till it struck wide open the door, and rested in the middle of the cottage floor. The widow was seated by her fireside she saw it; and, as I rushed into the room after the head, she uttered a scream, and disappeared. I was too intent on getting the specimen home to heed what became of her. My relative remarked I was looking pale on my return; but I said nothing of my adventures. Next day, however, there was considerable excitement among the gossips of the town, in consequence of the widow on the cliff declaring she had received a visitation from her slavedealing husband, whom she had long consigned to the grave. She declared he had stood before her on the previous evening, and that a black slave came into the room and wrestled with him in her presence, and finally both disappeared by sinking through the floor! Neither did this scene admit of doubt in her mind; for there, on the stone slabs, were the bloody marks of mortal combat, visible to anyone who might choose to be sceptical. I only was in possession of the secret. The widow left the cottage, which from that time of course became haunted.' Some days afterwards, I again visited the jail the door and windows of the cottage were closed. I walked on to the turret where I had been so much alarmed, and quite unexpectedly received an explanation of the figure in white, which, with outstretched arms, had (in the excited state of my imagination) seemed to forbid my ascending the stairs. It was nothing more than the silvery moonlight shining on the inner wall of the staircase, having been shaped into human form by passing through one of those old-fashioned arrow-slits, shaped like a Maltese cross."

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6

Here the butler brought in lights, and as we were both able to the say scenery hereabouts is truly rural," we went upstairs and joined the ladies..

sults. The study of the Native languages has again been brought before the public, and it may be as well if we take occasion to base a few remarks on this important subject. It has long been apparent to us, that we sink ourselves in the scale of humanity by directing our energies and talents to the study of such works as the Bagh-oBaliar, the Baital Puchesee, the Prem Sagur, the Gulistan, the Gool-i-Bukowlee, and other Native works. The only work we have read which is not obscene is the Ikhwan-oos-Suffa, and that is simply childish. Would any parent direct the attention of his child to the study of the Decameron of Bocaccio ?—and this work is not nearly so gross as the Bagh-oBahar, which not only teems with sensuality, but abounds in pure bestiality. We cannot moderate our language as applied to it.

An Indian gentleman contributed a letter to Smith, Elder & Co.'s Homeward Mail in 1858, in which he said he had never met an English gentleman who could correctly read, write, or speak any of the languages current in India, or who was able to decipher a common Persian letter, or to compose half a page of Oordoo or Hindoostanee without making gross mistakes, both in idiom and orthography. In support of his assertion, he quoted the following remark from the "Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official," vol. ii. page 53, written by that learned and eminent linguist, acute scholar, distinguished soldier, and talented and experienced Indian statesman, the late lamented Major-General Sir William Henry Sleeman, K.C.B. :—

"The best of us Europeans feel our deficiencies in conversation with Mahomedans of

high rank and education, when we are called upon to talk upon subjects beyond the everyday occurrences of life. A Mahomedan gentleman of education is tolerably well acquainted with astronomy as it was taught by Ptolemy; with the logic and ethics of Aristotle and Plato; with the works of Hippocrates and Galen, through those of Avicenna, or, as they call him, Budli Sena; and he is very capable of talking upon all subjects of philosophy, literature, science, and the arts, and very much inclined to do so, and of understanding the nature of the improvements that have been made in them in modern times. But, however capable we may feel of discussing those subjects, or explaining these

improvements in our own languages, we all feel ourselves very much at a loss when we attempt to do it in theirs. Perhaps few Europeans have mixed and conversed more freely with all classes than I have; and yet I feel myself sadly deficient when I enter, as I often do, iuto discussions with Mahomedan gentlemen of education upon the subject of the characters of the governments and

institutions of different countries; their effects upon the character and condition of the people; the arts and the sciences; the faculties and operations of the human mind; and the thousand other things which are subjects of every-day conversation among educated and thinking men in our own country. I feel that they could understand me quite well, if I could find words for my ideas; but these I cannot find, though their languages abound in them nor have I ever met the European gentleman who could. East Indians can; but they commonly want the ideas as much as we want the language. The chief cause of this deficiency is the want of sufficient intercourse with men in whose presence we should be ashamed to appear ignorant; this is the great secret, and all should know and acknowledge it.

