Befriended thus by Heav'n, fad fates I'll bear,

The dreary tomb fhall not my peace deftroy,

hours,

To make our peace or purge away our ftains,

When pale distress abforbs fair reafon's powers,

When fick nefs hold the mind in triple chains.

That op's the portals of immortal joy.'

The MINUTES of the Select Commit tee, appointed by the House of COMMONS, to enquire into EAST INDIA Affairs.

(Continued from page 20, VOL. IV.) Martis, 19° die Maii, 1772.

Mr Becher.

2. What was the foundation of the opinion that the protection given to Killindafs was the great reafon for S. Dowla's coming down to Calcutta?

A. About the latter end of Novemberor the beginning of December 1755, I was appointed chief of the fubordinate factory of Dacca:→→ from that time I did not attend at any of the councils that were held at Calcutta; and of course for tranfactions that paffed there I could only be informed by the report of others. At the time the letter of July 18, 1756 was wrote from Dacca, myfelf and the other gentlemen that figned it with me were prifoners to the Nabob, and by his permiffion were allowed to refide in the French factory.For fome time before the VOL. IV.

capture of Calcutta we had no corre fpondence with the gentlemen of Fort William, but for intelligence we were obliged to truft to the natives of the from their fettlement at Chandernacountry, or what the French received gore. I efteemed it at that time my duty to forward to the Court of Di rectors, and to the Governor and Coun cil at Madrafs, fuch intelligence as I was able by that means to procure: I have fince had the greatest reason to believe, the accounts tranfmitted to the Governor and Council at Madrafs were greatly exaggerated and very fallacious in many particulars: I mean by thofe fallacious particulars, what was related in an account we got from the French.-The report of Kiffindafs's being received and protected in Calcutta, being a caufe affigned by Surajah Dowla for his difpleasure against the Englith, I heard from numbers of people where I was, as well from the French as the natives: I own I gave credit to it, and therefore did affign that as the principal reafon to the Court of Directors.

In relation to the affair of Kiffindafs: As far as I recollect to have heard, Kiffindafs was received about the latter end of March 1756, and to have remained in Calcutta till the place was taken by Surajah Dowla the 20th of June, at which time he and Omichund were both prifoners in the factory by order of the Governor, as I believe.In the fituation the Eaft-India company were then, as merchants, and living under the protection of the country government, I was then, and still am of opinion, that neither Kiflindafs nor any other fubject of the Nabob fhould have been received and protected in our fettlement; and I ftill think, that this did give a pretence to Surajah Dowla to fhew his refentment or difpleasure against the English; but at the fame time I am now convinced, from the mary opportunities I have fince had of converfing with those that were at that time principal officers and in high ftation about Surajah Dowla at Muxada bad, that, even if that pretence had not been given, he would have marched his army down against Calcutta. His object was money: Calcutta was report ed to be very rich, and fo were the other European fettlements of Chandernagore and Chinfura. Surajah Dow la was a young man, violent, paffionate, of great ambition, tinctured with avarice, and expected both wealth and honour by attacking the European fet tlements, or by extorting money from them. This appears from his conduct by the attack of Calcutta, and from the fums he extorted from the French, Dutch, and Danes, after the taking of Calcutta.

2. Did you ever hear of the Nabob's demanding Kiffindafs, after he was received in Calcutta?- A. I don't recollect that I did before Calcutta was taken, but heard it foon after. I might have heard it before, but don't recollect that I did.-My opinion at that time was, that if Kiffindafs had been delivered up, and a fum of money offered, the Nabob would not

have proceeded to the length he did in attacking Calcutta; and I grounded that opinion in a great measure on what had been the former cuftom of the Nabobs and Princes of that country, when they were difpleafed with the English.

Ally Verdi Cawn, who was a wife prince, had upon different occafions fhewn his difpleasure and taken money from them, but appeared always to be at the fame time fo fenfible of the benefit accruing to his country by the trade carried on by the English, that he never proceeded farther than to put a ftop to the trade of the English company, and to place forces round their factories; by which means he always brought them to the terms he pleased.

