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SERVILE CASTES OF INDIA.-On Tuesday, March 18th, Captain J. Webber Smith delivered a lecture before the members of the Hull Literary and Philosophical Society, on the Servile Castes of India. The attendance of members was more numerous than usual, Capt. Webber Smith said that the difficulties which surround slavery in the East Indies are greater than those of the West. A chain, imperceptible, but strong, connects the Brahmin, the highest caste, with the Nyadee, the lowest; and every intermediate link is firmly joined. superstition extant for 2,000 years inculcates the belief that by the ordinance of God the Brahmin is born a priest, the Pariah a slave and with this fact before our eyes, we may see the danger of suddenly checking the machinery of this vast system; of interfering with a creed which enters into every daily act, and must be kept in mind every passing minute; which grows with the Hindoo's growth, and strengthens with his strength; and which brings home to every bosom in its endless scale of castes the consoling reflection that however low its own may be, it is looked up to by another with respect. From this is seen how widely different are the primal causes of slavery in the West Indies and in the East. In the latter slavery might follow from fifteen causes, which, however, might be in fact reduced to one, viz. that in the popular belief“ God has created him to be a slave." Government could no more emancipate a Pariah from his born thraldom, at least in the eyes of an Hinduo, than it could alter the sex of their children. Suddenly converting, purchasing, and thus emancipating them would thus possibly lead to an insurrection of the higher castes, and shewed the necessity of a cautious method of procedure on the part of the Government. The lecturer then proceeded to describe the state of the lower castes in the provinces of Malabar and Canara, as now existing, and in order to render the subject more clear, explained the system of Hindoo castes and their religious origin. Many classes, however, although termed slaves, would in our sense of the word be more properly denominated servants. Each species of slavery being designated by name, and the individual bearing on his person the mark descriptive of his caste, no error can exist, and the position of every one in the scale of society is fixed with an accuracy perhaps unparalleled. "I have thought it right (the lecturer continued) to enumerate these various forms of slavery, or rather servitude, although I am not inclined to believe that many of them are in use in the present day-certainly only one is recognised by us-and that is 'the slave by descent and by caste; the hereditary bondsman attached to the soil.' It is his history that is most interesting to us; to his well-being that we must direct our attention." He then dwelt at length on the wretched condition of the servile castes, and suggested various means for their emancipation, as well as for their advancement in social comfort and mental improvement. Among the latter, was the location of outcasts upon Government land, under Christian superintendence and instruction. He concluded by expressing his conviction that the condition of these wretched beings might be raised without any strong measure tending to irritate the Hindoo, or leading to any outbreaks fostered by fanatics, or disturbing the tranquillity of our Indian empire. A discussion followed, and Capt. Smith, in conclusion, said, that in making the suggestions he had done, he did not mean to impute blame to the Indian Government for not having fully adopted them before, but only to point out the direction in which, in his opinion, formed after much reflection, it would be desirable to proceed. The Government were proceeding cautiously and slowly, but surely, in the work of elevating the character and condition of the native population, and our best wishes should be with them for the success of their measures for educating and enlightening the degraded slave castes.-[Abridged from the Eastern Counties Herald.]

A GIGANTIC PROJECT.-The Washington correspondent of the Augsburg Universal Gazette, in speaking of a new railway line lately projected in the United States, gives the following particulars of the proposed undertaking:-"The treaty with China has made us aware of the necessity, not only of competing with the English in the commercial towns of the celestial empire, but of outstripping them altogether. In the same proportion as the European states are giving more and more the preference to the ancient route to India, and the Mediterranean is becoming the medium of the European trade with Asia, so we must exert ourselves to make the great ocean subservient to our purposes, and this is to be done by a connection of the Atlantic with the great ocean. A proposal of this kind has already been submitted to Congress, and I hasten to communicate to you its principal outlines. Mr. Whitney, one of our most enterprising New York

merchants, proposes the construction of a railway from the western shore of Lake Erie to the navigable part of the Columbia river, in the Orregon territory, to become the future medium of the Americo-European trade with China. The length of this railroad would be 2,750 English miles, and the expenses of its construction are estimated at 50 000,000 dollars; it would be finished within the period of twenty-five years. Eight days would be sufficient to reach from New York the farthest end of the railway; the Columbia river would be navigated by steam, and steamers from its mouth would reach within twenty-five days Canton, Ningpo, or Amoy. The harbour of Amoy is considered as the best, and to it the steam navigation would be directed. The trip from New York to Amoy would thus only take about thirty days, and be a saving of nearly 120 days, considering the time now necessary to reach from England the port of Canton, or any other place in China. A cargo of Chinese goods would arrive in London or Liverpool by way of America within fifty days; and the route via the Isthmus of Suez would certainly be neglected, as the soil of it belongs to barbarous nations, and the conveyance across it, even by railway, would offer little security. Not only Mexico and the states of South America, but also Europe, would be compelled to use the American high-road of commerce; and the United States would have the advantage of importing direct Chinese and Indian goods, receiving all information from the celestial empire twenty to twenty-four days earlier than either England, France, or Holland. Our lakes would become the Mediterranean Sea, and the weekly intercourse between the Atlantic and the great ocean would give to our merchants the key of the trade of the world." Mr. Whitney asks from government no other assistance but the grant of sixty miles of country along the whole line of the railway; and engages himself on the other hand, in his own name as well for his heirs, to forward in all futurity, without any remuneration, all United States letters, ammunition of war, soldiers, seamen, and, in fact, every thing relating to the central government.

