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mediocrity in the estimation of his subjects; that by a knowledge of his character, and of their sentiments, some satisfactory opinions may be formed, of the disposition and moral qualities of the natives of Hindostan.

SHUJAH-UD-DOWLAH, the son of Sufdar Jung, by a daughter of Saadut Khan, was born at Delhi, in the year 1729 of the Christian æra. Though a long line of illustrious ancestors be not the strongest tenure of the dominions held by Indian princes, who are taught to consider fortune, and the power of arms, as the primary aids in acquiring and maintaining empire; yet a distinguished descent imparts a lustre and weight to the other qualities of a fortunate leader, and he himself beholds it with ostentatious pleasure. Historical truth calls on me to do justice to the claims of the family of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, who, in Mr. Dow's History of Hindostan, is denominated "The infamous son, of a more infamous Persian pedlar*." The ancestors of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, have for a long space of time been established in Nishabur, a

* Mr. Dow uniformly endeavours to throw an odium on the family and character of the late Vizier. When informed of the opprobrious terms used by that writer, in discussing the subject of his Domestic History, Shujah-ud-Dowlah attributed the language to the resentment of Mr. Dow, for having been refused the salt-petre farm of the Allahabad districts.

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town of Khorosan, where they held landed possessions, and were classed amongst the principal inhabitants of the province.

DURING my journey through Persia, I had an opportunity of conversing with some of the inhabitants of Nishabur, who bore indisputable testimony to the ancient rank of the family of Shujah-ud-Dowlah. That this fact may be more fully exemplified, though it leads to prolixity, it is necessary to mention, that Mirzah Nasseer, the father of the maternal grand-sire* of Shujah-ud-Dowlah, came into Hindostan 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 Nasseer had two sons, the second of whom, Mahomet Aumeen, on being apprised of the death of his father, left Persia, and about the year 1708 visited the court of Furrucksir. He was appointed by this prince, governor of the fort of Agrah; and soon 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 conspicuous military reputation, and was pro

* Saadut Khan, intitled Burhaan-ul-Mulck.

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

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by a daught Delhi, in the Though a lo. be not the str held by Indian sider fortune, a primary aids in pire; yet a disti tre and weight t tunate leader, a ostentatious pleas me to do justice Shujah-ud-Dowla of Hindostan, is son, of a more inf ancestors of Shuja space of time bee

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that the Emperor, protected by the s Sudict Khan, should remain at Delhi. This

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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 Shab. 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

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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, "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 correspondenec.

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