Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.1
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 25.1
- Language
- English
25.1.1
The three new comers seem to have brought great prejudices against Hushtin and Barwell — A duel between the latter and the General — Governor Hushtin's temperate conduct — Nandcomar, his principal accuser, is himself accused — He is condemned and executed — His immense property — Mahmed-reza-qhan, by the General's influence, is appointed Fodjdar-general all over Bengal, that is, Supreme Criminal Magistrate — Edifying death of Rabiah-begum, the last descendant of Aaly-verdy-qhan's family — A violent earthquake in Bengal — Divisions in the Court of Moorshood-abad — Some strictures on Seyd-mahmed-qhan, favourite of Mahmed-reza-qhan's — Disputes at Calcutta — The general attempts to seize the Government — But retires abashed and confounded — He dies of a broken heart — Mahmed-reza-qhan is disgraced — An old decrepit man appointed in his stead — The author passes to the affairs of Decan — Manner by which the English have found their way in most parts of India — Dark and severe hints against Mahmed-reza-qhan — Some account of Yengbi Dunia, Alias America, and of the new Englanders — The French join the Americans — Project of Governor Hushtin's — Colonel Godard appointed, much against his will, to serve under Colonel Lesley — M.
25.1.2
Elliot, a man of merit, appointed Ambassador at the Court of Nagpoor — Dies in the way — Death of Sadr-el-hac-qhan, Supreme Criminal Judge of Bengal, and some account of him — Aaly-hibrahim-qhan declines that office — His reasons for that refusal — Djan Bristow obtains for the English the sovereignty of the Province of Banaress — A coalition between the Governor and M. Francis — Mahmed-reza-qhan in office again for the third time — Death of Mirza-iredj-qhan, and also of Ahtiram-ed-dowlah — Flagitious conduct of the servants of the English at Azim-abad — The Members of the Council of Azim-abad, accused of enormous infidelities, are all dismissed — Hyahram appointed to the management of the finances of Azim-abad — His character, with an affecting little story, that does him a deal of honor — Lesley suffers a loss for having lo engaged his army in a tract that had no water — He dies suddenly, and is succeeded by Colonel Godard — The latter cuts his way through all Hindostan, and is going to effect a junction with the army from Bombay;
25.1.3
but the latter is defeated — He retires to Surat — The Council of Bengal refuses to ratify the treaty made by the vanquished army — The English acquire in Gadjrat a potent ally — The Radja of Gohud becomes their ally also — The Marhattas join together to make an end of the English — Some account of Haider-naic — He fights the English with advantage, after a variety of success — Sets up a cavalry of Persians and other foreigners which he disciplines after a new method — Provides a numerous artillery well served, and a numerous infantry, well disciplined, after the European manner — Gives the law to the Marhattas with whom he projects to attack the English — He invades the Carnatic, and bears down every thing to the very gate of Mendradj (Madrast) — He beats the English — And pushes them to the very gates of Mendradj — Colonel Godard takes Bessi (Bassain) — Governor Hushtin exerts himself in supporting Mendradj which is going to fall — Opinion of the English on the interference of the Deity in the affairs of this world — The English of Mendradj beaten again — General Monro beaten again — Distracted state of the Council of Bengal — The important fortress of Gvaliar taken by the English — Cheyt-sing, Zemindar of Banaras, being expelled, retires to Scindiah's camp — Governor Hushtin sends by land another army to succour Mendradj — Haughty answer of the Court of Catec — The author quits his subject to give an account of Mubarec-ed-dowlah — His thoughtless character — Some account of Bahbu-begum, his mother — And of Menni-begum, his step-mother — And of Mahmed-reza-qhan's private life and family — Some account of the English East India Company, and of their servants, civil and military — The author commences a critical examination of the English system of Government.
