"حياة ومراسلات اللواء السير جون مالكوم، قائد فرسان وسام الطُهر، المبعوث السابق إلى بلاد فارس وحاكم بومباي؛ من رسائل ومذكرات غير منشورة. في مجلّدين. المجلد II." [‎٣‎٣] (٦٥٤/٥٠)

BEHAVIOUK OF ABBAS MEERZA.
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trot. His astonishment and delight were equal. Some of his
attendants followed. ' You will be tired,' said he, i for I am going
to Teheran with Malcolm.' After a short drive I turned round
and drove to the front of the troops, where he remounted, and
exercised them till dark; he then marched home. I could not but
remark that, at a narrow place on the road, he stopped half an
hour to let every file pass, rather than break the line—an excel
lent sign of the ideas he has had instilled into him. All the
object of his conversation during three hours I was with him was
to persuade me to remain. He urged everything it was possible;
but I was obliged to give him most cautious answers. Nothing
can be more embarrassing than my situation; but if I remain after
my functions have ceased, I become, of course, subject to the
orders of Sir Harford, who can, by word or letter, direct me to
quit whenever he chooses; and I certainly have not yet confidence
sufficient in his character to place myself in such a situation."
So earnest was the desire of the young Prince that
Malcolm should accompany him on his approaching
campaign, that a conditional assent to the request was
at last reluctantly yielded. Malcolm said that he
would accompany Abbas Meerza to the field, if Sir
Harford Jones, then the chief British authority in the
country, would request him in writing to do so. But
Sir Harford shrunk from the responsibility ; so the mea
sure was subsequently abandoned. It was arranged,
however, that two officers of Malcolm's suite. Captain
Christie and Lieutenant Lindsay, ardent and adven
turous spirits, who longed for a stirring life amidst the
strange scenes which surrounded them, should remain
with the Persian army.
The time for Malcolm's departure now drew near.
The 15th of July was fixed for his audience of leave.
The King sent him a horse and a sword, and he was met
at the entrance of the audience-tent with a firman, or
royal mandate appointing him a Khan and Sepahdar
(a nobleman and general) of the Persian Empire. With
VOL. II. D