to the Rev. Mr. Hutchins the highest credit is due for his indefatigable exertions in proposing and furthering this philanthropic institution. The committee consisting of the chaplain, and some of the principal gentlemen of the Settlement, are unremitting in their labor, and anticipate with pleasure the impulse which the active mind of the new Governor, Colonel Bannerman, is so well calculated to give to every measure for ameliorating the condition of the natives.

The erection of a church at this Presidency is proceeding with the utmost expedition, and is expected to be fit for the performance of divine service by the arri val of Governor Bannerman.

E

CEYLON.

Colombo, August 16th, 1817.- We have the pleasure of laying before our readers a copy of his Excellency the Governor's address, to the chiefs of the Kandyan provinces assembled at the hall of audience in Kandy, on Tuesday the 12th instant, the anniversary of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent's birth-day, and also the first day of the great Cingalese feast called Perehayre.

"After an absence from the capital of these provinces, which has been protracted beyond my expectation and wishes by the urgency of other important public duties, I am anxious to express the pleasure which I experience in seeing you again in the enjoyment of health, and the higher gratification which I derive from observing the manifest increase of agriculture and trade throughout the country, and the flourishing condition of its inhabitants.

"I have peculiar satisfaction in meeting and addressing you upon au occasion, which is celebrated in a joyful and public nanner by all British subjects, as being the anniversary of the birth of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and the return of the auspicious day, which is also the first of your ancient public festival of Perchayre, it is my intention to distinguish by exercising acts of clemency, which are most congenial to the benevolent disposition of his Royal Highness.

"I have therefore to announce to you the pardon of a prisoner nearly connected with some chiefs now enjoying office and the confidence of government, who has long been suffering the penalty of his crime; Madugalla late Uda Gabadda Nilame, the period of his sentence is unexpired and its completion far distant, but instructions have been sent to Jaffna, di reeting him to be discharged from confinement on this day, he will again be re stored to his relations and friends, and I trust the example of his punishment will operate to deter others from undertaking Asiatic Journ.--No. 26.

designs, which bring distress upon themselves and their families, and that the act of clemency which has been extended to him in this instance will supersede the necessity of any future example of severity, and secure the allegiance and duty of the chiefs by sentiments of voluntary and sincere attachment to a government in which punishment is ever regulated by justice and tempered with mercy.

"I have also called under review the

general list of unfortunate persons who are suffering the sentence of the law in these provinces, and have thought fit to grant pardon to a few, who from the nature of their offences may in my judg ment be discharged without public detriment, but I have perceived with regret several other more atrocious delinquents, who have been convicted of culpable ho micide and robbery, and of wantonly inAicting torture on suspicion: to such persons, how much soever I commisserate their unhappy lot, the public interests which are committed to my charge, imperiously require that no pardon should be conceded till the measure of their pu nishment shall have been fulfilled.

"I have further to acquaint you, that I have received instructions from his Majesty's ministers, to transmit for the information of his Majesty's government in England, a faithful report on the institu tions and customs of the Kandyan provinces, with the view of framing such re gulations as may tend to promote the general prosperity of the country and the welfare of its inhabitants. It will therefore be a principal object of my attention during my present residence amongst you to obtain accurate information upon this important subject, and I entertain no doubt, that in the prosecution of this. design I shall experience your cordial assistance and co-operation.

"I shall be happy at all times to receive your free communications upón all points connected with the government of the country, and in return I now offer my assurance, that nothing shall be wanting on the part of the government under my administration, to adopt measures, which' appear best calculated to promote the public welfare, to protect your religious establishments, and above all to encourage the extension of agriculture and commerce, from which I entertain a confident hope of seeing the prosperity of the Kandyan provinces advanced beyond the example of former times."

CIVIL APPOINTMENT.

J. W. Bennett, Esq. to be second assistant in the chief secretary's office.

COLOMBO GENERAL ORDERS. 1st Ceylon regt. Second leut, Wm. Driberg from the 3d Ceylon regt. to be VOL. V. 2 E

second lieutenant, vice Fleming who exchanges-dated June 25th 1817.

The commander of the forces is pleased to grant two years leave of absence to Col. Kerr, of the 2d Ceylon regt., and commandant of Colombo, to proceed to England, to commence from the period of his embarkation. In announcing to the army the approaching departure of this meritorious officer, the lieut.-gen. has pleasure in recording his sense of Colonel Kerr's able services for a series of years in this colony, and his public acknowledgments for the advantages he has individu. ally derived from them.

