402 ART. XII.-History of the British Colonies. By R. MONTGOMERY MARTIN, 8vo. Vol. 1. Possessions in 1834. This is the first of a series of volumes, in which the history of our colonies (meaning thereby the complete account of each in every particular connected with its climate, soil, productions, &c.) is to be completed; and we have no hesitation in saying, that if the succeeding portions of the work be executed with the same care, ability, and research as the specimen before us, we may calculate on finding our literature enriched with one of the most valuable contributions which it has ever received. The plan of the work, as it is exemplified in this volume, comprehends every feature of interest to which the curiosity of mankind can be directed in a given country. The author first invites our attention to the account of the rise and progress of our power in Asia, describes the conquests which we have made there, and the formation of the territories of India into presidencies. Next there is an account of the stipendiary Princes, of the subsidized and protected States, and of the native chiefs who are tributary or feudatory. The physical aspect and character, the climate, natural productions, and population of Bengal, Madras, and Bombay territories, form the subject of a highly interesting chapter. One of the most interesting features, however, in this description is, the account of the Himalaya mountains, which have been the object of so many enterpizing excursions by our countrymen. The success of these expeditions has led to the belief, that the passes of these mountains may be rendered available for carrying on a communication with China by land. The characters of the climates of various parts of India, as given in this work, are well deserving of the attention of those who look forward to a residence in India. The climate of Bengal is described as being very unhealthy, in consequence of its excessive dampness; but that towards its North Eastern frontier, where the land rises, it is more healthy. In the hills, in this direction, the climate seems excellent; the thermometer ranging between 67 and 75 in May, and in June, from 68 to 72. The conclusions to be drawn from the meterological history of our possessions in Asia are, that they are essentially of a tropical nature, sometimes however passing into the temperature of the milder zones, which changes are represented as being caused by the peculiarities of the soil, or its level above the sea. The natural productions of our India possessions are most numerous and valuable. They consist of the cocoa nut, forest trees of great size, rice, potatoes, wheat, and barley. Calcutta now ranks amongst her regular annual exports, flour made from wheat for starch. The sugar cane grows luxuriously in every part; silk is likewise produced, and cotton to a vast extent; coffee of the best kind is found in the Southern parts, and tobacco and indigo are brought there to great perfection. The zoology of India forms also a very singular feature, but unfortunately there are some parts of the country which suffer no small degree of mortality from the incursions of the wild and ferocious tribes. For instance, within the last four years, not less than one thousand children were devoured by wolves in the vicinity of Agra. Before parting with the subject of zoology, the author gives an account of some of the sports which the animals of India furnish. Both wild hogs and tigers are hunted, and the hawk is trained to the chase in pursuit of antelopes and small deer; leopards, or as they are called in India, cheetahs, are also employed in the same way. Miss Emma Roberts, a very clever young lady, has given the following description of the species of hunting: ན་ The cheetahs, hooded like hawks, are secured by a slight harness to a platform fastened on a bullock cart; their keeper holds the beasts in his hand, and those who wish to obtain a good view of the chase, take a seat beside the driver. Antelopes accustomed to the sight of bullocks will permit them to make a much nearer approach than any less familiar animal. When the carts have arrived at a prudent distance from the herd, the driver halts, the cheetahs are unloosed, and espying the prey, they drop silently off the vehicle, taking care to choose the contrary side from that on which the deer are feeding. They steal crouching along the ground, screening themselves behind every bush, hillock, or tuft of grass which may occur in their way, pausing occasionally when there seems to be any danger of a premature alarm; each has singled out his victim, and measuring the distance with an experienced eye, they dart forward with a sudden bound. Two or three springs ensure success or disappointment; the victor alights upon his prey. But if a threatened antelope should have the good fortune to escape the first attempt, no second effort is made; the cheetah returns growling and in ill-humour to his keeper: he has lost his advantage, and sullenly relinquishes a field which must be won fairly by strength and speed. The poorer class of natives, who take up the occupation of hunters for their own subsistence, or pecuniary emolument, sometimes avail themselves of the services of a bullock in approaching within shot of a herd of antelopes. Theirs is a matter of business, not of excitement, and they have no idea of allowing a chance to the object of their pursuit. The bullock is carefully trained for the purpose, and when his education is completed, he makes a quiet entrance into the jungles, followed closely by his master, who contrives to screen himself completely behind the animal. The bullock grazes carelessly as he advances, making circuitous and apparently unpremeditated movements; at last he arrives at a convenient distance without having disturbed the unconscious herd, he then stands still, the shikare or hunter fixes his clumsy matchlock along the back of the animal, and still unseen takes unerring aim: down drops the devoted antelope, and away fly the rest of the herd, dispersed and out of sight in an instant."Vol. i. p. 109. After a full account of the productions and capabilities of India, as a fertile colony of England, the author proceeds to give a description of the nature of the government in all its branches, including the civil, judicial, police, military, marine, medical, and ecclesiastical, &c. This is a most interesting part of the volume, as it presents us with an accurate definition of the duties of each set of officers, as they have been set down by Parliament. The dominions of the East Indies are divided into three presidencies, Bengal, Madras, Bombay and Agra; each chief filling the office of president, is assisted by a council, which consists of two of the company's senior civil servants, and the commander in chief of the army. The government of Bengal is the supreme one of the whole, and its head is styled the governor-general of India; the arrangements connected with the administration of justice are pretty extensive. In the Bengal presidency there is a high Court of Appeal, civil and criminal; the second degree of Courts are provincial Courts of Appeal, which are conducted each by a chief and one puisne judge; these Courts have no criminal jurisdiction. In Bengal there are twenty commissioners of gaol delivery, who hold sessions twice a year, at