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efficacy to restore his mind to any degree of

composure.

Before I conclude this epistle, I must entreat you to send for the good and pious Bramin Sheermaal ;—tell him, that my heart reproaches me for the injustice I was guilty of towards him; I implore his pardon for the incredulity with which I regarded his account of the conduct of Christians.-Experience has now taught me to acknowledge, that his words were dictated by truth, and his observations emanated from wisdom!

All that I have written thou wilt not, perhaps, think it proper to read to Zamarcanda; many parts of it she certainly could not understand; but I request thou wouldest assure her, that the love of her brother is undiminished. I embrace my son-and implore upon him the blessing of all the benignant Dewtahs-May the fortunes of Maandaara be established for ever!

What can I say more?

LETTER XIV.

SINCE I last took up the reed of friendship my heart has been fretted with vexation and my soul chilled with astonishment. Will the friend of Zaarmilla believe it possible, that I should have found fraud and falsehood, venality and corruption, even in the courtprotected vehicle of publick information, that pure source of intelligence, called a Newspaper?

The manner in which I made the disagreeable discovery was, to me, no less extraordinary than the discovery itself. I went, as usual, yesterday morning to spend an hour at the neighbouring coffee-house, and, on entering it, was surprised to find myself the object of universal attention. Every eye was turned toward me; some few

seemed to regard me with a look of contempt; but the general expression was that of pity and compassion. I had advanced to a box and called for a newspaper, but was hesitating whether I should retire or stay to peruse its contents, when a gentleman, whom I observed to eye me with particular eagerness, approaching me with much formality, begged leave to inquire, whether I was indeed the Rajab of Almora, a native Prince of Rohilcund? On being answered in the affirmative, the gentleman, again bowing to the ground, thus proceeded: "I hope your highness will not attribute it to any want of respect that I have thus presumed to intrude myself into your presence. I entertain too much respect for whatever is illustrious in birth, or honourable in rank, or dignified in title, or exalted in authority, to do any thing derogatory to its greatness. I am but too conscious of the prejudice which your highness must inevitably entertain against this nation, to hope that you will look upon any individual belonging to

it without suspicion and abhorrence! But I hope to convince you, in spite of the reasons you have had to the contrary, that we are not a nation of monsters. Some virtue still remains among us, confined to me and my honourable friends, it is true; but we, Sir, are Englishmen; Englishmen, capable of blushing at the nefarious practices of delegated authority; Englishmen, who have not been completely embowelled of our natural entrails; our hearts, and galls, and spleens, and livers, have not been forcibly torn from our bodies, and their places supplied by shawls and lacks, and nabob-ships, and dewannes ! We have real hearts of flesh and blood within our bosoms; hearts which bleed at the recital of human misery, and feel for the woes of your unhappy country, with all the warmth of unsophisticated virtue." Perceiving my intention to speak, "I know, Sir, what you would say," cried he, with vehemence : "You would tell me, that your hatred to the English race was founded in nature and in justice.-You 13 *

VOL. II.

would tell me, that it is we who have desolated your Empire, who have turned the fruitful and delicious garden of Rohilcund into a waste and howling wilderness.—We, who have extirpated the noble race of warriours who were your kind protectors! your indulgent lords! your beneficent friends!to whom you paid a proud submission; a dignified obedience; a subordination more desirable than the tumultuous spirit of the most exalted freedom!" Again I attempted to speak.-"Ah!" cried be, in a still louder tone, "you need not describe to me the ravages you have seen committed! the insults you have sustained! You need not tell me, that your friends have been slaughtered; your country plundered; your houses burned; your land laid waste; your Zenana dishonoured; and the favourite, the lovely, the virtuous wife of your affections, perhaps, torn from your agonizing bosom!" This was a chord not to be touched, even by the rude hand of a stranger, without exciting a visible emotion. "I see the subject is too much

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