TROOPS FROM INDIA.-The following detachments from regiments in India arrived at the Invalid Depôt, St. Mary's Barracks, Gillingham, on the 27th inst., from Gravesend, at which place they disembarked from the ship_Seringapatam, of 1,000 tons, Capt. Voss commander. The detachments consisted of the following men.-1 quartermaster sergeant, 4 sergeants, and 48 privates, with 4 women and 10 children, of the 10th foot; 1 sergeant and 2 privates of the 31st reg. ; 2 sergeants, 10 privates, with 3 women and 3 children, of the 50th reg.; and 2 sergeants, 11 privates, with 2 women and 7 children, of the 62nd, and 1 private of the 9th foot. These troops embarked at Calcutta on the 6th December last, and sailed on the 8th. The troops were in command of Capt. Pratt, of the 16th lancers, with Ens. Stowards, of the 13th (Prince Albert's) It. infantry. Mr. Bailey, civil surgeon, was in medical charge of the soldiers. The ship put in at St. Helena for water on the 10th of February last, and sailed again on the 12th. Not any inconvenience was experienced during this long passage until the arrival of the ship off the Western Islands, when it encountered a very dreadful gale, which lasted from the 11th to the 14th inst. For the safety of the troops and passengers, it was found necessary to place all below, and the hatches were battened down during the three days. So violent was the gale, that every one expected the ship must have gone to pieces. The voyage was made in 110 days. The troops lost by death three men of the 10th reg., and three men of the 62nd, and one woman of the 50th. The troops, considering they have been in India upwards of 22 years, are healthy; there are five or six very sickly, and one in hospital; great doubts exist of their recovery.-Times.

SIR H. POTTINGER. — At a special meeting of the town council of Glasgow lately held, it was unanimously resolved to invite Sir H. Pottinger to dine with the corporation on the occasion of his visit to Glasgow, on the 16th of April. The East India Association and other commercial bodies of Glasgow have expressed their desire to join in the compliment to Sir H. Pottinger.

JAVA SUGAR.-The first cargo of Java sugar, with a certificate of origin, has arrived from Batavia, imported by Messrs. Thornton and West. Under the new Act this will be admitted at a duty of 23s. 4d. per cwt, instead of 35s. 9d., as regulated last year.

SIR C. NAPIER and LORD ELLENBOROUGH.-The Earl of Ellenborough having commissioned Messrs. Hunt and Roskill, of Bond-street, to manufacture the handle of a sword which he is about to present to Sir C. Napier, G. C. B., Governor of Scinde, as a testimony of the high respect in which he holds the character of that gallant officer, his lordship's wishes have been carried out by those eminent goldsmiths under his own immediate direction, and a most splendid weapon is the result. The blade, which is straight and of the finest Damascus steel, is double

edged and exceedingly sharp. The handle and hilt are of gold, wrought with devices and legends. The legends are thus:"Edward, Earl of Ellenborough, to Major-General Sir C. Napier, Governor of Scinde. Meanee-Hydrabad." The motto of the Major-General also appears in embossed characters, " Ready, aye ready ' The whole weapon resembles the swords of the Knights Templar. The sheath and belt, &c. are crimson, embroidered in gold and ornamented with stars, resembling those on the gates of Saumnauth of which the public have heard a good deal. There is a similar star on the handle. Altogether this is a most elaborate and splendid sword.

THE MAILS.-SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 3. The Tagus, steamship, Capt. Brookes, will leave the decks to-morrow, at three o'clock, with a full cargo of bale goods, for Constantinople. The Tagus will take out the East-India and China mails as far as Malta; the mails will thence be forwarded in the Iberia to Alexandria.

Bengal Estab.-Mr. Abraham Richard Fuller.
Mr. Launcelot Machell.
Mr. Mark Edward Currie.
Mr. John Hunter.
Mr. Augustus Darling.
Mr. John Sabatier Frith.
Mr. George Augustus Vallings.
Mr. William Hawtayne Parish.
Mr. George Baillie.

Mr. John Fulton.

Mr. Edmund J. Goodridge.
Mr. Thomas Henry Salt.

Mr. Robert Murray.

Mr. Peter Macfarlane Syme.
Mr. William Alexander Ross.
Mr. William Dickson.
Mr. George Oliver Rybot.

Madras Estab.-Mr. James Blair.

Mr. George Cayley Robinson.
Mr. Francis Cobbe.

Mr. Charles Elliott.

No useless coffin inclosed his breast,

so it was with our poor comrades. Since we marched from Kurachee, our loss has been 365 men, 39 women, 132 children, 2 officers, and 1 officer's child; making in all 535 souls. There are thirty other men who, the doctor says, will never see India again. The rest of the men are very much improved, and will soon be all right again. Twelve only out of one thousand have escaped the Sukkur plague, that is exclusive of women and children. We hope to move to better quarters by the 1st of March, and to be all ready for field service in a year hence, should it be required.-Times.