25.1.4
As the three new comers were linked and knit together, they formed a compact body, which being invested with both the King's and the Company's authority, carried a mighty weight, especially when they set up an inquiry into the conduct and principles of the Governor Hushtin, a man against whom they seemed to have formed a confederacy. General Clavering was a man of distinction in that country, and a King's servant; Colonel Monson expected to have the command-in-chief of all the troops, whenever the General should succeed to the chair of Governor; and Mr. Francis aimed at the next rank after the General's. As these three men acted in concert, they bore a mighty sway, made an immense noise, and caused a great disturbance. It was observed, that in receiving visits, they constantly refused the nuzurs presented them in compliance with a custom peculiar to India, and that they returned untouched, even presents of fruits. Their method in their inquiries was to attach to their interests, people whom they found in opposition to the Governor, or who had some discontent against his person. Amongst these Nand-comar cut a conspicuous figure. He had been this longwhile out of office, and lived neglected and forgotten, so early as the times of Governor Vansittart and Lord Clive; nor had Governor Hushtin taken greater notice of him. This man went to General Clavering, and to the others of his party, by whom he was received with honor and regard;
25.1.5
and it was by his management, that numbers of covetous, ambitious men, fond of trouble and dissensions, joined the three Members, on the prospect of being put in office; and they commenced informers in the enquiry set up about the Governor's administration and secrets. Such a conduct having produced a rent and disunion amongst the five Members that composed that Council, the mutual aversion was carried so far, that the partisans of either side became as animated as their principals, and soon extended their principles and animosity throughout the whole kingdom. The fury of both parties rose to such a pitch, that a duel ensued between the General and Mr. Barwell, who fought together with pistols, as is the custom of that nation. One of the two parties consisted of Mr. Barwell, which last continued to have but one mind and one heart with the Governor; whilst, on the other hand, the General was closely linked with the two others. But as these last always agreed in opinion, and stood as three to two, the General's party prevailed almost every day, and almost every public business came to be transacted by his dictate. It was in consequence of this prevalence of the General's that an Englishman, named Goran (Goring), was made Chief of Moorshood-abad, as was Mr. Sage of Azim-abad' and Mr. Fouck of Banares, as well as Mr. Bristow of Aood and Lucknow. These were promoted on the General's recommendation;
25.1.6
and it was by the same dictate that Mubarec-ed-dowlah, who with his mother, Babboo-begum, had fared so hard under Menny-begum's rod, was now emancipated on Mr. Goran's advice, who acted totally under the General's nod. That Prince was left at liberty to dispose of the affairs of the Nizamet, that is, of his own household. It was in the year 1189. Thus these two persons got out of Menny-begum's grasp, and out of the reach of her eunuch, Aitbar-aaly-qhan. But what did they gain by the eunuch's being turned out of his office? Menny-begum continued to sway every thing. For as she had a great deal of money, a great deal of authority, and a great deal of genius; and Mubarec-ed-dowlah, who was used to her sway, expected one day to become heir to her vast wealth, she would sometimes frighten him into compliance, by threatening to squander her riches amongst the poor, or to leave them to strangers and Frenghees (Europeans). In fact Mubarec-ed-dowlah's turn of mind, and his particular temper are such, that neither his resentment is an object of fear, nor his good will an object worth seeking; nor does he himself seem to have a turn for the affairs of this world, so as that people should become anxious about his opinion. Every one, therefore, in his household does as he likes; nor is he inclined to meddle with any one's doings. Let him have his personal pension, and he cares not for the rest. For these reasons Menny-begum's sway is not likely to be at an end yet;
25.1.7
and the affairs of the Nizamet, (and this word signifies now no more than his private household) are in a state of perpetual fluctuation. It was in this same year 1189 that Mir-mahmed-hossein-fazyl, a man of great subtility of mind and great extent of knowledge, took a journey to the country of England in company with Mr. Elliott, an Englishman of much goodness of heart, much uprightness, and great liberality of principles. His intention was to acquire knowledge, to see the world, and to inquire into those discoveries which the learned of those parts had made in the science of astronomy, in the choice of simple medicines, and the art of compound ones; in the qualities of plants, and the functions of heavenly bodies. In these studies he spent his time in his sojourn, which was a short one ; but in which he found means to acquire a variety of knowledge in some arts, especially in that of translating books relative to those sciences, in dissecting bodies, and in such like acquisitions. On his being returned to Moorshood-abad, in the year 1192, he gave the principal men of that city notice of the acquisitions he had brought with him ; but found no favour with a set of Grandees who did not value the opportunity. Nor did any one of them think of setting apart a small sum for this business, which would have published their generosity to the world, insured to his character a lasting life with posterity, and handed down their names to the recording page of history.
25.1.8
Instead of that, all that store of knowledge has remained shut up from the world for ever. But there is no assistance, and no success but from God Almighty.