sefevi from Azim-abad, a valuable gentleman, whose merit has many times been mentioned in these memoirs, now thought proper to join me, the poor man, to him in the same commission; and he desired us, as we were both upon familiar terms with Mr. Amyatt, to go forward, in order to receive him, and to endeavour to discover what was his real purpose, and what might be his real intentions in coming so far. He at the same time appointed a Gentoo, to attend us as Persian secretary, and he ordered twenty spies to be at our command both as spies and as messengers. These twenty men were parted in two divisions, and commanded by two head men as officers, who had orders to disguise themselves like menial servants, and to introduce them­selves the one into Mir-abdollah’s service, the other into mine, with injunctions never to be absent from any of the meetings or conferences which might be held with the English, and to take care to observe not only the expressions and words, but even the gestures of the hands as well as the signs of the head between us, transmitting every day a faithful account of what they should hear, or see. One of these twenty messengers, on receiving a letter, was to carry it to the next post, and then to return to his office. Every one of us having received our lesson in this manner, we quitted Monghyr, and arrived at Ganga-persad, where we had the good luck to meet Mr. Amyatt; but on embracing him took care to whisper that we had spies over us. Mr. Amyatt and the others being thereby put upon their guard, spoke and acted with precaution; for, being every night at the same land­ing place, we used to pass the greatest part of our time with the English; and whatever we had said or heard, was fully set down both by us and by the head spies, and severally dispatched to the Navvab every evening. One day, to avoid all suspicions, I opened my commission to Mr. Amyatt with an audible voice, and I spoke to him as I had been instructed to do by the Navvab. “What can possibly be,” said I, “the reason of your coming, and what is your intent? Being both of us well-wishers to His Highness, as well as to the English, we are desirous of being informed of your intentions, that we may contrive expedients for the benefit of both parties.” Mr. Amyatt, with a loud voice, answered: “It is customary with Indians, when they come to us, to tell us none but such things as may keep us in good humour; and when they return to the Navvab, they never fail to speak to him, so as to humour him in his wishes; and hence, our real intentions on both sides remain concealed from each other party, and our views do not come to light. It is to avoid those inconveniences, that we have quitted our homes, to come so far in embassy, with intention to see the Navvab face to face, and to tell him what we have to say, as well as to hear what he has to answer; and, this being the case, it is needless that we should have any business with any other person.” This declaration of Mr. Amyatt’s putting an end to all political topics, we took care in our conversation with the English to drop many expressions of reproach, and to dispute with them in such a manner, as was pointed out by the times; it being the only expedient we could devise, to preserved ourselves from the Nav­vab’s suspicions, and to avoid feeling the effects of his resentment. On the day when this last conversation took place, the contents of which were severally forwarded to Court both by us and by the head spies, we arrived at Baghalpoor, and there received a letter from the Navvab, which recalled both Mir-abdollah and me, adding, that as Mr. Amyatt did not choose to enter into any particulars with us, it was needless we should stay with him any more, but, that we must manage so, as to be at Court before the Englishman’s arrival. Mir-abdollah, having informed Mr. Amyatt of this recall, we took our leave of him, and returned to Monghyr, where we waited on the Navvab immediately, after having been met in the way by several messengers that came to hasten our march. Being in his presence, he commenced putting questions to us. As my poor friend, Mir-abdollah, (on whom be peace!) had not a ready delivery, and could not express himself properly, his answers displeased the Navvab, and he was twice reproached, and afterwards dismissed. He went home, and I followed him, with intent to take some rest; when a messenger came from Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, informing me that His Highness wanted me immediately, and that I must go with the Qhan to Court. Fain I was to put on a full dress again, and to repair to the Navvab’s. This Prince was in his private apartments, sitting in the outer-room of his bath, and in close conference with Gurghin-qhan. I took my seat in a corner, and Aaly-hibrahim-qhan in another. The Navvab repeated to Gurghin-qhan what he had heard from my mouth; he them turned towards me, and ordering me to draw nearer, he bid me tell Gurghin-qhan all my observations. Upon this command, I drew near, and sitting over against that General, I recommenced my tale. The General, after hearing a