"We are not ashamed to convey our orders to our Native servahts in a barbarous language. Military officers seldom speak to their sipahees and Native officers about anything but arms, accoutrements, and drill; or to other Natives about anything but the sports of the field: and as long as they are understood, they care not one straw in what language they express themselves. The conversation of the civil servants with their Native officers takes sometimes a wider range; but they have the same philosophical indifference as to the language in which they attempt to convey their ideas; and I have heard some of our highest diplomatic characters talking, without the slightest feeling of shame or embarrassment, to Native princes, on the most ordinary subjects of every-day interest, in a language which no human being but themselves could understand. We shall remain the same until some change of system inspire us with stronger motives to please and conciliate the educated classes of the Native community. They may be reconciled, but they can never be charmed out of their prejudices, or the errors of their preconceived opinions, by such language as the European gentlemen are now in the habit of speaking to them. We must learn their language better, or we must teach them our own, before we can venture to introduce among them those free institutions which would oblige us to meet them on equal terms at the bar, on the bench, and in the senate !"

Now, as far as the Native gentlemen and General Sleeman are concerned, we must state, that though our service is as nothing compared with that of the latter, we know numerous proficient scholars Colonel Marshall, formerly of the College, Captain Lees, the present incumbent, Captain Hayes, and a host

of others, are all celebrated as good linguists. The army list will afford a good list of names of men eminent in Native acquirements. We must coufess that we consider, for purely military purposes, that book-knowledge is not so essentially necessary as the Government wishes us to believe. We do not urge that bookknowledge should be entirely underrated. Far from it. But from our experience, we are decidedly of opinion that more stress should be laid on the colloquial proficiency that a passing man possesses, and in the event of an officer being able to converse fluently and well on all topics, that he should not be debarred the privilege open to his brother who has an H. (passed in Hindoostanee) after his name, and who, perhaps, may not be able to speak well enough to make his men understand him. It is essentially necessary that an adjutant should possess a clear and correct knowledge of the Native language, in order that he may be able to speak fluently to the men under him, yet we know many who cannot do so at all. How comes it (and this is a knotty point) that Lieutenant Jones must pass to hold the adjutancy of his regiment, and Colonel Fireater has not to do the same when the important command of 1000 men is placed in his hands?—or again, when a colonel takes command of a brigade, a general of a division, or a commander in chief of an army ? Are there different sauces for the goose and the gander? A colonel once amused, aye nearly convulsed the officers of his regiment, as well as the men, by informing them that he was a court-martial, and that he intended sitting on the head of a drum"! (i. e., he would assemble a drum-head court-martial). What would have happened to a lieutenant for the same novel communication to his men ? He would surely have lost the adjutancy on the morrow, and have been served right; yet, in the name of justice, common sense, and expediency, why are not colonels, who are incapable of speaking a word to their men, turned out of their commands?

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In the remodelling of the Indian army, let it be distinctly laid down, and rigidly enforced, that every officer shall and must pass an examination for every

appointment; and, moreover, that each candidate for employment on the staff (however that matter may be arranged) shall show other qualifications for employment over and above the affixes of H. and P. Then the reign of right, not might, will commence; and, rest assured, the men who fill posts of honour and distinction will be in their right places.

It would be an easy matter to translate a few really good English works into the characters that the officers have to pass in. Lieutenant Lees and others, with the assistance of efficient moonshees, could speedily accomplish this; and then we should find that the study of the languages was resorted to as an amusement, and not as a punishment-as it now is.

There are many works in English that could easily be translated into good Hindee, and Oordoo, and the pleasure derived from reading them would be quite as much as any we experience from the study of French, German, or Italian.

Once again, before we take leave of the subject, let us reiterate a statement we have made, that it is essentially

Bombay.

necessary, to the efficiency of the army, that all the officers of the service should, before everything else, be able to speak the language fluently; that, in most cases, book-knowledge, though it cannot be dispensed with, is a secondary consideration, and that the fact of having passed in the languages should of itself give no claim for employment, unless the candidate be in every way qualified for the post.

