Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c55.s4.5

v4.c55.s4.5

Three years later the gifted Swiss engineer Major Polier, during a long residence in Delhi, noticed the same thing: “Great fondness of flattery and too unreserved confidence in his ministers, . . . together with an inordinate love of women and a strong propensity to ease and indolence, form the less shining parts of Shah Alam’s character. . . The king has a numerous family, above 500 women and nearly 70 children, male and female, besides grand-children.” In 1804, when Lord Wellesley took over the charge of the Emperor from Sindhiā’s hands, he had to make provision for 45 children, male and female, of Shah Alam II then surviving, besides grand children.*