the father

jah-ud-Don ginning of

whom he wa Patna, wher

death of his year 1708 wi

was appointed

fort of Agay

nours, by the title of Satte

By the reducting

er determination, had joined the e day of Saadut Khan's junction rial forces, his camp was attacked 1 by a body of Persian troops,

of his attendants. Saadut Khan, information of the disaster, left artments, where he had been in hastened to the assistance of his Dowrah, the imperial general, relief of Saadut Khan, and in a st of the imperial officers of Maho commanded separate bodies, on. Nadir Shah, seeing the obstinate and serious, appeared ead of his troops, who then were a complete victory was gained army, which suffered a severe d officers. Khan Dowrah was ed: his eldest son, with many lain; and Saadut Khan fell into enemy. In the army of Nadir 2500 soldiers, with seven prinere killed, and that 5000 men

After the engagement, Nadir tent to be pitched near his own the acccommodation of Saadut other Omrahs of Mahomet Shah.

encamped at Karnal, about 100 miles to the bung da

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 em pire; 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.

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. 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.

He

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

The baggage of these officers was stationed on the outside of the camp, together with their servants, none of whom were permitted to attend them, nor were they allowed to make use of their own provisions.-Little farther mention is made of Saadut Khan by Mr. Fraser after this affair, than that he was appointed to guard the city of Delhi, on the day of Nadir Shah's first entrance.-This writer likewise says, that Nadir Shah, summoning Saadut Khan before him on the 9th of March 1739, reprehended him in harsh language for being the cause of impeding the collection of the imposts*, and that on the next day, Saadut Khan died, having been before weak and indisposed. Mr. Fraser concludes his relation of Saadut Khan, by observing, that some imagined he died through anger of the abusive reproach of Nadir; and others are of opinion, that jealousy provoked him to take poison f.

Mr. Fraser's relation of the conduct of Saadut Khan, the spirit of which is strictly adhered to, now awaits a dispassionate decision, which is to determine the probable truth of Saadut Khan's invitation of Nadir Shah into India. This author, who has unquestionably left us a valua

* A tax laid by Nadir shah on the inhabitants of Delhi. † It was believed at Delhi, that Saadut died of the effects of an ulcer in his leg.

ble tract of Indian history, in other passages of his book, observes, that the Persian Prince shewed marks of indulgence and liberality to many of Mahomet Shah's Omrahs, but no example is brought forward of his munificence, or even lenity, having been extended to Saadut Khan. On the contrary, it is seen, that Saadut Khan suffered severely in the action of Karnal, and was subsequently treated with much rigour.

SUFDAR Jung, who resided at Oude at the period of Saadut Khan's death, succeeded to the Government; an appointment, according to the tradition of the family, conferred on him by Nadir Shah: yet I am induced to believe, from the liberal conduct of the Persian to Mahomet Shah, that Sufdar Jung received the promotion at the hands of his own sovereign. Sufdar Jung, after the march of the Persian army from Delhi, came to court, where he obtained the office of Meer Atush, or grand master of the ordnance.

In the year 1746, Ahmed Shah, the Duranny, invaded Hindostan, and had advanced to Sirhend, where he was successfully opposed by the Delhi army, in which Sufdar Jung had a considerable charge. Soon after the accession of Ahmed Shah to the throne, Sufdar Jung was advanced to the Vizarut, and his son, Shujah

*This prince commenced his reign in 1747.