natives from their primitive dignity, opulence, and importance may be charitably felt, but sympathy-however, fine the feeling may appear, for their debasement; however much this humiliation of the natives may be lamented in a moral and philosophical point of consideration-ought not to shut the eyes of the British to their own danger, in which they would be involved, if the hold they at present possess were to be at all loosened. The evil is a necessary one, and cannot, under existing circumstances, be corrected. Govind Bux is not popular, nor with the temper he possesses, unless changed, is he likely to become so in the event of his ever succeeding to the premiership. He is a Hindoo by caste, and as the country owns the Mahomedan ascendancy, it is to be feared that he will ever be an object of dislike and suspicion on that account; for the Mahomedans are a jealous race and entertain a mortal antipathy against the Hindoos, yielding only to their hatred of Europeans. Govind Bux is, besides, as tyrannical as Chundoo Lal, and this is another prolific source of his unpopularity. In one respect, however, he is unlike his brother, for he is naturally brave, while the other is remarkable for a certain timidity of character. But with all his firmness, Govind Bux has often been found to betray an unaccountable degree of vacillancy in his public acts. A measure adopted one day has frequently been abandoned the next. Equally extravagant too, as Chundoo Lal, the public resources are prodigally lavished, sometimes without any aim, and at others perhaps to secure some despicable object; so that the treasury is often exhausted, requiring the stretch of despotic authority to replenish it. By such means the country is impoverished, and the revenues found inadequate to meet the public expenditure. Expediency or necessity, the ' tyrants plea,' is frequently used as an excuse for plundering a rich subject, or wealthy Zemindar in order to meet the demands of the state. The intire sequestration of property, the consequence of resistance, can be eluded only by the voluntary offer of what is termed a nuzzuranna to a large amount, sometimes to that of lacs, according to the reputed wealth of the individual. The expedient of requiring nuzzurannas is now commonly practised, and found to answer admirably. Such despotism has often created a rupture between the Government and the Zemindars, who do not want spirit to resist the encroachments of tyranny, and who are not, therefore, likely to be easily intimi dated into passive acquiescence, and abject submission to illegal exactions. But the resistance they make is generally of temporary duration from inability to cope successfully with the overwhelming power of the Government, whose employment of troops on such occasions disciplined according to European tactics, and commanded by officers transferred for the most part from the Honorable Company's service must in a little time put an effectual check to their opposition. In such cases the fate of the delinquent is worse, than if he had at first quietly yielded; for a larger mulct is invariably imposed upon him as a punishment for his refractoriness. The Nizam's country is exceedingly rich and fertile, and would become still more so, if properly managed; but acts of tyranny, to which there seems to be no limit fixed, are fast sinking it in poverty and ruin, from which the occurrence of some political event calculated to change the face of affairs and restore confidence, will alone save it. The constant depredations, to which, from want of an efficient administration, the Nizam's territories were at one time constantly exposed, committed upon each other by the Zemindars, who subsisted upon pillage and rapine together with the rapacity of the government would at length have sunk the country in utter and irretrievable ruin and misery, if it had not been rescued from so disastrous a fate by seasonable British interference. The same system of maladministration, by which Chundoo Lal has brought himself into discredit, is pursued by Govind Bux, who endeavours to aggrandize himself at the sacrifice of the best interests and prospects of the country he governs. His object is to maintain himself in his post and to exercise a paramount authority so long as he can; and while in the possession of power, it seems to be a maxim with him first to secure his own individual advantage and next that of his relatives, friends, acquaintances and dependents, without reflecting whether the attainment of that object is injurious or not in its effects to the country. Make hay while the sun shines' is the prudent policy he follows, and it is by such selfish conduct that he has drawn upon himself universal hatred and abhorrence. Were he not, indeed, supported in his elevation by British influence, he too would have long been hurled from the undeserved eminence to which he has risen, not by merit but political intrigue, and met the fate which tyranny deserves. About the latter end of 1816, Govind Bux paid a visit to Hydrabad, on some state affair, and resided with his brother Chundoo Lal. He was on one occasion most splendidly entertained by the British Resident, Mr. Henry Russell, with nautches and pyrotechnic display. I was at this time confined to my room by illness, but as the residency grounds were divided from the dwellings of the relative, with whom I lived, by only a public road, I was not deprived of the opportunity of witnessing the pyrotechnic exhibition. What was the nature of Govind Bux's mission to his brother, it is impossible to say; for it was not known beyond