A Calcutta paper as far back as the 15th May 1854 thus wrote:

"Without a competent knowledge of Hindoostanee, the cadet is, on his arrival in the He is country, at the mercy of his servants. generally induced to hire such as can speak a little English. These men are almost always rogues, who rob and cheat him as long as they can, and when they can no longer prey upon him, from his means being exhausted, or his having gained sufficient knowledge of their ways and their language to be independent of them, they desert him. cannot perceive that the study of French can be of any real use to the Indian cadet. have known many ensigns who were excellent French scholars, but before they reached the rank of captain, they had forgotton almost all they ever knew of the language, simply because they had no opportunities for making a practical use of their knowledge. Hindoostanee must always be serviceable to the Indian officer.”

We

We

The Old and New Year.

By THOMAS CARNEGY ANDERSON,
Captain, Bengal Army.

AN aged man passed by my door,

With feeble, tottering gait ;

I watched him pass a hundred times,
Till it was dark and late.
He never spoke a single word,

To those who wandered by ;
At every step I seemed to hear
A low and plaintive sigh.
A sigh, as if some inward pang

Gave force unto his sorrow :

I watch'd him till 'twas late at night-
He came not on the morrow!

A little, merry, rosy child,
Came tripping past my gate;
But I could only think upon

That old man and his gait.
For many days, at morn and eve,
I'd seen him wander by ;
And now I missed his silent step,
And e'en his plaintive sigh.

The little child tript past again,

I whispered in his ear

"Dear boy, come tell me what's your name?" He answered "The New Year!"

measures to procure the stolen notes than by stopping the circulation of them at the Bank. It is a most remarkable occurrence-but I state it fearlessly-that Lieutenant Parkes, of Her Majesty's ―th, had actually a balance of a few hundreds at his Banker's not placed to his credit by an opulent father, but saved out of his income for a rainy day. Upon this amount he drew the sum of a thousand rupees, and transmitted it to Colonel Glossery; but it must be stated that the latter flatly refused to accept it, until he found resistance useless. When suspicions are aroused, it is noteworthy how every trivial incident works in to strengthen them; and because St. Albans had only been once at No.-, Chowringhee, since the ball, Lieutenant Parkes construed it into the worst of guises, and even during that solitary visit St. Albans seemed to Parkes to be restless, almost nervous in his address; and he rose and left the lieutenant's presence, apparently heartily glad to be rid of it. There was now no further occasion for any one to sit up at night with Parkes as heretofore, for his arm had been successfully set, and the fracture healed. He was beginning to expect an answer from Colonel Raymond, though from the deep and unbounded love he now bore Emily, it was improbable that a negative reply would be accepted. Anxious to know her real sentiments upon the point of filial obedience, he took an opportunity of introducing the subject.

"I shall hear from the Colonel to-morrow, perhaps. Are you prepared for the worst ?"

"I have written to him myself,” replied Emily, smiling. "I took measures to prepare against the worst: I wrote my father this," and she took from her bosom a small note, which was a copy of the original one, and gave it to her lover to read.

"After this, Emily, I certainly think my hopes and chances look brighter; but, nevertheless, we have not overcome the objections of Lady Kean, and she, you know, has also written to the Colonel, but as to the contents you and I are in the profoundest ignorance." Although Parkes spoke seriously, he noticed that Emily had great difficulty in keeping free of a hearty fit of laughter, and so called her affectionately to order.

"I see that something is amusing you, love; perhaps you have already heard from your father, and perhaps he has given his free consent ?"

This made Emily a little more serious, as, shaking her head gloomily, she replied— "Not such good news as that, George, but stranger-Lady Kean has got a lover herself!""

Parkes turned upon his bed with an amazed expression.

"Yes!" continued Emily, "my aunt must have flirted very much at the ball, and have captivated your old colonel, for he has been here every day since, and I never knew any one alter so much in so short a time."

