rking, "that under the emperors of
Delhi such latitude of speech, in reference to the sovereign, would
inevitably have cost the offender his head, or at least have ensured his
spending the remainder of his life in disgrace and exile at Mekka." On
the dignified bearing and self-possession of our youthful sovereign, the
Khan enlarges in the strain of eulogy which might be expected from one
to whom the sight of the ensigns of sovereignty borne by a female hand
was in itself an almost inconceivable novelty, declaring, that "the
justice and virtues of her Majesty have obliterated the name of
Nushirvan from the face of the earth!" But the remarks of the
simple-minded Parsees on the same subject will be found, from their
honest sincerity, we suspect, more germane to the matter--"We saw in an
instant that she was fitted by nature for, and intended to be, a queen;
we saw a native nobility about her, which induced us to believe that she
could, though meek and amiable, be firm and decisive; ... that no man or
set of men would be permitted by her to dictate a line of conduct; and
that, knowing and feeling that she lived in the hearts and affections of
her people, she would endeavour to temper justice with mercy; and we
thought that if no unforeseen event (which God forbid) arose to dim the
lustre of her reign, that the period of her sway in Britain would be
quoted as the golden age."

After this introduction, the Khan appears to have become an occasional
attendant in the gallery of the House of Commons, and was present at a
debate on the admission of foreign corn, in which Lord Stanley, Sir
Robert Peel, and Lord John Russell took part--"These three being the
most eloquent of the speakers, and the chiefs of their respective
parties, though several other members spoke at great length either for
or against the motion, according as each was attached to one or other
of the great factions which divide the House of Commons, and hold the
destinies of the people in their hands." Of the speeches of these three
leaders, and the arguments adduced by them, he accordingly attempts to
give an abstract; though as his information must have been derived, we
imagine, principally through the medium of an interpreter, this first
essay at Parliamentary reporting is not particularly successful; and if
we are to conclude, from his constant use of the phrase _zemindars_ to
denote the landed interest, that he considered the estates of the
English proprietor