class are brought forward, except after very full proof of their
qualifications; in fact, the poney-races are often superior to those run
by the best cattle on the clerk’s register. At the out-stations,
matches, or sweepstakes, are made solely with the view to merriment, or
from whim, frolic, or periodical elevation after a hearty regale. Here
we see cause for mirth, and, not unfrequently, find a clumsy-looking
beast, with heavy heels, and a head like a yam, taking the lead of
‘trim-built wherries,’ that seem to challenge competition. I recollect a
curious instance of this: a very shabby, heavy-looking _tattoo_,
belonging to Captain Cæsar Jones, started in this adventitious manner,
and, to the surprize of all, fairly distanced several celebrated steeds.
He was sent to Calcutta, where his uncouth appearance caused him to be
ridiculed, but there was no standing against his speed and bottom.
Hence, he acquired the name of ‘TAKE-IN;’ a designation which the
knowing ones feelingly acknowledged to be highly appropriate! The spirit
for betting at races does not run very high in India; though there have
existed some characters who devoted their whole attention to this
species of gambling: but so little encouragement offers for speculations
on the turf, that, with the exception of a few fat _pigeons_, it may be
said no money has been made by racing: the wagers rarely exceed a few
gold-mohurs. Every horse becoming so thoroughly known to all the
sporting community, little opening is left for deception or contrivance.
The smallest indication of collusion would, in that quarter, prove
instantly fatal to reputation, and cause at least a shyness, if not an
absolute estrangement, on the part of society, towards the offending
individual. In Europe this would not be so much felt, because a man may
change his quarters, and, for a long time, screen himself from public,
or general disapprobation; but, in India, when an individual is _cut_ at
one station, he will rarely experience common civility at any other; his
character generally preceding him by many a day’s journey!
Gambling was formerly one of the most prominent vices to be seen in
Calcutta; but of late years has considerably diminished. Those who
recollect the institution of Selby’s Club, and who now contemplate the
very small portion of time dissipated, even by the younger classes, at
cards, &c., by way of ‘profit and loss,’ cannot but approve the salutary
reform introduced by Marquis Cornwallis, who, whatever may have been his
foibles, his prejudices, and his errors, in other matters, certainly was
entitled to the approbation of the Company, as well as to the gratitude
of their servants, for having checked so effectually a certain
licentious spirit, which had, till his arrival, been totally
uncontrolled, indeed, unnoticed, in any shape, by his predecessors.
To expect that any Governor should be able totally to annihilate every
bad practice, would be to consider him as vested with supernatural
powers; but, it is assuredly within the reach of every person bearing
that high office, to chace the abandoned into their secret recesses, and
to render them at least timid, if not innocent. By removing such
characters from office, and by persevering in resolution not to give
employments of emolument to any but the most assiduous, and correct, of
the Company’s servants, much may be, much has been, done. Common sense
points out the impropriety of allowing a gambler to occupy any office in
which either great trust, or particular application, and vigilance,
might be requisite; therefore, as the generality of the posts held under
the Company are of either one or other of those descriptions, or may
perhaps blend both, it stands to reason that a man whose brains are ever
casting the dice, and whose carriage rolls upon the four aces, never can
with safety be trusted.
Those who are partial to cards, as an amusement, may find abundance of
parties during the evenings, where, for the most part, tradrille and
whist (the favorite games) are played at such low stakes as not to be
productive of regret, or inconvenience. Quadrille is barely known in
India, nor are what we term ‘round-games’ much in use: cribbage is
played in some families, and, occasionally, loo. In all the above games,
the European inhabitants of Calcutta, as well as those dispersed over
the country, are generally proficient; far more so than we find persons
of the same description among us: a large portion are well acquainted
with chess, and back-gammon; and many excellent players at fives,
billiards, &c., are to be found in every quarter. Cricket is not much in
vogue; being confined principally to a club at Calcutta, and to some
occasional Christmas matches at the several army stations. On the whole,
though far less violent, as an exercise, than fives, it is less adapted
to the climate; the alternate successions of exertion, and of
inactivity, rendering the players liable to severe colds, and to
consequent obstructions.
Music, it might be thought, would prove a great source of gratification
in a country where _ennui_ is so much to be dreaded; but the climate is
unfavorable to instruments of every kind, especially to pianos, and
offers a most formidable bar to the indulgence of a musical ear. No
persons can be more liberal in their purchases of instruments, or of
select music, than the ladies of India; they often giving two hundred
pounds for a good grand-piano; but the incessant apprehension of warps,
and cracks, is a tremendous draw-back on the interest they feel in the
possession of even the best of its kind. Repairs, of every sort, whether
of violins, pianos, flutes, &c., are exorbitantly dear, and, even at
Calcutta, not always practicable; either owing to dissipation, the want
of some essential article, or the quantity of work in hand. Nor is it
easy to obtain the temporary accommodation of an instrument while one is
repairing, unless at such a rate as utterly precludes all of moderate
income from availing themselves of such an opportunity, when it may
chance to offer.