The commander of the forces is pleased to appoint Col. Brooke Young, of the royal artillery, to the command of Colombo in the room of Col. Kerr. This appointment to bear date on the 1st of July next.

MAURITIUS.

July 5.-Between one and two o'clock of the morning of Tuesday last the 1st instant, the town was alarmed by the ringing of the great bell on the tower of the Roman Catholic church, to announce a fire that had burst out (it is said) in a large magazine belonging to M. Delaleu situated in the street leading from the Champ de Mars to the Champ de Lort. Prompt assistance immediately came to the spot, but such was the violence of an easterly wind, which had blown all night, that the flames instantly spread from the magazine to the out offices adjoining it, belonging to M. Lemaric, and rapidly communicating to his dwelling house, which formed the angle of the buildings on that line of the street, the whole in a short space of time became one irresistible blaze, and it re

quired the utmost efforts to prevent its extending its career.

The alacrity of the civil magistrates and military authorities, with the troops in garrison, in support of the company of firemen under the able direction of Messrs. Piston, Lacombe, Poujade, &c. &c. and their strenuous exertions to arrest the progress of the destructive element, most fortunately for the remainder of the town, was, beyond all hopes, crowned with success; for the high wind continued until the buildings in the immediate reach of the fire entirely became its prey, and all minds were in constant alarm that the flaming particles which the wind continually wafted in its course would augment the disaster.

No lives were lost on this occasion, but we regret that a serjeant of His Majesty's 12th regiment (Mackenzie by name) had his leg broke by the fall of part of a rafter. The gratitude of the inhabitants has directed itself towards this victim of a zeal so laudable, and a subscription has

been opened to mark thei' sense of his conduct.

We are persuaded nat we speak the sentiments of all the inhabitants of Port Louis who were witnesses of the conduct of the garrison on this melancholy occasion, when we express our admiration of their zeal and activity, particularly in sa ying the surrounding buildings from the imminent peril that menaced them. So conspicuous and general was self devotion, that any omission in an attempt to particularize individuals might be ascribed to an invidious motive. Their own approving minds and the conviction that they have individually excited the admiration and gratitude of their fellow subjects will be to them the most grateful recompense.

However limited the destruction in this instance, we sincerely regret to add that this unfortunate accident has involved in distress a worthy member of society, and in almost entirely annihilating the fruits of twenty-five years industry in a foreign. clime, has blighted the expectations of a family of ten children, six girls and four boys, of the former of whom two are just entering the eventful stage of life.

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following letter has been published by the Madras government :

Madras, 28th June 1817. To the President and Members of the Marine Board.

Gentlemen: Being commander of the private ship Hibernia, of London, and lately arrived in the roads, I beg leave to make known to you, that on my late passage from England I touched at the island of Tristran de Cunha to get water, on the 9th of April last; and that after taking our departure from there on the 12th, at half past eleven, A. M., having run 357 miles per log on a E. by S. course, with a free wind all the time, fell in with three sunken rocks, one of which we very narrowly escaped being on; there appeared to be about nine feet water on the one we had close alongside, latitude 37, 31 south, 4 42 west; the three rocks form almost a triangle, and all within the bounds of a cable's length. Being so much alarmed at the time, and the ship going at the rate of seven knots, had no opportunity of sounding on them. I am fully convinced to the facts before stated, as well

as my first officer, and several of the watch on deck at the time; and am, &c. JOHN LENNON.

Cumbrian's Reef, or Gadd's Rock.The shoal named Cumbrian's Reef, or Gadd's Rock, is no longer doubtful, Lieutenant D. Ross, marine surveyor to the Hon. East-India Company in the Eastern Seas, having examined it on the 9th of January 1817. He found it to be a

small and very dangerous shoal, about 100 yards long, upon which the boat found two fathoms water about the mid. dle of the rock, and it is situated in lat. 21 43 N.* bearing S. 2 E. from the highest part of Little Botel Tobago Xima.

Or only half a mile different from its situation as stated in page 332 of Vol. II. of Horsburgh's India Directory, 2d edition, from observations of Lieut. Wm. Smyth.