few words, seemed ruffled; and, to shew that my report deserved but little oredit, he turned towards the Navvab, and said: My Lord Navvab, weré a man to rip open an Englishman’s body with a knife, he would not for that come at his secret. He then turned again to me, and asked me some questions, which I answered. At the third or fourth answer, he seemed impatiented, and said: “My Lord Qhan, I want nothing of all that. Pray, do answer three or four questions which I am going to put to you. What is Mr. Amyatt’s intention? And does he come to intrigue against the Navvab, or not? Is he come to pry into the state of the army and fortress, or not? Has he any friend­ship or good will for us, or does he come with hostile intentions?” On hearing these words, I was extremely surprised, and looking at him full in the face, I answered: “My Lord, your questions really confound me, and I am amazed at what you mean. It is but a moment since you said yourself, that were one to rip open an Englishman’s body, he would not for that come at his secret; and you want me now to reveal to you Mr. Amyatt’s innermost thoughts! As to his coming with sinister intentions, it would be really surprising that he should harbour any such designs; the man comes into your house, and alone; and it is he that ought to be afraid of sinister designs, and not you, who are at home, and ought not to conceive any fears from him. As to what you have hinted of his coming hither to pry into the state of the army and fortress, I am of opinion, that not only Mr. Amyatt shall, but that any other man whatever that comes hither, will, of course, acquire some knowledge of both your fortress and your army; and that the quantum of such a knowledge of his, will depend on his share of penetration and knowledge. With respect to your other two questions, about his coming with friendly or inimical intentions, the matter of fact is, that he comes to you with some demands and requests of his own; if you grant him his demands, there is no doubt but that he shall be pleased with you, and will become your friend; and if you refuse them, it is no less certain that the refusal will produce discontents, and at last enmities. All these observations do not deserve questions; they are self-evident.” The Navvab having assented to what I said, Gurghin-qhan, who had never been a friend to me, became now more estranged than ever. But the Navvab dismissed me; and as I was going home in the utmost amazement, I could not but admire that fulness of power in the divine dispensations of Providence, which had suscited such and the like people, to stand over our heads as Generals of armies, and as Ministers of State, with unlimited powers of binding and loosing. The next morning after this conference, the Navvab sent his own nephew, Aab8-aaly-qhan, and his Minister, Radja Nobet-ráy, to meet and receive Mr. Amyatt; and on the third day, the latter arrived at Monghyr, where he alighted at a set of tents that had been pitched up for his quarters. The Navvab went to see him, at which time the visit became one continual scene of dissimulation and reciprocal cringing. The next day Mr. Amyatt returned the visit. He had with him Mr. Hay, and Captain Johnston, together with some other gentlemen, amongst whom was a Mr. Gulston, a young man lately come into India, who in so short a time had learned the Persian very well, and at our first interview, had conceived as much good will for me as I had for him.* The Navvab, on descrying Mr. Amyatt, got up, as is the etiquette, advanced a few steps from his Mesned, and brought him to sit upon some chairs placed there on purpose, upon one of which he took his own seat. After a little conversation, the usual cere­monial of Paan, Atur, and Rose-water, was brought up; and then several trays covered with stuffs were produced, together with one plate containing jewels and gems; all which were presented to him. On his taking leave, the Navvab got up, and re-conducted him, as well as all the English, as far as the end of the carpeting, where he invited them to an entertainment, At night they all came, and after having been amused with dances and a bonfire, they were complimented with an entertain­ment, which lasted beyond midnight. Since that day, the English visited the Navvab several times, and at each time several complaints, and many reproaches were taking place on both sides; and at each visit matters seemed verging towards a rupture. For it was remarked, that at every meeting, the Navvab, whether by chance or otherwise, never failed to commit some action, or to be guilty of some gesture, which never failed to give offence, and to be laid hold of as a fit subject of complaint. At last, the discontents ran so high, that at one time Mr. Amyatt, who had advanced as far as the door of the Navvab’s apartment, Amyatt sent on embassy to Mir-cassem, spoils every thing by the hastiness of his temper, and the imperiousness
