ARREN HASTINGS, Efq; the

is a gentleman, who, in the midft of peculation, avarice, and oppreffion, has deported himfelf with fo much propriety, moderation, and ability, as to intitle him to the refpect of mankind in general, and the particular acknowledgments of a people whofe profperity and welfare have been carefully attended to during his adminiftration over them.

He is defcended from a very ancient and refpectable family at Darlsford, in the county of Worcester, where his ancestors for many centuries poffeffed an eftate. He was born in the year 1730, and received his education at Westminster School. At this feminary he early exhibited marks of a more than common genius, and attracted the notice of Dr. Nichols, the mafter, in a particular manner. His acquifitions in literature did credit as well to the preceptor as the pupil; and when he left Weftminster, he was efteemed one of the beft fcholars of that period. In the year 1750 he was appointed a writer in the fervice of the Eaft-India Company at Bengal; and foon after his arrival in that kingdom, he applied himfelf with great affiduity and attention to acquire the Perfian and Hindoftan languages, in which he fucceeded in fo great a degree, that he was felected as the propereft perfon to attempt the eftablishing of a Factory in the interior parts of Bengal, where no European had hitherto appeared; and though the fcheme

proved unfuccefsful, he conciliated the ef

when he was taken prifoner by the troops of Surajah Dowlah, they fhewed their refpe&t for him by treating him with fin gular marks of humanity and attention.

In a fhort time the fortune of war changed, and Surajah Dowlah, who had aimed at the deftruction of the English in that part of the world, exhibited a moft ftriking inftance of the uncertainty of hu man affairs. From a ftate of the highest profperity he funk to the most abject point of mifery; he was defeated, dethroned, and in the end murdered by his fucceffor Meer Jaffier, in whofe court it became neceflary to have a refident minifter. On this occafion Colonel, afterwards Lord Clive, fhewed that difcernment of men, which marked his character, by felecting Mr. Haflings for this important office. He deported himself in it to the general fatisfaction, until he became a member of the adminiftration in Bengal. In 1765 he returned to England with his friend Mr. Vanfittart, and with a fortune extremely moderate. In 1769 obtained the appointment of fecond in council at Madras, where he remained until February 1772, when he returned to Bengal, the Directors having named him governor of that fettlement.

The diftreffes of the Eaft-India Com pany at that period, arifing from every fpecies of mifmanagement both at home and abroad, are too well known to require

our

our dwelling upon them. It is fufficient to obferve, that when Government seized the opportunity of intermeddling in their affairs, but one voice was heard refpecting the perfon to whom the fupreme authority over India fhould be invefted, and this was Governor Haftings. In less than two years the credit of the Company wore an entire new face, confidence was returning into its former channel, and the expectation of the public was not difappointed in the measures purfued abroad. Unfortunately for the interefts of the British nation in India, the gentlemen who were joined with Mr. Haftings in the adminiftration, Mr. Barwell excepted, carried with them violent prejudices from England, and commenced a deftructive oppofition the moment of their arrival in Calcutta, which continued with fatal and unremitting violence until the death of Colonel Monfon. It is remarkable, that during the course of this unhappy contention, in which every measure of his former adminiftration, his character, and his fortune, were attacked, he never loft his temper or his health, but continued to conduct himself with fo much prudence, that no advantage could be taken of him by his adverfaries. At length the death of Colonel Monfon and foon after of General Clavering, made a very material alteration in the conduct of the leading men of this country towards him, and he has had the honour of being three times appointed by the Legislature to the Supreme Government of Bengal.

Perhaps the conduct of no man in public life has ever been more ftrictly fcrutinized, more rigidly enquired into, or more freely commented upon; and it may be added, no character has come out more bright after the inquifition upon it. If he has been powerfully attacked, he has been as ably defended, and the warmth of his friends, and the candour of the pub Hic, have at least kept pace with the malice and perfeverance of his enemies. Twice have the majority of the Directors determined to remove him, and twice have the great body of his Constituents preferved him in his ftation. In 1776 the weight of government was exerted againft him, and the influence of his Majefty's minifters perfonally exercifed at the India Houfe to remove him; but a majority of Proprictors defeated the attempt, and fixed him in Bengal. On May 28, 1782, the Houfe of Commons voted, that it was the duty of the Court of Directors to difplace Mr. Haftings from his government. This happened during what is called the Rockingham adminiftration: but it is remarkable,

that Mr. Fox, the Lord Advocate, and the other gentlemen, who fpoke in support of the refolution for Mr. Haftings's removal, acknowledged, that his abilities were of the moft fplendid kind, and his integrity unquestionable.

