in reducing my quantity gradually from twenty to five cups a day. At entertainments, I continued, however, to indulge in a cup or two more; and on most occasions I made it a rule never to commence my indulgence until about two hours before the close of day. But now that the affairs of the empire demand my utmost vigilance and attention, my potations do not commence until after the hour of evening prayer, my quantity never exceeding five cups on any occasion, neither would more than that quantity suit the state of my stomach. Once a day I take my regular meal, and once a day seems quite sufficient to assuage my appetite for wine; but as drink seems not less necessary than meat to the sustenance of man, it appears very difficult, if not impossible, for me to discontinue altogether the use of wine. Nevertheless, I bear in mind, and I trust in heaven, that, like my grandfather Homayun, who succeeded in divesting himself of the habit before he attained to the age of forty-five, I also may be supported in my resolution some time or other to abandon the pernicious practice altogether. In a point wherein God has pronounced his sure displeasure, let the creature exert himself ever so little towards amendment, and it may prove, in no small degree, the means of eternal salvation."

His Imperial Majesty, after confirming the greater part of his father's ministers and dignitaries in their offices, and increasing their stipends and commands, has the humanity to throw open the gates of the various prisons in his empire, and from the fortress of Gwalior alone liberated seven thousand individuals, some of whom had been confined for forty years. Some idea may be formed of the numbers of unfortunate sufferers thus set at large, when it is known that in Hindustan Proper there are two thousand four hundred fortresses of competent strength, without including those in Bengal, which are almost innumerable.

Jehanguir here gives a long description of the imperial city of Agrah, on the river Jumna, which he concludes by saying, that he does not know in the whole world, either in magnitude or the multitude of its inhabitants, any city to be compared to it. One of its ornaments was the garden of Gulafshan, which owed its origin to the Emperor Baber, and contained within it every thing that was rare and valuable, both in flowers and fruits. It is curious to remark of the latter, that in recounting the exotics introduced by his imperial ancestor, the author mentions the Ananas, or pine-apple, being among the most delicious of those reared in the island of the Frengnis (Portuguese), of which fruit this same garden has been known to have produced one hundred thousand in a season.

The account of the royal establishments is almost beyond belief of the most liberal credulity. Elephants, camels, and horses, and the enormous charges for their maintenance, exceed all calculation. Of the former noble animal alone, there were twelve thousand of a size and temper to be employed against the ranks of an enemy in the field of battle; a thousand of a smaller size to supply the larger with forage and grain, exclusive of one hundred thousand required to carry the covered litters for the ladies of the imperial family, imperial baggage, and camp equipage. We agree with the learned translator entirely in his supposition that the person who copied the manuscript has

probably been guilty of the apparent exaggeration in the number of the elephants, and in the enormous sum for their maintenance.

But, however raised in outward wealth and pomp above the lot of all contemporary sovereigns, Jehanguir could not boast of being more free than them from the alloy of domestic cares, sedition, tumult, and disaffection. We find that, even before Akber's death, Jehanguir's eldest son Khoosroo aspired to the throne of his grandfather, to the utter destruction of his own father. It is certain that the young prince was instigated to this disloyal and undutiful conduct by the great Rajpoot chieftain, Rajah Maun Singh. The first of that warlike and powerful tribe who became attached to the government of the Emperor Akber, was Bharamul, the grand father of this Rajah Maun Singh. To cement the fidelity and attachment of this chieftain, the Emperor caused the daughter of Bharamul to be espoused by his eldest son Jehanguir, and she became the mother of the Prince Khoosroo. Thus the Prince and Rajah Maun Singh being first cousins, it is natural to suppose that the latter would nourish the seeds of disaffection in the young Prince's breast, in the hope that his accession to the throne would realise his own ambitious views of aggrandisement; and although Jehanguir had forgotten all former offence, and raised his son and his ungrateful cousin Rajah Maun Singh to the highest offices and cominands in the state, we still find them in open rebellion at the end of six or seven months.

