of different armaments, connected with the general operations of the war; and though such expeditions were generally attended with success, the expenses which they necessarily involved, led to the progressive ac cumulation of that load of debt which presses now on the finances of the Conrpany.

er-in-chief of the forces in India, of India to undertake the equipment took place. The most extensive powers were vested in his Lordship, and evety part of his wise and energetic government proved that they could not have been confided to abler or to better hands. It is from the period of Lord Cornwallis's administration that we may date a radical change in the conduct of affairs in India. The history of India had, before that period, afforded examples of wise statesmen, and of able generals; but their exertions in the cause of their country were impeded by the defects inherent in the system under which they acted. Those defects it had 'been the object of the bill of 1784 to remedy; and Lord Cornwallis, in assuming the government of India, on the foundation established by that bill, entered on a field that was open for the exertion of a great and be nevolent mind.

"It would be unnecessary to recur, in this place, to the decisive success that attended our army under his Lordship's direction, or to the important consequences to the national security in India which followed from achievements that obtained the highest testimonies of public approbation and gratitude. Our attention should not be less directed to the salutary arrangements which Lord Cornwallis carried into effect for the internal government of the British territories in Bengal-arrangements, which fixed on immutable principles the general rights of property, and which secured to our native subjects the impartial administration of justice, under laws grafted on the native institutions and tempered by the wisdom and midness of British jurisprudence. This was a work which rendered his Lord ship the benefactor of mankind, and of which, as observed by an enlightened writer, an Antoninus Pius might have had reason to beast.

"Lord Cornwallis resigned the of fice of Governor-general in 1798, at which time India enjoyed a štate of profound tranquillity and encreasing prosperity. But at this period the revolutionary war of France had commenced, and the consequences of that sanguinary contest were quickly extended to our eastern dominions. It became necessary for the government

"In 1798 the charge of the su preme government devolved on Lord Wellesley, who undertook the duties of that arduous office at a moment big with difficulty, and when our interests in India were surrounded with imminent dangers. It would be unsuitable, in a sketch of this nature, to enter on the subject of the achieve ments of Lord Wellesley's administration. It is sufficient to observe, that after a long course of vigorous mea sures, and of exploits of signal valor and enterprize, the British empire in India has acquired a degree of stabili ty and security unknown at any former period; and we may with confidence hope that a few years of internal tranquility will suffice to restore our Indian finances, and to reduce what has been emphatically called the greatest enemy of the Company, the Indian debt.

"The two great measures which marked the commencement of Lord Wellesley's administration, were par ticularly connected with the interests of the Presidency of Madras, namely, the subjugation of the French force in the Decan, and the war of Mysore, which terminated in the conquest of Seringapatam, and the overthrow of the house of Hyder Ally.

"Lord Wellesley proceeded to Madras for the purpose of superintending personally the arrangements connected with the war in Mysore; but after the termination of that ne morable campaign, the affairs of that Presidency again devolved on the local government, in which Lord Clive then presided. The territory of Madras had been considerably enlarged by the cession of county which took place under the treaty concluded by Lord Cornwallis with Tippoo Sultan in 1792, and was again farther encreased by the share of territory which was acquired on the conquest of Mysore in 1799. From

that period the limits of this part of the Company's dominions were rapidly extended. In 1799 Tanjore was ceded by the Rajah on the terms of the treaty then concluded. In 1800 the districts South of the Kistnah were ceded by the Nizam; and in 1801 the authority of the British government was established throughout the Carnatic, in conformity to the treaty concluded with the present Nabob. Within the period of three years an entire change took place in the political circumstances and relations of the Presidency of Madras, During the existence of the house of Hyder Ally, that part of the Company's dominions had always been most vulnerable, and most exposed to the attack of open, and to the machinations of secret enemies. Our power in that quarter had existed by previously to his embarkation for the most precarious tenure, and had been more than once in imminent hazard of annihilation. By the overthrow of Tippoo Sultan, the most pressing of our dangers had ceased to exist, and the territories of that in veterate foe of the British name, became, under the existing treaty with the Rajah of Mysore, a source of strength and of additional security to our interests. By the other treaties which have been mentioned, the British dominion was established on a firm basis throughout that part of the peninsula which is South of the Kistnah, which river affords a strong and defined barrier for the protection of our frontier.