THE LATE PROFESSOR DANIEL.-Distinguished as this eminent individual was, as well by the qualities of his heart and mind, as by his scientific attainments and the brilliant success which rewarded his laborious researches, we have much gratification in stating, that a subscription has been opened by his scientific friends and associates, at the head of which stands the name of the noble President of the Royal Society, for the purpose of recording the esteem and admiration which they entertain for his memory.

TROOPS FOR INDIA.-The following troops are about to proceed to the various presidencies at the periods specified. Her Majesty's 60th and 61st Regiments, each 1,250 strong, from Cork, in June or July-the former regiment for Bombay, the latter for Calcutta; 804 recruits for her Majesty's service, in June, from Gravesend, for Calcutta; 325 recruits for Madras, also from Gravesend, in April or May; and 433 from the same port, for Bombay, in July. In the course of the current year, recruits for the East India Company's, European Regiments, will be embarked as follows:- For Bengal, 200 in June, 100 in August, 250 in September and October; for Madras, 120 in April; for Bombay, 250 in July, 200 in September; making a total of 1,120. In addition to the number above stated, it is not improbable that another small detachment may be sent to Madras.

26th March, and 2nd April, 1845. ARRIVALS REPORTED IN ENGLAND.

CIVIL.

Bengal Estab.-Mr. Edmund Drummond. Madras Estab.—Mr. James D. Bourdillion.

MILITARY.

Bengal Estab.-Brev. lieut. col. Christopher E. T. Oldfield, 5th It. cav.

Capt. Henry P. Burn, 1st N.I.
Lieut. Thomas J. Gardiner, 16th N. I.
Brev. capt. Walter R. Barnes, 27th N.I.
Col. Thomas Fiddes, 45th N. I.

Madras Estab.-Lieut. David Hay, 6th It. cav.
Bombay Estab.-Ens. James P. Knowles, 5th N.I.
Lieut. John S. Gell, 10th N. I.

Lieut. Charles R. Dent, artillery.

The undermentioned gent emen, having passed their examination as artillery candidates, are appointed, and will take rank at their respective presidencies in the following order, viz. :

Mr. George Godfrey Pearse.
Mr. Harcourt Downes Welliton.
Mr. Aston Turner Powell Key.

Mr. Robert Alexander Morse. Mr. David Greenhill Anderson. Mr. Joseph Shekelton.

GRANTED AN EXTENSION OF LEAVE.

CIVIL.

Bengal Estab.-Mr. William S. Paterson, 6 months.

MILITARY.

Madras Estab.-Lieut. Fred. W. Baynes, 22nd N.I., 6 months. Lieut. Richard J. Blunt, 25th N.I., 6 months. Bombay Estab.-Capt. Michael Wyllie, 8th N.I., 3 months.

RESIGNATION OF SERVICE ACCEPTED.

MILITARY.

Bengal Estab. -Assist. surg. James Miller, M.D.

Mr. James Ballantyne authorized to proceed to Bengal, and to undertake the duty of Principal of the Sanscrit College and English School at Benares.

PERMITTED TO RETURN TO THEIR DUTY.

MILITARY.

Bengal Estab.-Lieut. Lionel G. Da Costa, 58th N.I.

Lieut. Francis Drake, 61st N.I., overland, 3rd
May.

Bombay Estab.-Capt. Thos. W. Hicks, artillery, overland, May.
Capt. Wm. B. Goodfellow, engineers, ditto.

SHIPPING. ARRIVALS.

MARCH 24. Emma, White; Paragon, Coleman; Bilton, Finlay; Dora, Harvey; Robert Stride, Spurgin; Beethoven, Taylor; Zuleika, Montgomery; and Bolivar, Peat, Bengal; Alexander Baring, Hale, China; Pacific, Coffin, South Seas; Margaretha, Bauer, Batavia; Grange, Cook, Ceylon; Union, Middleton; Perseverance, Corkhill; and Cassiopea, Hodson, Mauritius; Laurence, Jackson, Manilla; William, Hay, Moulmein.-25. Seringapatam, Voss; Parsee, Chivas; George Fyfe, Pike; Thomas Sparkes, Matches; Isabella Cooper, Guthrie; and George Armstrong, Paxton, Bengal; Fleetwood, Richardson, Mauritius; Cambria, Shaddick, Madras; Lord Stanley, Dodds, Bombay.-26. Quinton Leitch, Gray; Amy Ann, Thompson; Roseberry, Young; Wm. Metcalfe, Philipson; British Empire, Young; Woodstock, Nicholson; Derby, Lee; and George, Anderson, Bengal; Alverton, Ferguson, Ceylon; Pleiades, White; City of London, Martin; and Guardian, Vickerman, Mauritius.-27. Thomas Lowry, Graham, New South Wales; South Stockton, Hitchens, China; Amphitrite, Davidson, Mauritius; Calder, Kennedy, Singapore.-28. Isabella, Johnston; and Abbotsford, Buckland, Bengal; Chance, Cood, Bombay; Gilbert Henderson, Tweedie; and Sappho, Dunlop, China; Old England, Bland, Manilla; Emily, Hogan; and Jane and Jessie, Campbell, Mauritius.-29. Greenlaw, Edgar, Sydney; Janet Boyd, Troughton; Julia, Hamon; Blakely, Gibson; and John Bull, Cole, Bengal; Union, Todd; and Mary Alice, Gardner, Bombay.-31. John O' Gaunt, Robertson; and Albert Edward, White, China; Liverpool, McDowal, Manilla; Tory, Duncan, Madras: Christina, Primrose, China.-APRIL 1. Edward Bilton, Marjorum, Bengal.-2. Adele, Pelham, Cape.-3. Marion, Guthrie, Bengal.-4. Dumfries, Thompson, China.