2. Do you know the reafon why the Governor did protect Kiffindass?— A. I do not.

2. Do you know of any money extorted from the Company by Aliy Verdi Cawn, or any troubles arifing from demands of money previous to the acceffion of Surajah Dowla ?—- A. I recollect two inftances in my time, when fums of money were taken from the Company by Ally Verdi Cawn. The firft, to the best of my remem brance, was in 1744 or 1745; when he made a demand upon all the European fettlements in his dominions; and gave as reafons for it, the great expences he was obliged to be at in maintaining a very large army to defend his country, and those who lived under his protection, from the Mharattas, who used at that time almoft annually to invade Bengal.-The English company at that time was obliged to pay three lacks and a half of rupees, as well as I remember; and the other European nations in proportion to their trade. Another inftance that I recollect was about 1748 or 1749. The Company's trade and business was ftopt, and forces put round their fubordinate factories for feveral months, in confequence of the complaint of an Armenian, who had freighted goods on a fhip under Dutch colours; which ship was taken

by

by Commodore Griffin, or fome of his fquadron, and condemned, as I underfood, for having French property on board. The Armenian being under the protection of the Nabob of Bengal, made his complaint to the Nabob of the lofs of his property; and the Nabob infifted on the English making good' to him the lofs he had fuftained by that capture.At that time orders from home were peremptory not to comply with the demands made by the country government; in confequence of which, the gentlemen refufed to comply with the demands made by the Nahob; but after several months ufing their endea

vours to pacify him, they were obliged to comply. I fuppofe the Company looked upon the demand of the three lacks and a half by Ally Verdi Cawn as a hostile demand, and I believe the orders I have mentioned were sent out in confequence.

2. Whether you knew or believe, that Mr Drake or any other perfon received money or prefents from Kiffindafs for the protection given him ?—/; I do not know, nor do I believe that he or any other person did. [Withdrew.]

(To be continued.)

R E V

Select Difcourfes, I. Of the Gorre fpondence of the Hebrew Months with the Julian, from the Latin of J. David Michaelis, Royal Profeffor of Goettin gen. II. Of the Sabbatical Year, from the fame. III. Of the Years of Jubilee, from an anonymous Writer, in Mr. Maffon's "Hiftoire Critique de la Republic des Letters.” Vol. V. Art. II. p.ho, &c. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Bowyer.

Thefe pieces deferve the notice of the learned. We have not the originals now before us; and therefore all that we can fay, concerning the accuracy of this tranflation, is that we have a favourable opinion of it, as it is executed by a gentleman who has given the public an honourable proof of his induftry, fidelity and learning, in his Conjectures on the New-Teftament. A Differtation on Spectres; with an Appendix, concerning Vampirism. 4to. Augsburgh. (German)

It has been often and juftly obferv. ed by M. d'Alembert and others, that the catholic provinces of Germany are, in point of folidity of learning and elegance of tafte, greatly inferior to the proteftant ones.

This distance, however, we now per ceive, begins gradually to diminish. Therefa, and Jofeph II. are at present fuccefsfully cherishing fciences, belles letters, and polite arts, in their dominions: and from this prefent perfor mance we behold with pleasure, found philofophy, after a hot and entertaining literary war, on a fubject somewhat fimilar to the Cock-lane ghoft, ftruggling, even in Bavaria, to emerge into day-light.

Contributions to the Deffert for gay and ferious Company; confifting of a Collection of feveral Maxims, Reflectir ons, Tales, humourous Sallies, and Trifles. A periodical Paper. True Parts. 8vo. Hamburgh. (German)

A plentiful dish, made up of fhrewd remarks, witty tales, fprightly and humourous fallies, catches, glees, &c. moft of them highly feafoned, palatable, and fo eafy of digeftion, that, were we not affured from good hands, of its being originally dreffed by the late Mr. Dreyer, we should have miftaken it for the production of fome clever French cook, defigned for a macaroni club.

Contributions to the Entertainment of gay and ferious Companies. 8vo. Hamburgh. (German).

Another plate of fimilar ingredients; furnished by the fame ingenious

caterer..

A Collection of fhort Effays, by J. A. Unzer. 2 Vols. 8vo. Hamburgh. (German)

A variety of philofophical and moral fubjects difcuffed with folidity and elegance, by a writer who has long and eminently diftinguished himself as a phyfician, a philofopher, and a moralift.

The London Practice of Phyfic: the 2d Edit. with large Additions and Amendments. 8vo. 55. Robinfon.

