CHRONICLE. BENGAL. Occurrences for MAY, 1806. [The principles of the Marquis Wellesley's policy have had a powerful influence in meliorating the condition of our Indian empire; and the practical benefit, which the operation of that policy is gradually producing, will be clearly observed, even in those common occurrences and domestic details, which it is the purpose of this department of our work to record.] Calcutta. In our last volume (p. 19) was noticed the intention of the Rev. C.Buchanan, Vice President of the college of Fort William, to proceed to Cochin and Travancore, for the purpose of investigating the ancient writings, and history of the Jews and Syrian christians, in these places. He is now far advanced on the journey, accompanied by J. C. Leyden, M. D. a gentleman lately employed by the government of Fort St. George to make literary ry researches in Mysore: much may be expected from the united talents of these gentlemen. The want of rain since the end of March, in the Southern districts of Bengal, will enhance the price of Indigo this season. A royal salute was fired from the ramparts of Fort William, in commemoration of the fall of Seringapatam. The governor-general, attended by his personal staff, and the principal gentlemen of the settlement, returned the visit of the Persian ambassador, and on the following day gave a grand entertainment to his excellency, at which were present the judges of the supreme VOL. 9. court of judicature, the members of the supreme council, and all the principal civil and military officers of the presidency. † A The following address, from the officers of a detachment in camp at Panniput, to their commanding officer, col. Burn, with his answer, does credit to those gentle men; and is worthy of record as being the mede of merit. To Colonel William Burn, com manding the troops at Panniput. Sir,--The return of peace, and consequent arrangement of the troops, occasioning the separation of your detachment, we beg leave most respectively to express the high satisfaction we have enjoyed in serving under you, and the sincere regret we feel at parting with a commander, most eminently distinguished, by his heroic fortitude and gallantry, evinced at the siege of Delhi, at Shamlie, and upon all other occasions; and whose courage is not more con→ spicuous than the mode of conducting the duties of his station has been in endearing him to all under his command, Please, then, sir, air, to accept our unfeigned wishes for your health, happiness, and prosperity, wherever you may be; at the same time, we sincerely pray,that the supreme disposer of all events may continue to you an increased length of years to enjoy that fame you have so justly merited. We have the honour to be, &c. To Major Tetley, and the officers of my detachment at Panniput. Gentlemen, I have had the hohour to receive your address. Believe me, such a proof of attachment and regard from you, who, as officers, I have had reason to admire, and, as gentlemen, to esteem, shall ever be to me a source of the highest satisfaction. If, at any time, it has been in my power to contribute to your happiness, I have only succeeded in fulfilling a small portion of the duty which your own behaviour, at all times worthy of applause, imposed upon me; and whatever share of approbation our noble and illustrious leader, under whose personal command, we have all lately had the honour of serving, may have bestowed upon me, I am indebted for to the brave officers and men, at the head of whom I had the good fortune to be placed; whose arduous services, be assured, I shall remember with the warmest gratitude, till the latest hour of my existence. Orders having arrived for our separation, I have to beg of you, to carry with you my sincerest wishes for your prosperity; and may you long live in happiness, to enjoy the rewards of your exemplary conduct. Believe me, Gentlemen, &c. Camp, near Panniput, Address of the meeting at Fort The chairman of the general meeting of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, held on the 26th Oct. 1805, has the honour of publishing, for their information, a letter received by him from the resident at Fort Marlborough, with the resolution which accompanied it. P. SPEKE, Chairman at a General Meeting of the Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, under date the 26th Oct. 1805, inclosing a copy of the proceedings of a general meeting of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, on the melancholy occasion of the death of the late lamented governor-general, Marquis Cornwallis. 2. Conformably to the desire expressed in that letter, I have communicated to the British inhabitants of this residency, the resolutions voted at the general meeting of the British inhabitants of Calcutta ; and I have now the honour to transmit a copy of the resolution agreed to at a general meeting of the British inhabitants of this residency, on the 6th ultimo. 