With respect to what is called ‘preparing an instrument for the
climate,’ much may certainly be done, by taking care that only the best
seasoned wood is employed, and by clamping the case with metal, both
within and without; but all this has little connection with the belly,
or sounding-board; which cannot be much strengthened without
considerably deteriorating the tone, and causing a piano to be in the
first instance condemned, for want of that richness which cannot be
given to one whose vibrations are obstructed. The only chance is, to
keep a piano well covered with blankets during the heats, as also in
very damp weather, and to uncloathe it gradually, when about to be
opened for performance. By such precautions, the instrument may remain
tolerably in tune, and not sustain much injury from the variations of
seasons: after two or three years the danger may be less; but it will be
prudent never to relax in point of prevention, lest the instrument
should suddenly fail.
With the exception of such little parties as, in a few families,
assemble during the afternoons to enjoy the pleasures arising from the
musical talents of some lady, Calcutta has little to offer in this
captivating branch of amusement. If we cast out of the account some
accidental quartetto parties, or the solitary warblings of some
flute-player, &c., the whole may be deemed a blank. Now and then a
subscription concert, for the benefit of some professor, who lives more
by means of eleemosynary bounty, than by the encouragement of his
abilities, calls the town together, not to listen to the notes, to the
fine melodies, and rich harmonies of Haydn, &c., but to see, and to be
seen, and to talk, and be talked to. In brief, India is not the soil to
which a man of science, or of taste, should repair, under the hope of
being liberally repaid for his trouble and expences; much less of being
cherished for his genius and acquirements. One or two insulated
exceptions are not to be adduced in refutation of my assertion: I am
ready to acknowledge, that, now and then, a professor has been seen
pampering under all the influence of high and boundless patronage; but
the _per contra_ shews a numerous list of those who have lingered
through all the penalties attendant upon humble merit, until the grave
has kindly terminated their ill-fated labors.
Assemblies, balls, routs, &c., or under whatever name dissipation,
vanity, and luxury, may arrange their concordance, are not very numerous
in India. The Governor-General, and the Members of Council, occasionally
circulate their invitations during the cold months; and, at times, some
spacious public rooms are engaged for the same purpose on speculation;
but I never understood that it proved lucrative.
It was not until about twenty years back that the British had any
regular church in Bengal, and now they have but one, which was built
partly by private aid, and partly by the profits arising—_from a
lottery_!!! The latter was, I understand, very forcibly opposed by one
or two gentlemen, who considered it as a very unbecoming mode of raising
supplies for so holy a purpose. When we reflect that a Portugueze
merchant built one, for the use of the Catholics, from his own purse;
and that, though he was accounted a rich man, yet his property could not
be compared with what various individuals, of our own nation, resident
in India, can boast; it may be fairly quoted, as a singular instance of
parsimony against our countrymen. Not that impiety or disrespect to
public worship can be urged against the settlement; for no church can be
better attended than that in question: the liberality of the inhabitants
was partially exemplified by the institution of a free-school, where a
number of children, both of Europeans, and of native mothers, are
educated in a very sufficient manner; a circumstance of considerable
moment where education is so dear.
This dearness should seem unreasonable, if we only take into account the
prices of provisions, which are very low; but we must carry in mind the
enormous rates of house-rent; and that, whatever may be the profession
in which persons proceeding to India engage, the return to Europe with a
comfortable independence is the main consideration. Supposing ten
thousand pounds to be gained in twenty years, by attention to his
pupils, it cannot be denied, that a pedagogue is barely rewarded for so
great a duration of slavery in such a climate, and at such a distance
from all his friends and connections. Whatever may be the merits of the
teachers, nothing could reconcile me to bringing up a child in India.
