Meanwhile this suspension was the cause of the Rana’s ruin. Scindia incensed against him, for his having availed himself of the assistance of the English to snatch out of his hands the fortress of Goaliar, and for his having projected to recover all the countries they detained from him, undertook to ruin and demolish him totally; insomuch that at the time these lines were writing, he had so much reduced the Rana, as to have recovered every spot and every ortress out of his hands, save those of Gohud and Goaliar, which his troops were actually blockading; so that the Prince was reduced to extremities. We must see how matters are likely to end. Scindia possibly had then another project in his head. He had now in his camp a Prince who, having given some trouble to the Gov­ernor, had been entirely driven out of his hereditary dominions by the English. This was Radja Chéyt-sing, Zemindar of Banaress, who hoped by the Marhatta’s protection and support, to be one day reinstated in his dominions. We shall also see what is likely to be the result of all his endeavours; and as to General Godard, nothing is heard of him, but news that clash with each other. If, in process of time, some congruent intelligence should come to hand, I hope, if I live, to write a full account of his expedition, as well as of that of General Coote’s. As to the latter, it is cer­tain that after his departure for Mendradj, the Governor proved so zealous in his cause, that he resolved to send to his assistance another well appointed army by land, through Catec, and Jager­naut and Gandjam and Sicacol. This army was put under the command of Colonel Pearse, Governor of the Citadel of Calcutta, a Commander, renowned, and a great Mathematician. He was satisfied that the Marhattas of Catec would not form any opposi­tion to such a passage, as there subsisted a peace of long stand­ing between that Power and Bengal, which had been renewed of late; and moreover their ambassador affirmed that their master had nothing but friendly intentions for the English. This much is certain, that the rainy season being on the point of setting in, and the troops who were all picked men, which the Governor had assembled from various parts, shewing an eagerness for their departure, he gave his last orders on that subject*. For further precaution, a gentleman from amongst the English advanced forward with the sum of three lacs of rupees, and a variety of rich presents, as curious and costly jewels and precious stuffs. He had taken with him from Calcutta the Ambassador of Chimnadji, nephew to Ragodji-bhossla, Prince of the Oressa, which Chimnadji was now Commander-in-Chief of the Marhatta forces actually in Catek; and he set out for Náigpoor with him. He had letters from the Governor, requesting that out of regard to the amity subsisting between the two Powers no opposition should be made to their passage. Chimnadji having in appear­ance shewn a friendly disposition, took the presents, but left the finishing of the negotiation to his father’s pleasure, who resided at the Great-Naigpoor, his Capital. They say that the Ambassador went thither, exposed his errand, but received for answer, “That it appeared from the usage offered to the Sovereigns of Bengal, and of late, to the successors of Shudjah-ed-döwlah, (usage became notorious) that there was no trust to be reposed in the treaties and promises of the English; and he added, that the Court of Náigpoor was, in matters of war and peace, bound by the pleasure of the Ministry of Poonah; and that whatever party those should take, would prove a rule by which the Court of Náigpoor would be bound to abide. That as to affording passage to their people through the Oressa, the matter did not depend upon us, added he, but upon the Court of Poonah, who have ordered us to oppose such a passage, and moreover, to put every thing to fire and sword in the provinces of Bengal and Bahar; which instructions we have not yet complied with, on account of the several pretences set up by ourselves, for instance, of the treaties subsisting of old between the Court of Náigpoor and the rulers of Bengal. Let then the English remain satisfied that we have not yet put these orders in execution.” Such an answer had nothing very encouraging; but the Governor, who had his views, and is not a man to be intimidated, took care to send word, “That as the Princes of Náigpoor had treaties of old standing with the rulers of Bengal, he did not see what could prevent their joining the English in the present case, after receiving, as an earnest, the present sum of three lacs, nor what could hinder their joining the English troops going to the south, with a body of their own cavalry, who should receive their pay regularly every month; the more so, as this sum of three lacs would be over and above the pension due of old, on account of the Chö8t.” This representation had its effect on Chimnadji, who with his father’s consent, accepted the proposal and answered that the case standing as stated, they had no objec­tions, provided the English should discharge fully the sum of one hundred and sixty lacs of arrears due on that Chö8t, together with the interest due thereon, and should henceforward pay the future