But

time. Three hours spent beneath a sun gradually advancing to scorching power, brought us to the end of our daily journey, when we devoured our breakfast, with what appetite we might, cursed the slowness of Indian marching, abused the cook, fined the butler, retired to our separate tents, and fell asleep. these were the halcyon days of that memorable march. In fact, we had afterwards to pass through a regular campaign against the weather. The jungle, as we advanced, became more dense; lofty hills environed us, covered with forests the abode of predatory animals, and that mightiest of serpents, the boa-constrictor. But how the terror of such foes faded beneath the dread of the pestilential vapours which were exhaling around us! Yes, unseasonable as it was, contrary to all the calculations of ordinary experience,-heavy rains deluged the earth, and threatened us with destruction. Morning after morning, our fearful eyes saw the heads of the encircling hills veiled in thick black vapour, that was shortly to descend, and assail us as a pestilence. We were

encompassed with the rankest vegetation. Our encamping ground was frequently a square of cleared plain, barely sufficient to afford space for our tents, and picquets for our cattle. Tall trees, or lofty forest-covered mountains, bounded our limited horizon, and seemed to shut in upon us the malaria abounding in the damp vegetation. Our anxious desire was naturally to hasten, by forced marches, out of the reach of danger. Sickness had crept in amongst us, and we had daily to witness the sufferings and danger of those nearest and dearest to us. Oh! in what close brotherhood the tie of common danger binds man to man! What an amiable set of beings each deemed the little band of his comrades! We remembered no man's foibles ;

we were even anxious to view with a charitable eye the follies of Major Patrick Flannaghan. But he would not allow it. In the plenitude of his military zeal, he insisted on observing the regulations of the service,' to the very letter; the discretionary power which formed a branch of his prerogative, remained like a title in abeyance-nobody benefited by

it. We were to march eight or ten miles daily -no more-lest the men should be harassed! those very men who, left to the guidance of their own will, would proceed from twenty to thirty miles daily! Besides all this, we had frequent halts, that the men' and their families might recruit,-which we translated into something nearer the truth, by calling it, Major Patrick Flannaghan's tender consideration for Mrs. Flannaghan, and all the little Flannaghans. But our patience had yet to be put to a sorer trial. We reached the bank of the river, which in its windings several times intercepted our path. A burst of enthusiasm hailed, as we thought, the first view of it; but we very soon discovered that the rapture arose from our approach to a Pagoda celebrated for the extent of its revenue, and the number of Brahmins supported there. And here, in obedience to that wise policy which refrains from interfering with the religious prejudices of the natives, our gallant Major thought it expedient, malgré the danger of the season, the surrounding sickness, the hazards of delay, to halt

two days, that 'the men' might have an opportunity of paying their devotions and making their offerings at this exalted shrine. Priestly craft soon disburthened the pitiable victims of this the most abject superstition that ever enthralled the spirit of man, not of their superfluous rupees only, but of those absolutely necessary for the exigencies of the march. Consequently, during the remainder of our wearisome journey, we heard only bitter complaints of poverty, and witnessed daily scenes of want and privation which a slight disregard of 'the prejudices of the natives' might, in this instance, have averted. However, the thing was all according to rule; and I submit to your consideration, whether this is the best possible state of things in a country absolutely under British rule? If we are not to trample on their religious institutions, does it follow, therefore, that we are to testify extraordinary veneration for them? If we are not to force the consciences of men, are we to foster their superstition, whilst we cautiously abstain from lending any official sanction to efforts tending

to awaken them to a knowledge of a more excellent way?' This excessive caution conspires exceedingly with the bigotry and the indolence of the Hindoo to prevent any improvement either in his moral or his physical wants. It appears, under the present system, that the procuring of a certain revenue is the primary object before which every other consideration sinks into nothingness. Look at the country so long a part of the British territory. Where are the roads? Where are the bridges? Where are the agricultural improvements? Where are the exhibitions of the effects of mechanical power employed in aiding the fertility of the soil? In vain you will look for these things. Over a great portion of the Company's territory, you will find no traces of a road; everywhere you will witness the processes of agriculture and manufacture, amongst the natives, carried on by means of the very same implements as those used by their forefathers a thousand ages since. It is hardly credible how scanty are the improvements which have been introduced amongst the Hin