In distinguishing his different ministers and generals, and assigning them various grades, from the command of 500 to that of 5000, or more, he thus mentions his father-in-law, and the beautiful, witty, and highly-accomplished Noor Jehaun, his Sultana, or Begum :

"Ettemaud-ud-Doulah, it is almost superfluous to observe, is the father of my consort Noorjahaun Begum, and of Assof Khan, whom I have appointed my Lieutenant-general, with the rank of a commander of five thousand. On Noorjahaun, however, who is the superior of the four hundred inmates of my harem, I have conferred the rank of thirty thousand. In the whole empire there is scarcely a city in which this princess has not left some lofty structure, some spacious garden, as a splendid monument of her taste and munificence. As I had then no intention of marriage, she did not originally come into my family, but was betrothed, in the time of my father, to Sheer Afkunn; but when that chief was killed, I sent for the Kauzy, and contracted a regular marriage with her, assigning for her dowry the sum of eighty lacks of ashrefies of five methkals, which sum she requested as indispensable for the purchase of jewels, and I granted it without a murmur. I presented her, moreover, with a necklace of pearl, containing forty beads, each of which had cost me separately the sum of forty thousand rupees. At the period in which this is written, I may say that the whole concern of my household, whether gold or jewels, is under her sole and entire management. Of my unreserved confidence, indeed, this princess is in entire possession, and I may allege, without a fallacy, that the whole fortune of my empire has been consigned to the disposal of this highlyendowed family; the father being my Dewan, the son my Lieutenantgeneral, with unlimited powers, and the daughter the inseparable companion of all my cares.'

We think it right to mention what our royal narrator ordained upon

a subject that, judging from the numerous petitions already presented to both Houses of Parliament, seems to interest the good people of this country deeply :

"In the practice of being burnt on the funeral pyre of their husbands, as sometimes exhibited among the widows of the Hindûs, I had previously directed that no woman who was the mother of children. should be thus made a sacrifice, however willing to die; and I now farther ordained, that in no case was the practice to be permitted when compulsion was in the slightest degree employed, whatever might be the opinions of the people. In other respects, they were in no wise to be molested in the duties of their religion, nor exposed to oppression or violence in any manner whatever. For when I consider that the Almighty has constituted me the shadow of his beneficence on earth, and that his gracious providence is equally extended to all existence, it would but ill accord with the character thus bestowed, to contemplate for an instant the butchery of nearly a whole people; for of the population of Hindûstaun, it is notorious that five parts in six are composed of Hindûs, the adorers of images; and the whole concerns of trade and manufactures, weaving, and other industrious and lucrative pursuits, are entirely under the management of these classes. Were it, therefore, ever so much my desire to convert them to the true faith, it would be impossible, otherwise than through the excision of millions of men."

The latter part of the paragraph (from a despot) inculcates a good lesson on toleration in religious matters.

To gratify the wishes of the ungrateful Rajah Maun Singh, the King promoted his son Bhaon Singh to the rank of fifteen hundred horse, and observes, that he was the only surviving son, although Maun Singh "was known to have had by his fifteen hundred wives not less than two or three children each, all of whom died except this one." We should like to know whether paternal and conjugal affection keeps pace with this unnatural plurality of wives, and commensurate number of children!

In September 1610, the King bestowed the daughter of Mirza Rustam, with a marriage-portion of a sum equal to 90,000l. on his favourite son Parviz; and when the bride was brought into the palace, he presented her with a necklace of sixty pearls, each of which cost 10007. sterling; a ruby, valued at 25,0007.; and an assignment of 30,000l. per annum for her expenses.

As Jehanguir's ideas on the choice of efficient servants give satisfactory evidence of his attention to the affairs of his empire, and the wisdom of his measures, we quote the following passage at length :—

"Upon receiving a hint one day from the Ameir-al-Oomra, which concurred most exactly with the suggestions of my own mind, I established as a rule, that no one was to be entrusted with the transaction of any concern of my government until his qualifications were first tried by the touchstone of experience, in order to form something like an estimate how far in his hands it was likely to be brought to a favourable issue. A matter of importance can, indeed, never be expected to succeed in the hands of a blockhead; and to engage a man of ability in the transaction of a trifle, would be to let fly a hawk against a mos

quito. Without some considerations of this nature, the business of any state must soon fall into confusion; and the welfare and regularity of every government must always greatly depend upon the character of those who are retained about the person of the sovereign."

Jehanguir, who, unlike his father Akber, was a bigoted Mussulman, had, even before the publication of his journal, been suspected of having actuated the death of the great Abûl Fazl, the elegant historian of his father's reign, under the idea that his influence was the cause of Akber's ceasing to be a Muhammedan. The acknowledgment and motives assigned are too curious to allow of our omitting to lay them before our readers.

