the persons intended, but we say that they alone at present meet the description given.

The permanent settlement of the Saxon race in Hindostan is now only opposed by the climate; and upon the highlands of the Punjaub they will gradually locate themselves, becoming thus settlers, and therefore subjects, citizens of the regions where now they are known only as rulers; but the drying up of the waters of the Euphrates progresses rapidly; and the prediction will most probably be fulfilled before any ostensible change occurs in the position of the Anglo-Indians, within their dominions.

whom the great struggle for the possession of Asia, and the enfranchisement or the oppression of its people, has commenced.

British statesmen almost invariably assume the dutics and responsibilities of governing India with the determination not to increase the extent of their country, and they are as invariably compelled to pursue in practice that policy which they denounced in theory, and add kingdoms to their territory. The passage of the Sutlej by the Sikhs led to the absorption of the Punjaub. Other circumstances, and the political necessity of squaring off the territory then held, induced the Anglo-Indian The peculiar constitution of the East India Government to annex Scinde. The Indus Company, and its varying relations with the nearly now holds to British India on the west general government, support this explanation the relation of the Ganges in the east. The of a celebrated passage. The sovereign of Kingdom of Berar, with a population equal Great Britain does not exercise the same to that of Belgium, has fallen into the emauthority in Hindostan as in the Mauritius, in pire peaceably and by treaty. The province Africa, or in America. The governing power of Pegu forms the maritime frontier of the is shared with the Company, by an anomalous Burmese empire; but the Anglo-Indians hold and inconvenient arrangement, which is incon- it, and thus possess the mouth of the Irrasistent with sound principles of political economy. An imperium in imperio has always been opposed and repudiated by great statesmen; and yet that is the system adopted, as if by accident, in Hindostan, and continued there since the birth of British power in that country. The ruling influence in India is shared therefore by many persons. In addition to the control of the British people, the executive is administered by a numerous body of subordinate officials, not responsible hitherto to the Company, or to the Crown, or to Parliament and the people alone, but by an injudicious arrangement, to the joint operation of all these parties, as if to give force and strength to the term "Kings of the East."

waddy. These accessions and conquests have increased the measurement of the Anglo-Indian empire, within ten years, by territory equal in extent to that of France, and in population by more than thirty milions.

The Chinese empire is in the pangs of a great revolution which will probably separate its various provinces, and throw them under a crowd of different rulers. The population of China cannot be therefore reckoned as under one but several forms of government; and their power is wasted by internal struggles which have occurred at this juncture to leave the meaning of the phraseology "Kings of the East" clear and distinct, for no other state new possesses even the population, as for half a century no Asiatic nation has possessed the moral power, of the Anglo-Indian empire.

No other nation ever administered in the East those functions now exercised by the British people. The Dutch, the French, and Statesmen never attempt to fulfil prophecy. the Portuguese have owned large and valuable They always act from the supposed or real possessions at different dates, to the east of necessities of the position they occupy; but the great river Euphrates; but the French the statesmen of this country have gone into settlements were all seized by the English, a great Oriental war, with the consent of all and those of Holland and Portugal are reduced parties. This war is correctly considered in to a small compass. The British empire of England essential to the existence of civil and the east is the most powerful state in Asia. religious freedom. The battle in the east of It is the only empire that increases in magni-Europe will be, on our part, defensive of the tude and power. All nations, with the ex-rights of conscience, and of one nation against ception of the British and Russian empires, its neighboring and stronger oppressors. It fade in Asia. Old powers become weak, and is the grand war of opinion foreseen by Canmake space for these modern states, the repre- ning- the war of civilization against savage sentatives of freedom and serfdom, between strength foretold by Napoleon; and it will

ful and a long struggle, although we may have an armed truce.