DEPARTURES.

From the DowNS.-MARCH 20. Rover, Taylor (from Aberdeen), Cape.-24. Tory, Mills, Hobart Town; Haidee, Marshall, St. John's, N.B. and Mauritius.-27. Mona, Lawson, Cape.-29. Hortensia, Storey; Richard, Hopkins; and Vesta (from Shields), Cape.-APRIL 1. Eleanor, Haslep, Mauritius.-2. Theresa, Bacon, Hobart Town; Royal Sovereign, Fryer, Bombay, Nelson, Lamont, Buenos Ayres and Mauritius.-3. City of Poonah, Hight, Cape and Madras; Nestor, McMeekam, Madras; Graham, Munro, Sydney. From PORTSMOUTH.-MARCH 30. Larkins, Heidrick, Bengal ; Pekin, Laing, Madras and Bengal.

From SOUTHAMPTON.-MARCH 20. Braganza (str.), Lewis, India, via the Cape.

From the CLYDE.-MARCH 25. Countess of Durham, McLaren, Ceylon and Penang.-27. Argyle, Kenney, Singapore.-31. Mandarin, Bremner, Calcutta ; Akbar, Gillies, Mauritius and Calcutta. From BEAUMARIS.-MARCH 29. Thomas Lee, Salkeld (from Liverpool), Bengal.

From JERSEY.-MARCH 30. Ulysses, Pirouet, Cape.

From LIVERPOOL.-MARCH 25. Hope, Carver, Bengal.-31. Victory, Hall; and Bahamian, Pearson, Hong-Kong; Earl of Harewood, Atkin, Ceylon.-APRIL 1. Gemini, Bell, Calcutta.-2. Princess Royal, Sinclair, Hong-Kong; Caledonia, Irving, Cape.-3. Tartar, Lockwood, Bombay; Paul, Jones. China.

From GRAVESEND.-APRIL 2. Edmundsbury, Allen, Calcutta.3. Sir Robert Sale, Loader, Madras..

From SHIELDS.-MARCH 26. Commerce, Richards, India.Alexandrina, Chisman, Calcutta.

From CLACKMANNON.-MARCH 23. Leipsic, Cappan, Ceylon.

The Cressy, Mollison, London to Bengal, Jan. 21, lat. 24 degrees S. long. 32 deg. W.

The George Buckham, Liverpool to China, Nov. 28, lat. 48 deg. N. long. 107 deg. E.

The John Horton, Liverpool to China, Feb. 15, lat. 3 deg. N. long. 21 deg. W.

The Margaret, Shields to Calcutta, Jan. 29.

The Humayoon, McKellar, London to China, Dec. 19, lat. 10 deg. S. long. 101 deg. E.

The Hope, Liverpool to Ceylon, Feb. 24, lat. 2 deg. N. long. 20 deg. W.

The Ann, Thorne, London to Hobart Town (with troops), Feb. 18, lat. 2 deg. 50 min. N. long. 21 deg. W.

The Kelso, Arnold, London to Calcutta.

The Victor, Morgan, London to Sydney, Nov. 6, lat. 18 deg. 33 min. S. long. 33 deg. 18 min. E.

The Margaret Skelly, Topping, Clyde to Calcutta and Bombay. Furley, London to Bombay, Jan. 27, lat. 24 deg. 40 min. S. long. 35 deg. 58 min. W.

The John Warwick, Whitehaven to Aden, Jan. 28, lat. 5 deg. N. long. 21 deg. W.

The Manilla, Liverpool to China.

INCIDENTS.

RAMSGATE, MARCH 23.-The John Knox, Cleland, from Bombay to London, was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands this morning, Crew and part of cargo saved.

DEAL, MARCH 23.-The Union, Middleton, from Mauritius to London, ran on shore on the main near Dover, in very thick weather, but was assisted off with loss of anchor, chain, and rudder, and, making 18 inches water per hour, brought up in the Downs.

COWES, MARCH 25.-The Siam, Willmot (of Newport), from Calcutta to London, got on shore yesterday morning off Compton, and shortly filled. One of the crew drowned; cargo discharging; has since broken up.

BOULOGNE, MARCH 24.-The Trinidad, Brown, from Manilla to London, was driven on shore at Cucq, to the westward of this port, and went to pieces. Crew saved.

DARTMOUTH, MARCH 27.-The Thomas Lowry, Graham, from Sydney, N.S.W. to London, struck on a sunken rock, and was run on shore in this harbour. Cargo discharging.

The Gilbert Henderson, Tweedie, arrived in the river from China. Was in contact on the 13th ult. in lat. 3 deg. N. long. 20 deg. W. during thick weather, with the French barque Jeune Edmond, which almost immediately sunk. Crew saved.

