590 Asiatic Society. [Nov. 



their protector and friend Fatteh Ali Sha'h. His Majesty dislikes to 

 hear of any British travellers penetrating into Khorasan, and he sel- 

 dom fails to use his best endeavours to make them adorn a tale, in 

 stead of telling one. 



His Majesty is the most accomplished liar in the kingdom, (in Per- 

 sia, lying is considered one of the " most fashionable accomplishments. "J 

 Whoever doubts the authenticity of this assertion, had better close my 

 pages, and consult those travellers of the last, as well as the present, 

 century; he then can judge for himself. For gain, a Persian will 

 commit the most heinous crime under heaven, and falsehoods flow 

 spontaneously from his lips, even when no apparent motives exist. In 

 speaking of the Persian character, it will be found to be the natural 

 result of the circumstances in which he is placed. A Persian is more 

 apt to defend himself by cunning than courage, and is so dependent 

 on the help of others, that he knows not when to trust to himself : he 

 calls on " Khuda," when he ought to exert himself, and sheds tears 

 when he should show spirit. He makes splendid professions when he 

 knows his sincerity will not be tried, and is at once mean and ostenta- 

 tious. In a word, his character is made up of selfishness, avarice, 

 treachery, deceit, and cruelty. Lord Heytesbury once asked me to 

 tell him their real character. My reply was this, " They surround you 

 like the flies with the sunshine, to disappear when you are under a 

 cloud. It is impossible to avoid their buzzing ; but God help the man 

 that does not know how to appreciate the value of their lip-deep 

 friendship." 



(To be continued.) 



VII. — Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 

 Wednesday Evening, the ?>d December, 1834. 



W. H. Macnaghten, Esq. Vice-President, in the chair. 



Sir John Peter Grant, Kt., and William Grant, Esq. proposed at the 

 last Meeting, were balloted for, and duly elected Members of the Society. 



Read a letter from Henry Ashton, Esq. President of the Athenaeum 

 at Liverpool, acknowledging the receipt of the 2nd part of the 18th volume 

 of the Asiatic Researches. 



Library. 



The Secretary apprized the Meeting of the arrival of the paintings, &c. 

 presented to the Museum at the last Meeting, by Captain R. Home ; he 

 also laid the minutes of the Committee of Papers, regarding the necessary 

 preparations requisite for their reception, which were confirmed. 



The extensive library also presented by Captain Home, consisting of 300 

 volumes, principally of valuable works on architecture and painting, wet* 

 laid out for inspection on the table. 



