VOL. 3.] Biographical Portraits.—Vizier Ally. 33 his fancy, to invite her to the Palace to elegant, but rather lascivious dances and lie-in; and several women of this de- motions, and sung some soft airs of the scription were delivered there, and among country,chiefly Persic and Hindoo-Persic. the number was the mother of Vizier Ally. Several children, so delivered, were brought up and educated in the Palace. "About seven o'clock, the bridegroom, Vizier Ally, the young Nabob, made his appearance, so absurdly loaded with jewels, that he could scarcely stagger under the precious weight. The bridegroom was about thirteen years of age, the bride ten; they were both of a dark complexion, and not handsome. The sprightlinesss of Vizier Ally, while yet an infant, so entirely engrossed the affections of the old Nabob, that he determined to adopt him. In conformity with this resolution, the youth received "From the shumeeana we proceeded an education suitable to a Prince who on elephants to an extensive and beautiwas destined to succeed to the musnud. ful garden about a mile distant. The He is said, however, to have developed procession was grand beyond concepat this period a propensity to delight in the sufferings of the brute creation. The affection of the old Nabob towards his adopted son still increasing, he lavished upon him every mark of regard. At thirteen his marriage took place. To give an idea of the splendour which attached to his youth, and from which he subsequently fell, the following account of his nuptials is extracted from Forbes's Oriental Memoirs : "The wedding of Vizier Ally was celebrated at Lucknow, in 1795, and was one of the most magnificent in modern times. tion; it consisted of about 1200 elephants richly caparisoned, drawn up in a regular line, like a regiment of soldiers. About a hundred elephants in the centre, had houdahs or castles, covered with silver; in the midst of these appeared the Nabob, mounted on an uncommonly large elephant. within a houdah covered with gold, richly set with precious stones, The elephant was caparisoned with cloth of gold. On his right hand was Mr. George Johnstone, the British resident at the Court of Lucknow ; on his left the young bridegroom: the English gentlemen and ladies and the native no"The Nabob had his tents pitched on bility were intermixed on the right and the plains, near the city of Lucknow; left. On both sides of the road, from the among the number were two remarkably tent to the garden, were raised artificial large, made of strong cotton cloth, lined scenery of bamboo-work, very high, rewith the finest English broadcloth, cut in presenting bastions, arches, minarets, and stripes of different colours, with cords of towers, covered with lights in glass lamps, silk and cotton. These two tents cost which made a grand display. On each five lacks of rupees, or above 50,000l. side of the procession, in front of the line sterling; they were each 120 feet long, of elephants, were dancing girls superbly 60 broad, and the poles about 60 feet dressed (on platforms supported and high the walls of the tents were ten feet carried by bearers), who danced as we high; part of which were cut into latticework, for the women of the Nabob's seraglio, and those of the principal Nobili ty to see through. His Highness was covered with jewels, to the amount, at least, of two millions sterling. From "The ground from the tent to the garthence we removed to the shumeeana, den, forming the road on which we movwhich was illuminated by 200 elegant ed, was inlaid with fire-works; at every girandoles, from Europe, as many glass step of the elephants, the earth burst beshades with wax candles, and several fore us, and threw up artificial stars in the hundred flambeaux; the glare and re- heavens, to emulate those created by the flection was dazzling and offensive to the hand of Providence; besides innumerasight. When seated under this exten- ble rockets, and many hundred wooden sive canopy, above a hundred dancing- shells that burst in the air, and shot forth girls, richly dressed, went through their a thousand fiery serpents; these, wind F ATH EN EUM. Vol. 3. went along. These platforms consisted of a hundred on each side of the procession, all covered with gold and silver cloths, with two girls and two musicians at each platform. 34 Biographical Portraits.