gross neglect of Sunday, the extraordinary inattention on the part of the lower classes to all religious concerns, and the indifference hitherto shewn by the Company's military officers now at Dinapoor to every thing like religious improvement. While the 44th was here, a very different and admirable example was set by Colonel Morrison and his officers, and the men themselves were most of them patterns of decent conduct and regular attendance in Church, not only in the morning but in the evening, at which time their attendance was perfectly voluntary.

There had been a school for the European children and those recruits who could not read, but this had fallen to decay, because nobody would subscribe, and the Chaplain alone could not support it. The Government sent six months ago, a lending library for the use of their European soldiers, and allowed eight rupees a month to the clerk for keeping it, but the brigade major, to whom the books were consigned, had never unpacked them, alleging (of which he was not the proper judge)" that they were too few to be of any use," and "that there was no place to put them in," as if a corner of the room now used as a Church would not have answered the purpose perfectly.

Of the European regiment, though it was "in orders" that the men should attend Church every Sunday, very few ever came, and seldom any officer but the adjutant, and the neighbouring planters seemed utterly without religion of any kind, never

applying to the Clergyman except for marriage, burial, and the baptizing of their children. Mr. Northmore, who gave me this account, complained that he was often sadly discouraged, and led to fear that some deficiency in himself was the cause of this neglect of his ministry, but that he was comforted to find his attendance both acceptable and useful to the sick men in the hospital, where, indeed, I hear his conduct is marked by very great diligence and humanity. For the lamentable state of things of which he complains, there are many reasons for which he can in nowise be accountable, and which, to prevent his being discouraged, I took care to point out to him. One of these I shall probably find but too prevalent throughout the Indian army, where the early age at which the officers leave England, the little control to which they are afterwards subjected, and the very few opportunities afforded to most of them of ever hearing a sermon, or joining in public prayer, might be expected to heathenize them even far more than we find is the case.

But at Dinapoor something may be also ascribed to the exceeding bad conduct of the late Chaplain, which must have driven many from the church, whom it would be very difficult for the most popular preacher to entice back again. And the want of a decent church is the strongest cause of all. The present room barely affords accommodation for half the soldiers who might be expected to attend, without leaving any for the officers' families, or the neighbouring planters. These, therefore,

though room is generally to be had, have an excuse to offer to their consciences for not attending; and it is really true, that for women and children of the upper class to sit jostling with soldiers in a small close room, without punkahs, with a drive of perhaps three or four miles before and after service, is not a prospect which would make a man very fond of bringing his family to attend Divine service. A spacious and airy Church would greatly remove these difficulties. Government did, I understand, promise one some time back; but the military officers, to whom the preparation of the estimate and plan were left, took no trouble in the business. On the whole, what I saw and heard, both at and after Church, made me low and sad, to which perhaps the heat of the day, the most oppressive I have yet felt in India, greatly contributed.

On my return to the pinnace, which had meantime come on from Bankipoor, I found that to avoid the fury of the stream, they had moored her in a narrow nullah, which constitutes the harbour of Dinapoor, and which was filled with all kinds of vessels, while one of its banks was covered with warehouses, and the other occupied by a great cattle-fair. The heat was intense, and no breath of air could visit us, whilst, as evening came on, we were sure of being devoured by musquitos. I soon made up my mind, and told the Serang to leave the nullah and anchor in the middle of the river, when I had dressed and left the pinnace, and

to have the jolly-boat waiting for me at night, on the beach, below the battery.

In the evening Mr. Northmore called to take me a drive before dinner. We went to " Digah Farm," the place I had passed in the morning, which is extremely well worth seeing. It is a tavern, a large ground-floored house with excellent rooms, very handsomely fitted up, surrounded with some of the most extensive ranges of cowhouses, pig-styes, places for fattening sheep and cattle, dairies, &c. that I ever saw, all kept beautifully clean, with a large grass court full of poultry, and in the middle a very pretty flower-garden. To the back is a large kitchen-garden, and beyond this stacks of oats and other grain, not unworthy of an English farmer. The keeper is named Havell, a very respectable man. He is the butcher, corn-dealer, brewer, wine-merchant, confectioner, and wax-chandler of all this part of India.

During the drive I endeavoured to put Mr. Northmore in the way of getting some of those aids from the military officers of the cantonment, to which, by the regulations of Government, he is entitled. And afterwards at dinner, where were present most of the officers now in garrison, I succeeded, I hope, in getting the re-establishment of the school, together with the assurance from the colonel of the European regiment, that he would urge his recruits to attend, and promote only those men to be non-commissioned officers who could read and write; a measure which would soon make