CHEPAUK-PALAGE. 383 
placed on a chair to his left ; General Wemys next to me ; his 
eldest son sat next to Lord William ; the English gentlemen were 
in a circle on chairs. Several natives very handsomely dressed 
stood behind his Highness; but some of his relatives had chairs. 
Gaptain Grant of the body-guard acted as interpreter, and for that 
purpose stood behind Lord William and the Nawaub. After a short 
conversation with his Lordship, he turned to me, and inquired, how 
the King did ; in answer to which being informed how long I had 
left England, no more questions of that sort were asked ; but in- 
quiries were made how I did, where I had been, and where I was 
going ; to all which I gave proper answers. After a short pause, he 
addressed the General, and learning that he had lately quitted 
England, he was favoured with the string of inquiries dictated by 
etiquette, which were originally intended for me, viz. How the 
King did ; how the Prince of Wales did ; how the Queen did ; 
and how all the rest of the Royal family did. Each being distinctly 
answered, a kind of general conversation took place. I praised the 
elegance of the room, in which we were seated : he replied, that he 
was indebted to the English for that, and his other comforts, instead 
of being in prison. An eunuch brought in his second son, an infant 
in arms, whom he wished to show to us ; but the little animal, not 
the least sensible of the honour, squalled so violently, that they 
were obliged to take him away. He said that it was usual to pre- 
sent dresses on these occasions, and that he hoped we would do 
him the honour of accepting them, to which we bowed assent. 
They were not presented in trays at the durbar, but sent to our 
habitations. On finding it was probable I should soon reach Eng- 
land, he requested me to deliver a numerous string of compliments 
