reader of this little volume will be able to compare his portrait of Sir Elijah with the simple truth. For the smallness of the volume no apology, I trust, is needed. It might have been expanded to almost any size, at the certain sacrifice of the object for which it was mainly written. Big books, especially on Indian themes, are a weariness to the mass of English readers; and this little volume contains the pith of Mr. Gleig's work, filled out with illustrative matter derived from other sources, written as well as printed. A Life of Hastings necessarily includes some passing sketches of Indian History. Those here given, while studied carefully from the best authorities, will no more than suffice to bring out the true relations of the central figure, Hastings himself, to the events and circumstances of his time. In the spelling of Indian words I have generally followed the scientific system first employed by Sir W. Jones, and now adopted by the Indian Government. Such well-known names as Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, Oudh and Madras, are left unaltered. In other cases the following letters are thus sounded á long as in father. a short as in highland or the u in but. í long as in pique. au and ai as in German. ch as in church. ph hard as in uphill. gh and kh guttural. th, as in Chatham: sh, and other consonants as in English. The distinguishing mark of the long vowels will sometimes be found omitted, after several recurrences of the same word. L. J. T. Dover, 23rd September, 1878. CONTENTS. -The Daylesford Family-Warren's childhood-The school at Westminster-Hastings sails for India CHAPTER II.-Progress of the East India Company- French and English at War in Southern India— Capture of Madras 1746-Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle CHARTER III.-Suraj-ad-daula marches on Calcutta Capture of Fort William-The Black Hole-Hastings a prisoner-Arrival of succours from Madras-Colonel Clive-English successes in Southern India-Escape of Hasting's to Falta-Recovery of Calcutta-Hast- ings' Marriage-Clive's progress-Victory of Plassy CHAPTER IV.-Hastings' duties as Resident His dealings with Mir Jafar, the new Nawáb-Clive and Maráthas-English successes against the Dutch- Exploits of Knox and Caillaud-Reverses of Lally CHAPTER V. Shah Alam in Bahár - Vansittart's Government-Mir Jáfar replaced by Mir Kásim Ali Khán-The new Nawab begins well-Successes of Carnac in Bahár-Yorke and White in Birbhum- CHAPTER VI.-Fall of Rajah Ramnarain-Mir Kásim's CHAPTER I.-Hastings in England-His son's death- His scheme of a Persian Professorship-Acquaintance with Dr. Johnson-Hastings made second in Council at Madras-His voyage thither-His illness-His love affair with the Baroness Imhoff-His arrange- CHAPTER II.-Hastings at Madras-Review of the Com- pany's affairs in Southern India-Rise and progress Haidar Ali-The Maisúr Rajah dethroned-Defeat of the Nizám by Smith-Renewed treaty with the Nizám 46 89 |