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Sketches of India, or observations descriptive of the Scenery, &c. in Bengal, written in India in the years 1811, 12, 13, and 14; together with notes on the Cape of Good Hope and St. Helena, written at those places, in February, March, and April, 1815. 8vo. Price 7s. Black, Parbury, and Allen. London. 1816.

In advancing to the Rajernal hills, and the pass of Siclygully, our writer pays a just tribute of praise to the late Mr. Cleveland: a gentleman, who, by treating the savage tribes with special and brought them to fill up their place, kindness, subdued their native violence, in the Body Politic: an undertaking which had failed under endeavours of every other form. Without fear, he entrusted his person among them; viformed as fine a regiment of these insited their habitations, and at length, habitants of the hills, as any the Company can boast of in its service.

Perhaps, there is no clearer instance of the force of habit, on the human frame, than its power in reconciling the constant labour and fatigue supported by the dandies, or rowers of a budgeroo. Sometimes when the wind is unfavour

up to their necks in water, under a burning sun, dragging the boat with ropes. Thus, they labour, till the word "Anchor" relieves them, at sun-set. Oblivion then succeeds till the following day renews the exertion.

INDIA is a country so immense, that what is a mere trip, an excursion, a sketch, would startle the boldest Briton who should hear it proposed as a serious set of travels, if understood to be meant for his own country. The author left Calcutta for the Upper Provinces, June 24, 1811, and by means of that noble river, which flows thousands of miles in its course, he was admitted a spectator of the interior, which without that im-able, they are for hours together plunged mense assistance, would continue comparatively locked up and concealed. The Ganges is certainly a noble object. The plains on either side of it present a rich expanse of country; various trees also diversify by their characteristic. vegetation, the cheerful scene. But the im-' mense and self renovating Banian tree, is the most striking, but this too has withered strings hanging from the branches, which sufficiently hint, that even this self-renovator, will not justly characterise perpetuity, or eternity So then the battle of Plassey rests on the credit of history; how many other engagements equally important, have now no other vouchers?

On my near approach to Plassey, I naturally indulged all those rapturous sensations which the proximity of a spot concentrated to fame must ever elicit. It washere, I said, or thought, the immortal Clive first permanently established his country's interest in India. It was here the Nuwuabs of Bengal learnt to tremble at European valour; and, in the treachery of their ministers, to ponder on the corrosive cares of royalty. I had traced in my mind the positions of the several camps and armies, ere I discovered that the field of battle no longer existed! The encroachments of the river have obliterated every trace; and a few miserable huts, literally overhanging its banks, are all that remain of the celebrated Plassey!

Buxar, is noted as the point at which Lord Clive's conquest closed: it is now a place of secondary consideration; so greatly are times and circumstances changed, since the battle of Buxar.

Benares, the most holy city, the seat of the Gods, upon earth, could do no less than strongly excite a stranger's curiosity: Aurenzebe struggled to erect trophies of the triumph of Mooslanism over idolatry, by building minerets, or slender staircase, afford a passage to the top. towers, which by means of a spiral Hence is a most comprehensive view, unusually heightened by the sight of myriads of people bathing, swimming, or preparing to do so. The floating hum of voices, with the discordant sound of their musical instruments, as their notes rose into thinner air, add much to the novelty and spirit of the scene.— "The streets of Benares are so exed both sides with my hands, as I pastremely narrow, that I frequently touchsed in the palanquin. A blessed place, surely, in which to meet a number of Brimha's Bulls, huge, restive, dusty, and dirty."

These balls, considered the peculiar fa- | are, I surmise, of the ancient Gymnosovourites of Brimba, of which, were a man phists, or naked wanderers: not that all to injure one, he would stand in danger of of them partook of this distinction, but his life, are objects of idolatry to the in- that the generality bore a strong resemdoos. They stroll at pleasure about the blance to this sect, of which the members streets. Nor does a poor devil of a shop- are met with oftener in the northern parts keeper, on the animal's pushing his head of India than elsewhere. The natives will, into his shop, and devouring grain or any however, assure you, that considerably thing he may take a fancy to, dare to com- further in the interior, they exist totally mit such a sacrilege as to drive him away. uncivilized; and without entertaining the remotest idea of a God, or a future state, alternately live in trees or caves, crawl as beasts, and feed on roots and other spontaneous productions of the earth. But if the human species exist at all in so degraded a state (and I think it very doubtful), it surely cannot be in Tibet; or, at least, if the remainder is in any way similar to the parts through which my friend and myself travelled. For, even in the midst of the second range of mountains into which we penetrated, large villages were frequent, and every thing bespoke civilization, if not much refinement.