In confequence of this vote the Court of Directors again took into confideration the fate of their affairs, and on the 22d of October determined, by a majority of 13 to 10, that Mr. Haftings fhould be recalled. The propriety of this measure was moft ably and fully difcuffed by the Proprietors on the 24th and 31ft of the fame month, when it was determined by ballot that Mr. Haflings fhould remain in his ftation: the numbers for his continuance being 428 against it 75. In confequence of this refolution, the next day the vote of recal was refcinded by the Court of Directors.

At a time when obloquy and. difgrace too often, and we fear too juftly, attend the name of an Eaft Indian, it is no fmall praife for any perfon of that denomination to be fpoken of in terms of approbation, and ftill more fo, when the voice of feandal and detraction are drowned in the praifes beftowed on any individual. Mr. Haftings, whole caufe has attracted fo much of the public notice, is now in the 52d year of his age; he has been thirtytwo years, with a fhort interval, in the fervice of the Eat-India Company, and almoft eleven years of the time Governor of Bengal. He poffeffes, even by the confeffion of his enemies, very extraor dinary abilities and undoubted integrity. He has alfo all the qualities of a great ftatefman. Were we to delineate his character, we fhould be tempted to make use of the words of Commodore Johnston, at the late Court of Proprietors. That gentleman, fpeaking of the defeat of our army on the Coaft of Coromandel, declared, "Upon information of an event "that was fufficient to damp the fpirits of "the moft determined, the foul of Mr. Haflings fecms to have arifen fuperior to the occafion: with an ardour for the glory of his country, with a zeal for "the profperity of your affairs, with a "perfpicuity in the detail, and a fublimi. "ty of fentiment in the preamble, he "dicated a minute which will ever do "him the greateft honour, propofing to "fend inftant relief in men and money "and a General to command the forces, "who could reftore confidence to the troops; and notwithstanding the incle. mency of the feafon, he carried his de fign into execution."

To Mr. Haflings's attention was the Eaft-India Company indebted, for the communication which was eftablithed between this country and India by way of Suez. The trade from Bengal to the Red Sea promifed to be highly advantageous, and could never have affected the Company's fales in England. A contrary opinion however prevailed, and English veffels are no longer permitted to navigate to Suez. The communication was open long enough to convey the Company's orders for the attack of Pondicherry; an event deemed at that time, and it certainly was fo, of the greateft national importance. Mr. Haftings deputed the ingenious Mr. Geo. Bogle to the court of the Grand Lama in Thibet, who received him with the utmoft kindness and hofpitality. A trade very beneficial to Bengal has been opened with that country; European fruits of every kind have been brought from Thibet to Calcutta, and gardening has been carried to an extraordinary degree of perfection within thefe few years. No city in the world has been more improved in a fhort

fpace of time than Calcutta. Mr. Haftings, amongst more important objects, is both an admirer and an encourager of the fine arts, and excels as an engineer and an architect. He is liberal and polite to his dependents; the gentlemen of his family are his friends, and he lives with them upon the most eafy and confidential_terms. He is humane to all over whom he go verns; and however the fact may have been difputed in this country, it is an undoubted truth, that no man in India ever enjoyed the confidence of the native princes in a higher degree than Mr. Haftings; and he has challenged his greatest enemies to point out a fingle inftance in which he has forfeited the national faith. He is regular and temperate in his living, and uses what even in this country would be called violent exercife on horfeback. He always rifes by break of day, and difpatches bulinefs with uncommon quicknefs. To fum up his character in a few words, he poffeffes ability, integrity, courage, and moderation; a clear head and a found heart.

STERNE'S GRAVE *.

The morning was remarkably pleasant As we palled by Hyde-park, harmony refounded from every bough, and the children of Fortune were inhaling the balmy breath of health and exercife.

As Clarinda put her arm in mine, I found fhe did it with a folemnity she was a franger to in all the little excursions we have been partners in.

