Raja Jai Singh’s Observatory, Delhi (left), Safdarjang Tomb (right) - 1843

[From 'Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi’, an album consisting of 89 folios containing approximately 130 paintings of views of the Mughal and pre-Mughal monuments of Delhi, as well as other contemporary material, with an accompanying manuscript text written by Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe (1795-1853), the Governor-General’s Agent at the imperial court. Acquired with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and of the National Art-Collections Fund.]

[Raja Jai Singh’s Observatory, Delhi. The Observatory or Jantar Mantar was constructed in1724, by Sawai Jai Singh, the Raja of Jaipur (r. 1699-1743), at the request of the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah (r. 1719-48). The Observatory in Delhi was the first to be built and was one of five-Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura. A keen astronomer, Jai Singh tried to calculate planetary positions and alignments accurately.] [For the description, see f.18.]
Inscribed beneath: naqsha-i jantar mantar birun-i darwaza ajmeri.
[Tomb of Nawab Safdar Jang. Abul Mansar Khan, known as Safdarjang, was appointed as the Nawab of Awadh (r.1739-54) and later, raised to the post of Wazir, by the Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah (r.1748-54). The tomb was built by Safdarjang's son Shujauddaulah in 1753-1754 and is one of the last examples of a Mughal garden tomb complex.]
Inscribed beneath: naqsha-i maqbara-i nawab Safdar Jang bahadur.
Mohummud Mokeem (his father being of inferior note) was the nephew and son-in-law of Nawab Sadut Khan, Boorhan-ool Moolk (‘Chief of the State’), Governor of the Province of Oudh in the time of Emperor Mohumud Shah Vide Page 12 [f. 15]. On hearing of the prosperity of his father in law in Hindostan, the subject of this memoir came from his native town of Nyshapoor in Persia, and obtained employment in the service of the Emperor, as (Meer Atushee) head of the ordnance department with the title of Aboolmunsour Khan (‘Victorious Manager’), Sufdur Jung (‘Warlike’) Punjhaearee, Commander of 5,000.
After Boorhan ool Moolk’s death, having redeemed the promise under which the deceased had pledged himself to pay to Nadir Shah two crores of rupess 2 millions £. Stirling, he, Sufdur Jung was installed Viceroy of Oudh in succession to his uncle and father in law.
On Achmud Shah Doorrani’s incursion into Hindoostan in AD 1740 Sufdur Jung accompanied the Prince Achmud Shah eldest son of the Emperor Mohumud Shah to Surhind, where they met and defeated the Doorrani. The prince when on his return to Dehly received intelligence at Paneeput of the death of the Emperor his father, Sufdoor Jung accordingly prepared the paraphernalia of royalty, presented the same to the Prince.

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