'The History of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. By Colonel Sir John Malcolm, KCB, KLS Late minister plenipotentiary to the court of Persia from the supreme government of India. In two volumes.' [‎79] (104/786)

THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
79
originated more in irresolution and indecision, than from a spirit of chap.xvii.
hostility : but it undoubtedly furnished a fair and justifiable pretext
for Nadir's advance. Regarding the other motives which induced
him to undertake this enterprise, we can conjecture none but an insa
tiable desire of plunder, a wish to exercise that military spirit he had
kindled in the Persians, or the ambitious view of annexing the vast
dominions of the Sovereign of Dehli to the Crown of Persia. But
if he ever cherished this latter project, he must have been led, by a
near view of the condition of the empire of India, to reject it as
wholly impracticable. We are, however, compelled to respect the
greatness of that mind, which could resolve, at the very moment of
its achievement, upon the entire abandonment of so great a con
quest : for he did not even try to establish a personal interest at the
Court of Dehli, except through the operation of those sentiments,
which his generous conduct in replacing him upon his throne might
make upon the mind of Mahomed Shah *.
# Nadir, it is true, did not wholly abstain from adding to his possessions; but the
provinces he reclaimed had before belonged to Persia. In a treaty concluded with
Mahomed Shah, that monarch ceded the countries beyond the Indus, which was made
the boundary between the two empires. The following translation of the document by
which Mahomed Shah made this cession, has been preserved by a cotemporary writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. .
It is an extraordinary paper, and was no doubt dictated by the conqueror.
« Formerly, the ministers of his high majesty (who is exalted like Saturn, fierce as
« Mars, impetuous as the god of war, king of the kings of the earth, prince of the
« princes of the age, the shadow of God and refuge of Islam, in pomp like Alexander,
« the heavens his court, the sultan who is merciful, and the emperor who is august,
« N^dir Shah, may God perpetuate his reign,) had sent ambassadors to this court, to
« treat of certain affairs, which I intended to comply with : afterwards Mahomed Khan
« Turkoman arrived from Candahar, to remind me thereof; but my ministers and agents