Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.16.3

25.16.3

but these are not such a sort of men as can expose their own requests, or represent what may conduce to the welfare and ease of the subjects ; still less are they capable to point out such regulations as might conduce to the prosperity of the land, and of its inhabitants. And on the other hand, "not one of the English Gentlemen shews any inclination or any relish for the company of the Gentlemen of this country, or from listening to the conversation, or to the stories of the natives; although nothing but conversation, is likely to put it in the power of some virtuous, well disposed man, to learn what aches these poor natives, and what might give them relief; and nothing but intercourse would enable him to transmit such useful hints to Government as might conduce to the welfare of the distressed inhabitants of this land." It is therfore with a view to promote so desirable an end, that we have attempted in the following sheets to shew how managed the ancient Sovereigns of this country, those Princes so renowned for the equity of their Government, and what object they had in view, whenever they set up such and such practice, and such and such custom; what advantage they intended by each of them, and what benefit they had in fact received. We shall point out likewise what their late successors intend by certain institutions and rules of their own, set up of late under pretence of putting the ancient ones in force;