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without having seen the Emperor. It has been supposed that Saadut Khan, in conjunction with Nizam Ul Mulck, invited Nadir Shah into India, with the assurance of a powerful interiour assistance, and an easy conquest of the Empire. This supposed fact, has been subscribed to by Mr. Dow in his History of Hindostan, with positive decision in favour of its authenticity; and it is partially noticed in the History of Nadir Shah, by Mr. Fraser, who has treated his subject with candour, and generally with perspicuity. This writer assserts, that Saadut Khan was engaged in a treacherous negotiation, which the disaffected nobles of Delhi were said to have maintained with the court of Persia ; but here I must observe, though it diverts the immediate object of my research, that Fraser's assertion stands unaccompanied by any detail of events, descriptive of the benefit which Saadut Khan derived from the invasion; nor has he quoted, in support of it, any specific authority. If a probable conclusion, indeed, is to be drawn from Fraser's relation of the conduct of Saadut Khan, during the Persian war, I would with little hesitasion say, that the Governor of Oude held no share in the councils or favour of Nadir Shah. For had he obtained the protection of that Prince, to which he stood entitled from the services imputed to him, it is not probable that

so large a share of the disaster of the Delhi army at Karnal, would have fallen on this officer.

In a passage of Fraser's history, it is seen, I think, that Saadut Khan could not have held a confidential correspondence with the Persian, or experienced any portion of his indulgence. Fraser says, "Before I relate the treacherous correspondence * carried on between Nizam "Saadut Khan, and Nadir Shah, the invi"tation they gave him to march towards Hin"dostan, which was the principal motive that "encouraged him to undertake the expedition,

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I shall," &c.-And in the other part of the book it is mentioned, that on Nadir's approach towards the capital, Saadut Khan received orders to join the Delhi army, and that he had already crossed the Ganges, when he was directed to return to Oude. It had been resolved in the councils of Mahomet Shah, which were distracted and wavering, that the army should take the field under the command of the Vizier; and that the Emperor, protected by the forces of Saadut Khan, should remain at Delhi. This Omrah was required to undertake the charge, but an ill state of health at that time detained him in Oude. He arrived in February 1739, in the camp of Mahomet Shah, who receding

There is no future mention made of the correspondenee.

from his former determination, had joined the army. On the day of Saadut Khan's junction * with the imperial forces, his camp was attacked and plundered by a body of Persian troops, who slew many of his attendants. Saadut Khan, on receiving information of the disaster, left the King's apartments, where he had been in waiting, and hastened to the assistance of his party. Khan Dowrah, the imperial general, marched to the relief of Saadut Khan, and in a short time, most of the imperial officers of Mahomet Shah, who commanded separate bodies, came into action. Nadir Shah, secing the contest become obstinate and serious, appeared himself at the head of his troops, who then were irresistible, and a complete victory was gained over the Delhi army, which suffered a severe loss in men and officers. Khan Dowrah was mortally wounded: his eldest son, with many Omrahs, were slain; and Saadut Khan fell into the hands of the enemy. In the army of Nadir it is said, that 2500 soldiers, with seven principal officers, were killed, and that 5000 men were wounded. After the engagement, Nadir Shah ordered a tent to be pitched near his own quarters, for the acccommodation of Saadut Khan, and two other Omrahs of Mahomet Shah.

The army was encamped at Karnal, about 100 miles to the westward of Delhi.

came into Hindostan under the command of Tuckejei Holcar and Mhadgee Scindia, whom, according to my Rohilla papers, he had invited to effect the expulsion of the Sicques from the Duab. Najeb-ud-Dowlah, who had in the latter period of his life fallen into an infirm state of health, was seized with a severe illness in the Marhatta camp. Leaving behind him a part of his army under the command of Zabilah Khan, his eldest son, he proceeded towards Rohilcund; but the disorder became so violent, that he could not proceed farther than Happer, a small town in the Duab, where he 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. Najeb-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 south, by the suburbs of Delhi; and in Rohilcund, it reached from the mountains of Siring naghur, to the districts of Moradabad t.

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THE revenue of this territory in its improved state, was calculated at 100 lacks of rupees; but it was reduced to seventy, it is said, by the

* His death happened in October 1770.

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

depredations of the Sicques, within a term of three years; nor would this amount have been preserved, had he not displayed in his operation with those marauders, a distinguished skill in the alternate exercise of arms, and political address. The death of Najeb Khan was lamented by the people whom he governed, and his memory at this day is respected and beloved throughout the upper parts of India. He supported the character of a gallant soldier; he encouraged agriculture, and protected commerce; and he was considered as the only remaining chief of the Empire, capable of opposing any barrier to the. inroads of the Marhatta and Sicque nations.

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