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poffible, and destroy Gholam Khadur; for, fays he, Khadur wishes me to act Contrary to my wishes, and oppofe you. On the difcovery of this piece of treachery, Gholam Khadur marched out with his Moghuls, croffed the Jumna, and encamped on the other fide oppo. fite the fort of Delhi. He fent to the King the intercepted letter, and afked him, if his conduct did not deferve to be punished by the lofs of his Throne Shortly I fhall beftow on you the due rewards for your villainy.' The English had about 2000 troops at Anouphahur, a town about 70 miles from Delhi, the refidence of the King, Gholam Khadur naturally expected, that if he attempted any thing against the King, our troops would move to his affifiance, as we were his allies; and the King, on the hoftile appearance of Gholam Khadur, had written to Lord Cornwallis to beg affiftance, Awed, in a great degree, by the fe fufpicions, he kept aloof for fome time, and had fpies in our camp to inform him if they had any intentions of moving to the fuccour of the King. The fpies informed him, that from the appearance of things, and from what they could learn, they believed the troops had not the fmalleft thoughts of marching. Gholam Khadur, fill doubting their intelligence, began to fire powder only at the citadel, from across the river, in order to afcertain with certainty whether the English would affist the King. After a few days firing, he perceived that the troops had really no thoughts of moving, as Lord Cornwallis, with his ufual good fenfe and humanity, had informed the King, and the Nawab Vazeer (the latter having likewife requested help for the Monarch), that he could not poffibly give affiftance. Khadur, thus rid of his fears, began to befiege the fort in earnell, and carried it in a few days. He entered the palace in arms, flew to the King's chamber, infulted the old man in the moft barbarous manner, knocked him down, kneeled down on his breaft, and with his knife took

out one of his eyes. He ordered a fervant of the King's to take out the other; the man refufed, faying, that he could not poffibly think of hurting the perfon by whom he had been fed and cloathed; on his refufal, Gholam* Khadur ordered the faithful fervant's head to be ftruck off: the order was inftantly obeyed. He ordered ano ther to perform the horrid operation: that fellow, affrighted by the fate of his predeceffor, and fear for his life, did as he was bid. Thus a poor old man of feventy! a Monarch whofe infirmities were the refult of old age, fell beneath the hand of a Nero! And why? Becaufe the English Government did not attempt to fave him, and maintain their cha racter for humanity by affifting the helpless and unfortunate. If the troops at Anoupfhahur had only put on the appearance of moving to the King's affitance, it would have faved his eyes, his perfon from infult, his kingdom, and even the perfons of his daughters and wives from the luft and barbarity of a brute, an ungrateful brute, and his horrid gang!-What must be the feelings of a generous mind to hear of fuch acts of cruelty!

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Gholam Khadur after this gave up the palace to pillage, and went to the King's Zannana (the refidence of his women) and infulted the ladies; tore their jewels from their nofes and ears, and off their arms and legs. As he had lived with the King, he was well acquainted with the different places where the King's treasures were hid: he dug up the floor of the King's own bed-room, and found there two chests, containing in fpecie 120,000 gold mohurs, or 192,000l. Sterling; this he took, and vaft fums more. To get at the hidden jewels of the women, he practifed one of the deepeit fchemes of villainy that ever was thought of. He ordered, the third day after thefe horrid cruelties, that all the King's ladies and daughters fhould come and pay their refpects to him, and promifed to fet