-Dec. 23.-A Court of Directors was held at the East-India House, when the undermentioned ships were thus stationed, viz.-Northampton, Capt. C. Tebbat, and Lord Keith, Capt. J. Freeman, for Bengal and Bencoolen; Henry Porcher, Capt. J. P. Anstice, and Fairlie, Capt. T. E. Ward, for Bengal and Bombay; and Lady Lushington, Capt. T. Dormer, for Bombay direct.

The following captains were sworn into the command of their respective ships, viz.-Capt. T. Dormer, to the Lady Lushington, for Bombay direct, and Capt. J. P. Anstice, to the Henry Porcher, for Bengal and Bombay.

The dispatches of the following ships were also closed, and delivered to the pursers, viz.-Canning, Capt. W. Patterson, and Thomas Coutts, Capt. Wm. Majoribanks, for Bombay and China.

Passengers per the Canning: for Bombay, Major-Gen. J. Bailie and Messrs. Harding and Lewis; per the Thomas Coutts, for Bombay, Mrs. Alvarez and 'family, and Mr. J. R. Duncan,

Dec. 29.-The Melville, 74, Captain Pemberton, lately built at Bombay, came into Portsmouth harbour to be paid off. She has brought the teak frame of another ship of the line.

Jan. 6.-A Court of Directors was held at the East-India House, when the following ships were thus timed, viz.-Fairlie, Capt. T. E. Ward, and Henry Porcher, Capt. J. P. Anstice, for Bengal and Bombay, to he afloat 10th Feb. and to sail from Gravesend 22d March. Lord Keith, Capt. J. Freeman, and Northampton, Capt. C. Tebbut, for Bengal, to be afloat 22d March, and to sail from Gravesend 1st May. Lady Lushington, Capt. T. Dormer, for Bombay, to be afloat 22d March, and to sail from Gravesend 1st May.

Jan. 7.-A Court of Directors was held, when the following captains were sworn into the command of their respective

ships, viz. Capt. T. H. Harris, Prince Regent, for Madras and Bengal; and Capt. T. E. Ward, Fairlie, for Bengal and Bombay.

Jan. 7.-A General Court of Proprietors was this day held, pursuant to adjournment, to confirm the Resolutions of the General Court of the 17th ult. approving and confirming the Resolutions of the Court of Directors, granting pensions, partly from the. Company's cash, and partly from the fee fuud, to several persons.

The following grants were put from the chair, seriatim, and unanimously agreed to, viz.

To Mr. George Dominicus.
To Captain John Coggan
To Mr. John Holland..
To Mr. Peter Frost...
To Mr. Robert H. Peart..
To Mr. J. M. Neale
To Mr. Wm. Marter.
To Mr. William Coward
To Lady Winterton

£650

400

600

600

300

300

300

350.

300

The Chairman (J. Bebb, Esq.) then moved, "That this Court do confirm the Resolution of the General Court of the 17th ult. approving and confirming the Resolution of the Court of Directors of the 28th August, 1816, appointing Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Bryce, on the retired list of the Fort St. George Establishment, as a Military Assistant to the Auditor, at a salary of £300 per

aunum."

Mr. Howorth and Mr. Hume impressed on the executive body the justice and propriety of couferring on the servants of the Company, reared up from infancy in that house, all offices of importance, requiring ability and integrity, and they deprecated that system of innovation which introduced individuals not previously

known in the house.

The Deputy Chairman and Mr. Grant answered, that the Directors were anxious to give encouragement, and to pay every mark of respect, to the gentlemen educated in the India House and never

:

looked for persons out of doors, except where circumstances compelled them. The resolution was then agreed to, and the Court adjourned, sine die.

A full report of this interesting debate will be given in a future number of the Asiatic Journal.

On the 8th January, Joseph Hume, Esq. was elected a member of the Royal Society.

Jan. 14.-A Court of Directors was held at the East-India House, when Capt. J. Stewart was sworn into the command of the ship Lady Melville, consigned to China direct; as was Capt. B. Kay, into the command of the Marchioness of Ely, destined to Madras and Bengal.

Jan. 21.-A Court of Directors was held at the East-India House, when the following commanders took leave of the court, previous to departing for their respective destinations, viz.-Capt. Hamilton, of the Dunira, and Capt. A. Drummond, of the Castle Huntly, for Bengal and China; Capt, Campbell, of the London, and Capt. Balston, of the Princess Amelia, for Madras and China..

