lower class unfit for labour and servitude; for it may, we believe, with truth be said that the lower orders of society in Scotland are the best educated, and at the same time the most diligent, servants in the world.

ART.XI. The History of the Reign of Shah Aulum, the present Emperor of Hindostaun; containing the Transactions of the Court of Deihi, and the neighbouring States, during a Period of thirty-fix Years; interspersed with geographical and topograpnical Observations on several of the principal Cities of Hindostaun. With an Appendix, containing the following Tracts, viz. Ift, An Account of Modern Delhi. 2d, A Narrative of the late Revolution at Rampore, in Rohilcund, in 1794. 3d, Translation of a Letter, written in the Persian Language, from the Prince Mirza Juwaun Bukht Jehaundar Shah, eldest Son of the King of Delhi, to His Majesty George III., King of Great Britain, in the Year 1785; with a Copy of the Original. 4th, Translation, in Verfe, of an Elegy, written by the King of Delhi after the Lofs of his Sight. By W. Francklin, Captain in the Hon. East-India Company's Service, Bengal Establishment; Member of the Asiatic Society, and Author of a Tour to Persia. 4to. pp. 254. 11. IS. in Boards, Faulder. Cadell jun. and Davies, &c. 1798.

I the Year 1759, Ali Gawher, the present titular sovereign of Hindustan, was engaged in hostility with the English East-India Company and their newly-elected Subadar. Supplied by the Vizier Shujaeddawla with scanty resources, and inheriting by birth an incontestible title to the dominion of the fair provinces recently occupied by the English, he had advanced to Sasseram, when the tragical fate of his father, the second Alumghir, was announced from the capital. His acknowleged succession, by the name of Shah Alum, did not put a period to the hostile operations already commenced, which occasionally threatened the northern frontier of Behar, though with little success. Subsequently to the expulsion of Casim Ali, when his forces, united with those of the Vizier, menaced the destruction of the English authority in Hindustan, the presence of the titular sovereign in the camp of the confederates vainly sanctioned an enterprise which was opposed by military science and disciplined valor. The generosity of the conquerors proved a more efficient support than the interested loyalty of the Mogul nobles, and the provinces of Alahabad and Cora, together with an annual tribute of 26 lacs of rupees, conferred on the Emperor in 1765 by the English, promised to reviv the fading splendor of the Impeperial throne.

From this period to the end of 1771, the court of Shah Alum was stationary at the city of Alahabad; from which, the

imprudent

In

imprudent solicitations of a credulous minister, and the insidious promises of the Mahrattas, fatally prevailed on him to withdraw it. On the 25th December, the Sultan entered Delhi with much pomp, amid the acclamations of his subjects. In 1772, a successful expedition against Zabita Khan, a refractory Jaghirdar, evinced in strong colours the rapacity which too frequently disgraces the Mahratta arms: but these mercenary allies retired before the formidable confederacy which the Vizier and the Rohillas had formed, to resist their destructive progress; and in 1773 the Subas of Delhi and Agra were again emancipated from their controul. Mirza Nujif Khan now directed the Imperial councils, and displayed, in his double capacity of minister and commander in chief, a degree of loyalty and valour which his unworthy successors praised, without attempting to imitate it. The predatory incursions of the Jauts were repressed, and several of their fortresses captured: but the intrigues of the court diminished the influence of the minister; and in 1776, when a second rebellion of Zabita Khan called for the exertion of his abilities, the Imperial forces were entrusted to a less skilful or a less fortunate commander, and a signal defeat too late evinced the error. The year 1779 was distinguished by an inglorious, though not unprofitable invasion of the country of the Rajpûts. 1780, an incursion of the Sikhs having called the Imperial forces to the northern frontier, the command was entrusted to Mujdedawla; and a second defeat betraying his incapacity, Nujif Khan was restored to the undivided confidence of his master, which he enjoyed till his death in 1782. The expulsion of the Sikhs had justly acquired for Mirza Shuffi the reputation of a skilful commander; and the unpopular conduct of his rival, Afrasiab Khan, paved the way for Mirza's elevation to the office of prime minister. The unparalleled treachery which distinguished and disgraced the period of their administration, and to which each in his turn fell a victim, invited the Mahrattas to reassume the authority which they had been forced for a time to relinquish. In January 1785, Madhagi Sindia was invested, as representative of the Peshwa, with the office of director-general: he reduced the places which still held out for Afrasiab Khan; and, had a sordid parsimony admitted of his conciliating the affections of the Mogul troops and their leaders, his power might have been uninterrupted. Far otherwise was the event: dissatisfied with the resumption of their military tenures, those troops deserted on the field of battle to the Rajah of Jypâr; and, after a bloody but unsuccessful contest, Sindia was again compelled in 1787 to recross the Chumbul.

We now approach the unhappy catastrophe of this eventful history. Golam Cader, who had lately succeeded his father Zabita Khan in the Jaghir of Seharunpur, availing himself of the absence of Sindia, advanced to the capital with a considerable force, and with the secret connivance of a treacherous though confidential minister of the unfortunate Sultan. He had laid siege to Delhi, when the approach of an army led by the Prince Mirza Juanbukht obliged the Rohilla to withdraw his troops and retire precipitately to his own territories. After an unsuccessful attempt to restore some portion of energy to the royal councils, the prince finally returned to the protection of the English government; and soon afterward ended his days at Benares. In 1788, the Mahrattas, having recovered from their former defeat, began again to appear in considerable force to the north of the Chumbul. Shah Alum took the field, in order to reduce some refractory chiefs : but his disorderly troops being suddenly attacked by the garrison of Gocul-ghor, while besieging that fortress, he owed his safety and ultimate victory to the heroic valor and military skill of a female, who commanded a division of the royal army. After the Sultan's return to Delhi, the arms of Sindia gained an important advantage over Ismael Beg, who had been deserted by his unprincipled associate, Golam Cader, in the hour of danger: but, the Mahrattas unaccountably neglecting to secure the capital, the barbarous Rohilla unexpectedly attacked and carried it. After having ransacked the palace, and loaded the unhappy monarch with every indignity, he deprived him of sight. The approach of the Mahrattas put a period to these horrors; Golam Cader retired to Mirat, sustained a siege, and, attended by 500 horse, cut his way through the besieging army: but, gradually deserted by his followers, he was seized and carried to the Mahratta camp. The severity of his punishment exhibited, and his previous atrocities justified, a remarkable deviation from the characteristic mildness of Hindu manners.

