seems to be again re-writing it, for in a letter with which he has favoured me, I find he is enlarging it, and has divided it into thirteen different Chapters. In his old age he seems to have preserved his literary energies unimpaired, and it is to be hoped that he has in the mean time studied to make himself better acquainted with matters of European politics and science, than he was when he indited his first edition.

EXTRACT.

Governor-General Marquis Wellesley.

This nobleman resembling Joseph in beauty and Suhráb in the field of battle, was lord of the country of generosity, and master of liberality and benevolence. The pen in writing his name. turns to a sugar-cane in the hand of the composer, and the gale of the spring is rendered fragrant by his munificence. He received his instruction in England, from the brother of Lord Cornwallis. The laws of Hindústán were the chief object of his study. Some years before, he had been in the Dakhin, and rendered valuable services there. First, the French had acquired great power and influence in the country around Haidarábád, an account of which shall be given in the chapter which contains a history of that city; but this wise nobleman by his judicious measures expelled them thence in such a manner that they put down their arms, acknowledged their pusillanimity, and were driven out of the Asaf's (Nizám's) State. Instead of a French, an English army was employed, and a handsome annual contribution of upwards of thirty lacs was fixed for its maintenance by the government of Haidarábád.

After this, the army which was stationed in Madras, at the very time that an expedition was setting out against Típú Sultán the son of Haidar Náik, espoused the interests of Típú, such an enemy as the English never have had or will have to contend with in India. Wellesley, having settled affairs at Haidarábád, went to Madras, collected the English forces, and having animated and encouraged the troops, who were quite exhausted and dispirited,

hopes of obtaining

He thus destroyed

on account of having been engaged in warfare for twelve or fourteen years, and having given them plunder, prepared them to sell their lives. the Sultán, took possession of Seringapatam and its fort, and obtained plunder to the amount of krors of rupees; among which there was a tent which was presented to the Nawáb Wazir of Lucknow, and the like of which was never prepared even in that State.

In short, he adorned the chair of governorship in 1798 A.D. Every one felt satisfied and consoled, because he appreciated merit, and was a master of wisdom and the pen. As the Honourable Company was greatly in debt, no one would take the government paper at four per cent., so in his time it was raised to twelve per cent. The army was largely augmented by new levies. In his time, too, orders were given to the English presses to print books relating to the Hindú religion, such as the Rámáyana, etc. The College of Fort William was founded, and every officer who landed from English ships in Hindústán was first taught in it the language of this country, and was admitted into the public service only after examination.

Next year the Governor-General demanded a contribution from the Nawáb Wazír, and the territory which was possessed by him was divided equally between both the governments. Territory to the value of one kror and thirty-five lacs of rupees, which afterwards increased to an annual revenue of two krors, was added to the possessions of the British Government. The copy of the treaty, with a full detail of it, will be given in the chapter on the Wazárat.

After the acquisition of these two territories, viz. that of Típú and that ceded by the Nawáb Wazír, which extended from Alláhábád up to Farrukhábád, the English prepared themselves for the Mahratta campaign, and in 1803 A.D. a battle was fought with Sindhia and Holkar, an account of which shall be given in the history of the Peshwás and the Dakhiní chiefs.

General Wellesley, the brother of the Governor-General, who

commanded the Dakhin army, defeated the Mahrattas, and having placed Bájí Ráo Peshwá on the masnad, took a small portion of the territory of the Dakhin and half of Gujarát for the British Government. Afterwards, the English defeated the Bhonsla Mahrattas, and took some territory from them also. Then they conquered the entire provinces of Dehlí and Agra, and repulsed the French army which was in the pay of the Mahrattas. They also gave a signal defeat to Har Náth, the bondsman of Holkar, at Sháh-Jahánábád.

General Gerard Lord Lake was appointed to command the army which was despatched towards the west. He achieved great conquests, an account of which has been given above, in the general history of the Empire. Battles were also fought with Amír Khán, and a large tract of country fell into the hands of the English in the districts of Kálpí and Bánda. The Government then regulated the affairs of the King of Dehlí; and an annual sum of fifteen lacs of rupees was sanctioned for His Majesty's expenses. After this, they made an arrangement for the temple of Jagannáth, which is a celebrated Hindú place of worship and pilgrimage in the district of Orissa; and assigned a small portion of the income derived from it to the Brahmins and guardians of the temple. They prohibited the custom of drowning children at Gangáságar.

In short, before the arrival of this Governor-General, the Honourable Company's territory did not exceed seven krors of rupees in revenue; but through the great prosperity of this conquering noble, it increased to such an extent that it yielded an annual revenue of about fifteen krors.

The Regulation, according to which tahsildars were allowed to take one-tenth of the revenue realized through them remained in force for six years, and the doors of prosperity were opened upon the face of the world. Notwithstanding that for the conquest of territory an expenditure of krors of rupees is necessary, yet the Court of Directors would not open their eyes to the necessity. They still thought that, as of old, their servants might reside in

the country as merchants and aliens, without taking the whole of Hindústán into their grasp. They did not know that now, on every inch of land, enemies, who possessed large forces, such as the Mahrattas and the Pindárís, had arisen. They also did not do the Governor-General the justice to consider how much country he had conquered, and to what extent he had augmented . the annual revenue of the Government. From want of information, they reproached him for the enormous expenses he had incurred in his undertakings. In the same manner as they had treated Colonel Clive and Governor Hastings, they brought groundless accusations against this Governor-General also. Lord Moira in England persisted more than any one else in his opposition. Consequently Lord Wellesley resigned the government and returned home. Lord Cornwallis was then a second time sent to Hindústán by the Court of Directors. He travelled as far as Gházípúr, and then expired. In short, the Marquis governed with full authority for a period of ten entire years, having gained thousands of thanks and praises in Hindústán.

CLIV.

MIFTAHU-T TAWARIKH

OF

THOMAS WILLIAM BEALE.

THIS "Key of History" is a work highly creditable to the industry and ingenuity of the compiler, Mr. Thomas William Beale, a clerk in the office of the Board of Revenue at Agra.

He has collected in this volume the many chronogrammatic dates relating to important events in Asia, and especially in India, since the introduction of the Hijra era. In these are included the exact year and date of the births and deaths of Muhammadan kings, philosophers, and other eminent men. He has extracted them from the most celebrated histories in which they are carefully recorded, and he has copied the memorial inscriptions on tombs, mosques, gardens, tanks, forts and palaces. He has himself, as have also his friends, composed several new ones, which are inserted in the work. The Christian, Hindí, Faslí, Illáhí and Jalálí eras are also occasionally given.

Although, to a superficial observer, this mode of recording events may appear a veritable mataiotechnia, yet it is not without great use in any disputed point of chronology, for it does not admit of any errors, as in the case of numerals, since not only meaning, but in most instances rhyme and scansion, are required for a perfect comprehension of the dates. To them might we with justice transfer Joseph Scaliger's address to the venerable Olympiads: "Hail, ye guardians of time, ye vindicators of the truth of history, ye bridlers of the fanatical licence of chronologists!"