THE AMEER'S ADMINISTRATION. 371 in which Hercules found the Augean stables into that in which he left them. But it is not to be supposed that the Ameer alone could have permanently changed the characteristics of a whole nation, or could have overcome the combined influences of climate, of custom, and of religion. He might have effected much during his own lifetime ; but it is highly improbable that another man could have been found to carry on the Shah's government on the enlightened principles adopted by the Ameer ; and, there- fore, Persia would in any case have sunk into the apathetic condition of all the surviving Mahomedan States which are not influenced from without. The Ameer's system of government was that which experience has proved to be the most beneficial for an Oriental nation an enlightened despotism. He made no pretence of wishing to educate the people, or of con- sulting their inclinations. He professed to endeavour to secure their material well-being, and to restrain their evil propensities. But the Minister aimed at far more than this; and had his measures been permanently effected, their adoption would have indicated nothing less than a radical change in Persian morality and Persian manners. The first idea which the word Persia suggests in the mind of a scholar is the flowery and overloaded style which for two thousand years has cha- racterized the compositions of the poets and historians of the land of the fire -worshippers. The Ameer-i-Nizam resolved to suppress the meaningless and disgusting phraseology which is suited only to slaves and parasites, and he published a decree forbidding the use in petitions and official documents addressed to himself of more than 24 a
