Secondly, That no Hollocore, Derah, or Chandala caste, shall upon any consideration come out of their houses after nine o'clock in the morning, lest they should taint the air, or touch the superior Hindoos in the streets.

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Thirdly, To encourage sobriety, no person whatever is to distil or sell mowah arrack, or other spirits, to any person whatever. Fourthly, No prostitutes or disorderly women of that description shall reside within the walls of Baroche.

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"These appear to be a very extraordinary set of edicts from an oriental governor, and are not likely to conciliate the Mahomedan and Parsee subjects to their new administration. The former have been accustomed to eat beef from the first conquest of the Moguls, and the latter to drink mowah arrack; from which, in moderation, they are not prohibited by any religious tenets. As to the poor chandalas and Frass caste, the order seems cruel in the extreme; but the last respecting the cyprian corps has caused the most astonishment among all classes of society, being perfectly novel in the system of Asiatic jurisdiction. In consequence of the late conspiracy, mutiny, and confusion, which reigns throughout the city on this cruel change, except in council, I have been generally silent. It would be needless to interfere with measures which we can neither prevent nor redress; and as to the new edicts, I think them totally inconsistent with my ideas of Mahratta policy, rapacity, and morality: nor have I a doubt that money well applied at Bascar Row's durbar, will cause a repeal of the whole; even that relating to the inexpiable sin of eating beef.

From L. C. Esq. Resident at Baroche, dated 16th July 1783.

"I CANNOT tell you, my dear friend, what I suffered after seeing you all cross the Nerbudda, and finding the settlement forsaken by that social circle which so lately enlivened it. Your letter gave me some pleasure in finding the weather favourable, and the roads tolerable, considering the late heavy rains. Your hospitable reception at Surat I had no doubt of; it is the characteristic of India, and your host is particularly renowned for that virtue. I have written fully to Dalton of Bascar Row's infamous conduct in reversing several late decrees by the English judges in the Court of Adawlet at Baroche, justly awarded during their govern

ment.

"That insidious and complicated oppressor Lullably, whose power was so humanely curtailed under the English administration, has entirely ingratiated himself with Bascar Row, and is hourly pointing out to his ready ear some new victim of oppression. Lullabhy has completely besieged him; every man in the durbar is his creature, and Bascar Row the instrument of his tyranny. This ungrateful banian, so patronized by many of our late Board, is now constantly hinting that the English acted with too much lenity in favour of several individuals; at the same time urging him to overset the decrees, or at least to pretend to do so, that money may flow into the coffers of himself and Bascar Row.

"A few days ago a Pinjaree, named Rhaman, formerly an inhabitant of Baroche, but who on account of some dispute with Lullabhy left the place of his nativity, and lived at Duan, was sent for by Bascar Row, and at the instigation of Lullabhy, met with

an extraordinary reception. Rhaman, a bold enterprizing fellow, during the time of the late nabob of Baroche was famous for jaunsaw, and other noble feats in the purgunnas. Rhaman thinking himself ill used by Lullabhy, and not obtaining satisfaction, in the reign of Gulam Shah, came from Duan, in the spirit of revenge, to dispatch that of the sanctified banian, into the body of a cow; but being betrayed by one of his comrades, Lullabhy complained to the English chief, who confined him in the chowkey, and put him in irons, which he contrived to get off, and with them knocking down the European centinel taken by surprise, made his escape. After this transaction, Lullabhy was with great reason suspicious of Rhaman, until a reconciliation took place between them about three years ago upon the death of the Ahmood rajah. On this occasion the treacherous banian presented the open-hearted Rhaman with a considerable sum of money, in token of his entire reconciliation. On Bascar Row's late appointment to Baroche, Lullabhy sent an express to Rhaman at Duan, inviting him to Baroche, and promising to procure him a good appointment under the new pundit. In consequence of this friendly summons the unsuspecting Rhaman came hither a few days ago, was immediately made a jemadar, and honoured with the command of fifty men. Short indeed was his enjoyment of this situation. Lullabhy had now accomplished his infamous purpose; and poor Rhaman, without the shadow of a crime either against Bascar Row or the Mahratta government, was, upon the secret instigation of Lullabhy, condemned to death in this despotic durbar, and ordered to be blown from the mouth of a cannon, which sentence was executed two days ago without the east gate

of the city. This brave fellow in his way to execution, exultingly and loudly exclaimed, that he had friends who would revenge his death on the treacherous banian. You and I are pretty well acquainted with Lullabhy's character, though I believe I know the most of his villainy. I have lately been reading Fielding's Life of Jonathan Wild the Great; the more I see and reflect upon the character of Lullabhy, the more I think him entitled to the glorious epithet of the Great Man. The proclamation, issued under his auspices by Bascar Row, is likely to be altogether as permanent as the general moral system of Lullabhy. Notwithstanding its recent and solemn promulgation, the privilege of distilling and vending arrack for one year, was farmed three days ago for seven thousand rupees to the sircar, and one thousand soocry, (a douceur) to Bascar Row. Yesterday the annual customs collected at the Baroche phoorza, were farmed to a banian from Malwa, for ninetyone thousand rupees, and five thousand soocry. It is plain the man came from a far country; for should the trade continue as flourishing as under our government, of which there is no prospect, the farmer must lose from twenty to thirty thousand rupees; of this you, who was so many years phoorza-master at Baroche, must know the truth.

"You may guess my situation among this rapacious and oppressive people; hourly hearing of grievances I cannot redress, and cruelties I cannot mitigate. I particularly lament the fate of the worthy Afsaram, and many other of our native friends, who, at the vile instigation of Lullabhy, are now under the displeasure of the new pundit for their grateful attachment to us. They are almost forbidden to visit me, especially poor Afsaram, who feels it'

much. In short, no government can be more tyrannical. Fines are inflicted on the most frivolous pretences, to gratify the malice of Lullabhy, and enrich the coffers of Bascar Row, who it is said is only a temporary governor, until a favourite of Sindia comes from Oojeen; consequently he cares not by what means his fortune is made. The wretched inhabitants deplore the blessings of the British government, as much as I do the loss of that society you still enjoy with our former delightful associates; especially our four charming English ladies, who will enliven Surat, and the Bengal cantonments during the monsoon.

"At all events, my worthy friend, continue your correspondence, and let me know what is going on in the world; place yourself in my solitary situation, and I well know how it will operate in my behalf. behalf. As soon as you had all crossed the river, the Mahratta troops marched into the garrison, and on hoisting Sindia's flag on the flag-staff tower, saluted it with one gun; on which I immediately hoisted the British colours on the house formerly the Dutch factory, now appropriated to the English resident.Conceive my feelings!"

Extract from the Answer, dated Surat, the 19th of July, 1783.

YOUR letter, my worthy friend, reached me yesterday evening. I am sorry the halcarrah lost mine to you of the 11th, not that it was of any further consequence than to convey our united tribute of friendship and affection on our departure from Baroche. At a season when my mind was most open