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King's officers have little, if any thing, to do with a knowledge of the Hindoostanee; and that, on the contrary, the Company's military functionaries are very seldom defective in the above language. The King's officer asserts almost the reverse, but in a way so unassuming and plausible, as to induce me to hesitate, before I implicitly trust you or distrust him, in a department with which, it is possible, I may be as well informed as most people who may yet wield their pens or tongues in such discussions. That the local governments have not anticipated nor stolen a leaf from your creed is quite clear, from their late nominations of Company's interpreters to many if not to all the King's regiments in the eastern world; but I presume only until they can be self-furnished with this indispensable staff-appendage to every corps in both services, as the European, the artillery, the cavalry regiments, &c., have not long since successively been supplied with competent linguists, though years after the infantry enjoyed so truly useful a post among them. This step, to the best of my recollection, originated at Bombay, under the late Governor Duncan, and has since been wisely followed by each presidency; but whether at the official suggestion of the Court of Directors, or, what is more probable, solely by the ruling powers in British India, I will not yet venture to say: the benefit has been actually conferred, and it matters not much to the public from what quarter this sine quâ non of staff posts assumed "a local habitation and a name." In justice to myself, let me, en passant, state, that I indirectly proposed the establishment of such an office to Governor-General Warren Hastings forty-six years ago! and his reply was so laconic, that it merits record here, in contrast with Marquess Hastings' whole conduct, whenever this question came before him. From so remote a date, I hardly can distinctly recollect, whether the deceased Dr. Francis Balfour, or Governor Duncan, was the medium of communication; but this I know for certain, that Mr. Hastings' successor, the late Sir John Macpherson, to whom my dictionary was inscribed, would have followed up the proposition, had he not been apprehensive of giving offence to the Court of Directors at that time, by the expense, however moderate, of an interpreter-general, with one assistant, for all courts-martial, the whole important duties of whose office Sir John's predecessor, Mr. Hastings, of much higher renown as an orientalist, had previously declared must still be executed by Portuguese drummers, as their extra services on these occasions would cost nothing to the Company !*

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Had you favoured the readers of the Asiatic Journal with the date of your march and subsequent junction with two hundred and thirty Madras cadets, it might have been in my power to throw some more light upon an event, which incontestably demonstrates the positive necessity of enabling a few, at least, among such a number of youths, to speak more than one word of Hindoostanee, not only before leaving England, but prior to their arrival at any of the Asiatic presidencies, by teaching them its rudiments and accurate pronunciation, as a previous indispensable qualification for so responsible a place among native soldiers, who speak no dialect whatever, except their own provincial one, or at most the military camp and court language of India. If you doubt my inclination or ability to communicate enough to answer all ordinary purposes of colloquial Hindoostanee, on the soundest principles in this country, either in person or by some of my disciples, who teach it in different parts of the United Kingdom, in the short space of a few months, do have the kindness to call at my public lecture rooms, 480 in the Strand, that you may have an oppor* One would imagine, from this humiliating declaration, that the judge-advocate general and his deputy were, in those days, very lame orientalists; they cannot well be so now.

opportunity of convincing your own mind, as well as mine, that we cannot both be quite right, though we may ultimately agree upon neither being so far wrong as the other may till then imagine.` If I be in error, pray have mercy upon me by opening my eyes to the delusion under which they labour; but let me entreat you also not to shut your's any longer than the necessity for so doing shall exist. Those who think with you conceive there is no cogent motive for acquiring Hindoostanee, as a preliminary branch of education, nor any need for the proof of such acquisition, because both processes can best be effected in Asia. Let us apply this mode of reasoning to implements of war, and see how it will operate? Suppose bad guns, muskets, &c. were sent out without proof-marks, because that could be ascertained on the spot, when landed, at an enormous cost, to be there condemned or returned as useless articles, which never would have been despatched had the requisite ordeal been seasonably observed with each. A bad weapon of defence and offence may, by explosion or fracture, produce very disastrous consequences to those who are using them, or within their reach-say a dozen of human beings; but when an officer proves, after landing, a very expensive blockhead to the Company, they may learn by the subsequent loss of many lives entrusted to his command, that a destructive blunderbuss has thus been palmed upon them, instead of a welltried fusil with a calibre fit for any service. Some few years ago it was a general complaint, more especially at Madras, that interpreterships, like every thing else, were then bestowed on candidates more for the sake of their country or name than any skill in eastern tongues; and so far from the officers of that establishment whom I have met with having much to boast of in that respect, they have for the most part been sorry Hindoostanees indeed; so much so, that several of them who have attempted to renew their studies under me in England, were at first scared from the class, by finding the majority of my junior pupils were, bonâ fide, their superiors in speaking and understanding the camp-dialect, though they never had been out of their native land.