-Vizier Ally. [VOL. X ing through the atmosphere, illuminated and Sadut Ally, the brother of the late the sky, and, aided by the light of the Nabob, was placed on it. A pension bamboo scenery, turned a dark night into was assigned to Vizier Ally of two lacks a bright day. The procession moved on of rupees per annum, about 25,000l.; very slowly, to give time for the fire- but it was considered necessary that he works inlaid in the ground to go off. The should reside near the Presidency, that whole of this grand scene was further he might be more under the eye of Govlighted by above 3000 flambeaux, car- ernment. He, in consequence, proceedried by men hired for the occasion. In ed from Lucknow to Benares, where this manner we moved on in stately Mr. Cherry, the Company's Resident, pomp to the garden, which, though only was to make arrangements for his proa mile off, we took two hours to reach. ceeding to the Presidency. Shortly afWhen we arrived at the garden-gate, we ter his arrival at Benares, Mr. Cherry indescended from the elephants, and enter- vited him to breakfast. He came attended the garden, illuminated by innumera- ed by a large armed retinue. It had ble, transparent paper lamps or lanterns, been previously intimated to Mr. Cherry of various colours, suspended to the that his appearance was hostile, and that branches of the trees. In the centre of he ought to be on his guard; but he disthe garden, was a large edifice, to which regarded the caution. Vizier Ally comwe ascended, and were introduced into plained much of the Company's treata grand saloon, adorned with girandoles ment of him; and, in fine, at a signal and pendant lustres of English manufac- made by him, several of his attendants ture, lighted with wax candles. Here rushed in and cut Mr. Cherry and his aswe had an elegant and sumptuous colla- sistant, Mr. Graham, to pieces. They tion of European and Indian dishes, with then went away in the intention of prowines, fruits, and sweetmeats; at the ceeding to the house of Mr. Davis, anosame time, about a hundred dancing-girls ther European gentleman, holding a high their sprightly airs, and performed situation under Government, with a view their native dances. of massacreing him also; but fortunately "Thus passed the time until dawn, he got some intimation of his danger bewhen we all returned to our respective fore they arrived, and got his family to homes, delighted and wonder-struck with the top of the house, and posted himself this enchanting scene, which surpassed in at the summit of a narrow circular stone splendour every entertainment of the staircase. Here the ruffians pursued kind beheld in this country. The affa- him, but with a hog-spear he defended ble Nabob rightly observed, with a little himself for a considerable length of time, Asiatic vanity, that such a spectacle was killing several of his assailants, which, in never before seen in India, and never a manner, blocked up the passage, till at would be seen again. The whole ex- length he was rescued by a party of the pence of this marriage-feast, which was Company's troops stationed at Benares, repeated for three successive nights in the which came to his assistance. The folsame manner, cost upwards of 300,000l. lowers of Vizier Ally killed another Eusterling." ropean private gentleman, residing at When Vizier Ally was recognised by Benares, exclusive of the two pubiic offiAsuf as his successor to the throne, great cers above-mentioned. Vizier Ally opposition was manifested by the old made his escape into the territory of Nabob's family. He was, however, on the Rajah of Berar, a powerful and indethe death of the latter, upheld by the pendent Chief, who refused to give him English Government, and placed on the up unless under a promise of his life bethrone. An adopted child, by the Mo- ing spared. This the English Governhamedan Law, is entitled to all the priv- ment considered it expedient to accede ileges of legitimate birth. Vizier Ally, to; and he was accordingly given up after being placed on the throne, shewed and brought down to Calcutta, and cona turbulent, restless, and intriguing tem- fined in the garrison of Fort William in a per, and broke his faith with the English kind of iron cage, and here died after an Government: the consequence of which imprisonment of 17 years and odd was, his being deposed from the musnud, months, as above-mentioned, The delicate Ganymede, or that sleeping boy For since that beauteous and all-lovely Fair Whom Dian kiss'd o' nights:-- But in my dream, I saw again the sky-born messenger--- power, And unimaginable beauty, clad In a vest of brightness (star-dropt)---arm'd with A spear (celestial temper) while around Blaz'd circling light---intense--and far beyond Those sheeted lightnings that, by night, cast out Hath from these arms by saddest fate been torn, Her dear rememb'rance is my only care, And for her sake alone I weep and mourn! But vain are tears by fondest friendship shed, Nor sighs or tears can animate the dead. From the Literary Gazette, Jan, 17, 1818. FRAGMENT. Their splendours o'er the line,---or the fierce! I have seen the crested plumes wave fires With which the heathen worshippers invest Olympian Jove.