introduction of laws, or the establishment of a regular government, must be impracticable. It accordingly be... came a first duty to apply a remedy to this evil, on the same principle as the measure of annulling the feudal tenures, and of disarming the inhabitants of the Highlands of Scotland, was a preparatory and an indispensible step towards placing them in the rank of obedient subjects of the government of the country. After a long course of vigorous exertious and of active military operations, during the administration of Lord Clive, and subsequently of Lord William Bentinck, and after the subjugation of different formidable rebellions, this object was happily effected under the government of Fort Saint George. Lord Clive was enabled,

England in 1803, to introduce in a considerable part of those territories the system of law and of established property which Lord Cornwallis had introduced in Bengal, and under which our territories in that quarter had attained a high degree of prospe rity. Previously to the extension of that system to Madras, the rights of property had been in a great measure undefined; and criminal justice having ceased to be administered in a large portion of that country, crimes escaped undetected or unpunished. The establishment of the civil and criminal courts was subsequently, of the same enlightened principle, rendered by Lord William Bentinck general throughout the territories under Fort St. George; and their effects have been visible in the improvement they have produced in the character and circumstances of our native subjects.*

"From the relaxed nature of the government which had prevailed in a considerable part of the territories ceded to the Company, while those territories were subject to the native Princes, their subjection to our authority became a task of no ordinary difficulty. The feudal tenure had This is no exaggerated descripgenerally existed in its worst shape; tion. The effect here stated has and as the power of the ostensible been visible in the internal tranquillisovereigns was in general little more ty which has now for several years exthan nominal, the country swarmed isted in this part of the Company's with predatory chieftains, who with possessions. At former periods, not their followers bid defiance to lawful very distant, a war in India, or any authority, and by acts of continued untoward public occurence, was the warfare and rapine had reduced to signal for universal commotion; and early a desert state, lands that had the territories of some of the native been destined by nature to be the seat powers not unfrequently suffered more of population and abundance. In from the rebellion of their own subthat disturbed state of society, the jects than from the attack of foreign

"It will be readily supposed, that the Indian governments; and, after a in the course of this rapid progression lengthened correspondence, it was in the limits of our eastern empire, placed on a footing which correspondchanges of a material nature have ed with the extent of our possessions taken place in the constitution of the at that period. The establishment civil and military branches of the afterwards varied according to the public service. Both branches have exigencies of war, and the circumbeen accordingly greatly enlarged and stances of the times. In 1788, the improved; but as it is to the latter whole number of officers in the serthat it will be proper that our atten- vice of the Company (exclusive of tion should be at present particularly those of his Majesty's service) amountdrawn, the following brief view has ed to about one thousand three hunbeen taken of its progress. dred. In 1795, the number was somewhat diminished. In 1796, the army of India was modelled according to a new and an improved system; and the regulations passed at that period introduced a very beneficial reform in its constitution. The army had, for a length of time, laboured under considerable grievances, which were brought particularly to notice in different memorials which were addressed to the Court of Directors.According to the former constitution of the Company's army, the officers could not rise beyond the rank of colonel; the native battalions were commanded by officers of the rank of captain; and the number of officers attached to both the European and native corps in the Company's service was very disproportioned to the nature of their duty. One of the consequences arising from this cir cumstance was, that the officers of the Company's army were subjected to great supercession by the officers of his Majesty's service. It had also been the practice, that officers, when required by sickness, or other causes, to return to their native country, were considered as removed from the service, and received no pay during their absence from India. These grievances were stated in some of the memorials in language of ability and moderation; and they were un questionably such as called for redress. Accordingly, after a full con sideration of the subject in this coun try, the improved regulations of 1790 were adopted, being founded on a principle of acknowledged liberality. The restriction, with regard to the promotion of the Company's officer. to the rank of general officers, way removed, and a certain number of those officers, were made eligible for the general staff. The number of

