Page:Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma.djvu/202

 view between the pageant emperor and the representative of the paramount power. Like other fallen potentates, the Mughal stood upon his dignity; and twelve years before, when Lord Hastings passed his way, there was much bootless effort to consult his susceptibilities without compromising the Governor-General. Either his Majesty had learned wisdom in the interval, or Sir Charles Metcalfe was singularly adroit. The meeting with Lord Amherst passed off most pleasantly. The king, whom Lord Amherst describes as 'a venerable man leaning on a stick,' said to Lord Amherst: 'As you are my friend, as you are my protector, as you are my master, I ask you to sit down.' And so Lord Amherst sat down, being (his wife proudly records) 'the only person except the heir-apparent who has ever sat in the king's presence.' Many more princes came to the Darbár, and on March 23, we read:

'All our gentlemen went to the Palace to present their Nuzzas (tribute). Edward presented fourteen gold pieces, the rest £5 each, which the king took himself. They received some trumpery dresses in return, only fit for chimney sweeps; so much pride and ostentation combined with so much meanness, dirt, and poverty is incredible. How is the race of Timúr sunk!'

It is indeed a striking description of the fallen monarchs still inhabiting their decaying palaces. The gardens are neglected, groves of orange trees are in full bloom, the air strongly scented with perfume, but everything untidy and forlorn. There is still