SULTAN AHMED ascends the Throne.

AT Paniput, on the 2d of Jemady ul Awwel, 1161, (or April 18th, 1748), the Nawab Sefder Jung, having made the necessary preparations for the inaugu­ration of the new monarch, by setting up the Imperial Chetr*, and other insignia of royalty, congratulated Sultan Ahmed upon his accession to the throne of Hindostan, and did him homage. The Emperor returned the compliment by saying. “I also congratulate you, upon the Vizarut.” The other Omrahs who were present were honoured with differ­ent marks of the royal favour. The Emperor directed that the following titles should be used in the pulpit and on the coin: Mojahideddeen, Abulnassir, Ahmed Shah, Bahadre, Padsha Ghazi; or the warrior in defence of religion, the father of victory, Ahmed Shah, the valiant, the victorious king.

Those who were perfectly conversant in the proper forms, represented to the Emperor, that not one of the descendants of Timour had ever assumed the title of Bahadre, but had only conferred it upon their servants: however this remon­strance did not make him change his orders, and Bahadre was included amongst his titles. The Nawab Sefder Jung was was formally invested with the Vizarut; the office of Meer Buckshee, was obtained by Syed Selabut Khan Zulfecar Jung, on the removal of Asof Jah*. Nizam ul Mulk*; Itemadeddowleh, son of the late Kummereddeen Khan, was appointed second Bukhshee: and the Nawab Abdulmajid Mejdeddowleh* third Bukhshee, or paymaster. These were the only changes that then happened, all the other Omrahs standing confirmed in their respective offices. The Emperor’s mother, who was a concubine, named Oudhem Biey; now obtained the title of Nawab Biey, and sometimes after Nawab Koodsieh Sahebehzemany*. Jaweid Khan, the eunuch, who had been many years in her service, was at her recommendation appointed Daro­gha* of the Addar Khaneh*; the Feel Khaneh, perfume office and of the Ghosul Khaneh*, with the title of Nawab Bahadre. Mân Khan, the king’s maternal uncle, obtained a munseb of six thousand, and the title of Moatekid ed dowleh*.

The following event which happened in the same year, was the cause of great commotions. On the festival of Zuhah, Sefder Jung, in returning from the Eed­gah* to his own house, passed through the market place called Neegumbobdh, when suddenly some thatches on the right side of the street appeared in flames, and there was discharged from that quar­ter a volley of matchlock and pistols balls. Several of the servants in the front of the procession were wounded, but fortunately the Nawab himself did not receive any injury. Notwithstanding all the enquiries that were made, the parties concerned in this audacious act could never be discovered: however, as it occasioned suspicions in the mind of Sefder Jung unfavourable to the Emperor, he absented himself from court for three months. At last the exigency of the Emperor’s affairs was such, that he was persuaded by his friends to pay the Vizier a visit, when by this con­descension, and the most solemn protesta­tions, Sefder Jung was satisfied of his innocence.

As soon as Ahmed Shah Doorany received intelligence of the feuds at court, he marched from Cabul for Lahoor. However Nizam ul Mulk, the Soobah­dah of Penjab, stopped his progress, by promising to remit him annually fourteen lacks of rupees, in satisfaction of the revenues of some places ceded to Nadir Shah, for the payment of the expences of Cabul, and which Nadir Shah, till his death, received regularly from Zakaria Khan. Upon this negociation, the Doo­ranees returned to Kandahar, and Pen­jab escaped the horrors of devastation and plunder.