Your account of the origin of interpreterships differs very materially from mine, and I suspect that the order for the examination of adjutants for Hindoostanee, at any of the presidencies, is of a very recent date, compared with the other appointments, as a plan, which began at Bombay, was soon imitated by Marquess Hastings, and, I think, in process of longer time, reached Madras, where it certainly was amply encouraged by annexing the additional office of paymaster to the two others of interpreter and quarter-master at Bengal and Bombay; to say nothing of those ephemeral rewards, in cash or medals, that, to my certain knowledge, often did more mischief than service to those concerned: but on this extraordinary head I shall waive my cogent arguments at present.

Mr. Hume, in the hurry of speech, has inadvertently given you a slight handle against him, by a misconception and misconstruction of his words, which, I confess, might imply what you allege; though it is evident he meant that interpreters became indispensable between the natives and European officers whenever there was any long or important discussion, such as must occur at every court-martial, where it seemed strange to Mr. Hume, that all the native corps officers indiscriminately were not yet able to manage them more efficiently than formerly was done, when not one out of twenty such officers could translate a single article of war intelligibly to the men of his own regiment or company. That this was the case while I remained in the army I am

perfectly

perfectly convinced; but no such deficiency ought in these days to be found, after what has been done by the Governments in India to promote the grammatical culture and colloquial dissemination of Hindoostanee during the last six or eight years, either spontaneously, or by orders from home to that effect, which I fear were long procrastinated, and when issued hence, proved both tardy and lukewarm at best.

(The remainder next month.)

ΤΟ

ON RECEIVING SOME VIOLETS, THE FIRST OF THE SEASON.

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O, in these sweetly-scented bells,
What a dear charm, what magic dwells!
So sweetly-scented as they be,

They do but seem to breathe of thee.
They caught their fragrance from thy kiss;
O, yes! they owe their charms to this.
And now, this modest, meek-eyed flower,
That looks so bashful from its bower,
Nor seems to court the gazer's view,
Is but an emblem, love, of you.
'Tis true the little flowers are dead:
What then? their fragrance has not fled.
No-that remains as sweet as ever,
Though the fair bloom shall brighten never!
So, fairest, when thy beauties pine,
And these same flowerets' fate is thine,-
When that bright eye shall laugh no more,
When all the flush of youth is o'er
That now upon thy cheek is borne,
And rivals the first blush of morn;-
When these shall wither and decay.
(As fade they will, and fade they may),
Still, like the violet's perfume,

Thy virtues shall outlive the bloom.

Ah, little thought you that the flower

With me could boast such wond'rous power;

Ah, little thought you it would be

So fair an emblem, love, of thee!

O. G.

MALACCA.

THE Cession of this settlement to the British has already been noticed in various periodical publications; but we are enabled to lay before our readers, from an authentic source, a more detailed account of the circumstances attending it than has hitherto appeared.

Different opinions have been expressed with regard to the treaty by which the measure was effected, and by which various other interchanges of territory in the Eastern Archipelago have taken place between the British and Netherlands governments. By some persons it has been considered that a measure disadvantageous to the former has been adopted, and that the territory acquired, is not equally valuable with that relinquished by the British Government. Viewed only with regard to the number of acres contained in the respective cessions, this may be the case; but when considered in respect to situation, as commercial entrepots, and in political relations, the decision must be otherwise. Experience has proved that the intermixture of territory, which before existed, has been a fertile source of disunion between the mother-countries, and of constant vexation to the representatives of each, who equally, perhaps, animated by zeal for their own governments, and unwilling to injure the other, have, by the uncertainty of their respective rights, been forced into unpleasant collision, and necessitated to commit acts wearing the semblance of insult and hostility. A measure by which so discordant a state of things might be rendered peaceable and orderly; by which unanimity, good will, and confidence might be substituted for bickerings, opposition, and distrust, must be desirable, even though (which does not appear to be the case) a trifling loss in pecuniary benefit should be incurred. These points are adjusted in the treaty. And it must be observed, that although the English held possession of Sumatra, nominally, and formed treaties with the different rulers, the Dutch denied their independence, and laid claim to the principal part of the island. Moreover, considered with regard to situation, Sumatra seems peculiarly suited to be a dependency upon Java, &c.; while Malacca is exceedingly fit to belong to Prince of Wales' Island and Singapore.