"Of course it would be impossible for her to do an unwise thing," said Parkes, satirically; "but she should understand that Colonel Glossery's principal hobby is marriage, and I have seen him, after an unusually festive dinner, open a small jewelbox, and exhibit three wedding rings which have severally belonged to three departed Mrs. Glosserys; and if I recollect correctly, the first wife was a barmaid in Smithfield, the second was a German countess, and the third was a lady."

"And he means the fourth to be a lady too !"

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Exactly the old warrior is growing sensible with age. But it is possible, that while Lady Kean is enjoying her new position, she will leave us alone to arrange our own. Is the colonel here now ?"

"Yes, they are alone together."

Like all men of position who marry barmaids, old Glossery was strong upon the subject of appropriate unions, and whenever he had an opportunity of offering a few words of counsel to young men about to plunge into the matrimonial sea, he remarked that the man who married beneath him was a fool.

Having got wise by experience, he saw in Lady Kean a most eligible woman, for had she not a good private income of her own?

He joyously allowed himself to be hooked by such a pleasant bait, and was now in the very height of love's churuck-poojah, to the chorus of "De Pak! De Pak!" and Parkes was correct in his surmises, for Lady Kean had not interfered at all for the last few days, too much taken up with the gallant overtures of the bold colonel.

Parkes continued the conversation with Emily as to her intention should her father be adverse to their wishes. Of course she scarcely knew what to say, much less what to do she had told her father in the letter which she had just shown her lover, that she was resolved to have nobody else, and urged many very pure and very girlish reasons for her parent giving her full permission to accept and to have the aspiring lieutenant at once. These did not fail to amuse Parkes when he read them; but the innocence which displayed itself in Emily's character every hour of the day was so charming, that he naturally encouraged it. Had she been the experienced centre of a fashionable coterie at home, she would have been the victim to all its wiles, and the last one to let the lieutenant know that she had the slightest regard for him. Instead of that, she unceasingly told her lover that he

was all in all to her, and proved it in her constant presence with him. She had not mentioned St. Albans's conduct to her on the ball-night to her lover; and, like all things, it passed over, and was nearly forgotten. But St. Albans, whose character has yet to be developed to the reader,-a character marvellous in its inconsistency of parts, was not daunted by the compact which the lieutenant and Emily had formed. In his own mind he felt sanguine that she would some day be Mrs. St. Albans, and the difficulties which lay in his way only served to stimulate him in his manœuvres ; Secresy, even in the most trivial matters, was part and parcel of St. Albans's existence, and although amongst his male friends there was a rumour that a certain name in a certain pretty bungalow in one of the most retired portions of Intally was closely associated with his, none knew the exact facts of the case."

How or when St. Albans first became acquainted with Ella DeSilva was nobody's business but his own, especially as it was one of the many secrets that had not escaped him; but whenever he was not at No.-, Chowringhee, or paying a visit to some other family, he was at Ella's side in her small bungalow. He only slept at his own rooms he never passed an entire evening at home in his life. It was one of the strange phases of St. Albans's character, that he could pursue Emily Raymond in the hope of winning her affections, and at the same time love this Ella as much as it lay in his singular heart to love any one. The love he felt towards her bore a poor comparison to that which he got in return; and although she felt it was wild and presumptuous to expect his often repeated promise of marriage would ever be put into practice, that feeling did not lessen her affection for him. The name of Ella DeSilva will convey to many readers a correct impression as to her birth and pedigree. She was what is generally termed a half-caste, but of a beauty completely Andalusian. She was above the medium height, lithe and graceful as a lily. Her eyes shone like two moons in a rich nut-brown complexion, and all her features were exquisitely formed. Under the ban of her mixed birth she could not, had she wished, mingle with the nightly visitors on the Course, though none had a loveliness to equal hers. There never were such eyes in an English face, not that any disparagement of the eyes at home is meant by this; but, for depth of lustre, Saxon faces are guiltless of anything to compare to it. She looked upon St. Albans with reverence. She thought him cleverer than his fellows, and so he was. When most lonely and miserable, a state not unfrequent with her, -she used to read and re-read some lines which he had given her one day when he