[Footnote 1: The Koh-i-noor is now in the possession of the Queen of England.]
Elphinstone, after describing the ceremonies, says,--"I must admit that if certain things, especially the extraordinary richness of the royal costume, excited my astonishment, there was also much that fell below my expectations. Taking it as a whole, one saw less indication of the prosperity of a powerful state than symptoms of the decay of a monarchy which had formerly been flourishing."
The ambassador goes on to speak of the rapacity with which the king's suite quarrelled about the presents offered by the English, and gives other details which struck him unpleasantly.
Elphinstone was more agreeably impressed with the king at his second interview. He says,--"It is difficult to believe that an Eastern monarch