HOMEWARD-BOUND VESSELS PASSED ST. HELENA. FEB. 11. Australia, from Bombay; Hebrides, China -13. Barbara, Mauritius; Hindoo, Calcutta.-14. John Cooper, Bombay; William Lee, Calcutta; Salacia, Mauritius.

Dec. 16. On board the ship Seringapalam, off the island of Ceylon, Alexander Holmes, Esq., proc. to England from Calcutta.

Mar. 7. Anne Am-lia, daughter of Col. W. R. C. Costley, Bengal service, at Bedfont-lodge, Middlesex, aged 15.

18. Major gn. Christopher Fagan, formerly Adjutant gen. of the Bengal army at Paw, Lower Pyrenees, France, aged 62.

21. A. Blackwood, Esq. son of the late W. Blackwood, of Edinburgh, at Edinburgh, aged 39.

22. Mrs. S. M. Boi'eau, at Parson's-green, Fulham, aged 80. 26. Major Gen. Josiah Marshall, E.I.C.'s service, at Clifton, aged 74.

April 2. Elizabeth Anne, the wife of Frederick Arthur Magnay, Esq. aged 25.

LITERARY NOTICES.

Travels in India, including Sinde and the Punjab. By Captain LEOPOLD VON ORLICH. Translated from the German by H. EVANS LLOYD. Esq. 8vo. 2 vols. London, 1845. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans.

CAPTAIN VON ORLICH is an officer in the Prussian service, anxious to add to his military qualifications by the experience of actual warfare but deprived of the opportunity from the long protraction of the "piping time of peace." The "thirty years' war" is memorable in the history of Germany, but the thirty years' peace which has followed the annihilation of the power of Napoleon seems to be regarded by the votaries of the sword in that country as a greater evil, for no sooner did the author of these volumes hear of the disasters which had befallen the British army in Kabool, than, concluding that a prolonged war would be the consequence, he hastened to claim the privilege of taking a share in it. His own sovereign consented, and he proceeded to England to secure the permission of the British Crown. The requisite negotiations for this purpose consumed much of his precious time; in the meanwhile, Sir George Pollock and Sir William Nott had marched over Affghanistan, set their marks upon it, and marched out again. It was the consequent misfortune of the gallant Prussian to arrive after the fighting was over, and being disappointed of the chance of fleshing his maiden sword, he consoled himself by the use of the pen,-an instrument which, now that the perfectibility of man has been demonstrated, is expected by some to supersede altogether the use of physical force. Such a result, we suspect, would not be quite to the taste of Captain Von Orlich; but we do not think he need allow the apprehension of it to distress him. We do not believe that the time is yet very near when, in the language of Sir Thomas Munro, we shall all be Quakers." Gay uniforms must glitter, powder must be burnt, and cold steel be brandished, during the present generation, at the least. Whether or not our children shall find their lot cast in a golden age of simplicity and peace, where all around them shall be innocence, and all within them the calm sunshine of vanquished passion and conscious rectitude, we shall not determine; but we have our doubts.

We hope we have not less humanity than our neighbours, but we can scarcely regret Captain Von Örlich's disappointment, as it has been the means of producing a work which has afforded us much pleasure. If his warlike propensities had been gratified, he might, perhaps, have written a history of the campaign in which he served; but we had rather have such a work as the present, exhibiting, as it does, the impressions of a very intelligent and observing traveller during a progress through a considerable portion of India, under both British and native governments. Those impressions are embodied in a series of letters addressed to Alexander Von Humboldt and Cart Ritter. Captain Von Orlich quitted England in July, 1842, by the overland route, and arrived in August at B mbay. His sketches of the voyage and the place at which he landed are amusing, but we must not dwell upon them. After a short excursion to Poonah, he proceeded with Sir Charles Napier to Sinde, with the promise of a

place on the generals staff should hostilities occur. On the voyage, cholera made its appearance, and some of the effects of that awful scourge are thus described by the author :

'Some of these scenes of woe can never be effaced from my memory. One fine young woman, in the prime of life, with an infant at her breast, threw herself on the ground in an agony of pain; though already struggling with death, she would not resign her beloved babe, and before sunset the bereaved husband had committed both his treasures to the deep. Another woman, weeping and sobbing by the side of her husband, knelt down to warm his benumbed limbs with her body; "O my husband, my husband, you must die!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands in the anguish of her heart; but she soon held only the cold corpse in her arms. Most affecting was the separation of a young woman from her husband and child only three years old; in the agonies of death she embraced both; neither would let go of the other till death had cast his dark shadow over the distorted countenance. Not less moving and painful was it to see the engineer, a fine young man, in his dying moments: he was married only two days before our departure, and implored God with tears to grant that he might expire in the arms of his beloved wife. These heart-rending scenes, the cries and lamentations of the dying, the wail of the living, and the frightfully-distorted countenances of the dead, must soften and move the stoutest heart. In four days we buried forty-five European soldiers, two natives, three sailors, four women, and three children, and brought about thirty cholera patients on shore.

