the models furnished by their Mahommedan con

querors.

We are now engaged, as you are aware, in a very expensive and tedious war, in countries whither the Mahommedans were never able to penetrate. This tediousness, together with the partial reverses which the armies have sustained, has given rise to all manner of evil reports among the people of Hindostan, and to a great deal of grumbling and discontent among the English. After all, I cannot myself perceive that there is any body to blame. Every body cried out for war in the first instance, as necessary to the honour of the Government, and murmured greatly against Lord Amherst, for not being more ready than he was to commence it. Of the country which we were to invade no intelligence could be obtained; and in fact our armies have had little to contend with, except a most impracticable and unknown country. It is unfortunate, however, that after a year and a half of war we should, except in point of dear-bought experience, be no further advanced than at the beginning, and there are very serious grounds for apprehending, that if any great calamity occurred in the East, a storm would follow on our northwestern and western frontier, which, with our present means, it would be by no means easy to allay. Something, however, has been gained; if we can do little harm to the Birmans, it is evident, from their conduct in the field, that, beyond their own jungles, they can do still less harm to us. And the inhabitants of Calcutta, who, about this time of

year, were asking leave to send their property into the citadel, and packing off their wives and children across the river, will hardly again look forward to seeing their war-boats on the salt-water lake, or the golden umbrellas of their chiefs erected on the top of St. John's Cathedral. I was then thought little better than a madman for venturing to Dacca. Now the members of government are called all manner of names, because their troops have found unexpected difficulty in marching to Ummerapoora.

For me there are very many ingredients of happiness; much to be seen, much to be learned, and much, I almost fear too much, to be done or attempted. I have been hitherto so fortunate as to be on the best possible terms with the Government, and on very friendly terms with nine out of ten of my few clergy; and in my present journey I have, I hope, been the means of doing some good, both to them and their congregations. Indeed my journey has been perfectly professional; and, though I certainly did not shut my eyes or ears by the way, I have been at no place which was not either a scene of duty, or in the direct and natural way to one. And every where I am bound to say I have met with great kindness and attention from the local magistrates, down to the European soldiers, and from the Rajas and Kings down to the poor native Christians.

REGINALD CALCUTTA.

TO R. J. WILMOT HORTON, ESQ.

Bombay, May 10, 1825.

The recent invasion of Cutch, by some of the wild people of the Sindian provinces, which at one time menaced serious consequences, has now subsided, and was, probably, only an effect of the dismal distress from drought and famine, under which all those miserable and turbulent countries are now suffering. But the attention of all India is fixed on the siege of Bhurtpoor, in Rajpootana, on the event of which, far more than on any thing which may happen in the Birman empire, the renown of the British arms, and the permanency of the British Empire in Asia must depend. The Jâts are the finest people in bodily advantages and apparent martial spirit whom I have seen in India, and their country one of the most fertile and best cultivated. Having once beaten off Lord Lake from their city, they have ever since not only regarded themselves as invincible, but have been so esteemed by the greater part of the Maharattas, Rajpoots, &c. who have always held up their example as the rallying point and main encouragement to resistance, insomuch that, even when I was passing through Malwah, "gallantee shows," like those carried about by the Savoyards, were exhibited at the fairs and in the towns of that wild

district, which displayed, among other patriotic and popular scenes, the red-coats driven back in dismay from the ramparts, and the victorious Jâts pursuing them sabre in hand.

Their fortress, too, has really all the advantages which can arise from an excellent situation, an imposing profile, a deep and wide ditch, a good shew of cannon, and a very numerous and hardy garrison, while the means which Sir D. Ochterlony has been able to collect against it, though really far more considerable than could, under all circumstances, have been expected, are described, in a letter from General Reynell, as very barely adequate to all which they have to do; while the present intensely hot season is a circumstance greatly unfavourable. Still I do not find that any of my military acquaintance despond. On the contrary, they all appear to rejoice at the opportunity offered for effacing the former very injurious impression which had been made by Lord Lake's failure, though they admit that, should our army fail again, few events would go so near to fulfil the shouts of the mob a few months back in the streets of Delhi,-" Company ka raj ko guia!" "The rule of the Company is at an end!" Meantime, heartily as I desire the success of our arms, and the more so because the cause, I believe, is really a just one, I am very sorry for the Jâts themselves, with whose rough independent manner I was much pleased, and who shewed me all possible civilities and hospitality in passing through their country. One strange feature in the case is, that the war and siege have been B b

VOL. III.

commenced by Sir D. Ochterlony on his own sole authority, and without any communication with the Supreme Government! I believe he was fully justified by the urgency of the case; but this is one among many proofs which have fallen under my notice, how impossible it is to govern these remote provinces from Calcutta, and how desirable it is to establish a separate Presidency for northern and Central India, either at Agra, Meerut, or perhaps, Saugor.

In the midst of these troubles, and of those other smaller blood-lettings which are pretty constantly going on in one part or other of this vast country, I have had much reason to be thankful for my own peaceable progress through districts where, a very few weeks sooner or later, I should have met with obstacles far beyond the reach of that little military array which I described in my last letter. I passed Bhurtpoor a month before the war began, and Jyepoor little more than a month after the revolution which had taken place there was tolerably settled. A similar good fortune attended me with regard to a rebellion in Doongurpoor, and a very sanguinary quarrel between two rival Mussulman sects, at Mundissore; while, in crossing the jungles between Malwah and Guzerât, had I been ten days later, I should have found the road literally impassable, through the exhaustion of the wells in the present drought, and the almost total drying up of the Mhye and its tributary streams. As it was, I suffered from nothing but heat, which, in Guzerât I found very intense, the thermometer frequently