"At the early period of our commercial establishments in India, our military force was confined to the number of men, not exceeding a few hundred, chiefly Europeans, who were required for the security of our trading factories. On the coast of Coromandel, the French gave the first example of training Sepoys after the European mode of discipline, and it was not until the war which commenced in 1746, that troops of this description were employed on that coast, in the British service. The number of our troops was encreased, as the sphere of our operations became enlarged; but in that early state of our military history, the fate of a bat tle, or of a campaign, not unfrequently depended on the exertions of a party that would scarcely now be employed on the most ordinary detail of duty. The memorable victory of Plassey was obtained with a force not exceeding 900 Europeans, and about 2200 native troops.

After the peace of 1769, the regulation of the military establishment in India engaged the particular attention of the Court of Directors, and of

enemies. The reverse is now the case; and though opportunities for the renewal of disturbance have not been wanting, the mass of our Indian subjects has evinced the most perfect attachment to the government that protects them. Of this fact some late forcible examples could be afforded. History cannot, perhaps, produce a more striking instance of the advantages of a mild, combined with a firm and consistent mode of government, than may be found in the present state of British India when contrasted with the former condition of that country.

officers attached to the European and "It was observed in one of the native corps in the service of the ablest of the memorials which have Company was generally increased, been alluded to, that 'The military. and the command of the corps was profession has, in all ages, and among given to officers of the rank of colonel, all nations, been considered the road with the usual share of off-reckonings. to honourable distinction. The reOfficers were permitted to return to venues of no state have been sufficient England on furlough for three years, to admit of its bestowing adequate on full pay; and after twenty-two pecuniary compensation on those who years service in India, the option of had sacrificed the invaluable season of retiring on the pay of their rank was youth to the toils and hardships of the allowed. Hitherto half batta had field, and devoted to their country's not been generally granted as a fixed glory and safety the time employed allowance at Madras and Bombay; by others in the acquisition of a probut by the new regulations, it was ex- vision to support a decent dignity in tended to the officers of those Presi- the wane of life. Honours, therefore, dencies in peace, with the allowance of full batta in war. Additional regulations were subsequently framed, tending to the further improvement of the circumstances of the army; particularly in the point of facilitating the retirement of the junior of ficers in case of ill health.

66

The regulations of 1796 occasioned a very extensive promotion in the army of India, which has been further increased by the great augmentation which has since taken place in the strength of the military establishment. According to the latest information, the number of officers on the Madras establishment has been stated, it is believed correctly, to be near 1800; being about equal to the whole number of officers at all the Indian Presidencies, previously to the regulations of 1796. *

and distinctions, have always been the effectual substitute-the unbought defence of nations.'

"It will have been seen, from the

above general view of the regulations established for the Indian army, that it was the object of those regulations to place it on a footing both honourable and lucrative; and it is believed that no army in any service has ever enjoyed that advantage in a more eminent degree."

According to the rules in the Company's service, the officers are promoted by seniority, without purchase. The officers in the Indian army have, therefore, had the entire benefit of the late extensive promotion.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

LINES TO MISS E. A. M.-G-
ENFIELD, MIDDLESEX.

AT BETSY's birth imperial Jove

To council call'd the pow'rs above;
Resolv'd that all should lend their aid
With various charms to deck the maid.
To Pallas, first, the task assign'd,
With Wisdom's pow'r to form her mind;
Then Venus breath'd each winning grace-
Of female beauty o'er her face-
A face by which all hearts are won,
Too lovely to be gazed upon:

The charming shape, the heav'nly smile,
At once to please and to beguile.

The God of Love his art supplies,
And shoots his lightning from her eyes.
The Sister Graces next prepare

Their choicest gifts to deck the fair;
Beauty, Politeness, Wit, and Ease,
Each charm to win, cach charm to please.

No human voice exert its rapturing arts
To chaunt such charms, such virtues, of
such parts-

With idolizing sounds, and impious songs,
By Ascribing what alone to God belongs.