REGEXCY OF THE QUEEN-MOTHER. 359 exerted himself to restore order, and after a time his efforts were attended with success. The government in the meantime assumed the form of an oligarchy. Every member of the council issued orders as he thought proper, and each aspired to fill the post of prime minister so soon as the Shah should arrive at the capital. But the president of the council was the queen- mother, who, under very difficult circumstances, showed herself to be possessed of judgment and of ability qualities not often to be met with in Oriental ladies. There were two principal parties at this time in Persia : one of these was called the Azerbaeejan party, the other was that of the Asef-ed-Dowleh. The queen-mother was readily persuaded that it would be impolitic to ex- clude the members of the latter from all participation in power, and her Highness accordingly invited its chiefs to attend the council, and to take part in the delibera- tions on public affairs. Her Highness received visits from the foreign missions, and while she thanked them in the name of her son for the support they had given to his cause, she expressed her readiness to be guided by their friendly advice. To the party of the Asef-ed- Dowleh belonged one of the most influential noblemen of Persia, Meerza Agha Khan. He had formerly filled the post of Minister of War, but at the instigation of Haji Meerza Aghassi he had been banished from Tehran, after having been beaten and fined. He now made his appear- ance at one of the gates of the city, and requested the English charge d'affaires to procure him permission to enter it. The queen-mother was glad to welcome back the banished man, and his reception by the people as he passed through the bazars on his way to the palace,