those

thofe free who could please him by their appearance and refs. The in nocen, unthinking women, brought our their jewels, and adorned them felves in their rich, ft attires to please this favage. Gholam Khadur order. ed them to be conveyed into a hall, where he had prepared, common dreffes for them; thefe dreffes he made the women put on, by the affifta ce of Eunuchs, and took poffeffion of their rich dreffes and jewels, and fent them home to the palice, to lament their loss, and curfe his treachery. Gholam Khadur did not even ftop here, but nfulted the Princes, by making them dance and fing, and for their compl ance rewarded them with a fe ftrokes with his flipper. The Muffulmen hold dancing and finging in a high degree of contempt, much more fo than the ancient Romans : they confider a dancer or finger as the dregs of fociety. Then what muft have been the feelings of thefe Princes! what muit they have fuffered, to see themselves infulted and maltreated by a man whofe life their father had fave? Is it poffible that human beings can be fo wicked? The most beautiful of the King's daughters, Mobaruck ul Moulk, was brought to this tyrant to grati'y his luft. Like a fecond Sex us. he wifhed to footh her into a compliance to his with: t failed the refifted, and fwre the would refift to the latt drop of her blood. He attempted to practise force; fhe, pushed to defpair, like a Lucretia, drew out a hidden knife, and stabbed herself. Here was virtue in the fuperlative degree" more than man in the shape of a woman!" Oh, that she had first plunged it in the bofom of the brute!

Scindia foon after th's came to the affiftance of the King, rather to make him his prey.-Gholam Khadur fled, and took refuge in the fort of Agra, a large city about 150 miles from Delhi. Scindia's troops befi-ged him there. Perceiving at last that he muft Rr. Vol. XIV. No. 82,

be taken if he continued in the fort hook the advantage of a dark night, ftuff d his fa idle with a large flock of precious ftones, took a few fillowers, and fled from the fort towards Perfia Unlu k ly for him, he ell off his hore the fecond night after his flight; by this means a party horse, which had been fent in purfuit of him, came up with him, and t ok : him prifoner: his horfe and the precious faddle have not be n heard of Gholam Khadur was brought to Scindia, who, after exposing him fo: fome time in irons, and one time in a cage puifhed him in the manner he deferve his ears, his nofe, his hands and his feet were cut off. and his eyes taken out, and he was allowed to x pire in that ftate very proper re ward for his cru ky and villainy!

The King has now nothing but a name: Scindia, under pretence of guarding, has taken n s kingdom from him, and allows him 250 rupees, or 251. per day, and 200 fervants. Ts is he dwindled! I arrived at De hi about a month after chi tragic fcene! Tragic it is of he first magnitude. The nigh the Grecks fet Troy in flames could not have been more dreadful to behold; not even the fcenes of horror and bloodied which enfued when Rome was given up to the cruelty of Syla and his gang! While I have been here I have made it my principal object to get every information I could, and fuch as was to be relied on, and received the above aċcount from men who were fpectators of most of the acts, and wer obliged to ftand n uter. The Nawab of Lucknow's Ambaff dor, Lo ufalli Khan, has been my chief fource: he is a very intelligent man, an Abyffinian by birth, and was an eye-w tuefs to noft of the tranfictions, although he had orders not to interfere, because the Eglish Government would n't. Surely it could not have coft Lord Cornwalls much to have given im fome help. If the troops had only put on

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the appearance of moving, the bloody villain Gholam Khadur would have Aed. He was quite amazed at his good fortune, and thought the Heavens had confpired to affift him.

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When I rode through the streets of Delhi on my entry with fome other Europeans, the people called out in their language, "Now the Europeans, are come to fuccour our unfortunate Monarch! You had better go back, Gentlemen; we will not give you thanks for what you can do now. Although you are very wife and very good, yet you cannot replace the King's eyes you cannot wipe off the infult he and his family have receiv ed." A fevere reflection! I could hardly refrain from tears when I pictured to my mind the King's firuation: although he deserved to be punifhed for his treachery, yet there ought to be great allowance made for his age. His conduct marked a wifh to fave his tiches, and not to expose his p rfon. This is merely the effect of age. He was actuated by avarice, the most defpicable of all human failings; he might also have imagined that Khadur had a fcheme to betray him.

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I wished to go and fee him, but huddered at the idea. What could I fee? A poor and unfortunate old man, once a fovereign of a large kingdom, bending beneath his load of years -his face a horrid fpectacle! fockets mangled to tear out his eyes! fursounded by a train of young men in rags, once Princes! filent, with the ftrongest marks of grief in their countenances! What heart could ftand fuch a fight!