A wedge of hostile territory would penetrate between Britain and India. Napoleon foretold this consequence, which is now perceptible to all men. Thus the Kings of the East are compelled to occupy the position assigned to them in prophetic announcement by a political necessity. Their way is prepared, and their march required. They can allow Egypt and Syria to remain in the hands of a friendly and weak power; but they could not permit them to be seized by Russia, or any great state. The energy of the British empire is engaged to oppose that result. The strength of the nation. is staked to resist the project.

not conclude in final peace without a fright-nish one million of combatants against his pretensions, who could reach Constantinople in little more time than is required to convey Statesmen not only avoid measures for the soldiers from London to the Turkish capital. fulfilment of prophecy, which they probably He has not exaggerated; for the Kings of the seldom read, but they are not prophets in the East could bring a larger army into the field secular sense of the term. Engaged by press-than Xerxes commanded, composed of men ing topics of discussion, they do not maturely equal in bravery or discipline to those of any study the causes of one set of actions, or the European state; while the Anglo-Indian Emresult of another. Occupied in the heat and pire is deeply and necessarily interested in the toil of the present "battle of life," they can- results of the war, for the success of Russia not carefully read the future, or study the would close the overland route. signs of the times. Actuated by the expediency of the moment, they have not leisure to think for the next year, or a subsequent generation. Exceptions exist to this worship of the hour, as in Canning's case; but experience proves that the majority of statesmen live for the day only, and thus we have occasionally evidences of gross inconsistency, dug from blue books, or the rewards of explorations in Hansard. If statesmen had looked forward, they must have prepared for the Russian war, on the grounds which have occurred, because it was clearly mirrored in the future, for many years past. Anglo-Indians foresaw and foretold it, because they observed their own dan- Not only is the way prepared, but the fuger, and the policy of their neighbors. Some ture combatants are obliged to move in the Manchester politicans closed, and still close, right road. They cannot draw back from their eyes to the jeopardy of their own cotton the strife; they will not shrink from its crisis. and mule twist; because their greatest thought Campaigns may be fought, and years may is ten per cent. profit. Unfortunately our pass, before the Euphratean regions are absocountry has been less governed by the Anglo-lutely occupied by British forces; but the Indian, and more by the manufacturing poli-march of the rulers of the East is begun, and ey, than was altogether convenient, and thus the tread of their serried ranks will yet beat a the Russian war was not made an object of pathway in the deserts and the wastes that preparation; for even after the Emperor Nich-intervene between the Euphrates and the olas endeavored to make the British Government a particeps criminis, by the proffered bribes of Candia and Egypt, the very men who refused the temptation affected to believe, or really believed, that the tempter was an honest man, who meant peace, and could be trusted on his word.

Statesmen are not generally inventive, for the reason that they are not prophetic; and thus the employment of the armies of Hindostan in this Russian war has been suggested by politicians, but not by statesmen. One gentleman, who enjoys considerable influence as a political writer, states - in answer to the boast of the Czar that he will go into the war with one million, or if requisite, with two millions, and if pressed, with three millions, of soldiers-that Hindostan would fur

Mediterranean.

The Anglo-Indian empire is itself a miracle. Its existence is unaccountable upon any ordinary principles. India has been rather voluntarily annexed than conquered. Its native population hold more the position of incorporated peoples than subjects of the sword. Russia has taunted England with pursuing on the Indus, the Irrawaddy, and the Sutlej, the policy adopted by that barbarous power on the Danube. The taunt is a blunder. We coerce no man's opinions. We do not repress speech and thought and writing. We do not destroy, but improve. We have no military conscription in India. Russia has by force taken from their homes twenty men out of every thousand of the population in the Baltic provinces and Poland within twelve

