MADAGEE SCINDIA,

a Mahratta chief, has mounted the Mogul throne, which was lately filled by the unfortunate Shaw-Allum. Previous to his exaltation, Madagee was faid to be favourably difpofed towards the English; but having the ambition to afpire to royalty, it is more than probable that he will have the ambition alfo to revive the ancient fplendour of the Mogul empire; and, fhould that be the cafe, it cannot be expected that he will continue friendly to the intereft of the Europeans in Indoftan.

Since the British and French have had a footing in that country, the power and influence of the native princes have been gradually on the decline; by the wars which their inhuman policy has fomented, for they have invariably adhered to the old maxim divide et impera, the oriental fiates have been drained of their riches; and those immenfe treasures, which once centred in India, transported to Europe, have ferved to promote luxury, the bane of every empire, and to diffeminate vice, profligacy, and corruption. Men, whofe ruling paffion is avarice, and whofe general fyftem is the extenfion of their territorial poffeffions, muft undoubtedly be beheld with a jealous eye by the fovereign of an ancient empire, in danger of being annihilated, if the Europeans purfue the fame meafures in the Eaft as they have done for half a century back. It is not at all improbable, therefore, that if fome fpirited prince fhould afcend the Mogul throne, with fufficient abilities to make the native princes fenfible of their danger, and to unite them together by one common intereft, the Europeans may be ftripped of their valuable poffeffions, and expelled from Indoftan. What would be the confequence fhould

TIPPOO SULTAN

meet with support from the Mahrattas or the Emperor? About the middle of this century, who would have imagined that America, in fo fhort a period, would be free and independent? Who would have believed, a few years ago, that the: Baftille would lie level with the ground; that the preroga→: tives of the Gallic monarch would be as circumfcribed as those of any fovereign in the world; and that liberty triumphant would erect her standard even in the middle of Paris? A revolution in India is not at prefent dreamt of; yet fuch an event is poffible, nor unlikely to take place. As

THE CHARTER OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY

is, therefore, now almoft expired, government ought to be cautious, and take fuch measures as are beft calculated to retain thofe oriental territories which we at prefent poffefs, without projecting

1

projecting farther acquifitions. That the regulations already made, and the laws now in force, are not fufficient to deter the Company's fervants from peculation, is fufficiently apparent from the conduct of fome late delinquents.

GREAT BRITAIN.

With regard to the political fyftem at home, little alteration has taken place fince our laft. If any new arrangements have been made, the refult of them has not yet tranfpired; nor can it at prefent be determined, from appearances, whether Europe is to be involved in a general war, or preferved in a state of tranquillity. The late Mirabeau spoke very justly of Mr. Pitt when he called him a minifter of preparation.' From the fpecimen of the minifter refpecting Nootka Sound, we cannot believe that he will purfue any vigorous fteps in the prefent negociations with Ruffia. On the contrary, after an enormous expence for a fresh naval equipment, we fhall be told, with an air of triumph, that matters are at length accommodated, and that the dignity of the nation is preferved. A letter to this purpose will be tranfmitted to the Lord-Mayor of London; and our fleet, after idly parading at Portsmouth, will be difmantled, while our brave veterans, who have fo readily stood forth in defence of national honour, will be difmiffed, without compenfation for the lofs they must have sustained by fitting themselves out for foreign fervice.

LOUIS XVI.

The flight of the King and Royal Family of France from Paris on the 20th inftant, and their fubfequent capture, opens a wide field for political fpeculation-we may, indeed, affirm, that, if the defign had proved fuccessful, the royal ftandard, supported by the fugitive ariftocrats and priesthood, would by this time have been erected; and the avowed junction of the Emperor and Spain on the fame fide, would have rendered matters ftill more serious and uncertain.

But the capture of the King gives room for new conjectures. It is difficult to imagine the proceedings of the National Affembly upon this event. The revolution, however, has almost reached its crifis; and a very few months will put the stability of the new constitution to the proof.

Communications for THE ENGLISH REVIEW are requefied to be fent to Mr. MURRAY, No. 32, Fleet-ftreet, London; where Subfcribers for this Monthly Performance are refpectfully defired to give in. their Names,

Boardman's analyfis and review of Vol- Dixon's remarks on Mears' voyages, 300.