their death. Naseeh-ud-daula took the title of Mahomed Ali Shah, and reigned only five years. With his accession commenced a period of something like administrative reform.
Mahomed Ali Shah was evidently so much in earnest in his efforts for the improvement of his kingdom, that the British Government overlooked the glaring mismanagement still existing in parts of Oudh, and did not act on the permission to depose the reigning King, given by the new treaty. The King's intentions were good, and the character of the Court rose very much during his short and comparatively uneventful reign.
He was a sovereign of some ability and experience; and his steady habits and application to business rendered him a favourite with his subjects. He died, on the 16th May, 1842, and was buried in the Husainahad Imambara, which building was erected by him as a burial place for himself.
At his death he left, in the reserve treasury, thirty-five lacs of rupees, one hundred and twenty-four thousand gold mohurs, besides twenty-four lacs in Government securities—total seventy-eight lacs and eighty-four thousand rupees.
10—AMJUD ALI SHAH, 1842—1847.
Amjud Ali Shah,son of Mahomed Ali Shah, was the next King. His was an unimportant reign of five years. He constructed the metalled road to Cawnpur and built the Huzrutgunge, which, at the present time, is the principal business street in Lucknow, unequalled by any similar trading centre in the Indian mofussil It is quite possible in this centralized mart to procure every imaginable commodity as satisfactorily as in Calcutta. Conspicuous amongst other commercial houses, are the premises of the long established firm of Messrs. Murray and Company. In the reign of this monarch, likewise, was founded the Aminabad Bazaar, so called after his Minister, Amin-ud-daula. It is, at the present time, one of the largest markets of the city. On the accession of Amjud Ali Shah, the British Government took opportunity of pressing the reforms requisite to place the kingdom in a state of tranquillity. A limited period was assigned for effecting the requisite changes, and, in default of performance, it was intimated that the territory of Oudh would be placed under British management. The threat proved futile, for it was hopeless to expect reforms from one whose time was passed within the walls of his palace, caring for nothing beyond the gratification of his individual passions.
