fait trembler par avance." The light fell in such a way from the moon on the place, as to make it appear all level ground; it was a miraculous escape and I thanked providence for it on the spot. Coming up we shot several alligators and wild fowl, saw two tigers but missed them. I had a delightful swim one morning in the holy river, in defiance of the monsters of the deep, but I would not like to try it a second time. Splendid action fought by Sir C. Napier near Hydrabad, wasn't it? Grand to see the cavalry charging over the nullahs! Eh! and the artillery smashing them by the bushels ; until I arrive at Jhansi, adieu. Your's sincerely, YORICK. Saturday, January 27, 1844, POLYPHILUS. No. 13. A Trip from Calcutta to Bundlekund--by a Man of My dear relation's last letter abounded in sentiment; but I think he was rather sparing of his own thoughts and too free with the thoughts of others; this is written in the same style, which is a style highly suitable to such a work as this, viz. the giving your own ideas on a subject, with those of the literati whose names are already before the world. Dr. Goldsmith used to declare that every subject worth writing on had been treated; why then in giving our own thoughts, not give those of others in the exact words? by not doing the latter it becomes plagiarism; especially to the reading man; for he will generally find he A TRIP FROM CALCUTTA TO BUNDLEKUND, &c. 53 cannot have a better thought than that which he can borrow, and why not give that thought dressed in all its original grandeur ? JHANSI, 10th May, 1843. MY DEAR POLYPHILUS.-I arrived here on the 6th instant and found all well. I wrote to you when at Allahabad, and told you the route I was going. First then I started at 4 p. m., with my Palkie well tattied over, all nice and wet, with 12 bearers. The first stage named in the Dawk advice was" Lohanga," but having reached it by past 3 a. m. and the Bungalow being full, I ran on to Arrahpoor where I put up at 8 a. m. in the Company's Bungalow. There I staid all day alone, had a goosul, breakfasted on moorghee curry-after dinner started at 5 p. m. and reached Futtehpoor, at 8 p. m. Next day (Sunday) all alone, in the Bungalow, no one to quarrel with; in good health and happy. Is it not Young who says, "O! lost to virtue, lost to manly thought, Lost to the noble sallies of the soul! Who think it solitude to be alone." You know I always carry a portable library about with me, so I am never without food of some kind or other, although to be sure as Dr. Johnson says "learning will not fill a hungry belly." I read Zimmerman and one of Blair's sermons, which you know are adored by Scotchmen. Started at 5 p. m. (after washing down dinner with some excellent beer), jollily, for Hammurpoor; arrived there, after crossing the Jumna in a Ferry Boat at 8 a. m. As there was no public accommodation there, I was forced to try the Indian Hospitality: so I sent in my card to the Collector, who came out and welcomed me heartily. I had a delicious bath and excellent breakfast. Dined well and after beer in oceans, drank a glass of excellent Scotch Whiskey, after returning thanks for such generous hospitality, and having a bottle of beer stowed away in the Palkee, at 9 p. m., I started on my journey for Calpee, where I arrived at 9 a. m. here I will tell you, I always got out of my Palkee in the morning, an hour before sunrise, and ran ahead for exercise, which kept me in good health. Here also I met with great hospitality; what a delightful characteristic it is of the British Inhabitants of India, I cannot help observing it; in what a state of princely magnificence the Europeans especially those of the civil service, live in Bengal: I suppose it is the same at Madras; they leave home subjects and soon in this country become monarchs, and I believe their household has been considerably diminished of late, so what a grand state it must have been. Still, do you remember a beautiful verse of Moore's. How applicable it is to the rich, in this country. "In climes full of sunshine though splendid their dyes, Yet faint is the odour, the flowers shed about, 'Tis the cloud and the mist, of our own weeping skies Until my arrival at Jhansi nothing of importance occurred, and thus ended my peregrinations. Yesterday I rode for the first time on an elephant, one of the Rajah's (of Jeitpoor) an immense creature, when I made several calls. We had a grand tomasha here yesterday; we set out in Phætons for the Rajah's Fort, followed and preceded by Cavalry, as the Rajah of Jhansi was going to be crowned. On reaching the gates of the Fort, we were conducted by his guards, with silver clubs and swords, to the top of the Castle, very steep, and on both sides were ranged elephants, tomtoms playing, people shouting, &c. We were then ushered to the presence, when the Rajah shook hands with all of us, and we took our seats beside him, punkahs going. Four superbly dressed Nautch Girls, singing and dancing, rose-water, sweetmeats, pan or soopari, and attar of which I partook. The Coronation consisted in the Rajah's putting on a dress and Turban of cloth of Gold |