From this period, the authority of Sindia suffered no diminution. The Rajput chiefs were reduced to submission. Three brigades of infantry disciplined by European officers, and 130 pieces of artillery, gave stability to his acquisitions, and hope already beheld his future triumphs over the Sikhs, in the plains of Lahor, when death put a period to his career in 1793, at the age of 67. He was succeeded in his paternal dominions by his own nephew, Dawler Raw, who has not yet attained any pre-eminence among the princes in the Mahratta Such are the principal events, which occupy the attention of Capt. Francklin, in the course of a brief but perspicuous narrative; in which he had been recently anticipated by Capt. Scott. The importance of the publication before us, however, is considerably enhanced by a paper (Appendix 11.) containing a luminous, and (as we believe) the only account hitherto published, of the causes which, in 1794, involved the EastIndia Company in a war with the Rohillas. By those who know with what obstinacy the field was disputed, how long victory hung dubious, and with what loss it was ultimately atchieved, the narrative will be perused with no common interest.

Fyzulla Khan, the respectable Jaghirdar of Rampûr, ended his days in 1794. The eldest son, Mahomed Ali, a man of unpopular manners, was treacherously put to death by his brother Golam Mahomed; who applied to the Vizier to be confirmed in the succession, offering to pay a considerable tribute in return. Asofeddawla was disposed to accede to this disgraceful proposal: but the English government determined to dispossess the fratricide. On the 26th October, a bloody engagement terminated in the defeat of the Rohillas, ' whilst the British had to regret a dear-bought victory, in the loss of 600 men and 14 officers, men of tried reputation in their profession, and who had fought under the banners of Coote and Cornwallis.' By the terms of pacification, the treasures of Fyzulla Khan were delivered up to the Vizier, who presented the English army with II lacs of rupees. Ahmed Ali, the infant son of the deceased Nuab, was invested with a Jaghir of 10 lacs, of which Rampûr is the capital

To Capt. Francklin, as a writer, we wish to recommend more attention to correctness of expression, and more to discrimination of facts. A few examples will elucidate the prepriety of our advice. They met the Mahrattas, were defeated, and fled to Jypur.' Who would imagine from this expression that it was the Mahrattas who were defeated? By them were exported into Cuttair,' &c. - This province (Seharunpûr) commences under the Sevalic hills, and is bounded (defended) on the north by the fortress of Ghos-ghor.' In all the maps that we have had an opportunity of examining, (including Capt. F.'s own,) Ghos-ghor is situated to the south of Seharunpûr.

A more important subject of animadversion occurs in the statements of the revenues of various districts incidentally mentioned, and of which a moment's reflection would have discovered the fallacy. Ist, 'The revenues of Cuttair are stated in the Imperial register at Delhi, to be five millions sterling, though though now yielding only 400,000l.' We have an authenticated copy of that register, for the reigns of Shah-gehan and of Mohammed Shah: in which the Circars of Sumbul and Budaun, which constituted Cuttair, are valued at 76 lacs of rupees, or 760,000l. They were included in the Suba Shahgehanabad, the whole of which yielded, on a medium of ten years, during the former period, 2,85,79,424 rupees, or less than 3 millions sterling; and during the latter reign 3,78,21,232 rupees, or less than 4 millions sterling.

2d, While the empire flourished, the revenues of the Agimere province were estimated at 26 millions.' We know not whether pounds sterling, or rupees, are here meant: but we have the most perfect conviction that even in the latter case the sum is greatly over-rated. This Suba yielded in the reign of Shah-gohan 382,85,495 rupees on a medium of ten years, or 830,000 1.

3d, The revenues (of Jypûr) are estimated at 5 millions sterling.' Col. Dow had stated them at 80 lacs, or 800,000, and even this sum exceeds the truth: but can Captain Francklin seriously imagine that this small, and comparatively unfertile, tract of mountainous country yields a revenue greatly exceeding, in amount, that which the Company derive from all their territorial possessions in Bengal, Behar, and Orissa?

This work, however, does farther credit to the industry and talents formerly manifested by Captain F. and is an acceptable present to those who interest themselves in Oriental affairs.

ART. XII. The Satires of Persius. Translated by Wm. Drummond, Esq. M. P. Small 8vo. pp. 150. 48. Boards. Wright.

THE Greeks are generally allowed to have excelled in epic,

dramatic, and lyric poetry: but in satire, considered as a species of the poetic art, they must yield the palm to the Romans. For this superiority perhaps we might easily account, were this a proper place for such an investigation: but, at present, it may suffice to observe that the three great Roman satirists, Horace, Juvenal, and Persius, have been regarded as models worthy of the imitation of all succeeding poets, who have made the follies and vices of mankind the objects of their attention and censure. The first excelled in the delicacy and poignancy of his wit, and in an easy politeness and urbanity, almost peculiar to himself, united with the keenest discernment and most accurate observation: -the second is not less remarkable for the vigour of his thoughts and expressions; and for his ardent love of virtue, and detestation of vice, bursting, forth