The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-12-04


pledged himself to grant. The Grand
Vizier was obsequious in his manner,
knowing how polite it was to secure the
good graces of rising favorite, and
even ventured to hint at future SO bril-
liant and dazzling that Gabriel's brain
went dizzy at the prospect. Left to his
own meditations the surgeon pondered
deeply over his position. He was young,
he was good-looking, he was ambitious.
Here was a father whose heart was full
of the most extravaganza and reverential
thankfulness toward him; here was a
daughter equally grateful, and even
more favorably disposed toward him
than her father. What was to prevent
him from asking her hand, and becom-
ing the most powerful and influential
parsonage at the court of the Great Mo-
gul? To Western ideas such an inspira-
ton might seem too audacious and ro-
mantle to be entertained for moment !;
but in the East there We're plenty of
precedents for such reward granted
for services of great value. Why should
he not make this bold bid for position
and fortune?
The day appointed for the State audi
ence with the Great Mogul arrived.
Seated on his splendid throne, the high
heron plumes clasped with diamonds
adding majesty to his face, his dress one
blaze of brilliants, by his side, unveiled,
the beautiful Padshah Begun, around
him his magnificent retinue of mobiles
scarcely less gorgeously clad than HIM
self, Shah Jehan prepared to receive the
man who had done him a service which,
as he gazed lovingly at the sweet face
beside him, it seemed that the whole of
his imperial treasury was hardly rich
enough to repay. The Englishman
bowed low as he came into the presence
of the Emperor. Then Shah Jehan
beckoned him to come nearer, took him
by the hand and, looking significantly
at the Padshah Begun, made him name
his reward. There was breathless 81
lence as the young Englishman opened
his lips. And what was the price he
claimed for his services? He asked for
no private emoIument; he sought no
selfish advancement; he simply solicited
that his countrymen, the trades of the
East India Company, might have liberty
to trade free of all duties in Bengal and
establish factories in that province!
What the Padshah Begun thought of
all this unromantic request, or whether
she had ever dreamed of any such 70
mantle termination to the episode, as
the Grand Vizier had vaguely limited at,
history does not say. But Shah Jehan
himself was profoundly impressed with
the magnanimity and unselfishness of
the English surgeon, and gave his solemn
word that the most ample privileges and
opportunities for trading should be
granted to the English merchants.
Bronghton had thought the matter
out patiently and carefully, and had de-
cided that the position of favorite and
of the Great Mogul, though
dazzling, was precarious; that he should
simply surround himself with unscrupu-
lous enemies, who would, sooner or
later, effect his murder or his disgrace;
and that even those who were his
friends at first would come to regard
him as an upstart and an alien, usurp-
ing the riches and power that should be-
long to one of themselves. 1t would be
wiser touse his great influence over the
Mogul to promote the interests of the
Company, whose servant he was, and
look to the Company for a reward,
which, though less splendid and roman
tic, would be safer and more enduring.
So he dismissed the fanciful dreams
which for moment had filled his brain,
Ind chose the humber and more pru-
dent course.
But Shah Jehan would not hear of
Gabriel Broughton's going empty-hand-
ed away. He invited him to take up
lis abode at the palace as chief court
physician; and this invitation Gabriel
hought it advisable to accept, because
lis presence at the Imperial Court
would give him excellent opportunities
or pushing the interests of the Com
,any, besides enabling him to lay the
of private fortune. Sever
u other successful cures following close
!pon that of the Padshah Begun estab-
ished Gabriel Broughton's reputation
md spread his fame far and wide. His
was extraordinary, mainly,
perhaps, because, as he never meddled
With political matters, foreign or do
nestle, no one was jealous of him. How
ong he remained at the court of Shah
chan is uncertain; but he at any rate
lid not leave until he had seen the Mo-
ul's promises most amply fulfilled, and
he Company reaping the fruits of these
beral concessions. The richest PROV
nee of India was thrown open to the
,nglish traders, free of all duties and
ayments whatsoever, and from the
ranting of that extraordinary privilege ..
ne East India Company dated it's first
reat stride toward the wealth and pow
r which eventually made it the arbiter
the destinies of India. Historians are ]
ften apt to overlook the small causes l
ON which great events spring. And
lost of the historians of India have
holly ignored the claim of Gabriel
oughton to be considered one of the
ne founders of the British Empire in
ldia. A less philosophical or far
GIFTED man would have used his i'm |
tense influence over Shah Jehan for :
is own selfish ACKNOWLEDGMENT. tits to :
he undying honor of Gabriel Boughton !. =
lat he did otherwise, and thereby raised :
le East India Company from a strug- .
ing body of coast traders into the
chest corporation of merchants in the
II L