The following is a translation of a Perfian Ode which Shaw Allum pronounced from the throne after the lofs of his eyes. The tranflation has nothing to boast of, but that I have adhered rigidly to the original-you may think too much fo. The Ode has loft much of its pathetic fire and its eloquence paling through my pen; but tranf

lations, like tranfplanted plants, almoft always degenerate: there may be a few inftances to the contrary, yet it is a univerfal complaint. The Ode feems to have been spoken by one whofe ideas flowed beyond his powers of expreffing them.-It feems to be highly incoherent; yet there is to be feen a truly pathetic and noble fpirit in it, which required great command of language to exprefs clearly. It is rather pompous in fome parts, but that, you know, is always thecafe in all eastern productions.

TRANSLATION OF AN ODE,

Spoken by SHAW ALLUM, KING
DELHI, after the lofs of his EYES.

A TEMPEST of misfortunes has rifen to overwhelm me-it has feattered my throne in the air.-I was once the light of Kings, but have now, alas! loft my luftre. Fate has robbed me of my eyes-Well! it has delivered me from the painful neceflity of beholding another enjoy, my crown. The condition of the Holy Brothers, when they were perfecuted by Yazud, is fimilar to mine-misfortunes were allotted me at my birth. My riches were my evil; but, thanks to the Almighty, they are vanished. A young Ufghan has overturned my regality. Who have I to affift me but God? I committed a crime-its punishment L now feek The Almighty I truft will pardon me. A dependant of many years has ruined me he has fpeedily received his dues. I have been amaffing for thefe fifty years food for my children-this has been wrefted from me, and I am left a beggar. Moghols and Ufghans have betrayed me

Quickly they ftepped out to my rain-they fwore to be faithful-how rigidly have they adhered to their oaths! I fed a young ferpent, and it has been anxious to fuck my blood. 1 had beautiful angels-they are all taken away from me except Mobaruck

Mabuh

Mahul. I confider the English and Affufoud Dowla as my warm friends -If they had affitted me, it would not have been doing too much. Madajee Scindia is the comfort and darling of my heart-he is ready to punish the injuries done me. Go! car ry an account of my fufferings to the

Nawab Vazeer, Timur Shaw wishes to be related to me-he mav fucceed if he will undertake to remove my illa. It is grievous that neither prince, peer, nor beggar will lament my fate. I am now funk in the abyss of darkness, but hope to rife illuminated through the afkitance of Providence..

Some Account of John Wilfon, Author of the Synopfis of British Plants in Mr Ray's Method.

JOH

OHN WILSON, the first who attempted a fyftematic arrange. ment of the indigenous plants of Great Britain in the English language, was born in Longfleddal, near Kendal, in Westmoreland, fome time in the year 1696. He was by trade a thoemaker, and may be ranked amongst the few who, in every age, diftinguith themselves from the mafs of mankind by their fcientific and literary accomplishments without the advant ges of a liberal education. The fuccefs of his first calling does not appear to have been great, as perhaps he never followed it in a higher capacity than that of a journeyman. However this may be, he exchanged it, for the more lucrative employment of a baker, foon enough to afford his family the common conveniencies of life; the profits of his new bafinefs fupporting him in circumstances which, though not affluent, were far fuperior to the abject poverty he is is faid to have experienced by the author of the Britifh Topography. This writer, amongst other mistakes undoubtedly occafioned by falfe information, has recorded an anecdote of him, which is the fabrication of one of those inventive geniufes who are more partial to a good tale than attentive to the truth. He acquaints us, that Wilson was fo intent on the pursuit of his favourite ftudy, as once to be tempted to fell a eow, the fupport of his houfe, in or