I do not know what it was that drew my attention afide from the purpose of our walk: but I was fo far forgetful, that I looked under Clarinda's bonnet for an explanation,

I was happy in having done fo-for I never beheld weeping fenfibility take fanctuary in fuch eyes before.

At that inftant my attention was drawn to a prinfeller's window--I faw + La Fleure mounted on his bidet, taking leave of the group around him at Montriul-the gay-hearted fellow's parting fmiles to his fweethearts his fervent benediction, "Dieu vous accompagne! Dieu vous ac

But this refpite was of fhort duration.

We had not walked ten paces in the cemetery, when I found the venerable monk, with Yorick's box in his hand, befide me--and Maria linked in the arm of Clarinda.

They were the lovelieft companions we could meet with, and I was determined not to lofe fight of them till our viût was

over.

"And this is the hallowed mount!" fays Clarinda---the monk, at that inftant, fat down at the head of the grave-and Maria at the foot.

Clarinda refted her arm on a corner of the grave-ftone-and after a pause of a few minutes, in which forrow received the tribute of her affection in tearful urn, fhe thus expressed her veneration, with a pencil, on the ftone.

TO THE MEMORY OF GENIUS. Thou mild divinity that warms the breast, And points-where Yorick's honor'd relics reft

Whose pow'r awakes-around his grassgreen bier

A

Shandy's feeling-and Le Fevre's

tear

Uncle Toby.

Fill

A matchlefs flow'r-that bloom.'d on Fancy's plains;

In Nature's peerlefs tints his leaves were dreft,

Gave fweets to Genius-and adorn'd her breaft.

The dews of heav'n within his bofom dwelt,

And Pity found 'em free whene'er fhe felt.
If bleft Humanity - thy nature warms;
If Virtue-refts within thy friendly arms;
If Sorrow-lent thee that pathetic pow'r
That wounds the foul in her diftreffing
hour;

If Humour-temper'd with Reflection's lore,

If thefe and all that Genius muft adore, Should give thy memory a Seraph's blifs

Thy fhrine will ne'er be hallow'd-more than this.

one.

difturbed our reveries.

I had not till that moment taken notice that the ground is divided into three parts.

In the first ground nothing is to be feen but marble urns and maufoleums. In this ground the eulogiums of flattery are confpicuous; it confequently belongs to the great and opulent.

I perceived little difference between the fecond, and the common ground, in the laft of which Sterne is interred, and where his head-flone towers above the reft. I wilhed for an explanation of this matter; but a minute's reflection levelled the marble magnificence of those in the first, ground, in a century; while Sterne's fimple thrine (in his common abode) fhall be vifited by Wit and Genius to eternity.

With this reflection I walked away, as happy to the full as Addifon when he vifited Virgil's tomb or even Garrick himfelf when he fhed a tear of rapture on the fhrine of Shakespeare.

On our return through St. James's Park, we found the guards juft relieving.

From my earlieft years no pleafure, however dazzling, could draw me from a military affemblage. "The fpirit-ftirring drum, the car-piercing fife, the royal bannr," and the evolutions of an arany, with me furpass all other paftime, a good play excepted.

In general I am very well pleased; but

brain a madding, was as ftraight as the lit tle adjutant of the firft regiment of guards could form it. But as the evil genius that prefides over contrarities would have it, the officer that was finitten with this flourifhing gentleman's judgment of military difcipline, and whole voice no doubt placed him at the foot of an enfign, forgot to look at his eyes, which threw every thing into the fame oblique fituation the worft, fquinter in chriftendom could poffibly do.

The penfioner's eyes were excellent, he obferved the line ftraight, told a number around him his opinion freely.

The ferjeant major infifted it was a perfect crefcent-the penfioner, with much warmth, looked at his eyes--damned 'em moft heartily the poor man, with much indignation at heart, appealed to an appie woman that ftcod near him, if the ever faw any thing fo ftraight in her life? he brought her to the flank, directed her eve along the line; the good woman protefied, with a Vinegar-yard compliment," to the major, fhe faw it as flraight as the nofe on the grenadier corporal's face. "Zounds!" exclaimed the venerable man, lifting up his eyes with affliction, "I can fland it no longer: giving the command of a fet of brave fellows to fuch a tyrant, is enough to caufe defertion every hour of the day."

The penfioner had juft concluded the exclamation, when fix men were ordered

by