In Sinde, Captain Von Orlich seems to have visited every thing calculated to excite reasonable curiosity. As the extraordinary fate of the Ameers of that country is yet fresh in the recollection, the Prussian traveller's account of an interview with them will not be uninteresting:

After we had passed through the gate and ascended the platform, the Ameers, headed by Meer Nasseer Khan, surrounded by many of his chiefs, came out to meet us. When Mr. Mylne presented me to them, they all shook hands with me, and Nasseer Khan invited me to take a seat, which was placed opposite to him. The Ameers had taken their places on a long silk divan, around which were ranged the chiefs in picturesque groups, either standing or sitting crosslegged upon carpets, each with his sword or gun before him, and all eyes turned upon us. The moon shed a magic splendour over this scene; every object, even in the far distance, was perfectly distinguishable.

Meer Nasseer Khan, the eldest of the Ameers, who has a revenue of eleven lacs, is so extremely corpulent, that he is incapable of any bodily exertion, and even on the chase prefers the slow camel to the fleet horse. His highness is, however, considered by his Belooches to be the handsomest man in the country. Meer Mahomet, an elderly man with a long, flowing grey beard, is somewhat disfigured by a harelip; he is the same who boasted to Sir Alexander Burnes that he had promoted his journey through Sinde, and vaunted himself upon being a great friend of the English; he carried in his hand a magnificent sword, richly adorned with jewels, and a snuff-box, which was in constant requisition. Meer Shadad and Meer Hussin Ali are brothers; the former is distinguished by remarkable beauty of person, and highly polished manners. He was leaning on a blue velvet cushion, adorned with brilliants; and, when he passed his hand over his carefully-trimmed black beard, and raised his dark flashing eye, I felt involuntarily drawn towards him. His younger brother, who is only seventeen years of age, is shy and mistrustful. Meer Sobdar Khan was not present; he is not on good terms with his colleagues, and desired to receive me alone. They all wore velvet Sinde caps embroidered with gold, coloured silk garments, pantaloons, and red shoes. Pearl necklaces and valuable rings were their only ornaments.

After having for some minutes reciprocally expressed our extreme satisfaction at meeting, his highness asked my name, which I was obliged to repeat several times; he then inquired about my king and my country. Nasseer Khan candidly confessed that he had never heard of that kingdom, which however must, he thought, be very powerful, as it was on such friendly terms with England. pression of surprise ran through the whole circle, when, on Meer Shadad's inquiring what was the strength of the Prussian army, one of the officers replied that it consisted of above 500,000 well-disciplined troops.

An ex

His highness, at my request, sent for his arms; they were long damasked guns, richly inlaid with gold. While I was admiring them, Abas Ali, Meer Assad's favourite son, a handsome youth of sixteen years of age, was introduced. His highness observed, when he entered, that he was well acquainted with the English language, in which I might converse with him; but the prince addressed me in a jargon which neither Mr. Mylne nor I could understand, and when his highness inquired what I thought of the prince's pronunciation, somebody, observing my embarrassment, replied for me, assuring his highness that I was quite astonished at the prince's progress; which seemed to give his father much pleasure. His tutor, it appears, is a subaltern officer,-a deserter, and now commander of the artillery of the Ameers.

After having conversed about half an hour, we took leave of their highnesses, shaking hands and embracing each other, and then rode to the residence of Sobdar Khan, a few hundred paces distant. At

the entrance of the gate of his palace we had to pass through a dirty puddle, which, however, is nothing extraordinary here, where dirt and splendour go hand in hand. His highness received us under the verandah, attended by his two sons and about twenty chiefs. Meer Sobdar Khan is about fifty years of age, his manners are polished, he is chivalrous, and of a warlike spirit. He is the only one of the Ameers who loves the military profession, and endeavours to improve himself in it. Here the same questions and salutations were repeated; but I could not forbear expressing to his highness how much I was struck with the fine appearance of his sons, with which Fatteh Ali, the eldest, was so delighed, that he repeatedly embraced me on our departure.

At this time, the aspect of affairs in Sinde was any thing but warlike; and, despairing of all chance of service there, Captain Von Orlich departed towards the Sutlege, where Lord Ellenborough's army of reserve was assembling. His course lay through the territories of the Khan of Bawlpore,-a prince rendared conspicuous by his faithful adherence to the British Government, and not less so by the liberality with which his fidelity has been rewarded. At a short distance from the capital the traveller was met by an officer of the Khan, with twenty-five horsemen, designed as an escort. On reaching the city, he was waited on by one of the chief nobles of the country, named Moossa Khan,- -a fat, well-attired, good-humoured, and dexterous personage, who is thus brought out for the amusement of the reader:

Moossa is a corpulent man, and has the most good-natured countenance in the world. He was dressed in a red tunic, embroidered with flowers of gold; wore a crimson turban, and red and white striped pantaloons, and a sabre at his side. He addressed us in the highly-poetical language f the East. On our invitation that he would enter our tent, he did not omit taking off his sho-s, in acknowledgment of his inferiority. His first questions concerned our health; he next congratulated us on having made so rapid and safe a journey; and then very dexterously turned the conversation on politics and news, making inquiries respecting my king, my country, and myself. After we had amply satisfied his curiosity, I asked him what was the strength of his highness's army. "His warriors," said he, "are more numerous than the grains of sand in the desert." "And how many guns?" continued I. "Oh, they cannot be counted; the power of the Khan obscures the sun."