der to procure the means of purchaf ing Morrifon's voluminous work; and that this ab'urd defign would have certainly been put in exec tion, had not a neighbouring lady prefented him with the book, and by her generofity refcued the infatuated botanist from voluntary ruin. The story is ftriking, bat wanis authenticity; and is abfofutely contradicted by authority that cannot be difputed. At the ume when Wilfon ftudied botany, thế knowledge of fyftem was not to be obtained from English books; and Ray's botanical writings, of whofe method te was a perfect master, were all in Latin. This circumstance makes it evident, that he acquired an acquaintance with the language of his author, capable of giving him a comé plete idea of the fubj.&t. The means by which he arrived at his proficiency are not known at prefent; and th ugl fuch an attempt, made by an illiterate man, may appear to be attended with infuperable difficulties to thofe who have enjoyed a regular education, yet the experiment has been frequent ly made. and has been almost as frequently fuccefsful. No one ought to be furprised with the apparent im poffibilities that perfeverance constantly vanquishes, when properly ftimulated by the love of knowledge. The powers of industry are not to be determined by fpeculation; they are feen and understood by their effects?

it is this talent alone that forms the bafis of geus and diftin uifhes a man of abilities from the rest of hiskind It was no cafy undertaking to ac quire the reputat on of an expert and accurat, botani before Linnæus's admirab e methodo difer minating fpesv th fcience fo effential an prov ment.

gering hours of fickness with frequent
excurfions in the more favourable parts
of the year, as oft as his health would
permit; and, under the proffure of an
unpropitious diforder, explored the
marthes, and even the hills, of his
native country, being often accom
"panied by fuch of his intimates as
were partial to botany, or defirous of
beholding thofe uncommon scenes of
Nature that can only be enjoyed in
mountainous' countries.

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The fubject of the prefent effay Overcame the difficulties infopa able from the enterprize, and merited the character from his intimate acquaint-The fingularity of his converfation arc with the ve, ctable productions of the North of England. But there is good reafon to believe that he was not entirely felf taught; for, under the article Gentiana, he accide tally mentions his intercourse on the fubject with Mr Fitz Roberts who for merly refided in the neighbourhood of Kendal, and was known to Pettiver and Ray his name occurs in the Sy nopfis of the latter gentleman. The numerous places of gr wth, of the rarer plants, adoed by Wilfon to thofe found in former catalogues, fhew how diligently he cultivated the practical part of botany.

It will appear a matter of furpife, to fuch as are ignorant of his manner of life, how a mechanic could fpare a very large portion of time from engagemen's which ought to engrofs the attention of men in low circumftances, for the fle purpofe of devoting it to the curious but unproductive researches of a naturalift. On this account it is proper to remark, that the bufinefs of a baker was principally managed by his wife, and that a long indifpofit on rendered him unfit for a sedentary employment. He was afflicted with a fevere asthma tor many years, which, while it prevented him from purluing bis trade as a fhoemaker, encouraged the cultivation of his favourite fcience, and he attended to it with all the ar dour a fick man can experience. Fresh air and moderate exercife were the beft palliatives of his cruel difcafe :thus he was tempted to amufe the line

contributed not a little to the gratification of his curiofity; for he was a diligent obferver of manners and opinions, and delivered his fentiments with unreferved freedom. His difcourfe abounded with remarks, which were generally pertinent, and frequently original: many of his sententious expreffions are ftill remembered by his neighbours and cotemporaries. One of these deferves recording, as it fhews that his knowledge of botany was not confined to the na tive productions of England. Being once in the county of Durham; he was introduced to a perfon who took much pleasure in the cultivation of rare plants. This man, judging of his abilities by his appearance, and perhaps expecting to increafe his own reputation by an eafy victory over one he had heard commended fo much, challenged him to a trial of skill; and, in the course of it, treated his ftranger with a degree of difrefpect that provoked his refentment, and prompted him to give an instance of his Yuperiority. Accordingly, after nam ing molt of the rarities contained in the garden, and referring to authors where they are defcribed, he, in his turn, plucked a wild herb, growing in a neglected fpor, and prefented it to his opponent, who endeavoured to get clear of the difficulty by pronouncing it a weed: but Wilfon immediately replied, A weed is a term of Art, not a production of Nature: adding, that the explanation proved his antagonist

the

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