Fort William, the citadel of Calcutta, is situated on the left bank of
the Hoogly, about a quarter of a mile below the town; it is a European
fortification, and was called Fort William in honour of his majesty King
William the Third. This Citadel was commenced by Lord Clive soon after
the Battle of Plassey, which was fought in 1757; it is capable of
containing 15,000 men, and the works are so extensive, that 10,000 would
be required to defend them efficiently. The works do not make an
imposing appearance from without, nor are they perceptible until closely
approached: this excites great surprise in the natives coming from the
interior, who always connect the idea of great strength with great
elevation. It is of octagonal form; five of the faces are regular, while
the forms of the other three next the river are according to local
circumstances.
The Esplanade, Chowringhee, and the site of Fort William were, so late
as 1756, a complete jungle, interspersed with a few huts, and small
pieces of grazing and arable land.
The view now presented shows a part of the rampart of Fort William; the
Hoogly flows beneath, Calcutta appears in the distance, stretching from
Chandpaul Ghāt to Chowringhee Road; the situation of the Ghāt is marked
by the high chimney of the building, containing a steam engine for
raising water.
The next building in the back ground is the Bank of Bengal; the long
colonnade is in front of the Supreme Court of Judicature; and to the
right is the Cathedral of St. John, which stands partly on the site of
the old Cemetery. In clearing away the ground for its foundation, the
tomb of Mr. Job Charnock, the founder of Calcutta, was discovered: he
died in 1692. The tomb of Mr. Hamilton was also found, and is now placed
in the same building with that of Mr. Charnock. Mr. Hamilton was surgeon
to the embassy sent to the court of the Emperor Furrookhseer, and the
Company are indebted to him for having induced the Emperor to grant them
many privileges, and to confirm all former ones: he died in 1717. Mr.
Speke was also buried in the old Cemetery, and his tomb, with those
before-mentioned, is one of the few allowed to remain there on the
erection of St. John’s Cathedral, where they are still to be seen. The
first stone of St. John’s Cathedral, in Council House Street, was laid
on the 6th of April, 1781. On a plate of copper, graved in the stone, is
the following inscription:—“The first stone of this sacred building,
raised by the liberal and voluntary subscription of British subjects and
others, was laid, under the auspices of the Honourable Warren Hastings,
Esq., Governor-General of India, on the 6th day of April, 1784, and the
thirteenth year of his Government.”
The architect was Lieutenant James Agg, of the Engineer Corps. On the
24th of June, 1787, the Church was consecrated and dedicated to St.
John. Sir John Zoffani, the celebrated artist, bestowed the altar-piece,
representing the Last Supper.
The Town Hall, a fine building, is rendered conspicuous by its Doric
portico; it was erected by the inhabitants of Calcutta in 1804: the
Government Treasury succeeds it, and in the distance is the spire of St.
Andrew’s Church, in the Lall Bazār.
The Government House, the principal building in Calcutta, was erected
about the year 1804, during the administration of the Marquis Wellesley;
the architect was Captain Wyatt, of the Engineers. The entrances, or
great gateways, are each crowned by a lion, and are continually the
resting-places of the _Hargīla_, the gigantic crane, commonly called the
Adjutant.
The Column on the right was erected to the memory of Major-General Sir
David Auchterlony, on account of his distinguished services. It is 160
feet in height, and stands on the Esplanade in front of the town.
_Hargīlas_ or Adjutants are numerous in the Fort, and so tame, that they
will allow men to pass very near them and show no signs of fear; they
stalk about the Esplanade, and rest in the most picturesque manner on
the highest buildings in the city.
The officer, with his bearer holding a _chatr_, or native umbrella, to
protect him from the sun, is watching some monkeys; and a _griffin_, as
a young cadet is called for the first year, is amusing himself with
teazing one.
[Illustration]