Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/554

 520 lUSTtJltY 01' INDIA. [liooK HI.

AD. 1725. at Delhi, and successfully thwarted the designs of Jafficr Khan, who, unahle to obtain the government for his favourite, did all he coi]y delivering to him on his death-Led the key of all liis treasures and valuables, and appointing him by will both his public and his private successor.

shujahKimn Immediately on the death of Jaffier Khan, in 1725, Shujah Khan and his

Nabob of son, who appear previously to have kept each other in the dark a-s t^> their real intentions, came to an understanding. The foi-mer accordingly took quiet pos- session of the government ; and the latter consented to wait till the succession, now assumed to be hereditary, should open tfj him by course of nature. At the time when Shujah Khan thus seated himself on the mu.snud of Bengal, he was and had long been deputy-governor of Orissa. Shortly after he had fixed his residence at Cuttack, the capital of this government, a person named Mirza Mahomed, related to him by marriage, arrived with his two son.s, and were all admitted into his service. The two sons — the elder named Haji Ahmed — the younger Mirza Mahomed Ali, but better known by the name of Ali Verdy Khan — were men of talent and education, and made them.selves so useful to Shujah Khan, that they obtained a complete ascendency over him. As a matter of course they accompanied him to Bengal, and became influential members of his government. Serferaz Khan, in implement of the agreement made with his father, became Dewan of Bengal ; but all the real power centred in a council consisting of the above two brothers, and two Hindoo.s — the one, Roy Alum Chund, who, under the name of comptroller of the household, perfonned all the duties pertaining to the office of dewan, while Serferaz Khan only nominally held it — and the other the imperial banker, Juggut Seat.

His wise For a time the mildness and equity of Shujah Khan's government contrasted

favourably with the severity and injustice which had too often characterized the measiu-es of Jaffier Khan. All his council were men of talents, and without having recourse to the oppressive exactions of his predecessor, the revenues were .so well managed, that he was able even to increase the customary sum sent to Delhi. He thus stood high in favour at that court, and not only obtained, with many honourable titles, a confirmation of the government of Bengal and Orissa, but a re-annexation of the province of Behar, which had been dissevered fi'om it. This apparent increase of power ultimately proved the ruin of his family. The government of Behar fell vacant, and the nabob committed the fatal mis- take of conferring it on Ali Verd}^ Khan. This crafty and talented favourite

Trea-sonaiik procccded forthwith to Patna, the capital, and at the very outset assumed

ilusigns of. . ^

.ii Verily almost Tcgal state, being accompanied by an escort of 5000 troops. The troubled state of the country was the pretext ; but there cannot be a doubt that at this early peiiod he was meditating the designs which he afterward carried into execution. Shortly after his aiTival at Patna, he took a body of Afghans into his service. These, far superior in native courage and discipHne to the ordinary Indian troops, put him in possession of a power which could hardly fail to give

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