Ruqaʿat-i ʿAlamgiri 1.5

1.5

It appears that another collection had been previously made under the same direction, and that another name is given to that collection. The fourth collection is called Ramz wa Isháraháe 'A'lamgír, and bears the name of the compiler, of which in the case of the Dastûru-l 'Aml wa A'gâhi we are left in ignorance. "The correspondence of the Emperor 'Álamgír appears at first sight to consist of ordinary epistles, but in reality they convey the best instruction to kings, and the most useful kind of information to nobles and courtiers. They may be considered harmless friends to all, whether they love retirement or take delight in society. Originally they did not form a regular book, but at the instigation of the celebrated and learned Rája Ayá Mal, Budh Mal, surnamed Rám, collected them and formed a book in the year 1151 A.H. (1738 A.D.). There is another collection bearing the name of A'dáb-i 'A'lamgírí. This is composed of letters written by Aurangzeb to his father, sons, and officers. They were collected by Munshi-l Mamálik Shaikh Abu-l Fath, and were arranged and formed into a book by Sadik, entitled Ná-tamám, a resident of Ambala. The work is noticed in the Catalogue of the Mackenzie Collection (vol. ii. p. 135). [There are several Extracts of this work among Sir H. M. Elliot's MSS., and there is a copy in the British Museum.]