Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c42.12

v3.c42.12

The nāzir's political sagacity was shown by the fact that within a month his protege the new Regent was bombarding his master's palace. On 7th October, Ghulām Qādir from the east bank opened fire on Delhi fort. At first Salimgarh suffered from the cannonade, and finally on 30th October twelve large balls fell inside the palace, killing a child in the courtyard of the Diwān-i-ām. [DC.] The Emperor wrote frantic appeals for help to every side, but the nāzir frightened him into countermanding his order to Mahadji Sindhia to come to Delhi. Hence, Sindhia’s envoy Ambāji Inglé had to return baffled from his audience (14th Nov.) The *nāzir* at the same time conveyed to Ghulām Qādir his sovereign’s pardon for the outrage on the palace. A month after this rebuff to Sindhia, his power in the north suffered an utter collapse when Ismail Beg drove him beyond the Chambal (20 Dec.) and the jungle of the Delhi monarchy was left masterless for the unfettered play of the rival ambitions of the local Muslim nobles.