LUCKNOW. 
173 
Soon after his father's death, Saadut Ali quitted Lucknow, in con- 
sequence of his brother Asof-ud-Dowlah having suspected him of 
some connection with a person, Khoj a Bassunt, who was said to 
have made an attempt upon his hfe, and who was immediatly cut to 
pieces in the Nawaub's presence, no proof being ever brought 
against Saadut AH. His flight cannot justly be considered as such, for 
in an Asiatic court, the next heir may always consider a suspicion 
against him as equal to a sentence of death. The Bengal Govern- 
ment certainly believed him innocent, for they not only gave him 
protection, but at length procured for him a pension of forty 
thousand pounds from his brother. To his long residence amongst the 
English, may be traced many of his Highness's present pursuits, and 
his fondness for every thing European. His chief gratification 
seems to be building palaces of an architecture that resembles 
Grecian, but as he never employs an architect, the faults are numer- 
ous. In the portico at Baroun there is, however, something magnifi- 
cent and surprising, as the design of an Asiatic Prince. His Highnesa 
has, I think, carried his European predilection too far in abandoning 
the forms of an Asiatic court, and living with Europeans as an 
equal. Colonel Scott would have regularly attended his durbar, 
to have given him consequence with his subjects; but this he de- 
clined, and requested that all business might be transacted by their 
breakfasting with each other. The lowest European gentleman 
seems to consider himself as on an equality with his Highness, and 
does not always treat him with that respect, which is his due. 
Latterly he seems to have felt this, and has contrived an ingenious 
plan to place every European at Lucknow in dependence on him. 
From the long period that a close connection has existed between 