Subsequently, the traveller had an audience of the Khan, and unless that prince's affection for the English be an heir-loom, passing absolutely and necessarily to his successor, the prospect of its continuance does not appear to be such as would induce a speculator to invest largely upon the contingency of the duration of friendly feeling. His highness, according to Captain Von Orlich, like many of his royal brethren in the East, appears to have chosen a short life and a merry one," and his lack-lustre eye bears witness to the enervating effects of such a course. He is represented, however, as an indulgent ruler, and his people are not oppressed; but of the latter the account given is unfavourable; they are pronounced superstitious and immoral." A very characteristic difference between the Mussulman and the Hindoo is pointed out in the following passage:-"The Mussulman, after the first salute, examines the weapons of his friends; the Hindoo, on the other hand, invariably inquires the price of provisions."

In due time, Captain Von Orlich reached Ferozepore. It had not been his lot to be present at the beginning of the fray," but neither was he at the latter end of the feast," for he was in time to witness all the fêtes which graced the return of the British forces from Affghanistan. These are very pictorially described. Among the visitors were some Sikh chiefs, one of whom whose fate has recently fixed public attention upon him, is the subject of the following passage:

Heera Singh has a fine countenance, which may almost be pronounced as perfectly noble; yet his features are more expressive of mildness and effeminacy than of gravity and dignity. He wore a rich green shoga, embroidered with gold; and a red turban entwined with strings of pearls, and an azure ornament on the forehead, surmounted by a feather fastened by an agraffe of rubies, became him extremely well, and gave him a dashing and coquettish appearance.

We are introduced to Heera Singh again at Lahore, to which place Captain Von Orlich accompanied a British mission, and there, too, we meet with Shere Singh. Looking at the brief period which has elapsed since the following narrative was written, and at the events which have occurred, we may find abundant matter for reflection in the state of society in the East, under native governments :

While Shere Singh was explaining every thing to the ambassador, Heera Singh joined me; he speaks so much English, that we could readily understand each other. He appeared to take great interest in Europe, but could not form any clear idea of the military power of

Prussia, and only expressed his astonishment how it was possible to keep so many soldiers fit for service. He said that he had a great desire to become acquainted with Europe, upon which I offered to accompany him thither if he liked to go under my protection. "Alas! alas!" replied he, "I dare not leave my country; I am undone if I turn my back upon it."

We were then invited to sit down with his highness at a long table, which was covered with fruit and champagne. The maharaja here set us a good example, and shewed such dexterity in emptying his glass at one draught, that we naturally inferred that this was his daily practice. His highness was most richly adorned with jewels. He wore on each arm three large golden bracelets; among those on the left arm was the "kohinoor," or "mountain of light," the largest diamond in the world, and round his neck three rows of pearls, hanging down to a great length, perhaps the most beautiful and rarest ornament of the kind. While we expressed our admiration of all these treasures, Shere Singh took off all his jewels, and made them pass from hand to hand.

Captain Von Orlich had intended visiting Kashmir, but being dissuaded from his purpose by Sir Thomas Maddock, he directed his course to Delhi, and thence to Agra. After an excursion to Bhurtpore, Deeg, and Mathura, made on the invitation of the Rajah of Bhurtpore, he visited that most miserable country, Oude, where misgovernment counteracts all the advantages bestowed by nature. The king's health, although his habits were little calculated to preserve it, seems to have been watched with extraordinary care.

The Ameen-ud-dowlah made me acquainted with the persons around us; among whom, one of the king's physicians, a handsome slender Persian, was distinguished by his rich and elegant dress. His business, and that of his two colleagues, a Mussulman and a Hindoo, is to visit the king twice a day, and to feel his pulse. Before the king gets into the bath in the morning, and when he gets out of it, these learned doctors are at hand, and, with grave countenances, are prepared to comfort or to counsel their august master. One might almost think that the king required to be told by his physicians whether he is sick or well.

From Oude, the captain made his way by Cawnpore, Allahabad, and Benares, to Calcutta, of which he gives a good description. At the last-named place he heard of the hostile movements of Sir Charles Napier in Sinde, and deeming that a chance of seeing a little fighting had turned up, he thereupon departed in the Pluto steam-vessel for the Indus. Bad weather compelled the captain to put back to Calcutta, and there Captain Von Orlich's old luck attended him; he had the mortification of learning that the war in Sinde was over. He finally left Calcutta in the Hindostan, which, touching at Madras and Ceylon, enabled him to enjoy a cursory view of the chief British settlement on the Coromandel Coast, and of part of the richest and most beautiful island of the East. In passing through Egypt, he had an interview with Mehemet Ali, who

Inquired, with the most lively interest, about the Affghans, the King of Delhi, the Ameers of Sinde, and other Mahometan princes. But when I told him that their power was now at an end, his brow immediately became clouded; he seemed lost in thought, and uttered something to himself, which was scarcely audible, but the words "decline" and "ruin" could be distinguished. He appeared to feel the most bitter vexation that he had failed in his object of rais. ing Islamism to greatness and power. He then asked, with an air of surprise, how it was possible that the British Government could have allowed me to serve in their army, and to become acquainted with its operations. I replied, that the English had no reason whatever to make a mystery of their proceedings, and the less so because we, more than any other continental power, were their natural allies, and had been on terms of friendship with them from the earliest times. "Yes, as long as it is their interest," replied Mehemet Ali, with a sarcastic smile. On my observing that I had seen with admiration the works in the citadel, and had found many advantageous changes in Cairo, he very abruptly replied, "That will all fall to the ground after my death." His countenance, however, brightened up when I spoke of his fleet, the good order of which had greatly surprised me. This is his only delight, and the hours which he generally spends every morning in surveying it are among the happiest of the day; but, at the same time, one ship after another is decaying, and the whole fleet, without being of any advantage, is fast falling into ruin.