This edition of the London practice of phyfic appears to have received confiderable improvement. The defcription of the various diseases is not only rendered more full and accurate, but what must be a circumftance of great advantage to the ftudent, the feveral appellations by which they are diftinguifhed by different writers, are gene rally enumerated; and the language is alfo greatly improved with refpect to correctness, perfpicuity, and precision. These are not the only confiderations, however, which recommend this edition in a particular manner to our ap probation. For the work is now en riched with the history of several di feafes which had formerly been omitted. The latest improvements in prac tice are alfo carefully inferted; and

there are fubjoined useful observations refpecting the prevention of difeafes, as we obferve particularly in the article of the plague, yellow fever, and fourry; infomuch, that the volume is increated almoft a fourth part of its original fize. The alterations which have been adopted, extend even to the arrangement of the difeafes, which are now claffed according to the fyftem of Sauvages. By this means, fuch diseases as correfpond in the greatest number of circumftances, are brought nearer each other; and the defcription, as well as the cure, are thereby more eafily retained in the memory of the reader; for whofe greater convenience a complete Index is likewife added. therefore recommend the London practice of phyfic, in its prefent form, both as a very useful work to the medical ftudent,and an excellent manual physic, to be occafionally confulted by every young practitioner.

We

Ufong. An Eastern Narrative Writ ten in Germany, by Baron Haller, 2 vols. 12mo. 5s. Newbery.

This narrative is entertaining, and full of inftruction. It evinces the au ther to be a man whofe fancy is rendered fubfervient to the purposes of knowledge.

Obfervations upon the prefent State of England: with Remarks upon the Pay of the Subaltern Officers in the Army. By an Officer. 8vo. us. 6d. Goldsmith.

fenfible and lively writer.

each peasant is to be taxed at the rate of 120 copecs per ann. The male children are to be enrolled from their births on the capitation roll, but the women and girls are to be exempted from it. The lord of each place is to anfwer for the above imports, and is moreover to furnish a certain number of recruits, without deducting on that account the above capitation. The review of the number of inhabitants is to be made every five years. The men and children who die in the faid intervals are to cause no diminution in the capitation tax, but the Lord of the place is to be anfwerable for the pay, ment as well for the dead as the living.

FRANCE.

Paris, March 16. They write from Marfeilles, that at a country - houfe where fome Proteftants ufed to meet, pear Notre Dame de la Garde, all the benches, books, and pulpit, were late ly burnt by the order of the Parliament of Province, and the doors and windows of the houfe faftened up. The minifters who officiated at thefe meetings are put in prifon at Aix, and will be profecuted.

Madrid, Feb. 26. Although the plan of the negotiations between this court and that of Verfailles are kept very fecret, nevertheless the preparations for war which are continued in different provinces of the kingdom, and the arrival of a number of couriers, give room to believe that an important treaty is on the carpet, or is perhaps already concluded.

Paris, March, 22. We hear from Tours, that terrible ravages have been Jately made in that part of the country by mad wolves, which had killed and maimed upwards of threefcore perfons of both fexes, befides the many that had been bitten by them, and whofe cafes were become most defperate. Great numbers of cattle are like to be deftroyed by thofe furious animals. Six thoufand armed men were gone in parfait of them, but when the accounts

came away, had not met with a fingle wolf in a chace of five or fix leagues round. This dreadful difafter is faid to have been occafioned by a pealant, who had a hog that ran mad, which he killed, but instead of burying it deep in the ground, dragged it to a distance from his house, and left it in a lay tall, where it was devoured by the wolves.

P. OLAN D.

Cracow, March 7. Yefterday at noon the Royal Polish Chamber, which had been shut up foon after the Auftrians entered this city, was re-established in its ancient jurifdiction: and the Imperial Chamber, which had been fixed here from the 5th of last month, was returned back to the fuburbs of Cafimir, where it had been fixed ever fince the difmemberment of our dominions. The Auftrian eagles, erected on the front of the building, were removed at the fame time. This latter step, which has taken place in confequence of or ders from Leopold, does not furprize us less than the former. The changes made in the poft-office, by the Auftri an Colonel Mitrowski, haye, alfo been fuppreffed.

Warfaw, March 10. The 17. inft. a courier arrived from Peterburgh, who afterwards continued his rout for Vienna and Berlin. It is faid his dif patches contain the plan of the changes which the three Courts intend to introduce in the Government of this kingdom, and which are to be approved by our approaching diet.

GERMANY.

Vienna, March 13. Some letters from Conftantinople of the 17th of February mention, that the Armistice with Ruffia, is prolonged to the 21ft of May.

A Turkish Chiacus Bachi was fent by the Sultan on board an English ship on fome important commiffion to Egypt, but was taken by the Ruffians, and exchanged with the Turks for feven Ruffian officers and twenty-feven foldiers, who were in prifon at Conftantinople.