Chö8t regularly every month; after which they would find the Marhattas of Náigp8r disposed to join their cause. The Governor finding that such expressions and such a tone of voice savoured much of an inimical disposition, declined the tender, and suspended the departure of Colonel Pearce; and the English troops, as before, continued to watch every passage and every inlet that would afford the enemy an entrance into Bengal and Bahar; whilst Chimnadji’s troops are spread all over the Oressa, upon their own frontiers, each party seemingly in ambuscade against the other, and waiting only for an opportunity to fall upon him. We may possibly see what seeds of peace and amity the Supreme Disposer of events may have concealed under such appearances of opposition, and hostility, and at what time it shall be His pleasure to bring forth the fruits of union and concord. It has been since said, that the Court of Náigpoor hav­ing turned these negotiations to its advantages, had been paid the full arrears of the Chö8t, over and above the valuable presents which they had already received; and that their very Agents and Vekeels at Calcutta had been honoured with presents and enriched with estates*. It must be observed, however, that the Court of Náigpoor bore a cordial enmity to the Ministers of Poonah, and to the Rulers of Decan, on account of pretensions of old standing*; and the Governor having availed himself of those discontents, Chimnadji had thought proper to return to his father, and to leave Colonel Pearce at full liberty to march at the head of a veteran army through the whole Oressa, from whence he continued his journey thro’ Gandjam and Sicacol, and Mendradj, where he effected a junction with General Coote. After which both those Generals gave several battles to Háider-náic, but reaped no other advantage from them than that of clearing the environs of that fortress; for Háider-náic has remained undoubtedly the master of the whole province of Arcat. We have learned since, that Colonel Pearce having got on board of a ship, was arrived at Calcutta, from whence he had taken with him the great sums which the Governor had obtained as a loan from the principal men of his nation, and from the Bengalees. But he had hardly reached Mendradj, when General Coote himself returned to Calcutta, on account of sickness, leaving however the Colonel and the army in that fortress, where it is universally reported that the dearness and scarcity of grain, nay, of every necessary of life, has risen to such a heighth, as to be past suffering. But such is the strength and firmness of mind, which the English are possessed of, and such the wise dispositions made by the Governor in sending endlessly supplies of provisions, that the garrison has kept a firm footing, notwithstanding the distress felt within; nor has the fortress of Mendradj been conquered in these three years’ time. God only knows what is to happen after this; but as our accounts do not reach farther, we intend to continue these sheets, whenever we shall have assembled materials.

Meanwhile we shall compliment our reader with some account of Mubarec-ed-döwlah, and of the English Government and policy in Bengal. This prince is the fourth son of Mir-djaafer-qhan, and is now aged about twenty-two years. He is a very civil young man, always speaking in a kind, friendly manner to any that approaches him. He seems particularly dis­posed to shew a regard to such persons, whether men or women, as descend from illustrious families, and is always ready to oblige them by word or by action, or at least to compassionate their case. Naturally tender-hearted, he listens with patience to those that are unfortunate or oppressed, and he is always disposed to relieve them. But his time is not well distributed; and he is always dissolved in all kinds of effeminating delices, and always immersed in the pleasures of the table, or in the company of dance-women; this is, his whole care, being perfectly indifferent to everything else, either in this world or in the other; his apathy being such, that no man is the gladder for his friendship, nor the uneasier or worse for his aversion. The very least of his slave-boys, or of those of his father’s, will make no difficulty to say or do in his presence, whatever comes uppermost in his mind; nor do they pay any regard to the rules of serving modestly, or to those of a respectful behaviour. His very liberality is of a kin to the thoughtlessness of his character; there being nothing more common than to see him give away, where it is improper to give anything at all, and to refuse obstinately, where it is proper to give. And here is an instance of this: The people of India have a singular custom in the rainy season. They make boats of paper or straw, which being supported on bodies of plantain trees, and filled with lampions and lanthorns, are let loose upon the stream, where they make a pretty effect in a still night. After this they boil wheat with a quantity of milk and sugar, and make a composition which they give away to the water-bearers, that they may pronounce a prayer over this fare, which they deem an offering to Qhadja-qhydyr or (the Lord-green)* upon whom be peace! This offering which