the different cities, or stations of the province: these commissioners direct and control the magistrates, revenue officers, and police. The Zillah and city Courts of Bengal amount to forty-nine. There is no fixed estimate of a Zillah; in Bengal the average population of one amounts to almost two millions. In these Courts are tried all cases of a minor nature, such as do not admit of a punishment beyond a couple of years' imprisonment, as frays, thefts, &c.; but the chief officers of these Courts can commit for heinous offences, which will afterwards be tried by the commissioners of the circuit. Besides these Courts there is at each presidency, a supreme or King's Court, with a chief and two puisne judges, a master in equity, registrar, a certain number of barristers and attorneys, and at Calcutta one Hindoo and one Mahomedan law officer are attached to the Courts. The Trial by Jury takes place in the criminal courts, but not in the civil ones, the natives being eligible both as grand and petty jurors. There are at Calcutta and Bombay, Courts of Requests for the recovery of Small Debts. The Recorders of these are all Europeans. The proceedings in these courts are carried on in English, with the aid of interpreters, and generally speaking, the civil law of England is applied. But in the case of the Hindoo or Mahomedan, their own religious code respectively is administered. The criminal law is almost always that of the Mahomedan Code, in which mutilations of the limbs and flagellations to death are frequent punishments. The regulations for the Police are very minute, and appear to be modified so as to allow of a good portion of the efficient part of the system to be supplied by natives. There is a separate army to each Presidency, the commanderin-chief of Bengal possessing a general authority over the whole. The total military force, on the average, amounts to 194,000 men, in three distinct divisions; namely, the King's cavalry and infantry; the East India Company's European engineers, artillery, and infantry; and the East India Company's Native artillery, cavalry, and infantry. The number of officers in India, is 5,531: of these, 752 are in the King's military service. The compliment of officers to each regiment is, of Europeans, one colonel, one brevet colonel, one major, five captains, eight lieutenants, and four cornets or ensigns: of natives commissioned, there are a subadar and a jemadar, with each troop or company. The average number of officers at Bengal in each year for the eighteen which have just elapsed, has been 1754. The casualties attending them have been eighty per annum: the deaths fifty-four, or one in thirty-two. At Madras, the toial number of officers every year, was 1,346-casualties 75, or one in eighteen : deaths 52, one in twenty-six. In Bombay, the total number of officers has been 62-casualties 34, or one in eighteen: deaths 26, or one in twenty-four. The candidates for the officers' commissions in the Indian army, must have previously received a good education, which they are required to procure at Addiscombe College, near Croydon; here the Oriental languages are taught, as well as military discipline. "Each cadet pays 651. the first year, and 507. the second. The cadets are clad in uniform, and get their appointments as soon as qualified. The examination is very strict, and if a lad fails for the Engineers or Artillery, but evinces general talent and diligence, he is recommended for the Infantry. The East India Company purchased Addiscomb College and grounds in 1810 for 17,2517.; the building cost 82,8691.; and the total expenditure from 1810 to 1830 was 366,1541., of which 37,1367. was for instructing the cadets in trigonometrical surveys and the art of sapping and mining, &c.; for books, stationary, and mathematical instruments, 18,7527.; and the rewards to cadets for industry and talent, amounted in four years to 1,6007. The total number of cadets educated during the period has been two thousand and ninety; and to the excellence of the establishment, the success and extraordinary formation of the East India Company's fine army is pre-eminently due, while the expenditure on each cadet has not averaged 981."-Vol. i, p. 150. The number of native officers in the Company's military service, has been about 4,450. We are informed, in reference to the military power of India, that an army is now forming in the north-western portions of India, which threatens ultimately to be a source of great annoyance to the East India Company, as holding the dominion of Hindostan. This is the Seick army under the command of Runjeet Sing, and now an object of Russian intrigue. This body has been for a long time in existence, having been about thirty years ago, a mere military con federacy of predatory horsemen. At present, they constitute a formidable army, having received a considerable amount of instruction from foreign (particularly French) officers, and being in other respects highly improved by the talents of their leader. The expences of the military establishment in India, is for every year on the average, very nearly nine millions sterling and a half. There is a navy also in India. This Indian marine is attached exclusively to the Bombay Presidency, and consists of one frigate, four 18-gun ships, six 10-gun corvettes and brigs, two armed steamers, and some surveying vessels. The officers consist of 12 captains, 14 commanders, 46 lieutenants, 71 junior officers, and about 500 European seamen, and a compliment of from six to seven hundred seamen. During the wars in Europe, this small fleet exhibited bravery as well as a perfection of tactics, which his majesty's navy did not outstrip; but the great benefit which we have derived from this peculiar service, consists in the valuable surveys made by the officers in the islands, rivers, gulphs, and bays, in the Indian and Chinese seas. A very valuable body though not of a warlike nature, is established at Calcutta. This is a pilot service, expressly formed for the purpose of bringing the merchant and other ships safely into the bay of Bengal, the navigation of which, in the tempestuous months from April to October, is highly perilous. In the medical appointments, the Company have been always ready to take for their guide merit and competency alone; and the result has been, that the professional body connected with the Indian army has been always distinguished for the zeal and ability with which it has contributed to the promotion of science. The Company have also paid the fullest attention to the religious condition of those under their protection; and the Ecclesiastical establishment which they maintained in India was fully competent to the wants of the community. With reference to the distribution of patronage, it appears that the Directors have the nomination of Writers, Cadets, and Assistant Surgeons; and this, with 300l. a year, is the whole of the emolument which the Directors receive. The number of Writers sent out from 1826 to 1830 was 377; of Cadets, 1,442; and of Assistant Surgeons, 294. The persons of this description sent out in the last four years were as follows:: These constitute a portion of the civil servants of the Company, who are provided, at the expence of this body also, with a good mental preparation for their future lives; they " are educated at |