This, is merely a facetious superstition, compared with such as deprive human beings of their lives, It was in the middle of these bills of Upper Tibet, May 24, the writer was informed of an expected Suttee, or burning of a widow, to the manes of her husband. The cruelties of the scene are well known to our readers, but the writer observes,

These dwellers in caves, certainly pay little rent, and less taxes: they have tremely cheap; who would not expect every thing on their own terms, exto have seen them marked, as very comfortable inhabiting snug, warm, and wholesome dwellings! Alas, no; these very people sell their daughters, as an article of trade; and all the jealous restrictions and prohibitions of the com

The custom of women burning with the dead bodies of their husbands is greatly on the decline, and one may now be many years in fudia without having an opportu. nity of witnessing it. For although the British Government does not actually prohibit the celebration of suttees, still every measure is resorted to, to prevent them; and the interference of the magistrate, to ascertain that the widow burns of her own free-will, as is strictly enjoined by government, and many other obstacles, thrown purposely in the way, serve greath to discourage the practice. Mayhap too, in this respect, the Hindoo ladies are not immut-pany, are eluded, by the joy of the able, but, observing with what composure our sweet countrywomen in the East submit to the loss of their better halves, are desirous of evincing, that at pleasure, they can be not at all inferior to them in the exercise of two such virtues as patience and resignation! But the most extraordinary objects I wit-vellers from all parts: there is one nonessed in these mountains, were the Tro- velty in it, which probably will not long glodytes, or dwellers in caves, with the na- continue so. tural excavations in which they resided. Often, while in the midst of savage nature, and surrounded by nearly inaccessible mountains, have I been astonished by the appearance of these people, who creeping from their holes, with small ladders of ropes, descend and mount, with rapidity, the most dangerous precipices.

I had, several times, the curiosity to enter these singular dwellings, formed and fashioned in the hard rock. In some could stand upright, and take four or five steps each way. The generality, however, were very small, and but miserably supplied the convenience of a hut. I found their inhabitants invariably civil. They

slave to escape from a state of starvation, to the comforts, kind treatment, and superfluities, attendant on European protection.

The fair at udwar, is one of the most famous in India: it attracts tra

During the greater part of this fair, which lasted nearly three weeks, an Anabaptist Missionary (Mr. Chamberlain), in the service of her Highness the Begum Sumroo, attended, and from a Hindostanee translation of the Scriptures, read daily a considerable portion. His knowledge of the language was that of an accomplished native; his delivery impressive, and his whole manner partook much of mildness and benignity. In fine, he was such as all who undertake the arduous and painful duties of a missionary should be. No abuse, no language, which could in any way injure the sacred service he was employed in, escaped his lips. Having

nished his allotted portion, on every part of which he commented and explained, he recited a short prayer, and concluded the evening by bestowing his blessing on all assembled. At first, as may be expected, his auditors were few; a pretty convinc ing proof, when sixty thousand people were collected, that it was not through mere curiosity they subsequently increased. For the first four or five days he was not surrounded by more than as many hundred Hindoos; in ten days (for I regularly attended), his congregation had increased to as many thousands. From this time, until | the conclusion of the fair, they varied; but never, on a rude guess, I should fancy, fell below eight thousand, They sat around, and listened with an attention which would have reflected credit on a

Christian audience. On the Missionary's retiring, they every evening cheered him home with " May the Padre (or priest; live for ever!"

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Such was the reception of a missionary at Hurdwar, the Loretto of the Hindoos, at a time when five lacks of people were computed to have been assembled, and whither Brahmins from far and near had considered it their duty to repair. What was not the least singular, many of these Brahmins formed part of his congregation. They paid the greatest deference to all that fell from him, and when in doubt, requested an explanation. Their attendance was regular, and many whose countenances were marked, were ever the first

in assembling. Thus, instead of exciting a tumult, as was at first apprehended, by attempting conversion at one of the chief sources of idolatry, Mr. Chamberlain, by his prudence and moderation, commanded attention: and I have little doubt, ere the conclusion of the fair, effected his purpose, by converting to Christianity men of some character and reputation.

Let it not, however, be inferred from this solitary instance, (which, aiming at impartiality, I have considered my duty to represent precisely as it occurred), that I assumed the Hindoo conversion, generally speaking, to be easy or practicable. With them, appearance is every thing. Dazzling their senses is the surest and most effectual means to command their attention: and, without it, all the merits and sufferings of our blessed Redeemer are vainly

exhausted on those who have shut their

ears.