is of Hindoo origin, was heretofore introduced by that idiot of Seradj-ed-döwlah, an ignorant Prince, who knew nothing of either religion or rite, and who in the pride of youth and wealth, celebrated that festival with a deal of magnificence and ostenta­tion. He assembled a great number of boats, some of them big enough to carry a hundred men, and having filled them with an infinity of lampions, and with gardens and parterres of all sorts of transparent fires, he let them loose on the river, whilst the the shores were, as well as the water, illuminated by an infinity of fires of various colours: a sight at which he seemed exceedingly delighted. Such a whim did not fail to be continued by his successors, who took care to look upon it as an yearly institution, and a law inviolable and sacred. And, of course, Mubarrec-ed-döwlah himself could not fail to adopt so wise, so useful an institution, although he is not possessed of the thousandth part of Seradj-ed-döwlah’s wealth; and his servants and officers, as well as men of the highest rank, suffer and go to wreck for want of their salaries, and sometimes for want of the very necessaries of life. Nevertheless, money, and plenty too, is found and squandered away for such idle, senseless expenses; and so addicted is he to that childish shew, that he oversees it himself, and makes nothing of spending upon it ten or fifteen thousand rupees a year. In this, as in every other matter, his ignorance and neglect are so notoriously known, that one-half of that sum is embezzled by the infidelity of his people, and only the other half spent in that and the like childish pastimes; and although religion invites to other expenses, and every one of his dependants suffer real distresses for want of being paid their salaries, yet he sets apart another sum of five or six thousand rupees for performing the rites of the Divaaly*, which is a festival of Gentoo institution; the principal rite of which is this, that people send to each other for their children, a number of simulachres, made of clay or sugar, or of a composition of sugar and meal, which is cast in imitation of men and beasts, so as to represent a variety of actions and postures. They are to be found ready made in the shops. As for the H8li* itself, it is again a festival of Hindoo institution, but held so sacred amongst our delicate Grandees, and so very obligatory, that they never fail to spend a deal of money in dancers, and such kind of spectacles, and especially, in making presents to low people, who, at such a particular time, are in possession of acknowledging those favours by the liberty of giving to the donors, as well as to each other, a great deal of abusive and shameful language, and that too, not in obscure terms, but in the broadest and coarsest language, and by naming every thing by its proper term, without any regard to rank, station, or decency*. In one of these H8lies I happened to be at Moorshood-abad, when Mubarec-ed-döwlah was circumcising his children: a ceremony in which he spent thirty-seven thousand rupees in clothes and presents to his slave-girls, to his favourite women, to his principal eunuchs, and to those of his mother, Babboo-begum; and all this, whilst the screams and complaints of his creditors were rending the air. It was remarked that amongst all those he so complimented, he had been sedulous in distinguishing one Saader-mend-qhan, Overseer of the household of that Princess. He received a rich paleky, an aigrette, and a serpitch or circlet, all of jewel-work, with a rich jewel called calghy, a chaplet of pearls, and several other articles, to the great wonder of every one, who could not understand what business an eunuch could possibly have in such feasts as these about a circumcision; nor what such mighty services* he could have performed, that should intitle him to such high favours, and to so much distinction. But this is not the only thoughtless expense of Mubarec-ed-döwlah. There are many more, and more indeed than can be numbered, should we take into the account the high salaries paid to a number of singers and dancers, to whose abilities as much respect and regard is shewn to-day, as was ever paid in times of yore to men of learning and of worth, by the former Sovereigns and Emperors of Hindostan. But no wonder in that, since Mubarec-ed-döwlah himself is become one of them, at least, he is a scholar to some of those dancers and singers*. Justly at that time there arrived at Moorshood-abad one of those dancers and story-tellers. He was son of one Sheriff-qhan, a famous story-teller and dancer, who had been superintendent of the people of that profession, in the service of Ali-dja-mir-cassem-qhan; such was the pedigree of that mighty personage. Immediately a house was provided for him, as if he had been some man of importance; a high salary was assigned for his expenses, and a rich Persian sabre*, which doubtless had cost no less than a large sum of money, was presented to him, together with a couple of shawls fit for a Prince, without reckoning some other rich presents; and he was held in as much honour and estimation, as any of the nobility, and indeed in a great deal more, being exceedingly caressed and courted.