Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-12-11
WHOLE NUMBER 102.

Persia from foreign invasion, Shah 4
Tahmasp was restored to his throne, Hilh I
the powerful Nadir as general of bis ar
mics. But the ambition Of the robber
could never rest satisfied with the posi-
ton Of a subject. In seventeen hundred
and thirty-two he dethroned the Shah,
and in seventeen hundred and thirty-Six
be was proclaimed sovereign OF Persia
by a vast assemblage of chiefs on the
plains of Mogan, near the shores of the
Caspian.
This extraordinary man was rude and
illiterate, but possessed magical iniiu-
ence over the soldiers, and an intutive in
stinct which seemed to point out to him the
exact moment for action. He was six
feet high, with round shoulders, and large
expressive eyes fixed under broad ex-
panse of fore head. His voice was thun-
dering, and terrible battle-axe his favor
ite weapon.
/ Having defeated the Turks, and put
down every attempt At revolt against the
restless tribes of the mountains of Per-
sia, Nadir Shah turned an eye of long
ing cupidity on the rich but now almost
powerless Indian empire Of the Great
Mogul.
The empire of the Moguls IN India
which had been founded by the brave and
learned Baber, most charming of eutobi-
ographers, had risen to the hight OF its
splendCr during the reign of Aurungsebe,
who died in seventeen hundred and sew
en-, and at the time Of Nadir's rise was
sunk to the lowest ebb Of degrsdation.-
Mohammed Shah, the reigning Great
Mogul, passed his time in sensual plea
sures in the palace Of Delhi, while the
Manraua tribes plundered his southern
frontier, and the Sikhs and Rohillas as,
sumed virtual independence in the nortl
and west. One Of the great omras, o.
lords, who enjoyed the title Of Nizam-ool
Nook (regulator Of the state) governed
the important province OF the Deccan
while Devran Khan, the chief adviser
f of the Mogul, exposed his pusillanimou'
f weakness by bribing the Mahrattas witt
large sums to desist from their incursions
: The rich and splendid city of Delhi
the center of all this pitiable weakness
, was founded by the Mogul Shah Jehan
: in sixteen hundred and thirty one, on tn
t west side Of the river Jumna, in tn
midst of fertile plain. The palace
r surrounded by wall thirty feet high, q
! reddish stone, is built along the banks Q
: the river, with gardens planted with O.
: ange groves and apricot trees surround
1 ing it. The Dewan-i-khass, or hall c
audience, was the chief pride Of the pa
5 ace, and an inscription proclaimed 8
e there be an elysium on earth, it is this
;. this Is il !" In its palmy days it contain
= ed the famous throne which stood on 81
e legs of massy gold, set with rubies, emei
= aids. and diamonds, while golden pes
: cocks covered with precious stones an
d pearls formed its canopy. The collin
e of this superb hall consisted Of satin car
opies, and the walls were hung with ill
en- tapestries, embroidered with gold
7 Here the Great Mogul, surrounded b
omras in gorgeous dresses, gave audiel
As ces to governors and ambassadors. 9
le these state occasions he was atiiFed
'r white satin covered with gold embroil
ID cry, a turban Of cloth Of gold surmoun
d ed by the figure Of a heron whose fe
b. were covered with large diamonds, and
Is collar Of enormous pearls.
Or The other chambers Of the palace we
lp no less magnificent, aud the vaults We
n, filed with countless treasure. +
houses of the rich and luxurious Omr
IL beautified the two principal streets
D. the city, but the houses Of the poor
lg classes we're mean, and thalched vi
straw.
a. Il can be no matter for wonder ii
ea these vast treasures we're coveted by
a. victorious Nadir, and that the Great u
a. gul and bis eifeminate Court should ha
ie' been suddenly startled, in the midst
ed their pleasures, by the news tina. II
ID sian army was on the frontier.
u The deteEtion Of an ambassador Ga
ad q pretexf for invasion. Having eapi'
en- ed Caudahar, Eadir invested the city
ne Cabul, which brayeiy defended by eli
" named Sheriff. Khan. But bis appli'
eh tons for aid were neglected BY the Co
* Of Delhi, and, after months siege {
buI was taken by Storm, 10 June, ssF'
IN teen hundred and thirty eight. The y
ms, sian army shea advanced through
IN narrow mountainous passes between I
tA- bal and Pesiawur, and Aadir succeed
in bribing the sgafiike Afghan tribes