LUCKNOW. 
137 
formerly an active, and intriguing courtier. Lieutenant Colonel 
Marshall and several of his officers were of the party. 
The breakfast partook of every country ; tea, coffee, ices, jellies, 
sweetmeats, French pies, and other made dishes, both hot and cold. 
The Nawaub himself laughed, and said that his French cook had pro- 
vided rather a dinner than a breakfast. The service was English, with 
a profusion of fine cut-glass basons. After breakfast I gavea hint that 
I wished to depart, when the presents were produced, consisting of 
twenty trays of shawls, muslins, gold stuffs, kc. and one tray of 
jewels. At the door were an elephant, with a silver houdah, a 
horse with its caparisons, and a state palanquin of cloth of gold. On 
my declining to accept them, he remonstrated strongly, saying, that 
he knew very well I might accept them if I pleased, being totally 
independent of the India Company, and not bound by their regula- 
tions. I admitted the fact, but observed that I considered the pre- 
sents oflPered on such a public occasion, not as a free gift, but a kind of 
tribute required from a man of his rank, when visited by a person in 
my situation. I consequently persevered in my refusal, only taking a 
pair of shawls, when I declared I considered the compliment as 
equally paid. Presents were also offered to Colonel Scott and Mr 
Salt, who acted in the same manner. 
His Excellency much amused me by the account he gave of the 
manner in which my arrival was announced to him, by the mes- 
senger whom he placed purposely on the road : " Lord Saheb ka 
bhanja. Company ki nawasa teshrif laia ; " literally translated, " the 
Lord (Wellesley) sister's son, and the grandson of Mrs. Company 
is arrived." These titles originated from a belief of the natives that 
the India Company is an old woman, and that the Governors- 
