FROM SIR A. CLARKE TO THE MARQUESS WELLESLEY.

"MY DEAR LORD,

"St. Helena, May 31, 1801.

"I ought to apologise for troubling your Lordship with a letter, merely to acquaint you that we arrived at this island on the 21st instant, when we had the mortification to learn that the allied fleet had sailed with convoy a month before, and that we were consequently to proceed without any, as we shall do to-morrow, and of course run the gauntlet of whatever may be in the way, which, under present circumstances, is not very pleasant.

"I have been much amused in exploring the beauties of this uncommonly mountainous, yet delightful island, which I have nearly traversed all over, under the guidance. of Major Cocks, the chief engineer, and a member of the government, an intelligent officer, who came from England a few months ago, and seems much interested about, and anxious to correct any errors in, its defences.

"Governor Brooks's bad state of health had obliged him to go home, and we found Colonel Robinson in charge of the government, who has treated us with the utmost kindness and hospitality. One of his daughters is lately married to Captain Scott, of the Bengal establishment, who takes this letter to your Lordship; and the Governor and his lady, who have manifested an equal desire to make our situation here pleasant, are so much interested in her welfare, that I cannot avoid gratifying them by introducing the

young lady and her husband to your Lordship's favourable notice.

"An American ship, that left Bengal three weeks after us, arrived here a few days since, from which I learn with much satisfaction, that the Commanderin-Chief and his family arrived at Fort William on the 13th of March; and I have written a few lines of congratulation to him upon the occasion by this opportunity.

"Your intelligence from Europe must be much later than any we have received; it is therefore unnecessary for me to trouble your Lordship on that subject.

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Pray do me the favour to make an offer of my compliments and best wishes to your brother the Cavalry Major, whose health I hope is quite restored; and do me the honour to believe that I am, with true respect and regard and earnest good wishes that health and happiness may constantly attend you, my dear Lord, your Lordship's most obedient and most faithful humble servant, ALURED CLARKE.

"P. S. Lieutenant-Colonels Cliffe and Gordon beg me to solicit your Lordship's acceptance of their most respectful compliments."

"MY DEAR LORD,

"Mansfield Street, Cavendish Square, March 4th, 1802.

"Having experienced the most marked attention and kindness from Captain Adam Cumine in his private capacity, as well as the most vigilant and judicious conduct in the care and management of his ship during the five months that we were making our passage from

Bengal, I feel myself called upon, no less by public duty than personal regard for that excellent officer, to mention him in the most favourable terms to your Lordship, which I beg leave to do; and at the same time to assure you that I shall feel much obliged by any civility, or kind indulgence if he should have occasion to need it, that you may be good enough to

show him.

"I have the pleasure of seeing Lady Wellesley frequently, and the satisfaction to inform you that she is in high health, and, hoping you will not deem it impertinent, I may and must add, great beauty; her charming children promise to be everything you can wish. I am, my Lord, with true respect and regard, your Lordship's most obedient and very faithful humble servant, ALURED CLARKE.”

CHAPTER XX.

Treaties negotiated by the Marquess Wellesley with various Native States. Treaties of Hyderabad.—Jealousy of the Mahrattas.—Closer Alliance between the Nizam and the English. Surat. Historical Sketch.-Death of the Nawâb.- Negotiations with his Successor.Governor Duncan proceeds from Bombay to Surat.-Treaty concluded. -The Rajah of Nepaul seeks Refuge at Benares.-Negotiations and Treaty with his Highness.-Negotiations with the Court of Ava.Marquess Wellesley's Measures. Flight of several Thousands of Agriculturists from the Burmese Territory.-They take Refuge in the British Dominions. Invasions of the Burmese.-Negotiations. Peace firmly reëstablished.-Letter from Col. Symes.- Dr. F. Buchanan's Mission to Mysore.-Growth of Cotton in India.

In addition to the subsidiary treaties with the Soubahdar of the Deccan, the Rajah of Tanjore, and the Rajah of Mysore, already negotiated and ratified by the Marquess Wellesley, we are now called on to notice negotiations of great permanent importance to the stability of the East India Company's dominions with reference to Ava, the frontier kingdom of Nepaul, and Surat-by the Mohammedans styled "the gate of the Holy City," but frequented by many of the worshippers of Zoroaster, who conducted from thence a lucrative trade with the Gulfs of Persia and Arabia; nor must the additional treaty of Hyderabad escape our attention. The jealous, and almost hostile, spirit with which the Mahrattas regarded our operations against Tippoo, and the conflicts with which the southern part of the peninsula was threatened from the weak

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and distracted condition of the Peishwah's Government, pointed out the urgent necessity of adding, by every practicable means, to the efficiency of the alliance with the Nizam; as that became the chief, and, after the defection of the Peishwah, the only means of protecting the British possessions, and those of its allies, in a state of peace and tranquillity.

For the attainment of this object, it was necessary to add to the strength of the subsidiary force with the Nizam; and to adopt measures that would secure the English Government against those risks, to which it was probable this connexion would be early exposed, from the weak and fluctuating councils of that Prince.

To effect this important point, nothing seemed so desirable, as to commute the monthly pecuniary payment of subsidy for a cession of territory. The advantages of such an arrangement were manifold, and obvious. An end would undoubtedly be put, by its adoption, to that constant recurrence of irritation, which must always be expected to attend large pecuniary payments from sordid or extravagant Courts. The resources upon which the support of a large English force must depend, would be placed in the hands of the British Government, instead of being in those of another state, whose imprudence, distress, or treachery, might, at any critical moment, endanger the general safety. And the wish which, it was possible, a future weak or fickle administration at Hyderabad might entertain, of freeing that state from a connexion, from which it might think it had derived all the benefit that it could expect, and the expense of which continued a burden upon its finances, would cease to ope