---Inclin'd, the vision spoke Cheering, and as it spoke, the air became Painfully sweet---such odours as the rose Wastes on the summer air, or such as rise From beds of hyacinths, or from jasmine flowers; Or when the blue-ey'd violet weeps upon Some sloping bank remote, while the young sun (Creeping within her sheltering bower of leaves) Dries up her tears, were nought---fantastical-- Breath'd by the 'witching dames of Italy... II. high, Have seen the haughty banner lift its head; And I have watch'd the glance from Beauty's Have shelter'd Innocence in ruthless hour, When the soft brow of Friendship 'gan to lour. And I have heard the foaming billows roar, And their rude waves have visited my bower, As tho' they sought to kiss the verdant shore Before the storm should burst with unrelenting power. And I have seen the death-bed of the brave, And heard the hero breathe his latest sigh; Have seen fair Beauty bending o'er the grave, Telling her sorrows to each passer-by: And I have mark'd her softly beaming eye, Whose sadness spoke no language of despair, Turn'd with exulting hope towards the sky, As though they saw her bleeding lover there, Crown'd with a laurel wreath whose verdure cannot die. Yes---scenes like these my youthful heart has known, When life was new, and Hope's fair star was bright; But gaiety's light wing has never flown blame. Sorrow has spread her sable pall for me, But I would hail the stroke that sets me free, That for an instant shine, to bid my sorrows The mottled lark, when opening morn ! [VOL. 3 Methinks I hear the moving song At evening, when the cloak of night Upon a spiral poplar high, The nightingale should raise His vesper tribute to the sky, And his Creator praise. But ever let the goddess Health, What dearer is than cankering wealth, A calm and quiet heart. Then Spring, enwrapp'd in bloom should rear, And on the fragrant banks appear Summer, in floating ringlets drest, Teeming with clusters of the vine, His head with tendrils bound, Nor shall the hoary Winter fail, His aged gifts to bring; E'en though his looks are lean and pale,- So let my life run gently on ; And not a monumental stone But the long grass unnotic'd wave, In mournful mood, and round my grave, And yet, oh let the silent tear, Affection's tribute, fall! May friendly hands support my bier, And from some tender virgin breast, At least one passion stood confest, [The following article, in the Edinburgh Annual No other theme to him was dear, Register just published, will he considered as a further Than lofty deeds of thine; disavowal on the part of Mr. Walter Scott of his being Hush'd be the strain thou can'st not hear, the Author of Waverly, &c.] DIRGE OF A HIGHLAND CHIEF. Executed after the Rebellion. A literary friend of ours received these verses, "Your sincere Admirer." Last of a mighty line! From the Gentleman's Magazine. 37 [Commonly called “ the Venetian Horses.”] S UNK is the sun of Greece--but midst the Some rays of glory linger round her tomb--- The individual to whom this obliging letter was addressed, having no claim to the honour which is there done him, does not possess the means of publishing the verses in the popular novel alluded to. But, that the public may sustain no loss, and that the inge- Nor less, Lysippus, into fancied speed, Dious author of Waverly may be aware of Kindling with ardour, springs each matchless the honour intended him, our correspondent has ventured to send the verses to our Regis ter. SON of the mighty and the free ! Lov'd leader of the faithful brave! Ob, had'st thou slumber'd with the slain, We then had mourn'd thee not! The watchword of despair! Last of a mighty line! O'er thy own bowers the sunshine falls, Are sleeping on thy tomb. On thy blue hills no bugle sound Thou lead'st the chase no more. Thy bard his pealing harp has broke, steed. Yes,mighty Sculptor! though around thy grave |