"I shall here record the elevation by me to the dignity of a commander of two thousand horse, of Sheikh Abdurrahman, the son of Abûl Fazzel, although the father was well known to me as a man of profligate principles; for, towards the close of my father's reign, availing himself of the influence which by some means or other he had acquired, he so wrought upon the mind of his master, as to instil into him the belief that the seal and asylum of prophecy, to whom the devotion of a thousand lives such as mine would be a sacrifice too inadequate to speak of, was no more to be thought of than as an Arab of singular eloquence, and that the sacred inspirations recorded in the Koran were nothing else but fabrications, invented by the ever-blessed Mohammed. Actuated by these reasons it was that I employed the man who killed Abûl Fazzel, and brought his head to me; and for this it was that I incurred my father's deep displeasure. Hence, also, it was, that I solemnly appealed to the Prophet's sacred name, and ventured to proclaim that, with his assistance, I should still make my way good to the throne of Hindustan. I am compelled to add, that, under the influence of his displeasure on this occasion, my father gave to my son Khossrou, over me, every advantage of rank and favour, explicitly declaring that after him Khossrou should be king. Sheikh Saadi has long since pronounced, God will dispose of him whom he has destined to take away, though the atheist may himself pretend to shroud the body.' In the end, the Almighty brought his purposes to a consummation. After the death of Abûl Fazzel, however, my father became impressed with other notions, and returning again a little into the right way, showed himself once more an orthodox believer."

By occasional remarks in this journal, the King seems to have acquired a knowledge of the virtues and vices that appertain to the different nations and tribes of which his army was composed. The great simplicity of character for which the Turks, or Tartars, are remarkable, he instances by saying, that Mirza Shah Bokh, Prince of Badakhshan, although he had lived in India for a period of twenty years, could never accomplish the enunciation of one word of Hindustani. Of the natives of Badakhshan he observes, that there does not exist a race of men more notorious for their disregard of truth, although by no means deficient in intellect. He makes an exception, however, in favour of Shah Bokh, who bore no resemblance whatever to his countrymen.

Of the Owzbeg cavalry, of which he had one hundred and fifty thousand in his army, he says, that however brave in battle, they are very easily prevailed upon to desert their employers.

We have a strong proof of the King's love of justice overcoming the strongest feelings of friendship and regard; his own words will best describe the conflict between public duty and private affection.

"I am now about to relate an occurrence which, from the struggle between private friendship and the sense of public duty, occasioned considerable pain to my mind. Mirza Nour, the son of Khaun-e-Au¬ zem, was brought before me on a charge of homicide. This young man had possessed an extraordinary share in my father's friendship, was as much beloved by him as if he had been his own child, and who made considerable sacrifices to gratify and indulge him. In these circumstances, I directed that he should be taken, together with his accusers, immediately before the Kauzy and Meir-e-Auddel (or minister of justice), who received my injunctions, according to what might be proved in evidence, to fulfil, with regard to him, the dictates of the law. In due time a report was laid before me from these officers of justice, declaring that Mirza Nour, the son of Khaun-e-Auzem, had been found guilty of the wilful murder of a man, and that, according to the law of Mohammed, blood alone was the compensation for blood.' Notwithstanding my extreme regard for the son, and the respect I bore for the father, I found it impossible to act in contravention to the ordinances of God, and I therefore, with whatever reluctance, consigned him to the hands of the executioner.

"For a month afterwards, however, I endured for his death the most consuming grief, deeply regretting the loss of one so young, and possessed of so many elegant and engaging qualifications. But, however repugnant, there cannot in these cases be any alternative; for should we omit to discharge ourselves of this our irksome duty, every aggrieved person would seize his opportunity of time and place to avenge himself in his adversary's blood. To bring, therefore, to prompt punishment the man who violates the laws of his country, is an alternative with which no person intrusted with the reins of power is authorized to dispense."

The character of Asof Khan is also drawn with a masterly pen.

"Like Khaun-e-Auzem, Assuf Khaun was also an excellent reciter of the Koran, an eloquent speaker, and without his equal in conviviality of disposition. In the whole court of my father there was not an Ameir more deservedly distinguished; and I myself continued to cherish for him the highest respect, of which I have given some proof in assigning to him the title of uncle. In truth, there are belonging to him such various accomplishments, both personal and intellectual, as can seldom fall to the lot of man. But there is one blemish clinging to his character sufficient to obliterate all his virtues; his hand is closed against the graces of liberality, than which there cannot be a deeper stain on the human character, more particularly in that of a man of his exalted rank; for the canker of avarice corrodes both here and hereafter. I have exerted all the powers of reflection to decide, but there is no quality of the mind more graceful than liberality."

Not being able to give large extracts of this interesting work, however worthy of notice many of them appear to us, we particularly recommend to the notice of those who may be induced to possess the work itself, the well-drawn character which the King gives of his immortal father Akber, both moral and physical.