At Falmouth, the traveller takes leave of his correspondents and readers, and closes two very instructive and agreeable volumes.

We have dwelt upon this work at much greater length than is our wont, because it is really an important one. The reader will have seen how large a field Captain Von Orlich has taken. With the result of his own observations he has incorporated a mass of historical and statistical information which, though it be attainable elsewhere, is nowhere, we are persuaded, accessible in so easy or attractive a form. Those who would never look into a heavy work of reference for information, will here find it occurring in the

midst of a personal narrative, and so pleasantly dressed, as to divest it of every thing dry or repulsive. In this portion of the book the writer is greatly indebted to Colonel Sykes, who has taken a strong interest in rendering it complete. To the literary labour which has been bestowed on the work has been superadded that of the draftsman and engraver, it being profusely illustrated with wood-cuts.

Of the fidelity of the translation no one can be entitled to speak who has not compared it with the original; but, looking at it as an English book, we feel justified in declaring that the translator is no hack. He is not a man who sets up in his profession upon the strength of being able to give the English word for a corresponding German one, without committing any very gross blunders. His style is pure and idiomatic,-such as would have become the original author had he written in the English tongue. We cannot doubt that the book will be popu

the Propagation of the Gospel. London, 1845. Rivingtons; Hatchard; Burns.

THIS is a portion of a series of papers detailing the very interesting progress of the labours in India of the society under whose sanction the publication takes place. The Rev. T. Robinson, late Archdeacon of Madras, in a letter addressed to the secretary of the society, after noticing the happy success which has attended those labours (especially at Tinnevelly), thus defends the expectations entertained of its permanent results.

There are one or two circumstances in these movements, as detailed in this correspondence, which seem to me to distinguish them altogether from any similar event in other parts of India, and from any of the previous movements in the same province; and each of these is a distinct ground of encouragement and hope.

1. They are the result of past labours, -the earliest and the sim. plest labours of the venerable missionaries of the last century,—often suspended from lack of means, but their effect never entirely lost. The suspension of those labours, whenever from time to time it occurred, was attended with a proportionate decay of interest among the heathen, and the occasional apostacy of actual converts; but, as pastoral superintendence has become more regular, as education has been more diffused, and above all, as the system of our church, in its permanence and energy, has been more visible among them, the fermentation of the native mind has constantly increased, and I doubt not that the present astonishing result in different parts of the province is mainly to be attributed to the example of the Christian villages thus growing up amongst them with purer light, more orderly arrangements, more firmness of faith, and greater holiness of life. What we now see, therefore, is not a sudden, and therefore perhaps a temporary, excitement, but the effect of labours long and painfully pursued, which the church had a right to anticipate, and is therefore bound to cherish and mature.

2. We have as yet heard of no relapse,-of nothing to check or disappoint our hopes. In every other movement that has taken place in that province (and there have been many since the beginning of the present century), many converts have gone back, and the mixture of secular motives, which may so naturally be supposed to influence the people in embracing the religion of the sovereign state, will sufficiently account for such painful failures; and it is, perhaps, too much to hope, at this early stage of our progress, that no such disappointment awaits us now; but we have as yet heard of no apostacy among those lately received into the Christian church, and no irresolution among those who are seeking admission. Persecution has arisen, and they bear it firmly and meekly, and every mail confirms the earlier reports of their sincerity and constancy. This feature, which so eminently distinguishes the present conversions from all that have preceded them, ought not to be forgotten; not only as shewing them to be more worthy of our support, but as giving a strong assurance that our labours in such a field will not be in vain.

3. Many among the recent converts are men of caste; and the importance of this circumstance cannot have escaped your observation, as an indication of a more general influence of Christianity on our heathen subjects. And while we feel that no argument against the missionary cause can be more idle and senseless than that which is grounded on the poverty and meanness of our converts, we rejoice that even this argument is silenced, and additional hope is given for the permanence of the native churches by the rank and influence of their members.

4. There is another feature in the history of every one of these simultaneous movements which strikes me as most healthy and encouraging, I mean the ready cheerfulness with which the new converts, from the very depth of their poverty, contribute for the establishment of the church among them. At Sawyerpooram, at Nazareth, at Edeyenkoody, this noble spirit has gladdened the hearts of the missionaries. The great majority of the people, slaves of heathen masters, with scanty supplies even of daily bread, they have found means to subscribe something towards the erection of churches and prayer-houses; and these first-fruits of their Christian spirit (the absence of which has so often disheartened us in other districts) are, to those who are familiar with the native mind in India, the sure attestation of their sincerity.