The ship Perseverance, of 1,200 tons, was taken up for one voyage in the Company's service.

Professor Christian has resigned his Professorship of the Laws of England in the East-India College, near Hertford, and the Honourable Court of Directors have been pleased to grant him a pension for life.

The Favourite, Capt. Robinson, is arrived from Deptford at Portsmouth, for her crew to be mustered and paid wages, preparatory to proceeding to the St. He lena and Cape station, from whence the Phaeton, Capt. Stanfell, may be shortly expected to arrive. Governor Farquhar, from the Mauritius, comes home in her.

The Emperor of Russia has invited Sanscrit and Persian scholars of all nations to Petersburgh, for the purpose of cultivating those languages; the court of Petersburgh seem to be turning a large portion of their attention towards the

east.

Lieutenant-General Sir G. Lowry Cole, G.C.B. is appointed to succeed the late Sir John Floyd as Governor of Gravesend and Tilbury Fort.

The Gazette of January 24 offers a reward of £50 for discovering the person who wrote an anonymous letter to Lady Nepean, threatening to murder her and to burn her house.

Constantinople, Dec. 10.-Accounts received from Persia inform us, that the late Russian embassy to the sovereign of that country has not been attended with the advantages which had been expected from it; and that the Persians, unable to forget the cessions made at the last peace, try every imaginable means to recover the ceded provinces, in order by this to recover from the precarious situation in which they are placed, by the proximity of the Russian frontiers to the royal residence of Teheran, which is scarcely fifty German miles distant from them.

Vienna, Dec. 31. We have now more particular accounts of what has passed on the frontiers of Persia. The attack made upon the Turkish frontier fortress of Bajazid, by a body of Curdes, was not led by Abbas Mirza, whom his father has destined for his successor to the throne of Persia, but by Ali Mirza, an elder son, whom the father has passed over in choosing his successor, and also on this account lives at variance with him. It is further confirmed that this inconsiderate proceeding, in consequence of the declarations made by the Schah, will not be attended with any interruption of the good understanding between the two empires. A courier lately dispatched by the British Resident at Bagdad, overland to Constantinople, has been murdered near Mossal, and robbed of his dispatches.

Welch Order. The following is given in a morning paper as the promised list of the new knights :-The Sovereign; 1. and 2. to be filled by two Princes of the Blood Royal; 3. Marquis of Anglesea; 4. Viscount Bulkeley; 5. Earl of Cardigan; 6. Viscount Dungannon; 7. Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, Bart. ; 8. Lord Milford 9. Earl of Powis; 10. Lord Kenyon; 11. Lord Gwydir; 12. Lord Dynevor. Prebend of the Order, Bishop of St. Asaph; Chancellor, Bishop of Bangor; Registrar, Rhys Jones, Esq.; Genealogist, R. Richards, Esq.-Poursuivant, Heralds, Gentleman Usher, &c. at the disposal of the Earl Marshal.Ribband, Light green edged with white, Motto, Creantur fortibus et bonis.

The following is an account of the pilgrim lately arrived in England from St. Petersburgh. He is a native of the kingdom of Cabul, and a merchant of the town of Gurned, and in the habit of taking his merchandize to Buchaura. Upon one of these excursions, in company with eight other merchants, near the town of Balkh, they were attacked by eighty Tartars, who inhabit the mountains of the Hazarehs, in the neighbourhood of Balkh, and plundered; on which occasion this man, having lost an arm, and received a

cut in the head, was left nearly lifeless on the spot. Four of his companions were killed, and four made their escape. He was, however, able to reach his house, where he lay fifty days before he recovered; and, during his illness, made a vow that he would undertake a pilgrimage through Russia, and, by way of England, to Mecca, should the Almighty restore him to health. He has three wives and two children alive; ten are dead. It is his intention to stay thirty days in Mecca, whence, after offering his thanks to the Almighty, and fasting, he returns to his wives and children. He is sixty years old, and states himself to have been in good circumstances; he seems very intelligent, and perfectly acquainted with the geography of Cabul, and the empire of Russia; speaks only his own provincial dialect, and very little Russian and Persian, and is perfectly satisfied with his undertaking, with the only exception that he dreads the sea, suffering extremely by sea-sickness. His name is Musra Kallm Mahomet. He also says he has been very kindly received by the metropolite, and different priests of the Greek church in St. Petersburg, and has a recommendation from the Asiatic Society, who kindly paid his passage to this country.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.

