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died, The body was carried to Najebad, and interred in a tomb that had been erected by his order, in the vicinity of that town. Najcb-ud-Dowlah held in his own right, and in fief of the Empire, a tract of country extending from Panifret eastwards to Najebad; in the Duab, it was confined on the north, by Sarunpour, and on the fouth, by the fuburbs of Dehli; and in Rohilcund, it reached from the mountains of Siringnaghur, to the dif trict of Moradabad.+

THE revenue of this territory in its improved state, was calculated at 100 lacks of rupees; but it was reduced to feventy, it is faid, by the depredations of the Sicques, within a term of three years; nor would this amount have been preferved, had he not displayed in his operation with thofe Marauders, a distinguished fkill in the alternate exercise of arms, and political addrefs. The death of Najeb Khan was lamented by the people whom he governed, and his memory at this day is refpected and beloved throughout the upper parts of India. He fupported the character of a gallant foldier; he encouraged agriculture, and protected commerce; and he was confidered as the only remaining chief of the Empire, capable of oppofing any barrier to the inroads of the Mahratta and Sicque nations.

*His death happened in October, 1770.

A principal town in Rohilcund, ftanding on the banks of the Ramgunge.-See Rennell's map.

SUCCINCT

SUCCINCT MEMOIRS

O F

SHUJAH-UD-DOWLAH.

A VARIETY of materials, fupplied by the liberality and investigation of my friends, has enabled me to write an abbreviated history of the family and life of Shujah-udDowlah; a prince who fupported a confpicuous character on the theatre of Hindoftan, and who, from his tranfactions with the English nation in India, has founded an important epocha in their annals. Having felected with caution, and unrefervedly commented on the documents that have come before me, I firmly trust, that no marks of paffion, no defign to overcharge, or fupprefs facts, will appear in the relation. I am defirous also of exhibiting a general outline of the actions of a prince, who stood much above mediocrity

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mediocrity in the estimation of his fubjects; that by a knowledge of his character, and of their fentiments, fome fatisfactory opinions may be formed, of the difpofition and moral qualities of the natives of Hindoftan.

SHUJAH-UD-DOWLAH, the fon of Sufdar Jung, by a daughter of Saadut Khan, was born at Dehli, in the year 1729 of the Chriftian æra. Though a long line of illuftrious ancestors be not the ftrongest tenure of the dominions held by Indian princes, who are taught to confider fortune, and the power of arms, as the primary aids in acquiring and maintaining empire; yet a distinguished descent imparts a luftre and weight to the other qualities of a fortunate leader, and he himself beholds it with oftentatious pleasure. Historical truth calls on me to do juftice to the claims of the family of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, who, in Mr. Dow's History of Hindoftan, is denominated "The infamous fon, of a more infamous Perfian pedlar."* The ancestors of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, have for a long space of time been established in Nithabur, a town of Khorofan, where they held landed poffeffions, and were claffed amongst the principal inhabitants of the province.

DURING my journey through Perfia, I had an opportunity of

Mr. Dow uniformly endeavours to throw an odium on the family and character of the late Vizier. When informed of the opprobrious terms ufed by that writer, in difcuffing the subject of nis Domestic History, Shujah-ud-Dowlah attributed the language to the refentment of Mr. Dow, for having been refused the salt-peire farm of the Allahabad districts.

converfing

converfing with fome of the inhabitants of Nishabur, who bore indifputable teftimony to the ancient rank of the family of Shujahud-Dowlah. That this fact may be more fully exemplified, though it leads to prolixity, it is necessary to mention, that Mirzah Naffeer, the father of the maternal grand-fire* of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, came into Hindoftan in the beginning of the reign of Bahaudar Shah, by whom he was appointed to an office of trust at Patna, where his tomb yet remains. Mirza Naffeer had two fons, the fecond of whom, Mahomet Aumeen, on being apprifed of the death of his father, left Perfia, and about the year 1708 visited the court of Furruckfir. He was appointed by this prince, governor of the fort of Agrah; and foon rising to greater honours he ultimately became the Viceroy of Oude, by the title of Saredut Khan Burhaan-ul-Mulck. By the reduction of this province, which had long been in a state of rebellion, he acquired a confpicuous military reputation, and was promoted to the office of Darogha Khas, with the titular command of 7000 horse.

ABOUT this time, Mahomet Muckeim, afterwards entitled Sufdar Jung, the nephew of Saadut Khan, came into India, and had the daughter of his uncle given to him in marriage; of which Shujah-ud-Dowlah, was, I believe, the only male iffue. Sufdar

Saadut Khan, entitled Burhaan-ul-Mulck.

+ This Emperor commenced his reign in 1707, and died in 1712.

Darogha Khas, an officer of nearly the fame defcription with the Mafter of the King's Household in England.

Jung,

Jung, who was active, and poffcffed ufeful abilities, became the deputy of Saadut Khan in the government of Oude.

IN the middle periods of Mahomet Shah's* reign, the Mahrattas, at the inftigation, it is fuppofed, of the Nizam Ul Mulck,+ who was then at variance with the court, entered the Emperor's dominions, and committed fevere devastations; but in attempting to penetrate into Oude, they were attacked, and after a sharp conflict, completely routed by the troops of Saadut Khan, who commanded in perfon. This officer afterwards joined the imperial army, which had been collected for the purpose of expelling the enemy; but on a pretence of fome disgust, he left the camp and retired into Oude, without having feen the Emperor. It has been fuppofed that Saadut Khan, in conjunction with Nizam Ul Mulck, invited Nadir Shah into India, with the affurance of a powerful interiour affistance, and an easy conqueft of the Empire. This supposed fact, has been fubfcribed to by Mr. Dow in his History of Hindostan, with pofitive decifion in favour of its authenticity; and it is partially noticed in the Hiftory of Nadir Shah, by Mr. Frafer, who has treated his fubject with candour, and generally with perfpicuity. This writer afferts, that Saadut Khan was engaged in a treacherous negotiation, which the difaffected nobles of Dehli were faid to have maintained with the court of Perfia; but

* This Prince fucceeded to the throne in 1719, and died in 1747.
The Father of the prefent Nizam Ul Mulck.

here

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