months. Ten men out of every thousand of nominal Christianity is curiously drawn of the population of Hindostan would give by this circumstance. The Spaniard, by an army of one and a half millions! an his faith belonging to the Romanist branch, army adequate to conquer half the world. was induced to make the sword the means But we have no conscription. The Anglo- of propagating his religion. The Briton, Indian army is composed of volunteers. We belonging to the Protestant communions, do not require a great standing force to pre- was equally bound not to employ his sword serve our territories. They preserve them- for the extension of his worship. The maselves; because the people are convinced terial position of the Indians was deteriothat, while much remains to be done, many rated obviously by the arrival of the Spanimprovements have been effected under Brit- iards. The personal comforts of the Hindoos ish management. have been in no similar measure reduced by Events will fulfil prophecy; and they the presence of the British. The testimony must not be shaped by mortal policy into of intelligent Hindoos and Mahommedans correspondence with its statements. In this proves the benefit of the measures taken by case no measures were ever taken to realize successive British Councils and Governors this identification. The Eastern settlements for the improvement of the people. The were commenced for mercantile purposes. mere existence of the empire is itself in Their progress never could have been, and evidence on the subject. These facts do not never was, foreseen. Clive and Hastings, prove that the work of Britain in the East Lake and Wellesley, never dreamed that they has been adequately done. The great public were agents in the confirmation of a Scrip- works now commenced, the means of educatural statement. Nevertheless, the Eu- tion that have been tried, all only point to phrates is dried up; and the East has no the courses of duty, without exhausting, or kings but the British people, who are im- even attempting to exhaust, the subject. pelled at once by all high and all sordid con- The Spaniards sailed west to conquer and siderations-by generosity and selfishness, convert: the British travelled to the east by manufacturing and mercantile interests, only to trade. The British Governors were and by the love of civil freedom and relig- successively ordered neither to make war ious liberty- by mammon and by moral nor to seize territory, and they were comconsiderations, to take the way prepared for pelled to deviate from their instructions. "the Kings of the East." The Spanish Governors went forth with orders to annex all the continent of America to the Crown of Madrid, and they discharged their instructions with eager zeal. Spanish conquest of South America affords, therefore, no historical parallel to the forma tion of the Anglo-Indian empire.

The

The progress of the Anglo-Indian empire would be the romance of history; but the narrative is a sober, staid statement of facts. The possibility of forming a similar state, equally compact, populous, and powerful, by the combination of great military and political genius, under an unscrupulous des- The tactics pursued two thousand years potism, may be freely admitted, without since in the construction of the Roman reducing in any way the claim of this em- empire, bear more resemblance to the hispire to be the wonder of the world. The tory of the British power in India, than any Spanish career in Southern America was other similar event during historic periods; stained always and everywhere by blood. but Roman generals went forth to add kingThe remnants of the Indian races are now, doms to the republic or to the empire. The indeed, re-appearing, and out of their ruins extension of their power was regularly planare re-asserting their claim to supremacy in ned, and their legions marched to forward Southern America; but there is, happily, that project; but we know in Britain that no parallel between British India and Span- the empire of India grew against all the ish America. The British crimes in India consist mainly in not improving the circumstances of the people with sufficient rapidity. The Spanish crimes in South America consisted in destroying the people with a celerity that nothing could resist. The Spaniards invariably attempted to spread their religion by the sword. The British even endeavored for a time to prevent the teaching of their faith to the natives, in an overscrupulous dread of offending their prejudices. They have never, at any time, exercised political influence for its extension. The difference between the two great sections

intentions, orders, and plans of the governing body, who were invariably disobeyed, without being able to attach any responsibility to their officers.

The connection of Britain with India may be considered a recent event. In the world's history, two centuries and a half form a short period, and our power in India is embraced within a much smaller compass. Two centuries, indeed, comprise our connection with Bengal. In 1624 a factory was established at Armegum. The Mogul emperor sanctioned the erection of another shortly afterwards at a place called Pipley.

