HAVING given this very general idea of the original divifion of India, I shall next endeavour to convey an idea of the prefent divifion of it, as far as refpects the principal ftates, or the powers that have appeared on the political theatre, fince the establishment of the British influence.

The British nation poffefs, in full fovereignty, the whole foubah of Bengal, and the greatest part of Bahar; I say the greatest part, because it appears that there are feveral purgunnahs on the south-west of little Nagpour, that were formerly claffed as belonging to Bahar, but are now in the poffeffion of the Mahrattas *. In Oriffa, they poffefs only the districts of Midnapour, the rest being entirely in the hands of the Mahrattas and their tributaries. These poffeffions contain about 150,000 square British miles of land; to which, if we add the district of Benares, the whole will be 162,000 †; that is, 30,000 more than are contained in Great Britain and Ireland: and near eleven millions of inha

• This circumstance was afcertained by the late Colonel Camac.

The following is an account of (nearly) the quantity of land contained in the countries fubject to the British Government, and to the British Allies in Hindooftan.

bitants. The total net revenue, including Benares, is at prefent about 287 lacks of ficca rupees, which may be reckoned equal to 3,050,000. In this calculation, every branch of the revenue, is included; fuch as the profits arifing from falt and opium, the customs, &c.: and the amount of the charges attending the collection of the revenues, and the ftipend to the Nabob of Bengal, &c. are deducted: the whole amount of the grofs revenue being 3,790,000l. The fubfidy from the Nabob of Oude is not taken into this acccount *.

The

The following is nearly the state of the Company's receipts and difbursements at the prefent time, reduced to sterling money: the Sicca rupee being valued at 2s. 11d.

Deduct charges of collection of the revenues of Ben- } 740,000

gal and Bahar, Nabob's ftipend, &c.

Military charges on the Company's, and on the

Nabob's account

} 1,410,000

Civil Establishment, Marine, and Fortifications

MADRAS,

Land Revenue, the northern Circars included

725,000

Carnatic Subfidy

160,000

Tanjore ditto

160,000

Customs, &c.

25,000

1,070,000

985,000

85,000

The natural fituation of Bengal is fingularly happy with respect to fecurity from the attacks of foreign enemies.

On the north and east it has no warlike neighbours; and has, moreover, a formidable barrier of mountains, rivers, or extenfive waftes, towards thofe quarters, should fuch an enemy start up. On the fouth is a feacoast, guarded by fhallows and impenetrable woods, and with only one port (and even that of difficult accefs) in an extent of three hundred miles. It is on the west only, that any enemy is to be apprehended, and even there the natural barrier is ftrong; and with its population and resources, aided by the ufual proportion of British troops * in addition to the fepoy establishment, Bengal might bid defiance to all that part of Hindooftan, which might find itself inclined to become its enemy. Even in cafe of invafions, the country beyond the Ganges would be exempt from the ravages of war, and furnish fupplies for the general defence. But, with the whole revenue in our poffeffion, the feat of war will probably be left to our own choice.

The late Nabob of Oude, Sujah Dowlah, poffeffed, at the time when he first became an Ally of the East India Company, the whole foubah of Oude, and the greatest part of Allahabad; to which, in 1774, were added the eastern parts of Delhi and Agra, till that time poffeffed by a tribe of Afghan Rohillas, and by the Jats. The Zemindary of Benares, which includes alfo the circars of Gazypour and Chunar, conftituted a part of the dominions of

It appears that the aggregate fum of the territorial revenue of the Eaft India Company, together with the cuftoms, falt, &c. is equal to 4,640,000l. per annum. The fubfidies from the Nabobs of Oude, and the Carnatic; and the Rajah of Tanjore; are, of courfe, not included in this fum. The Company's military establishment in India, in time of peace, is about 10,000 Europeans, and 52,000 regular fepoy infantry. It appears also, that the fum total of the fales of East India and China merchandise, imported into this kingdom in one year, has amounted to five millions and a quarter fterling. Confidering the magnitude of the fums, in the above statement, one is led to fuppofe that fuch an imperium in imperio, as the English Eaft India Company, never before exifted: or, at leaft, never was created, without much greater affiftance from the collective strength and refources of the state, in which it was comprifed, than this Company has ever received.

