"At such a propitious moment heavy blows Offence given were dealt out with strict impartiality to Brahto Brahmins, high-caste mins and high-caste Hindús on the one hand, Hindús, and and to Maulavis, the Doctors of Islám, on the Maulavis. other. Our agents maintained a close surveillance over the wives and families of Rájputs, the most jealous and chivalrous of the Hindú race. Crowds of Brahmins assembled to witness the remarriage of widows, whose former destiny had been cremation or contempt. The worship of Durga or Kálí was prohibited even in the city of Calcutta, called from her name. The sacred rite of adoption was cancelled on the one hand, on the other proselytes to Christianity were to enjoy all the privileges which Hindú law denied them. The jealous eye of the Muslims beheld troops of adult females hastening to be instructed by teachers of the male sex, and took good note of the appointment of English clergymen as inspectors of schools. Polygamy was to be made punishable by law, especially that of the Kulin Brahmins, the highest and most sacred class of all Hindús; and, in a word, the leading journal in this country pronounced Hindúism extinct, and the Friend of India re-echoed the cry. Surely here were materials enough for a storm, but there were elements yet to be added. We fully agree with Mr. Norton, when he declares,' that the accursed system of annexation

was the proximate cause of the revolt.' This The accursed system of writer well points out the different feelings with annexation. which India now views the insatiable spirit of encroachment openly and unblushingly avowed by our Government. Until Lord Dalhousie's reign, our progress towards universal dominion had been comparatively imperceptible; but the acts of that Governor General thundered like the knell of fate in the ears of every prince and chief throughout India. An active press carried the tidings far and near, that every vestige of independence—aye! of free landed tenure-was to be swept away."

The notice of Mr. Norton's work is continued on October 10th, when the following reference is made to the native princes: "Whatever enthusiastic philanthropists may think, it is impossible, in a region so vast, and with such a handful of employés, to reach the hearts of the masses. There are hundreds of thousands in India now, who have never seen the face of a European, and millions who have the most false and absurd notion respecting us. Further, ancient prejudices, a singular and fantastic creed, and the difference of language, manners, dress, religion-in short, of everything-render them unimpressionable by our matter-of-fact notions. The most that can be expected from the people generally is, that they will be passive, and not

Native

princes.

molest Europeans unless they are of opinion that there is something to be got by it and punishment can be evaded. It is otherwise with the native princes:-they have experienced our power; some of them have visited this country; they can estimate-perhaps, they even magnify -our resources. We are sure of their support as long as we do not drive them to desperation by our injustice. Examples of either policy are before us. On the one hand, but for the King of Oude, the Rajas of Bithoor and Jhansi, and the King of Delhi, this revolt never would have taken place, or would have been crushed in the bud; on the other, but for the Rajas of Jheend and Patteeala, Sindhia, Holkar, and other chiefs, our power would ere this almost have ceased to Their exist- exist. The existence of native princes is a mark of nationality which it would be wise to retain. Up to the present time we have held India with the consent of its inhabitants by a native army and leaving intact many great provinces under native rulers, whom we called, and who were proud to call themselves, our allies. If the mischievous suggestions, which are now daily put forth, should be listened to; if our native army is to be superseded entirely by Europeans, if the native princes are to be dethroned, and the people entirely disarmed, we shall descend at once from the grand position of the governors of

ence a mark

of

nationality.

freemen into the odious circumstances of despots over countless myriads of serfs. The sway of this country over India will then be like that of Austria over Italy, or Russia over Poland, and will have the same hateful and debasing results."

The general literature of the year included, Principal literary works. Charles Kingsley's 'Two Years Ago'; Dr. Hooker's Botany of the Antarctic Voyage'; the second volume of Sir Francis Palgrave's 'History of Normandy and of England'; Sir John Bowring's 'Kingdom and People of Siam'; Alexander Keith Johnston's 'Physical Atlas,' to which "the late Prof. Edward Forbes contributed a most important plate, illustrating his views of the distribution of marine life over the surface of the globe"; the third volume of Arthur Helps's 'The Spanish Conquest in America'; Mrs. Gaskell's 'Life of Charlotte Brontë'; Hugh Miller's 'Testimony of the Rocks,' to which a painful interest attached, the author having spent a part of the last day of his life in correcting its last pages for the press; Sir George Barrow's 'Ceylon, Past and Present'; 'The Romany Rye: a Sequel to "Lavengro," by George Borrow; the third volume of 'The Lives of the Chief Justices of England,' by Lord Campbell; 'A Residence among the Chinese,' by Robert Fortune; 'The Life

John Leech.

The

of George Stephenson,' by Samuel Smiles; and 'The Professor: a Tale,' by Currer Bell.

John Leech," the kindest-hearted satirist that ever wrote," is thus described in the review of his Pictures of Life and Character': "He is the delight of every one because he sketches London life in all its phases, because he is genial and sociable, and not so intellectual and cold-blooded as to despise common enjoyments and live on caviare. He hunts, he boats, he crickets, he is fond of a ball or a whist-party, and he visits all new amusements. He pleases the young men because he can draw the prettiest eye and the neatest foot in the world, the prettiest curling rosebud of a lip, and the daintiest chin,-the clubs like him because he knows the real step and carriage of a gentleman, -the public dinner, Freemasons' Tavern, middleaged, middle class, because he laughs at them as if he liked them, and does not hit too often in the same place. He jokes at you as a friend does, and you feel he jokes because he knows you are good-tempered, and will bear it."

The review of 'The Stereoscope: its History, stereoscope. Theory, and Construction,' by Sir David Brewster, contains the following: "Gradually has this instrument advanced from the position of an interesting application of an optical law, to a drawing-room toy, and a philosophical instru