had been in India nearly seven years. These exciting times gave him his opportunity, and the following pages show what use he made of it. We have seen how, from being simply traders, the English had by degrees asserted that they had a right to a voice in the government of the country. It fell to Hastings to continue this policy, which, sometimes by warlike and sometimes by gentler methods, has been carried on up to the present time. The many invaders who were once rivals have succumbed, and the English to-day are masters of the same vast territory which, three centuries ago, was in complete and, as it appeared, final subjection to the Mohammedan rulers at Delhi. 22. That we may form some idea of the vastness of this Indian territory, let us remember that the United Kingdom contains 121,000 square miles, while India contains 1,500,000 square miles. All this, with the exception of 1,086 miles owned by the Dutch, and 178 by the French, consists of British possessions and dependencies. The population of the United Kingdom is 34 millions, that of India 252 millions. In that country, besides Europeans, there are four distinctly marked races. Ist, the Aborigines, found there by the Aryans ; 2nd, the Brahmins or Rajputs; 3rd, the mixed races, known as Hindoos, who have in them some of the blood of each of the former races; and 4th, the Mohammedans. The Hindoos form more than one-half the population, nearly one-fourth are Mohammedans, and the numbers of the Aborigines (and the Brahmins are about equal. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE FOR REFERENCE. Warren A.D. Hastings' Age Mohammedans invaded India. Mogul Tartars invaded India under Tamerlane. Mogul Empire firmly founded in India by Baber. Died 1702. Calcutta purchased by the English. Warren Hastings born, December 6. Great Persian invasion of India by Kouli Khan. Dupleix became governor of French India. Clive gained the victory of Arcot. W. H. sent to Cossimbazar to trade for the Company. Seven Years' War began in Europe. W. H. a prisoner at large at Moorshedabad and secret agent to the Company. Battle of Plassey gained by Clive. Sir Eyre Coote defeated French general Lally at George III. became King of England. W. H. made Member of Council at Calcutta. Pondicherry taken by Sir Eyre Coote from the W. H. returned to England. Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa paid tribute to England. W. H. returned to India, as Member of Council at Letters of Junius commenced. W. H. made Governor of Bengal. a The dual government abolished in Bengal. Hastings sold Corah and Allahabad to Sujah The Regulating Act passed. Supreme Court of Judicature established at Calcutta. Death of Lord Clive, November 22. W. H. accused of taking a bribe from Meer Jaffier's Adam Smith's 'Wealth of Nations' published. Declaration of American Independence. Difficulties between Hastings and the Council; and W. H. married Baroness Imhoff. W. H. fought a duel with Sir Philip Francis. Benares subjected to the Company. W. H. accused of receiving a bribe of 100,000%. from the Nabob of Oude, Asaph-ul-Dowlah. Hyder Ali defeated by Coote at Porto Novo. Pitt carried his India Bill. W. H. resigned and returned to England. Burke proposed to impeach Hastings. Hastings' trial for high crimes and misdemeanours, began February 13. Meeting of the States-General in France. Burke and Fox ceased to be friends. King of France, Louis XVI., beheaded. W. H. settled at Daylesford. W. H. acquitted April 23. Mysore annexed. Tippoo Sahib killed. Mahrattas and French defeated at Assaye by Arthur Napoleon Bonaparte made Emperor of the French. Lord Nelson gained the victory of Trafalgar. House of Commons uncovered and stood up' to Battle of Waterloo. Death of Hastings, at Daylesford, August 22. CONTENTS. PAGE Opinions about Hastings---The need of just, not flattering repre- sentation-Anecdote of Cromwell and the portrait painter- First duties in Calcutta-Removal up the country-Surajah Dowlah declares war-Hastings a prisoner-Calcutta seized-Hastings volunteers for military service-Appointed to diplomatic ser- |