The following account of British conduct, and its con

fequences, in Bengal, will afford a fufficient idea of the fact alluded to in this paffage. After describing the monopoly of falt, betel nut, and tobacco, the historian

proceeds thus: "Money in this current came but by drops; it could not quench the thirft of those who waited in India to receive it. An expedient, fuch as it was, remained to quicken its pace. The natives could live with little falt, but could not want food. Some of the agents

faw themselves well fituated for collecting the rice into ftores; they did fo. They knew the Gentoos would rather die than violate the principles of their religion by eating flesh. The alternative would therefore be between giving what they had, or dying. The inhabitants funk; -they that cultivated the land, and faw the harveft at the disposal of others, planted in doubt; fcarcity enfued.

Then the monopoly was eafier managed-ficknefs enfued. In fome districts the languid living left the bodies of their numerous dead unburied."

Short History of the English Tranfactions

in the Eaft Indies, page 145.

Note 14. Nine times hath Brama's wheels of lightning hurl'd

His awful prefence o'er the proftrate world!

Among the sublime fictions of the Hindoo mythology, it is one article of belief, that the Deity Brama has defcended nine times upon the world in various forms, and that he is yet to appear a tenth time, in the figure of a warrior upon a white horse, to cut off all incorrigible offenders. Avatar is the word used to exprefs his defcent.

Note 15. And Camdeo bright, and Ganefa fublime.

Camdeo is the God of Love in the mythology of the Hindoos. Ganefa and Serifwattee correspond to the Pagan deities, Janus and Minerva.

NOTES ON PART II.

Note 1. The noon of manhood to a myrtle shade!

Sacred to Venus is the myrtle shade.

Dryden.

Note 2. Thy woes, Arion!] Falconer, in his poem, The Shipwreck, fpeaks of himself by the name of Arion.

See Falconer's Shipwreck, Canto III,

Note 3. The Robber Moor.

See Schiller's tragedy of the Robbers, Scene V.

G

Note 4. What millions died that Cæfar might be great.

The

carnage occafioned by the wars of Julius Cæfar

has been usually estimated at two millions of men.

Note 5. Or learn the fate that bleeding thousands bore, March'd by their Charles to Dneiper's swampy

fhore.

In this extremity (fays the Biographer of Charles XII. of Sweden, fpeaking of his military exploits before the battle of Pultowa), the memorable winter of 1709, which was still more remarkable in that part of Europe than in France, deftroyed numbers of his troops; for Charles refolved to brave the feafons as he had done his enemies, and ventured to make long marches during this mortal cold. It was in one of these marches that two thousand men fell down dead with cold before his eyes.