Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-09-17
Fallen Greatness.

C
no more striking illustration of the vicssitudes of human
fortunes can be found than presented in the following
extract from Of Mr. Russes letters to the London
Times:
And now, said my friend, let US go and see the
old King, if you care about it." Oddly enough was
that moment reminded of another invitation, which
received, to the old King under very differ
ent circumstances. One fine day, passing down Nor
thumberland street. Strand my attention called by
what was entitled to be considered crowd in that Sc
questered locality assembled in front of house near
the end of the street the rghthand side going to-
wards the river. The crowd was composed of a boy
with pot of beer, rabbit man, youth with tray
of fish from neighborirg Hungerford, barreLorgan
man en- retrade portion of brass band, several little
boys and girls, and cabman connected with the
fore the door. The servantgirl, in a state of
considerable e1ctemen, stood in the passage,
and just l joined the assemblage, she assured
US " He'll be down in a mint They're a-movin
upsteers." " What sit? Who is he ?" quoth I. why
sir it's the King of France or summat of the Sort as
is Wistn here replied the rabbit man and at the
moment the maid quite frantic, flung open the hall door
wide, exclaiming, Now you'll see the King Now
you'll see him. He's the first of em-the old gent with
tne u5rear" And certainly there did appear on the
steps, feeble and sad, the well known form of Louis
Philippe King of the French who got into the cab
and drove off amid cheers from all the crowd except the
barrel organ men and revolutionary members of
the brass band. The last time had seen him he was
indeed King and the cheers Of $4,000 men in arms as
they passed in review before him seemed guarantees of
his reign. Two Of my travelling companions, whom |
found awaiting my arrival at Delhi Brgader Stisted
and Captain Alison had already gone to visit the last Of
the Great Mogus to whose presence they were admit
ted by order from the Commissioner to the guard
1t was formerly and indeed, not than year ago.
necessary to go through many forms before His Majesty
the King of the World degned to grant an interview
to stranger, who only honored by permission to
be admitted to the presence on petition being address
ed for that purpose by the Resident to the Kings Of
fcer of State We drove out of the court and turn
ed into a long paralelogram, surrounded by mean
houses in various stages of ruin Nearly all of them
were shut up and deserted. The lower stories of
others were open and used magazines of corn and
shops for the encouragement of slcky traffic with the
few miserable men and women who found shelter within
the walls of the palace. few of the older-I cannot
say Of the more venerabe-buildngs in such con-
dtion that clap OF thunder near at hand would endan
ger their existence. None Of them exceed two stories
in height they all provided with decaying veran-
dahs and roting lattice work the court is only partial
paved and the stones in places have been removed to
repair the decayng houses. At one end of the court
there fine tower surmounted by the cupolas of which
have already spoken. In the apartments which were
formerly occupied by officers of the household are now
lodged some of our officers who do not find them very
comfortable quarters. Centres Of the Ghoorka Rifles
or of Her MaestyS 6lst Regiment duty in every
court Within the walls of this palace there was pop
5000 of the blood royal and descendants of Tim
Ourlung These latter, Of course too proud to do
anything which would not be done by their European
brethren but they to have lost all military spirit
and to have sunk into state of abect debasement and
of poverty unredeemed by sereSpect by usefulness
The King seldom stirred out of late years. or went be-
yond the palace wall but inside their precincts he was
subjected to constant annoyance from his rel
atives-the Great Mogul divers always asking
tor more. It may be imagined how this wicked lazy
| III.
courts when there came upon them vision of plunder
conquest aghlres grants, treasures znanashow they
yelled for blood and shouted, Kill kill !" They were
IL state OF such poverty that of these royal fam
lilies were in want of their meals and their numbers had
increased far beyond the provision made for them.
We turned out of this court, near the tower by
breach made in the wall of houses and passing the
bricks came to large garden in state OF utter neglec
and overrun with weeds in which a crazy kiosl
and tOttering Out-houses Offices Several Of the
soldiers of the Sumoori Bah duty Others loung
ing about their piled arms, stationed close to h
breach in the wall at the foot of rude stone staircase
II Is feet in height which led from the garde1
to the top of Of the houses of the court enclosed
space of the palace through which we had Just passed.
The staircase intended to form communication be
the of the house and the garden and ascend
ing it we found ourselves in very small open court
the top, which formed by the fiat roof of the house
and which light have been designed for another story
nasmuch as the side walls were still standing. TW(
at tn top of the stairs and several native servants
in attendance inside.
In dingy, dark passage leading from the open cour
or terrace in which stood to darker beyond
there sat- crouched his launches dimnutive atten
uated old man. dressed in an ordinary and rather dirt
muslin tunc his small lean feet bare his head covered
by small thin cambria skull cap The moment of ou
visit was not propitious certainly it not calculates
to invest the descendant of Tmour the Tartar with an
Fictitious interest to throw halo of romance aroun
the inrm creature who the symbol of extinguishe
empire In fact, the exking was sick; with bent bod
he seemed nearly PROSTATE brass basn into whic
he was retching violently. So for the time we turne
our backs on the doorway and looked around the sma
court, which not more than thirty feet square.
one corner, stretched on charpoy, lay young
slight figure and small stature who sat up at the soun
OF voices and salaamed respectfully He was dress
ed in fine white muslin and had gay yellow and blue sill
sash around his waist his head BARE exhibiting tn
curious from the forehead to the top of the head
usual among many classes n the East his ace oval
we'll shaped, disfgured by very coarse mouth ant
skin but his eyes quick and not very peasan
in expression. BY the side of his charpoy stood fou
white tunicked and turbanned attendants with fode
arms watching every motion of the young gentlema
with obsequious anxiety. One of them said He
sick" and the Commissioner gave directions that h
should lie down again, and so, with another salaan
j Jumma Bukht-for it was that scion Of the House 0
Delhi in whose presence we stood-threw himself on hi
back with sigh and turning his head towards u.s. drey
up the chudder sheet of bis bed to his face if
relieve himself from presence. At the head of hi
bed there was heavylookng, thickset lad Of 13
years of age, who was we were told the latest torn
the house-by no means " a sweet young prince an
whose claims to the blood royal the Commissioner
sdered more or less than doubtful considering the az
of the exkng and the character horne by the partcu
lar lady who had presented the monarch with pedg
so late in his life but am bound to add that, at
events he has his fathers nose and his lips k
: those of Jumma Bukht
The uualms of the King at last abated. and we Wer