A native chief, in 1640, allowed the erection | century- one million annually. It alone of a fort at Madraspatam. This erection stands in population as two and a half to was named Fort St. George, and it has be- one, when compared with the entire Russian come the centre of our capital on the Coromandel coast.

empire. And the population are not overcrowded, for one-half of their country is not Mr. Broughton, an English medical gen- yet cultivated. The shadow of British datleman, who was a resident of Surat in minion has protected them from the scorch1651, was enabled, on a visit to the court at ing plagues of internal war. It has come Agra, to prescribe for the favorite daughter between them and many cruel habits which of the Emperor Shah Jehan, who acknow- had gathered all the strength of statute law. ledged a deep debt of gratitude to the suc- It has stopped human sacrifices and funeral cessful physician, and he, more patriotic pyres. It has arrested the practice of infantthan many commercial men, took payment icide. It is at last sending over the scorched in mercantile advantages to his country. plains the life-giving water from the Ganges, Mr. Broughton travelled from Agra to the which rendered the river sacred in distant Court of the Nabob of Bengal, and was times. It will soon thus provide relief from equally successful in his medical prescrip- the terrors of famine to a land in which tions. Forgetful of himself, but mindful the rainy season is life, and its absence of his country, he accepted payment again death. We may, therefore, presume that in novel privileges to his country's trade. the inhabitants increase in numbers without In 1656 the factory on the Ioogley was the regular stream of annexation which erected, and thus the capital of Bengal was seems, like destiny, unavoidable. This emfounded. pire is at present immeasurably stronger Surat was the first centre of British trade than any other Asiatic power. Its territory on the western coast of Bombay, but the is compact and populous- more populous merchants there were exposed to the capri- than any other part of Asia, with the prob cious exactions of the Mogul and his court-able exception of China. It is defended iers, and were always desirous of a more partly from the north by the highest mounsecure position. In 1652, when Charles II. tains of the world. Many European officers married Catherine of Spain, he obtained the of the Anglo-Indian army believe that a island of Bombay, as the dowry of his Russian invasion of India is impracticable. Queen, and it offered the means of accomplishing their object. The business of Western India was not, however, transferred to the new possession until 1687, when the government vested the sovereignty of the isle in the company of merchants.

Indus, would form a part of the Russian empire, stretching from the Pole to the Indian Ocean.

They reckon much upon the desert barrier between the Caspian and Peshawur; but Alexander of Greece did not take that route, and we have yet to learn the existence of any obstacle that would arrest completely the march of armies across Persia, if Turkey The company at home were pleased with were incorporated into Russia; but if that the importance thus attained, and instructed gigantic annexation were effected by the their agents to buy territory when it could north, the mouth of the Euphrates, within be advantageously obtained. The scheme a few days' sail of the estuaries of the of an Anglo-Indian empire is therefore now one hundred and sixty-five years of age. A few small estates, resembling plantations in size, were then purchased around Bombay and Madras. A more splendid acquisition was made in 1698, when Azim Ooshaun, the son of Aurengzebe, sold to the company the Zemindarships of the towns and districts of Calcutta, Chatanuttsf, and Govindpore. The company immediately began the erection of Fort William at Calcutta. It was completed in 1707, and then Calcutta became the capital of the Bengal establishment, as it has since been made the metropolis of Anglo-India.

We have no sympathy with those who can, and do, peremptorily fix times and seasons for the fulfilment of all or any prophecies. Their habit is dangerous, and evinces little literary or scientific knowledge, and probably less reverence for the Bible. The parties who have fallen into the error explain what is not always intended to be so intelligible as they suppose, until the eve of the events or their absolute occurrence. They look upon prophecy as an absolute chart, and they are partially correct. It is always truth, but occasionally written in cyphers. Have they procured the key?

The Anglo-Indian empire is not, therefore, more than one century and a half old. It commenced two thousand miles beyond We refer, therefore, only to probabilities. the limit of Alexander's conquests. It now We do not allege that the explanation which includes the castern provinces of the Mace- we have adopted of the phrase "Kings of donian empire. Its progress in population the East" is correct. It has been advocated has averaged fully one hundred millions per by a number of writers in recent years.

The most important work on the subject was published some years ago in London, under the title "Kings of the East."'* Some of the pamphlets lately published in America and this country, in connection with the present war, are obviously founded, in part, on this volume, which, nevertheless, has not been much read at home.