DEATHS.

Dec. 6. On his voyage from Madras in the ship Boyne, Major-gen. A dwell Taylor. -98. At Oakley Park, near Ludlow, Lady Clive, in the 84th year of her age, relict of Robert, first Lord Clive, the founder of our empire in Bengel. Lady Clive was in various parts of India when her husband commanded the army there. She joined him in Calcutta after the re-taking of that town, and the decisive battle of Plassey. The death of Lord Clive took place in 1774. After that tragical event Lady Clive retired to the country, and contined herself to the society of her near connexions; above 40 years of her blameless and exemplary life were thus passed in widowhood and seclusion. 27. At Hampstead, aged five months, Stamford Raffles, son of T. Browne, Esq. and nephew of Sir T. S. Raffles.

-27. At Southampton, aged 77, Sir R. Onslow, Bart. G. C. B. Admiral of the Red and Lieut.gen. of the Royal Marine Forces. Jan. 13. At Cufnells, the Rt. Hon. Geu. Rose, Treasurer of the Navy. &c.

10. At his house in Mansfield Street, London, Gen. Sir John Lloyd, Bart. Col. of the 8th Light Dragoons and Governor of Tilbury Fort and of Gravesend, The General has left both in India and Europe, a large circle of friends by whom his death will be deeply regretted. 15. Griffith Jones, Esq. of Cardigan, late of Calcutta in Bengal.

-12.

At the house of her son, Capt. Gooch (formerly commander of the Sir Stephen Lushington, East Indiaman) Mrs. Gooch, in the 86th year of her age.

-15.

In Mount Street, Grosvernor Square, Alex. Brodie, Esq. Father to the Marchioness of Huntley.

7. At the house of W. Venam, Esq. in Woburn Place, after a short illness, Wm. Bruce Smith, Esq. of Starborough Castle in Surrey, and late of Natpore in the East-Indies.

INDIA SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Arrivals.

Dec. 28.-Portsmouth, Cornwall, Jordan, from Isle of France and Cape of Good Hope.

Liverpool, Bridget, May, from Bombay. Jan. 1. Gravesend, Borodina, Spurs, from Cape of Good Hope.

Dec. 28.-Dover, William and Jane, Miller, from China for Amsterdam. 30.-Portsmouth,

Astrea Transport, Wilson, from Cape of Good Hope.

29.-Deal, Thomas, Jackson, from Cape of Good Hope.

Jan. 8.-Portsmouth, Albeona Transport, from Cape of Good Hope.

7.-Deal, Edward, Johnson, from Bombay. 8.-Deal, Hyperion, Horn, from Bombay. 12.-Gravesend, Byne, Ferguson, from Bengal, 10.-Deal, Minstrel, Bristow, from Bengal. 12.-Deal, Glory, Pounder, from Bengal.

Deal, Cape Packet. Cornfoot, from Cape of Good Hope.

12.-Swansey, La Mère de Famille, Gogen, from Isle of France.

16.-Gravesend, Orion, Worth, from South

Seas.

17.-Deal, Cadmus, Dent, from Isle of France. 18.-Deal, Charles Mills, Charretie, from Bengal,

Deal, Mary Ann, McClure, from Bengal.
Deal, Brilliant, Fenn, from Bengal.

19. Liverpool, John Tobin, Kennan, from Bengal.

Passengers per Cornwallis.-Capt. T. Brown, Capt. Grant, Capt. Cunningham and family, Capt. Shea, Major Andrews, ieut. Crauford and family, Lieut. Prideau, Lieut. Molson, Ensign Hayes, Assist. Surg. Reid, De achment of H. M, troops, Miss Cross.

Passengers per Minstrel.-Misses Reid, Arthur, Whitecombe, Porter, Surgeon.

Passengers per Charles Mills. Mrs. Steele, Pierce, Charriti, Capt. Dalziel Duncombe, Lieur. Allan Casey, Mr. R. Becher, jun. Lieut. Leigh.Children, Miss Steele, Pierce, E. Stafford, M. Stafford, Dennison, Master Pierce, T. Pierce, A. Steele, P. Wilson.