All so educated, are rendered unfit for the society of gentlemen who
have been brought up in Europe; they know nothing of the world, but,
while imitating the manners and customs of those they term their
countrymen, exercise all that craft which so peculiarly characterizes
the native youths. In a moral point of view, the detention of a child,
particularly a female, in India, is highly culpable; and when treated of
as a matter of economy, will, in the end, be found equally
objectionable. That the disadvantage under which parents labor, in
sending their children to Europe, is considerable, must be fully
admitted; and, it must also be acknowledged, that many may be able to
spare a certain monthly, or annual, sum towards education, which could
not be furnished at once. Such parents are to be pitied; because they
can rarely have a child creditably schooled at Calcutta for less than
fifty rupees (£75.) per mensem, all charges included; whereas, for about
half that sum, say for £40., a much better education could be given at
excellent schools in various parts of Britain. If we suppose £150. to be
expended in transmitting a child to Europe, and that the sum of £35. be
annually saved after arrival here, the difference, both principal and
interest, would be cleared off in about five years; while many important
advantages would be gained, and a thousand very obnoxious habits
avoided. The encrease of population has been followed by an augmentation
in the number of schools; but, if I judge correctly, the latter has been
rather beyond what the former should appear to authorize. The first
school that was set up in the vicinity of Calcutta, started about the
year 1780, under the charge of a Mrs. Hodges, who succeeded beyond the
expectations of her most sanguine patrons; and, in the course of about
twenty years, realized a very handsome fortune, with great credit to
herself; and, if marrying off at an early age be desirable, with great
advantage to numerous young ladies; who, in succession, entrapped the
hearts of sundry gay Lotharios, by whom her dancing-room was much
frequented. It would be cruel, and unjust, in the extreme, to assert
that young women brought up at such a seminary, were, in every respect,
inferior: it must be admitted, that they may dance, play the piano, work
at their needle, read, write, and cast accounts, and perhaps speak
French: all these may be done to admiration; but, alas! these are,
properly speaking, merely mechanical, and, though they may please for
awhile, never can give that zest depending solely on the enlargement of
the mind, and on some knowledge of the world. So true is this, that not
one in fifty of the girls thus brought up can hold conversation in any
way pleasing or interesting; and, which is worse, the other forty-nine
are very apt to be childish, vain, imperious, crafty, vulgar,
and—wanton! But they are, generally, well formed, pretty, active, gay,
and insinuating; therefore we must not wonder at the matches we see take
place, nor at the poverty they generally entail upon their husbands, by
a certain prolific propensity which may be said to characterize the
whole breed.
The several schools in and about Calcutta, may be considered on nearly
the same footing as in Europe; some dear, others more reasonable; some
good, others highly exceptionable. Most of them are well situated, so
far as relates to convenience and salubrity; but it appears to me, that
more than one of the seminaries for young ladies are subject to overlook
objects by no means suited to female delicacy, and, in a great measure,
derogatory to the judgment of those who selected such sites for their
establishments. Those academies which are about two or three miles out
of town, are certainly preferable in the above respect; while, at the
same time, they are not beyond the common distance to which bearers are
in the habit of conveying their employers on visits during the forenoon.
In a former part, I cursorily made mention of the old fort, in which
stood the Black-Hole, so famous in history. This fortress is now
converted into public-offices and warehouses, for both which purposes it
is admirably adapted, from the centrical situation it occupies, and from
the great solidity of the walls, &c. The defences are extremely simple,
and might answer well enough for the times in which they were
constructed, as well as for the prowess of the troops by which they were
likely to be attacked: being on the bank of the river Hoogly, a retreat
by water might easily be effected under the cover of shipping; and, by
the same means, supplies could generally be afforded. According to the
present system of warfare, and the probability of being attacked by an
European army, it would be unsafe to place the smallest reliance on the
old fort, further than as an immediate asylum in the event of
insurrection; in which case, many houses that now command the works must
be destroyed: this, owing to the want of cannon on the ramparts, would
not be an easy operation. The town is protected chiefly by Fort-William,
a more modern work, capable of containing at least fifteen thousand men;
the defences, indeed, require near ten thousand to man them properly.
The garrison ordinarily consists of two or three regiments of Europeans,
a battalion of artillery, with a very large establishment of artificers,
&c., attached to the arsenal, where stores of every description are
lodged in bomb-proofs. Provisions, equal to six months’ consumption, are
always kept in the fort. The native corps, intended to aid in the
defence, and of which the amount may be from four to five thousand, are
cantoned at Barrackpore, a station about sixteen miles from Calcutta, on
the banks of the river, and exactly facing the Danish town of Serampore.
Of these troops, about twelve hundred constantly do duty in the fort;
being relieved monthly in regular rotation. Fort-William is the grand
depôt of Bengal, and may be considered as the key to that part of the
Company’s possessions, if not to the whole; for it does not appear
probable that any effectual resistance could be made, if that fortress
were to fall into the hands of the enemy. Such a loss would infallibly
destroy the opinion now held of our prowess, and precipitate us from the
pinnacle of power, into an awful abyss of ruin!
As Mr. Hastings very properly stated, ‘our power in the East depends
entirely _on opinion_.’ When we consider the immense population over
which we hold control, with comparatively an insignificant force, and,
that that force is composed chiefly of natives, it must immediately
occur to us how necessary it is to satisfy our Asiatic subjects that our
sway is mild, and that, in submitting to us, they rescue themselves from
tyranny and extortion.