Events subsequent to its date have confirmed the views taken by its author. The western provinces of this great empire have been consolidated. The Punjaub is a gain, and not a loss, to the revenue as many persons expected it to become. Scinde promises to be a fertile and useful province. The population already appreciate the advantages of British rule. The peasantry have learned from the experience of a few years that it is possible for them to acquire property. Formerly they labored, and too frequently other men entered into their labors. They also benefit by the introduction of capItal and science on lands where neither was employed, formerly, in the arts of peace. Even their position in their wars with the beasts of the field and the snakes of the sand will be improved. Some means will be found to prevent the destruction of several hundred lives annually by the wolves of the Punjaub and the serpents of Scinde. Against the former, hostilities must soon bring complete success. The latter enemy, as at the beginning, so in the world's age, is the more

subtle foe.

The political crisis which commenced in 1853 will draw the rulers of the East to the west. The government of Britain, although hard driven for soldiers, have shown no anxlety to bring the military power of India into the contest. They have withdrawn two regiments of horse to serve in the Crimea; but they have brought from that country no other European soldiers; although the Company have a considerable British army scattered over the presidencies.

time in their ordinary pursuits, have borne an active part in the siege of Sebastopol; and many are buried in the trenches that surrounded its fortresses. This fact abundantly testifies to the ignorance of statesmen on military topics; for the Foreign Legion has been hitherto useless, while it embroiled us in a quarrel with the United States. The policy was unnecessary, for the north-western provinces of India, and the border-lands of the Affghans, could have supplied a very large army of men, competent to bear even the climate of the Crimea in winter. If the Arabs and the Egyptains in the Turkish service can sustain the climate on the shore of the Euxine, even the ordinary Sepoys of India should be able to weather" the cold of its winters. They might be better supplied with warm clothing, food, and fuel than the Sultan's subjects; but after the crimes of the last winter, it is necessary to wait for the experience of the present before reckoning on that contingency. We associate tropical seasons with our ideas of India; but it stretches now, for that matter, to the peaks of the Himalayas; and in the Punjaub, or in some portions of the Affghan border-land, and towards Peshawar, the climate is colder than on any part of the Black Sea, even in the winter season.

The Government make no effort to associate India with the war against Russia. It has been allowed to stand aside as a neutral state. Not even have soldiers been recruited there for our service. All this obvious folly corresponds with those steps, unsought, by which that empire has been formed. But the Anglo-Indian officers have been brought into connection with the Turkish military and people. The career of that body of officers in this war began well at the defence of Silistria, and it has been admirably continued in the defence of Kars. Even at the battle of the Ingour we find English officers engaged with the soldiers of Omar Pasha. These incidental connections with the people of the Euphrates are of less consequence than the adoption by Great Britain of a numerous contingent of Turks under British officers, and in British pay.

The Earl of Aberdeen's Government, at the close of 1854, pushed through, almost by violence, the Act for the enlistment of foreign auxiliaries. They seemed to regard it as indispensable for the honor and safety of the nation; and yet it was a most unfor- The advisers of the Sultan were not all tunate proceeding. The friends of the meas- favorable to this policy. Some of them ob are said that a long period was required to served the tendency of the system to attach train recruits; but that the foreigners who the soldiers to their paymasters. The Turkwould join the legion would have the advan-ish soldiers can estimate the distinction betage of previous training in the militia of the countries to which they might belong. Twelve months have passed since that date, yet not a single soldier of the Foreign Legion has fired a shot at the enemy; while numbers of our young men, who were engaged at that

*One volume. Seeleys.

tween cash and credit in the payment of wages. The plundering habits of the BashiBazouks have been blamed in bitter language by well-paid correspondents of our press, who forget that the Bashi-Bazouk wanted clothes, food, money was a starving zealot to a cause which could not support him. The association of the people of Turkey with