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358 A HISTORY OF PERSIA. they would no longer submit to the authority of Haji Meerza Aghassi, whom they were prepared to resist by force. They were informed by the English charge d'affaires that he would act, in the emergency which had arisen, in concert with the Eussian representative ; and on the following day, they took part with him in a con- sultation with Prince Dolgorouky. A paper was sealed by most of the influential persons of the court, by which they gave in their allegiance to the young Shah ; but in it they stipulated that Haji Meerza Aghassi should withdraw himself from public affairs until the commands of his sovereign should be received with reference to the formation of the new government : they also required that the Haji should disperse the armed force with which he had surrounded his person. In order to prevent loss of life, Prince Dolgorouky and Colonel Farrant agreed to request the minister of the late Shah to remain quietly at his village, and to abstain from interfering in public affairs. To the latter proposal he at once agreed ; but on the morning of the day after the council had been held, he suddenly made his appear- ance in the citadel of Tehran, where he surrounded him- self with twelve hundred followers, and shutting the gates, he cut off all communication with the city. He did not, however, remain there long, but, after wandering for a time about the plain of Tehran, took sanctuary in the shrine of Shah Abdul Azeem ; to which he was pursued by some Shahzevend horsemen. In the meantime much disorder ensued in the capital the popular fury being vented on the retainers and clients of th'e Minister. The roads in the vicinity of Tehran became impassable ; but the chief priest