148 



forms a striking contrast to most Asiatic sovereigns. During a reign 

 of more than forty-nine years this great prince made the welfare 

 and happiness of his extensive empire the supreme object of his 

 concern ; and, assisted by his excellent vizier, Abul Fazel, and 

 his Hindoo minister, Bheer Bhul, he established such wise institu- 

 tions, as have seldom been surpassed in the civil or military depart- 

 ments of the most enlightened sovereigns. Whoever peruses the 

 Ayeen Akbery, or " the Institutes of the emperor Akber," must 

 be pleased with the wisdom and humanity which regulated the 

 conduct both of the monarch and his minister, and pervaded the 

 whole system of jurisprudence. The former died at Agra, at the 

 age of sixty-three, in the year 1605 ; the latter was murdered on 

 returning from the Deccan, three years before, by some banditti, 

 to the inexpressible sorrow of his royal master : of Bheer Bhul's 

 fate I am ignorant. 



The piety and humility of Abul Fazel shine conspicuously 

 in his preface to the Ayeen Akbery, which thus commences: 



" In the name of the most merciful god? 



u O Lord! all thy mysteries are impenetrable. 



" Unknown are thy beginning, and thy end. 



" In thee both beginning and end are lost! 



" The name of both are lost in the mansions of thy eternity ! 



S{ It is sufficient that I offer up my thanksgiving, and meditate 

 " in astonishment. 



" My ecstasy is sufficient knowledge of Thee !" 



Abul Fazel's character of Akber, with which his sublime preface 

 concludes, is grateful, just and beautiful. 