Consistently with the provisions contained in the treaty, for the cession of Malacca, a Commission was formed at Prince of Wales' Island to proceed to and take possession of the settlement on behalf of the East-India Company ; Mr. W. S. Cracroft, a senior servant on the establishment, was nominated Commissioner. In 1818, this gentleman was employed on political missions to Pegu, Salengore, and Quedah, and, by his address, succeeded in the difficult task of inducing the Sovereigns of the two former places to form an alliance with the British-a result very satisfactory to the Government.

The Mission, having arrived at its destination, was received in a very cordial and friendly manner, and with every mark of respect by the Dutch Commissioner and Resident, Mr. Vanson. Arrangements were speedily made, by which the Settlement was to be finally delivered over to the English on the 9th April 1825.

At dawn, on that day, the Dutch flag was run up the standard at St. Paul's Mount, an eminence a short distance from Malacca, and visible to a considerable extent up and down the streights. The civil authorities of each nation met at the Old Government House at 7 A.M., and proceeded thence to the Mount, where the Dutch garrison and the English escort were paraded facing each other. Mr. Vanson read the Dutch proclamation, when his flag was Asiatic Journ. VOL. XXI. No. 124. 3 S lowered

lowered under a salute from the batteries of twenty-one guns. Mr. Cracroft then read the English proclamation, and the British flag was hoisted with ceremonies similar to the preceding; the British having previously changed situation with the Dutch troops. In the meantime the vessels in the harbour and offing lowered and raised their flags and saluted. In his proclamation, the Dutch commissioner expressed his regret at quitting the society of the inhabitants, but declared it was mitigated by the reflection that, "by returning to the government of the generous Sovereign, under whose former rule most of them had been born, not only would his plans for benefiting them be pursued and perfected, but additional measures for their happiness be adopted,” a declaration, not more complimentary to the British nation than satisfactory, as indicating the deserving character of the subjects just transferred to its

sway.

The only point which was calculated to raise a difficulty was regarding the Island of Rhio. The 8th article of the treaty provided that the Dutch possessions on the main land should be given up, yet did not specify that island—on which the Dutch have an establishment. But by the prudence of the two Commissioners, any unpleasantness was avoided, by a proposition on the part of Mr. Cracroft, and a ready acquiescence in it by Mr. Vanson, that the matter should be in abeyance, pending a reference to the supreme authorities.

The administration of the oaths of allegiance was deferred till the 23d April, when his Britannic Majesty's birth-day was celebrated. Early in the morning a garrison parade of the British troops, under the command of Capt. Davies, 25th Bengal N.I., who had been appointed to attend Mr. Cracroft, was ordered, and the usual ceremonies observed. About ten, the inhabitants proceeded to the Commissioner's levee, which was held at the Government House. Then commenced the ceremony of swearing, which was rendered peculiarly interesting and picturesque, by the diverse characters and appearances of the persons, and by the peculiar formularies prescribed by their different creeds. The Chief of the Chinese settlers approached an altar with a living cock in his arms, and having gone through a series of prayers, proceeded to cut its throat, and to make a libation with its blood, hoping that his own might, in like manner, be poured out should he ever be wanting in fidelity to his new Sovereign. The Leader of some Hindoos, who had been naturalized for many generations in Malacca, reverentially approached the Commissioner. He swore by the veracity of the priest—by the horse, the elephant, the arms, the accoutrements of the soldier-by the merchandize of the trader, that he and his followers would be faithful; and he imprecated the direst curses on the head of the mechanic and the servile man who should break the compact. The Superior Malayan, being a Mahommedan, swore by the "One God and Mahomet his Prophet," sealing his oath on his Koran. Next came the Roman Catholics, the reformed Episcopalians, and the Church-of-England men, and by the simplicity of their mode of adjuration, diversified and added dignity to the display of the other sects. The ceremony concluded, and

"The motley crowd,

"Of all earth's nations, bent the knee and bow'd,

"Cleaving the air with shouts both long and loud."

A dinner, a ball and supper followed. The day began with swearingit ended in drinking; each part being conducted with due attention to religion, morality, decorum and fervour. Saluting was the order of the day, with a slight change in the matériel. Tawny-faced sepoys, and "villanous saltpetre" in the morning; fair ladies' lips and eyes in the evening. The Mahommedan

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