The truth is, the Protestant form of worship is little adapted to the narrow and contracted ideas of the Hindoo. The unadorned simplicity we so admire in it, is the most powerful obstacle to his embracing

it; and it is for this very reason, that although the missionaries, sent annually from Europe, diligently labour in the vineyard, few converts, and even those of the lowest and most despicable caste, such as it would be a disgrace for any respect ble Hindoo to associate with, are gained: while the Roman Catholic Church, with all the commanding pomp and splendour of its ceremonies, its images, relics, &c. assimilating, in a great degree, to their own mode of worship, has been certainly more successful in calling these deluded children to its bosom. However, if much is to be accounted for on these grounds, still more is to be ascribed to the humble instruments employed in this great work— the conversion of sixty millions !

The different religious principles now in operation, in India, will certainly afford a choice to those Hindoos who wish to settle in the bosom of the Christian church. This traveller considers the inefficient; and whether more pompmeans hitherto taken to have been quite ous establishments, would produce better things, may be doubted. The Hindoo hears all, replies that heaven is a palace with a thousand doors; and he desires the privilege, which he freely grants to others, of entering by that which he finds most to his own persuasion.

Why this tract is published without the author's name, we do not well know it is currently ascribed to a gentleman of no less eminence than Dr. Ainslie.

A Memoir of Major-General Sir R. R. Gillespie, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, &c. 8vo. pp. 256. Portrait, Maps, &c.— Price 10s. 6d. Egerton. 1816.

A SOLDIER should, certainly, be a man of spirit and fire; the difficulties he will have to encounter in his profession, especially if called early into active service, can be surmounted only by such inherent natural qualities; but the soldier who is all spirit and fire, without prudence and sedatenes, although he may succeed in some things, and may highly interest and astonish mankind, is not a man to be envied.

Robert Rollo Gillespie was born in the County of Down, in Ireland, Jam.

the barbarian was changed into a decent respect to the British officers.

21, 1766; his disposition was open and frank, his manners elegant, and his person handsome, but he seems not to Major Gillespie bore a leading and have fully exercised that prudence which important part in the military transachis various situations called for. One tions in St. Domingo: he paid the most fine day, June 1786, Mr. Gillespie, assiduous care to the well-being of the then quartered with his troops at Clog- troops under his command: the steps he her, riding out, met a young and took for that purpose were so unusual, very elegant lady, also on horseback; as to subject him afterwards to the inalthough totally unacquainted with each conveniences of a court martial, by other, both, by an instantaneous, and, which he was most honourably acquitted. as it were, sympathetic impulse, made a About this period, Col. G. unfortunatestop on passing, and turned their horses ly fell into difficulties of a pecuniary to take a second view of the object nature, arising from the generosity of which had excited a sudden admiration: his disposition, and the absence of rethis incident led to a greater intimacy, quisite prudence: these circumstances he was introduced into her family, and obliged him to exchange with Sir R. after various projects devised in youthful Wilson of the 19th Light Dragoons, ardour for the attainment of happiness, which regiment was then in India. He unrestrained by the calculation of pa-arrived in India at the critical moment rental caution and mature experience, of the mutiny at Vellore; we extract a private marriage was agreed upon, and the young couple proceeded on the wings of love to Dublin, where the ceremony took place Nov. 24, 1786. Almost immediately afterwards, a duel, in which Mr. G. was concerned, completely broke his peace of mind; his antagonist fell, Mr. G. fled, and concealed himself until the time of the assizes; he was acquitted. His lady who had the resolution to attend the court, and supported the uncertainty of the trial with noble energy of mind, after the danger was over, sunk into a depression of spirits, which threatened most alarming consequences.

the following account, which ascribes that unfortunate catastrophe to causes very different from some which have appeared before the public :

into a minute detail of the various causes It is beside our purpose here to enter which combined in producing the insurrection and catastrophe that now took place; but no doubt can be entertained that the alterations in the dress of the native troops were no more than a mere pretext for the discontent and mutiny. Certain it is, that the business had a much line of operations, than appeared at the deeper foundation, and a more extended time; for though the military regulations might have been in some degree calculated to excite fears in the prejudiced minds of the natives, who naturally felt appre

religious, still these jealousies were nothing more than convenient matter, upon which the designing were enabled to act and to the lower classes of the people were only convert to another object. The sepoys and instruments in the hands of crafty, ambitious, and intriguing men, who, in their hatred of the English, hoped by this opportunity to succeed at once in anni

In the winter of 1792, he embarked for Jamaica, with the rank of Lieute-hensive of farther innovations, civil and nant in the 20th regiment of dragoons. Captain Gillespie was one of the officers selected to swim ashore at Port-auPrince, then held by the Commissioner Santhonax; they were fired at in the attempt, and when on shore, were threatened to be put to death as spies. In this critical moment, the Captain perceived some emblem of Free Ma-hilating our dominion in that quarter. Soury about the person of the Commissioner, and being himself a member of that fraternity, a sudden thought occurred to him of making one of the signs peculiar to that order, in a way which could not be mistaken: the intimation being understood, the anger of

With this view, it was resolved, by a general massacre, at the same time to distract the attention, and to render the rising at once in different places, waiting. efforts of the Europeans of no avail, by a for the success of that at Vellore as the signal to spread the work of carnage and desolation through the three presidencies.

