588 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [November, 1908.] 
eee eS eee 
‘With the disappearance of the Sayyid nee the story 
attains a sort of dramatic completeness, and I decide to suspend 
at this point my contri itnatioits on the history of the Later 
original intention is beyond. my remaining strength. I planned on 
too large a scale, and it is ae likely now that I shall be able 
to do much more, The n of Bahadur Shah (1707—1712) is 
ready to be faired ous i os press ; and the first draft for the 
years ae to 1738 is written. I hope soon to undertake the 
narrative of 1739, including the invasion of Nadir Shah. It 
remains 10 be seen whether I shall be able to continue the story 
for the years which follow Nadir Shah’s departure. But I have 
read and translated and made notes for another twenty years 
ending about 1759 or 1760. The pic Papen work for the period 
1759—1803 has not been begun. In any c e I hope that my 
published studies on the period, although sarecisio. g only part of 
the ground, may prove of some use; that, at the least, they may 
relieve some more fortunate successor of much drudgery, of a 
ture re ae hones 2 9 arid, and repellent to many 
ard an Oxford historian phrases it, 
that some Gibbon ‘of ‘te figure. may throw me a word of thanks 
in a footnote. 
October 20, 1907. - | W. Irvine. 