the Court circle, whose interest it was not to allow the matter to gain publicity. After the satisfactory adjust ment of the affair in question, Govind Bux returned to Aurungabad. Chundoo Lal and Govind Bux had another relative, a half brother, who has long been numbered with the dead, and who, while living, used to experience the most indifferent and contemptuous treatment from them. In short his connexion with them was regarded rather as a misfortune by the two brothers who would often so far forget the respect due to him, to themselves, and to their stations, as to descend to the employment of the lowest and most scurrilous language towards him. Without any fault of his own, without having given any cause of complaint to them, he would be treated with a degree of harshness and barbarity quite incredible. He is the same individual, who was afterwards employed to reduce the fortress of Moormoor. After a protracted siege of near two months, Seetul Das succeeded in forcing Gopaul Roa the possessor of Moormoor to evacuate the place. Seetul Das's force consisted of a Brigade under Major Drew's command, Joachim's Battalion under a Native Officer, (Captain Joachim and his son being absent from the Corps) and parties of Sikhs and Arabs. The latter were subsequently ordered back to Hydrabad, in consequence of their creating a disturbance in the Camp. One of the Arabs having picked a quarrel with a Goand Sepoy, belonging to the Brigade, run his knife above the collar bone, and killed him on the spot. This murder created a great sensation among the men of Major Drew's Brigade: rising simultaneously, they opened a random fire on the Arabs, but did no mischief. Major Drew exerted his influence to put down the disturbance, and it was not, until assurances were afforded them, that justice would be done for the outrage which had been committed, that the infuriated soldiery were pacified, and retired to their tents. The delinquent had fled to Seetul Das for protection but the Rajah unable to quell the commotion was finally compelled to deliver the offender up to the vengeance of the troops. The poor wretch was accordingly seized and hanged on a tree. I was four days with Major Drew during the siege and was with him when the above affray took place. Although I was at this period attached with a friend to Messrs. Wm. Palmer and Co.'s teak timber concern, established in the Godavery forests, yet owing to its being extended over a large tract of country, we were frequently obliged to live apart. The want of Society, more than any other reason, induced me to avail myself of the opportunity of going to Moormoor, and as my friend was an acquaintance of Major Drew's, he kindly furnished me with a letter of introduction to that officer. The reception I met with was at once cordial and hospitable. Seetul Das I had seen at Hydrabad, and consequently he was no stranger to me. He behaved in the kindest manner to me, and when I was about quitting his camp, presented me with a pair of crimson shawls with embroidered borders. In the beginning of 1818, at the joint suggestion and solicitation of the British Resident, Mr. Russell, and of the Minister, Chundoo Lal, Messrs. W. P. and Co. carried a branch of their concern to Aurungabad. The object of the establishment of this branch was to make advances to Govind Bux for the purpose of enabling him to discharge the pay of the Aurungabad division of the Nizam's Army without allowing it to fall into arrears as heretofore. The army here as well as at Hydrabad was always kept in arrears owing to the mismanagement of the resources of the state; Govind Bux could not in consequence meet the public demands with convenience. The troops would frequently become clamorous, and sometimes even outrageous for their pay; but the Minister being incapable of satisfying their dues, he would be reduced to the necessity of borrowing money at exorbitant rates of interest from the Soucars. To obviate this necessity in future and also to enable him to pay the troops regularly, he proposed to his Brother Chundoo Lal, to obtain the sauction and co-operation of the Hydrabad Resident for the es tablishment of a branch of Messrs. W. P. and Co.'s Agency concern at Aurungabad for the express purpose of advancing him money to enable him to pay the troops. The plan was accordingly approved by Chundoo Lal, and Mr. Russell, who engaged Messrs. W. P. and Co. to carry it into execution. The scheme worked admirably for some years, but it was regarded with so much jealousy by the Home Authorities that it was subsequently ordered by them to be abolished. H. P, TO ENGLAND. Star of the Wanderer's soul! Unrivalled Land! R. THE MINSTREL'S ADIEU. BY MISS EMMA ROBERTS I. I may not yield my fervent heart To all that would its hope entwine, Nor trifle with the Minstrel's art, Nor kneel a slave at Beauty's shrine. II. My lyre alas, must be unstrung, The flowers that wreathed it left to fade, And woman's charms remain unsung, And youth's fond flattering hope betrayed. III. For I had dreamed, in happier days, Of smiles and tears and pensive sighs, Won by my lute's soft, soothing lays, From woman's lips, and woman's eyes. IV. Oh, that the world's unnumbered snares Should sterner thoughts and views inspire, And manhood's duties, and its cares, Quench the young poet's sun-caught fire. V. Yet it must be-I may not stray Along the path howe'er divine, Nor quit the dull and beaten way, Not ev'n at soft commands of thine. VI. But it will mitigate my pain, And gild fate's too severe decree, To feel that this, my latest strain, Sweet Lady, was addressed to thee! |