It may appear paradoxical to fome perfons, but I am really of opinion that it is poffible to have too great a proportion of European troops, to fepoys, in our Indian fettle

ments,

q

Oude

Oude until the year 1775, when its tribute or quit rent of twentyfour lacks (fince increased to forty) was transferred to the English. This Zemindary, which was lately in the hands of Cheet Sing, occupies the principal part of the space between Bahar and Oude, so that only a small part of the territory of the latter, touches Bahar on the north-west.

The dominions of Oude lie on both fides of the Ganges, occupying (with the exception of Fizoola Cawn's district of Rampour) all the flat country between that river and the northern mountains, as well as the principal part of that fertile tract lying between the Ganges and Jumna, known by the name of Dooab *, to within forty miles of the city of Delhi. In fhort, the British nation, with their allies and tributaries, occupy the whole navigable course of the Ganges, from its entry on the plains, to the fea; which, by its winding course, is more than 1350 British miles.

The dimenfions of Oude and its dependencies may be reckoned 360 British miles in length from east to west, and in breadth from 150 to 180 and their area is about one third part of that of the Bengal provinces; being to each other in the proportion of 53 to 162. Generally fpeaking, the whole territory is one continued plain; and is a continuation of that extenfive level valley, through which the Ganges and its branches, take their courfe. It is, moreover, the central part of the ancient kingdom or empire of the PRASII. The capital city is Lucknow, fituated on the river Goomty and about 650 miles from Calcutta.

The prefent Nabob of Oude, Azuph Dowlah, fucceeded his father, Sujah Dowlah, in 1775. He is in alliance with the British power; and a brigade of the Bengal army is constantly stationed on his western frontier: thereby answering the purposes of covering. Oude as well as Bengal; and of keeping the western states in awe.

• Dooab or Doabah fignifies a tract of land formed by the approximation and junction of two rivers that formed by the Ganges and Jumna rivers is called by way of eminence THE DOO A B

It is advanced about 100 miles beyond Lucknow. The whole expence of it is paid by the Nabob of Oude, by a ftipulated fum, under the name of a fubfidy. (See note page cxiv.)

The grofs revenues of the dominions of Oude are reckoned to be about two millions and a half sterling: of which the new acquifitions of Rohilcund, Corah, and other parts of the Dooab, are more than one million. The military establishment, including the troops employed in the collection of the revenues, is from 50 to 60 thousand men: but very few indeed of these, deserve the name of regular troops.

*

Fizoola Cawn, a Rohilla Chief, poffeffes the diftrict of Rampour, fituated at the foot of the northern mountains: and although included in Rohilcund, yet this territory was fecured to him, by the treaty of Loldong, in 1774. It is valued at lacks of 30 rupees per annum but he is in effect tributary to Oude, by being bound to furnish his quota towards an establishment for the common defence..

Contiguous to the western bank of the Ganges, and surrounded by the dominions of Oude, is a small district belonging to a Chief of the Patan Rohilla tribe. It is generally denominated from its capital town, Furruckabad: and is little more than 30 miles in

extent.

On the fouth-weft fide of the Jumna, and feparated from it by a narrow tract of low country, is the territory named Bundela or Bundelcund, inhabited by a tribe of Rajpoots, but deemed inferior to their brethren of Agimere. Bundelcund is furrounded by the dominions of Oude, Benares, and the Mahrattas: and was formerly subject to a Rajah of the name of Hindooput: but is now chiefly divided among his fons, or their defcendants. It is a mountainous tract, of more than 100 miles fquare: and contains the

The reader may with eafe reduce any fum in rupees, to fterling, by calculating roundly, at the rate of a lack of rupees to ten thousand pounds.