of his con­versation. returned back much displeased; nor would he have been brought again, had not some of the Navvab’s favourites run after him, and intreated his being pacified. Mr. Amyatt and the others complained of the Navvab’s guards at the gate, and of some other of his servants. The Navvab professed his ignorance, and made many apologies; but the English could not be brought to believe, that servants would dare to commit such actions without their master’s consent; and they were still more dis­pleased at the apology. However, as the Navvab was offering many excuses, they determined that the only method with him was, to put his words to the trial. With that view, Mr. Gulston and Captain Johnston, got on horse-back at day-break, as is the English custom, and went out to take an airing, and to see the country; but as soon as they offered to go somewhat far, several foot-guards, stationed at that part, forbade their proceeding that way; and some troopers, that suddenly appeared, opposed their passage. The English, accustomed to talk high, and to carry every thing with a high hand, forced their passage forward. The guards incensed, lighted up their matches and put themselves in a posture of defence; and the English, after having attempted in vain to turn them, returned to town, and went directly to the Navvab’s, where they exhaled themselves in excessive complaints, and made use of several high expressions. The Navvab flatly denied his having any hand in the matter, and excused his people; he also apologised for himself, and pretended his ignorance. But this did not persuade any one of the English; nor was this dust wiped off from their hearts; and this event having alienated their minds, their discontent ran higher and higher, and at last it undermined the wall of good will and sincerity. The Navvab was every day holding Councils on these matters with his favour­ites; for instance, with Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, and with Mirza-shems-eddin. Those men of sense always proposed some expedient to renew the conferences, in order both to soothe Mr. Amyatt’s mind, and to pacify the Navvab. On my own part, as I laboured under the imputation of being in connection with the English, I did not dare to offer a word in their behalf; but being also intimate with Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, and with Mirza-shems-eddin, I used to impart to them such expedients and notions of mine, as I thought might conduce to a good under­standing, or keep at a distance the thoughts of hostility; and these were soon imparted to the Navvab, who always assented, but not for any length of time. For as soon as it was four in the afternoon, at which time Gurghin-qhan used to come and to engross him as late as nine o’clock at night, all was undone again; so that he would efface himself every trace of those lines, which his well-wishers had been at so much pains to trace on the glass of his mind; and in the morning, not the least vestige of them could be discerned. Instead of that, the General used to engrave thereon his own infructuous persuasions, and that too, in such deep characters, that no hand and no tool could efface them afterwards. This management took place so constantly, that once Aaly-hibrahim-qhan losing all patience, wrote a note to the Navvab in these very words: Since the advices and counsels offered by your well-wishers, and which your mind approves, never fail in the evening to be obliterated by Gurghin-qhan’s suggestions, it is needless that either your Highness, or your friends and well-wishers, should fatigue themselves any more upon an unfructuous subject; for in the end, we all find that nothing is done, but what has been advised by Gurghin-qhan. It is then proper that this affair should be wholly committed to his care, without giving further trouble to your own mind, as well as to every one of us on so disagreeable a subject. Let us all do as he shall bid; (and this after all would be nothing novel) it is but what happens every day. In one word, (for we must end) we are unanimously of opinion, that if your Princely mind be for peace, Mr. Amyatt’s heart ought not to be estranged by actions and words that derogate from the high character which our master bears; and, if you be for a rupture, and for pursuing a plan of military operations on Gurghin-qhan’s notions and schemes, still, to disoblige a man come on an embassy, is contrary to the rules of a Princely behaviour, and beneath the high dignity of a Sovereign. So far from abating any thing from the regard and attention which it is customary to pay the people of that nation, we are of opinion that some additional token of respect ought to be shewn them now, were it because they are come under the safeguard of an embassy We do not mean to say that the preparations intended for further hostilities ought to be discontinued; on the contrary, they ought to go on. We contend only, that such actions as these men complain of, are not of a nature either to add any thing to the terror of your name and power, or to detract any thing from their own dignity, or from the opinion they enter­tain of themselves. All these can produce no other fruit, than that of enlarging the foundations of enmity, and giving new wings to envy and jealousy.