3. In transmitting to you this resolu tion, the British inhabitants of Fort Marlborough have requested me to assure you, that they are impressed by every sentiment of respect and veneration for the character and memory of the late Marquis Cornwallis, which can be inspired by a deep and unfeigned sense of his great and valuable services, of his eminent public and private views, and of a zeal uniformly, successfully, and steadfastly exerted to promote the true honour, inte The French national frigate Voluntaire, of 44 guns, entered the bay of the Cape of Good Hope, not knowing of the capture of the settlement. Sir Home Popham took possession of her without resistance; there was on board, part of the Queen's, and 34th regiments, taken in two transports in the Bay of Biscay. The Voluntaire is commissioned, and the command given to the hon. captain Percy. Sir George Keith, commander of H. M. gun brig, Protector, captured a Dutch East Indiaman (formerly the James Sibbald) off the Cape; the cargo consisting of cochineal, ivory, indigo, &c. is valued at 300,000l. sterling. Sir George took the command of his prize, and proceeded to England in her. A fine ship, named the Fort William, of 1200 tons, intended for the China trade, was launched from the yard of Messrs. John Gilmore, and Co. MADRAS.-Occurrences for May. Fifty ships arrived in China, in the course of last year, from America, and were loaded with from 8 to 10 thousand tons of tea, at an average of 100 dollars per ton, a great part of which will find its way into Europe. There are great numbers of American adventurers in Canton, many of whom have realized large fortunes. In commemoration of the fall of Seringapatam, his excellency the governor gave a grand dinner to upwards of 200 gentlemen of the settlement. Major Harris, of H. M. 73d regiment (son of the gallant general) who carried home the colours of Seringapatam, was of the party, he was seated on the right hand of the chairman. The following addresses, with the answers, are highly creditable to the parties, and will tend to promote harmony, enforce discipline, and create in others a generous emulation to deserve a similar record of universal approbation. To George Byng, Esq. commander of H. M. ship Belliqueux, Madras Roads. Sir, We feel it our indispensable duty, at as early a period as possible, to offer you our sincere congratulations upon the safe arrival of the † A 2 whole whole of the ships under convoy of H. M.'s ship Belliqueux, at this port. Permit us to return you our sincere thanks for the constant and unremitting attention we have ever experienced from you, since we had the honour to be placed under your command. As a testimony of the respect we entertain, we beg leave to solicit your acceptance of a piece of plate, value 1001. the contemplation of which may hereafter renew the pleasing reflection of your eminent services in the late successful expedition against the Cape of Good Hope, and remind you of the sincere regard of those who have the honor to subscribe themselves, &c. Fort St. George, April 23, 1806. H. M. ship Belliqueux, Madras Roads, 25th April, 1806. Gentlemen, I hasten to acknowledge your letter of yesterday's date, and to express the great pleasure on finding that the conduct observed by me, during the period, you have been placed under my orders, has afforded you that satisfaction, it has, and ever will be my study to experience on similar occasions. I accept with pleasure the piece of plate offered in your letter; and be assured when it reminds me of the events, mentioned by you in so flattering a manner, it will call to my remembrance the services of those amongst you, who were placed under my command on that occasion, and the general attention evinced by the whole, during the period your several ships were under the convoy of H. M. ship Belliqueux. I have the honour to be, &c. To the commanders of the hon. To captain William Edmeads, of the Hon. C. ship, William Pitt. Dear Sir,-In reverting to thecircumstances of a voyage protracted to an unusual length, we are gratified in the remembrance of the uninterrupted harmony and general good will which prevailed in the ship under your command, during the whole of its continuance. Sensible how much has been owing to the steady uprightness, and open liberality of your conduct, we offer you our sincerest acknowledgments. We at the same time request your acceptance of a piece of plate, of the value of one hundred guineas, bearing the annexed inscription, indicative of that esteem and regard with which we have the satisfaction of subscribing ourselves, Dear Sir, &c. Poonamallee, April 26, 1806. To Lieutenant-colonel Gibbs, and the officers of H. M. 59th regiment, who came passengers on the H. C. ship William Pitt, to Madras. Gentlemen,-The distinguished mark of approbation you have been pleased to confer on me, calls forth and esteem; and afford me an opmy warmest sentiments of gratitude, portunity of publicly acknowledg ing, what I have ever been proud to existed in the ship during the passage, express in private. The harmony that. may be attributed to the extreme correct conduct of those I have now the honour of addressing, The constant support I have ever received from you as officers, in the execution of my duty, and the pleasure I have derived from your society when off, were alone circumstances sufficient to perpetuate in my memory the advantages I bave obtained from such honourable intercourse. Your offer of a piece of |