We gave, some weeks since, portraits of the Sultan and his Vizier, and we now add the “counterpart presentment” of another important eastern potentate, the reigning sovereign of Persia, and his chief minister of state. Our engraving affords a faithful insight into the interior of the royal chamber of audience, where, surrounded by the aids and appliances of Asiatic life, the Shah Mahmoud gives ear to the high officers admitted to the royal presence.
With the word Persia is associated the memory of that early time when it was the seat of one of the most powerful Asiatic monarchies—a kingdom connecting Eastern with Western Asia. In the vicinity of its early rule were the great monarchies of Assyria and Babylon, and with Persia are connected the names of Alexander and Darius—the manly virtues which animated the followers of Cyrus, sapped by luxury and effeminacy, overthrown by the hardy, disciplined troops of Macedon, and a monarch
“deserted in his utmost need,
By those his former bounties fed.”
But it is not alone upon historical associations that Persia just now claims attention or excites interest. The importance of the English possessions in the East has, for a long time past, directed European attention to those countries lying between our Indian empire and the dominions of the Russians. Were this the place for such discussion, we might enter into explanations which would show that the timid and half-informed politicians who talk of the Northern Autocrat attacking our possessions in Hindostan are quite innocent of authentic information as to the difficulties of such an undertaking. To cross Persia, and the other intervening countries, competent military authority has shown that more than one or two campaigns would be necessary, and that, if crossed at all, it must be with a small army and without artillery. The army must be small, because Persia could not, however willing she might be, support a large one; and no efficient artillery could be taken on account of the badness, nay, the entire absence of available roads. Napoleon made friendly overtures to Persia, as Russia is supposed now to do, regarding it as the road to the eastern possessions of the English; but the late acute and avaricious Shah knew and appreciated the real condition of his country as adapted to the transit of troops. That vigilant prince was fully aware that no European could march through his dominions; and he gratified his avarice and kept his kingdom secure, by steadily refusing to improve its communications. “No, no, he replied to the solicitations of Abbas Meerza’s favourite and singularly dextrous agent; “we Persians can move as our fathers did; but the Infidels walk only in straight ways.” He made no roads.
Recent events invest Persia and her ruler with additional interest, particularly the expedition against Herat, a tributary city of the Shah, and the operations in Afghanistan. The Afghans, against whom our troops have been contending, and of whose country and appearance we have so recently given pictorial illustrations—these same Afghans in the last century desolated Persia, carrying fire and sword to her remotest extremities and reducing her cities to ashes. These wrongs were avenged by Nadir Shah, who under the name of Kouli Khan, carried the arms of Persia victoriously into India. His death, without any regular, successor led to a series of struggles, and the claims of various chiefs involved the country in a civil war almost as destructive as the inroads of the Afghans. One of Nadir’s lieutenants succeeded in securing the crown, and was followed by Aga Mahommed, an eunuch, who did much towards restoring the country and institutions.
The Persian monarchy is more deficient even than other Oriental states of all that belongs to a constitutional system. The sword alone reigns. Those strict laws for which she was anciently celebrated have been by successive revolutions entirely obliterated, and the present Shah Mahmoud, whose portrait we this week present to our readers, is a despotic monarch in the fullest sense. His will is law. The principle inculcated by the Koran, by which the Sovereign exercises a divine right over the lives and properties of his subjects, is fully recognised in Persia. The resources of Oriental exaggeration are exhausted in the lofty epithets by which the Shah is addressed. Amongst other titles he claims those of King of Kings, and Asylum of the Faith. Shah Mahmoud is in the prime of life, and, like all Persians, dextrous in the management of the horse, and expert in the use of weapons. He takes great pride in his army.
The Illustrated London News, London, England, Week Ending November 26, 1842