The scheme was planned upon a scale so tinual influx of strangers, contributed to extended, and with such a superiority of strengthen the conspiracy, and to facilitate skill in the direction, as to prove clearly the desperate resolution of those who that it had been long in contemplation, formed it. They were, however, as it and that it was under the management of seemed, too precipitate; and the very day those, who, to great intellect and invete-that Colonel Gillespie was to have dined rate malignity, added the powerful means with his friend happened to be the one of riches and numbers. Vellore was pitch-which the insurgents pitched upon as the ed upon as the centre of operations, on ac- most opportune for their diabolical purcount of its local advantages, and because pose, encouraged thereto, in all likelihood, it afforded a rallying point, in being the by the unsuspecting deportment of our spot selected by our government for the officers, and the extreme mildness of the residence of the sous of the Sultaun Tip-government. It was, indeed, to many poo. From the turbulent state of the na- valuable men a fatal supineness; for while tive chiefs, and the natural jealousy of fo- they were enjoying in complete coufidence reigners, it was anticipated by the au- social harmony, neither apprehensive of thors of this formidable conspiracy that the evil designs in others, uor meditating op whole mass of population would be so fa- pression themselves, the murderous plot vourable to the insurgents, as to withhold was ripening into action. About two all assistance from the objects of their fury. o'clock in the morning of the tenth of This was the critical period when the July, just as the moon had risen above the lieutenant-colonel took the command at horizon, the European barracks at Vellore Arcot, where he learnt, with great satiswere silently surrounded, and a most de faction, that his old companion in arms, structive fire was poured in at every door Colonel Fancourt, with whom he had and window from musketry and a sixserved in St. Domingo under General Sim-pounder upon the poor defenceless soldiers, co, was then at the head of the neighbouring garrison of Vellore. On the ninth of July, Colonel Gillespie had appointed to have dined with his friend and family; but just as he mounted his horse for that purpose, some letters arrived from the government, which, requiring immediate answers, compelled him to relinquish his visit, and to send an apology to Colonel Fancourt for his unavoidable absence. There was a visible interposition of Divine Providence in this disappointment; since, had it not been for the imperative circumstance which detained him at Arcot, Colonel Gillespie would, in all probability, have shared the melancholy catastrophe of his brave and unfortunate acquaintance. The troops which at this time garrisoned Vellore, were six companies of the first battalion of the first regiment of native infantry, the second battalion of the twenty-remains of the four companies. These third regiment, and four complete conipanies of his Majesty's sixty-ninth regiment. The confederates intended that all who were brought to join in the insurrection should act upon a preconcerted plan, which had been digested and privately circulated by some of the Marawa chiefs: and in connexion with them were some Frenchmen disguised as Fakeers, who went about the country inveighing every where against the English as robbers and tyrants. Unhappily, the splendour which the sons of Tippoo were enabled by our liberality to keep up, and the liberty which they enjoyed of holding an intercourse with a con

who, being taken by surprise, fell in heaps. At the same moment, the European soldiers, with those on the main guard, and even the sick in the hospital, were inhumanly butchered; after which, the assas sins hastened to the houses of the officers, where they put to death all that fell into their hands. Colonel M'Kerras, who commanded one of the battalions, was shot while haranguing his men on the parade ground; and Colonel Fancourt fell in like manner, as he was proceeding to the main guard. Lieutenant Ely, of the sixty-ninth, with his infant son in his arms, was bayonetted in the presence of his wife: and this scene of barbarity continued till about seven o'clock, when two officers and a surgeon, whose quarters were near to the European barracks, contrived to get in, and take the command of the

few men made a sally from the barracks; and having gained possession of the sixrately through their assailants, till they pounder, they fought their way despe succeeded in reaching the gateway, on the top of which Serjeant Brodie, with his European guard, continued most gallantly to resist the whole body of insurgents.

Such was the state of things at Vellore, when Lieutenant-Colonel Gillespie, totally ignorant of the confusion that raged there, mounted his horse at six o'clock in the morning, with the intention of riding over „ to breakfast, At the instant he was about to set out, the dismal tidings came of the

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