when the Peishwa, an ally and dependent of the British, revolted against their authority. The Rajah of Nagpore, who stood in the same relation to the British, pursued a similar course. Both these powers were subdued, while the war with the Pindarries was prosecuted with success. In the mean time the British Government became involved in disputes with Scindia and Holkar, two independent chiefs. With the former they made terms, but the treaty forced upon him was executed with extreme reluctance. Holkar resolved to have recourse to war. It ended in his entire defeat; his power was completely broken, and he was compelled to sue for peace. The army being now at liberty to act against the Pindarries, the dispersion of that lawless body was at length effected.

It now only remains to notice the war with the Burmese. This war, like most of those in which the English have been engaged, was occasioned by the aggression of the power with whom it was waged. During the Pindarrie war the Burmese were in communication with several of the belligerent native chiefs, and were even prepared for an invasion of the frontier of Bengal. This was averted by a stratagem. The Marquis of Hastings had received a rescript from the Burmese monarch, requiring the surrender of all provinces east of the Baugrutty. The projected hostility was evidently

a measure

a measure concerted with the Mahrattas. Lord Hastings sent back the envoy with an intimation that the answer should be conveyed through another channel. It declared that the Governorgeneral was too well acquainted with his Majesty's wisdom to be the dupe of the gross forgery attempted to be palmed upon him, and he therefore transmitted to the king the document fabricated in his august name, and trusted that he would submit to condign punishment the persons who had endeavoured to sow dissention between two powers, whose reciprocal interest it was to cultivate relations of amity. By this proceeding the necessity of noticing the insolent step of the Burmese monarch was evaded, and that sovereign on hearing of the defeat of his Mahratta allies. was content to remain at peace.

But though the expression of hostile feeling was for awhile suppressed, the feeling itself was not removed, and the Burmese monarch now gained courage to attack where before he had been satisfied to threaten. War commenced, and the successes of the British led to the conclusion of an armistice which was employed in negociations. These negociations being unsuccessful, hostilities were resumed. The march of the English, as in Nepaul, was in some degree retarded by the nature of the country, but this obstacle being overcome, the Burmese sustained a complete de

feat,

feat, and the British advanced towards the capital, when negociations were recommenced and a treaty concluded, by which the Burmese secured their existence as a nation, and the English obtained an extension of territory, valuable as affording a secure frontier. The treaty contained a stipulation for the payment of a sum of money by the Burmese, falling very far short of the expenses of the war, and of which a part only was paid.

The extent of British dominion and influence in India will be sketched in the next chapter. After all the declamation that has been expended upon the means by which they have been acquired, probably no conquests were ever made more righteously. Strangers were forced to become conquerors in self-defence. During a considerable part of the last century the question was, whether India should be subjugated by France or by England? To this question but one answer could be given. The perfidy of the native princes was another source of war and of British aggrandizement. But the crimes of these rulers have in this respect been beneficial to their subjects, by transferring them to the care of a better and a milder government. No friend to mankind can

wish that the natives had remained under their old masters, and none but the most prejudiced can believe that their lot would have been improved by transferring them to the French.

CHAPTER II.

POLITICAL SKETCH.

A discussion of the merits of the various geographical divisions of India which have been adopted either in ancient or modern times would here be out of place, nor perhaps would much benefit be gained by following any of them. In a work, the professed object of which is not geographical, an enumeration of the principal districts is all that can be admitted, and the notice even of these must of necessity be brief and popular.

The most eastern part of the British dominions in India is Arracan, recently severed from the Burmese empire, which it adjoins. The contiguous district of Chittagong, with Midnapore and Burdwan, were among our earliest acquisitions in India, having come into our possession from the Nabob of Bengal in 1760. These were followed five years afterwards by the provinces of Bengal, forming in themselves a powerful kingdom, and giving the British an influence and authority which has gradually led to their supremacy in India. At the north-eastern extremity of this territory is Assam, which with Arracan was ceded by the Burmese at the termination of the war with that

power. A part only of this district is immediately subject to the British Government, Upper Assam having been lately assigned to a native prince. At the northern boundary of these provinces we arrive at the dominions of Bhotan and Nepaul. Goruck poor, Benares, the Upper and Lower Dooab, Bareilly, and Kumaon (the latter newlyacquired from the Nepaulese), are the principal divisions of the British territory in this northern part of India. South of the Lower Dooab and the zemindarry of Benares, lie the districts ceded by the Rajah of Berar in 1826.

In the west, the British dominions extend from Ahmedabad to Cambay, and from thence along a line of coast extending, with little interruption, several hundred miles, through Konkan, Canara, and Malabar, to Cochin. The island of Bombay is upon this coast. More inland, Candeish, the Poonah territory, and the Southern Mahratta country, are incorporated with the British dominions. Coimbatoor and Salem connect Malabar on the west with the Carnatic on the east, which, with Tanjore, the jaghire of Madras, and nearly the whole of the coast of Coromandel, belong to the same mighty empire. The Northern Circars and Kuttack complete the line of maritime districts to Midnapore.

The influence of British authority is not confined to the dominions immediately subjected to