nd made their complaint before the late king Muhammad
_Sh_ah, requesting that Mulla Muhammad-'Ali might be summoned to Tihran.
So the royal order went forth that he should appear.

Now when he came to Tihran they brought him before a conclave of the
doctors; but, so they relate, after many controversies and disputations
naught was effected with him in that assembly. The late king therefore
bestowed on him a staff and fifty tumans for his expenses, and gave him
permission to return.

At all events, this news being disseminated through all parts and regions
of Persia, and several proselytes arriving in Fars, the doctors perceived
that the matter had acquired importance, that the power to deal with it
had escaped from their hands, and that imprisonment, beating, tormenting,
and contumely were fruitless. So they signified to the governor of Fars,
Husayn _Kh_an, "If thou desirest the extinction of this fire, or seekest a
firm stopper for this rent and disruption, an immediate cure and decisive
remedy is to kill the Bab. And the Bab has assembled a great host and
meditates a rising."

So Husayn _Kh_an ordered 'Abdu'l-Hamid _Kh_an the high constable to attack
the house of the Bab's maternal uncle at midnight on all sides, and to
bring Him and all His followers handcuffed. But 'Abdu'l-Hamid _Kh_an and
his hosts found no one in the house save the Bab, His maternal uncle, and
Siyyid Kazim of Zanjan; and as it chanced that on that night the sickness
of the plague and the extreme heat of the weather had compelled Husayn
_Kh_an to flee, he released the Bab on condition of His quitting the city.

On the morning after that night the Bab with Siyyid Kazim of Zanjan set
out from _Sh_iraz for Isfahan. Before reaching Isfahan He wrote a letter
to the Mu'tamidu'd-Dawlih, the governor of the province, requesting a
lodging in some suitable place with the sanction of the government. The
governor appointed the mansion of the Imam-Jum'ih. There He abode forty
days; and one day, agreeably to the request of the Imam, He wrote without
reflection a commentary on [the Surih of] V'al-'Asr before the company.(7)
When this news reached the Mu'tamid he sought an interview with Him and
questioned Him concerning the "Special Mission." At that same interview an
answer proving the "Special Mission" was written.

The Mu'tamid then gave orders that all the doctors should assemble and
dispute with Him in one conclave, and that the discussion should be
fait