There may arise local circumstances wherein the possession of a strong
hold would be invaluable; and rescue us from the most imminent dangers.
Of this, our affair with Cheyt Sing is a most obvious and undeniable
proof: had not the fortress of Chimar, a place rather of reputed, than
of real, strength, been at hand, our force in that part must have been
annihilated; when the insurrection would infallibly have spread in every
direction.
Without entering into particulars, I shall give a brief statement of the
Company’s forces at their several presidencies; observing, that the
number of their European regiments has been considerably diminished,
amounting, nearly, to a total reduction, for the purpose of making way
for the introduction of king’s troops. With respect to the European
strength, therefore, it must be understood that no fixed establishment
exists: but the average amount of that branch, independent of the
Company’s battalions of artillery and infantry, may be taken at about
sixteen or eighteen thousand firelocks, including the cavalry.
—————————————+——————————————————————————————
Presidencies.|Cavalry, Native, Regiments.
| +——————————————————————————
| |Infantry, Native, Regiments.
| | +——————————————————————
| | |Artillery, Battalions, European.
| | | +——————————————————
| | | |Infantry, Battalion, European.
| | | | +——————————————
| | | | |Marine, Battalions, Native.
—————————————+———+———+———+———+——————————————————
Bengal | 8 |27 | 3 | 1 | 0
Madras | 8 |25 | 2 | 1 | 0
Bombay | 0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1
—————————————+———+———+———+———+——————————————————
At each presidency, the native regiments are formed into two battalions,
with the same strength of European commissioned officers as are allotted
to one regiment of Europeans. A colonel commands each regiment, and
every battalion has attached to it one lieutenant-colonel, and one
major, together with a proportion of the captains and subaltern
officers. Two serjeants are allowed to each battalion, viz. one acting
as serjeant-major, the other under the quartermaster. The companies are
commanded by European officers, under whom, one _soubadar_, one
_jemmadar_, five _havildars_, five _naicks_, and ninety privates,
(_sepoys_,) are enrolled. The _soubadars_ and _jemmadars_ have
commissions, and are competent to sit on regimental, or line,
courts-martial for the trial of natives, whether in the military
service, or camp followers. The _havildars_ correspond in rank and
duties with our serjeants, and the _naicks_, with our corporals. Each
battalion has two grenadier, and eight battalion companies: no recruit
is taken whose age exceeds twenty-five, or whose stature does not reach
to five feet six inches and a half, or, more generally, to five feet
seven inches; unless on emergency, or when obvious juvenility warrants
the acceptance of an under-sized candidate; who, generally, being well
fed, and taught to stand erect, in the course of drilling over-tops the
standard of admission.
Reference to the table of pay and allowances in the Directory, will
prove useful to those who may proceed to India, and may serve to guide
those who are not acquainted with the particulars of income in that
quarter. The usual exchange is two shillings and sixpence per _sicca_
rupee, about five per cent. better than the _sonaut_ rupee, which is the
standard of military payments. In viewing the sum-total of an officer’s
pay, when reduced to English currency, which may be done with tolerable
correctness at the above rate of eight rupees to the pound sterling,
very considerable allowance must be made for the inevitable expences,
&c., incident, not only to military men, but to all residing in India.
This consideration will amount to a very plain, and correct, conclusion,
viz. that though a subaltern officer may live on his pay, provided his
out-set be duly allowed for, yet, that he must have more than ordinary
luck, or possess a bent towards parsimony by no means to be envied, and
rarely attaining its object, to enable his saving a few pounds within
the year.
This is necessary to be well understood, and, when understood, ought to
be ever carried in mind by those who expect a young man on his arrival,
as a cadet, in India, to support himself without adventitious aids. That
he may do so, by arranging a proper plan with others of his class,
cannot be denied; but to effect this, not only all luxuries, but, what
in India are considered the necessaries of life, must be relinquished.
On receiving a commission, his allowances, of course, are considerably
augmented, but, on the other hand, his expences will be rather greater;
and this unavoidably, and exclusive of his equipment to join his corps.
Therefore, let no unreasonable expectations be entertained, merely from
observing the gross sum of annual receipts; let not the parent, who can
spare a moderate sum towards his son’s comfort, deny it for the few
first years after the latter may arrive in India. The best mode of
effecting this, in a proper manner, is through some respectable
agency-house, which should have the power to afford seasonable aids,
under the injunction not to encourage, nor to tolerate, extravagance.
Those sanguine ideas too often entertained by persons not in affluent
circumstances, that their sons, brothers, &c., should remit to them,
yearly, a portion of their pay, ought to be peremptorily suppressed; the
illusion should be done away; otherwise, inconvenience at least, if not
ruin, may be entailed!