peculiarly characteristic. This also will improve in appearance, when seen from a proper distance and point of view: at preseut its general effect is a nullity. INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE Captain Hardinge's monument is well BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA. conceived, but its size is too diminutive. It neither agrees with the spirit of the action it is designed to commemorate, nor with the dignity of the national character. The monuments to Generals Crauford, Mackennon, Mackworth, &c. convey but feebly the idea which their gallaut atchievments are calculated to inspire. The designs are cold and without vigour-weep ing figures over tombs, like the subjects of romance, require striking novelty to be ef fective; but striking novelty they cannot have; for reasons already assigned. A CONCISE VIEW OF THE COUNTRY AND NATIVES OF 1 The following description of a country and people little known to Europeans was composed for the information of the late Marquis Cornwallis, when GovernorGeneral of India. The Author resided in that country upwards of thirty-two years; during which period he scarcely saw a European, except a medical man, who passed a great part of that time with him. He is said to have left behind him a posterity of thirty children. His purpose in composing this Account was to draw the attention of the British Government to wards this country, which, in his opinion, offered considerable commercial advantages. That attention has since been drawn to it, by events consequent on the extension of the British power in its neighbour The monument to the memory of Sir John Moore, represents Valour and Victory in the act of entombing that officer. The figure of Victory is the most chaste of any from the hands of the master; the figure of Valour is too heavy in its proportions for modern Valour. It wants the activity and alertness which now characterize a hero: it may pass for an English type of Hercules; for the Grecian Hercules would not have felt the weight of the body of Sir Johu, as this thick-set figure feels it. The a Genius of Spain, who supports the Standard of Freedom, and prepares to unfurl its folds, is designated by a not inapt allego-hood, and affecting Travancore itself. The rical representation of a sort of infant Her- visit of Dr. Buchanan to Cochin and other cules; whose awkward air and action well parts, with opportunities taken by British enough denote the embarrassed proceed-officers, have partly explored the counings of the Spanish Cortes, &c. &c. try; but, so far as we know, nobody has An extensive collection of busts adorns resided in it during a time that bears any Mr. Bacon's exhibition. Of the new ones, that of the Duke of Kent, and Dr. Mark-proportion to that of the author of this ham, are worthy of particular attention. document. Those who have seen these distinguished personages,, need not be informed of the fidelity of the likenesses, while the workmanship demands the warmest approbation. Travancore is situated on the Western shore of the Indian Peninsula: Cape Comorin is its boundary to the South; the sea to the West; and the Ghauts or Ance Mallay (Elephant Hills) to the East. It Under the same roof we find the models comprises about one hundrer and sixty miles of the elder Bacon. Lord Chatham, in his in length, and from twenty-five to forty in robes, appears in the act of animating the breadth. It is generally rugged and mounSenate; and Johnson, in his attitude of pro-tainous; but from Quilon to Cochin the found thought. Those capital figures, the melancholy and raving-Madness, of Gabriel Cibber, from the front gate of Bedlam, are added to the gallery; and certainly justify the claim of their author to rank among the highest of our English sculptors; they are truly masterly. flats are most considerable, and furnish the principal supplies of rice, of which it has two crops in the year. It has many rivers and springs. It partakes of both Monsoons, and is constantly verdant. General dearths are very uncommon. On the declivities of the hills many neThe interest of this Exhibition was mani-cessary vegetables are cultivated to advanfest from the presence of a fashionable cir- tage, such as yams, sweet potatoes, gingertje, cle of ladies and gentlemen of the first dis- nachanie, gram, &c. Around each village is some ground cleared for these purposes, tinction, by which both apartments were completely crowded. bodies, which they served and benefited, | artist, who, on many occasions, has his moought to acknowledge their obligations, del obtruded on his better judgement. The principal works which adorn Mr. Bacon's present collection, are tributes from the East India Company to the Adminis tration of their most favoured Governors in their Oriental Possessions,-to Marquis Cornwallis; and to Marquis Wellesley. and to avow their feelings of honourable regret for their loss. To effect this the art of sculpture is employed. Nevertheless, this renders that art a mere monumental effort; in which the same ideas, the same situations, recur so constantly, that the That to Marquis Cornwallis is thus deartist becomes hardened to his duty, and scribed:-" On a pedestal is a Statue of sinks into the mere tradesman, making a the Marquis, in his military uniform, and his parliamentary robes; he is represented bargain for so much wrought marble, at a in the act of sheathing his sword, in allusion certain stipulated price. This strikes the to his conciliatory and pacific character.— critic very forcibly in contemplating the By the sides of the pedestal are figures, the subjects exhibited in Mr. B.'s gallery. As the size of life, representing Wisdom and Inofficers commemorated are such as fell integrity; and on the front of the pedestal is an alto-relievo, including figures of a Brahcombat,-in such combats as claimed a man, a Persee, and a Mussulman, with a victory, the figure of Victory is repeated native Sepoy paying their united tribute in each of the monuments erected to their of veneration at the tomb of the deceased memory; and must be, according to eti- executed at the expense of the British inGovernor-general."-This groupe has been quette, whatever be their number-a do- habitants of Bombay, who raised a subzen, or a score. This alone is a difficulty, scription for the purpose of thus commepressing with great weight on talent; for, morating the talents and virtues of this justly-celebrated Nobleman. supposing that the artist has succeeded in In this allegory, the artist has experigiving to one particular figure that cha-enced no little embarrassment, arising from racter of Victory, which is the highest conception he can bestow-what shall animate him in the next that is bespoke from his hand? This might be pursued through other particulars; as situation, dimensions, action, justifiable expense, &c. But, however subjects of the monumental kind are due to our eminent men, and however, during war, such monuments have kept alive the art of sculpture among us, yet, we trust that happier times are advancing; and that during a settled peace, which is the triumphant time for art, sculpture, as well as other branches, will be employed on articles of elegance and variety, of taste and effect, to attract and delight the spectator. Considering the nature of the patronage which a modern sculptor obtains, Mr. Bacon preserves his hereditary reputation, and annually furnishes, as far as single assiduity can go, a series of subjects, highly creditable to his talents. The execution of his sculpture is finished, and if it sometimes be found inferior in design, the fault, perhaps, attaches not to the taste of the the different languages of emblematic symbols, as speaking to the eye of different and distant countries. Integrity, marked by the equilibration of a balance, is the same in all countries, where weight and measure are known: and in India this could create no embarrassment among the people; not so the emblem of Wisdom, if for that emblem, we must, of necessity, retain the bird of Athenian Minerva, the owl,-a bird of ill omen in India, and indeed among ourselves. Who has not heard an owl ridiculed and even laughed at, hooted at, and contemned, as prognosticating calamity and death? Why then do we retain the owl? because our artists, slaves to the ancients, know no better. Mr. Bacon has felt this; and has placed on the head of his Wisdom, an emblem well known and distinctly appropriated in India, the head and trunk of the half-reasoning Elephant. No objection can be made to this, except that, from an incautious turn bunch of hair hanging in a truly artless of the trunk, it suggests the idea of a large curl over her forehead, which it shades to great disadvantage. This monument, nevertheless, may look better in a larger space, where it may be more fully seen; for which, indeed, it is designed. The dignified attitude of Marquis Wellesley, seated in his chair of state, is highly imposing; the calm dignity it displays is peculiarly characteristic. This also will improve in appearance, when seen from a proper distance and point of view: at present its general effect is a nullity. INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE Captain Hardinge's monument is well BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA. conceived, but its size is too diminutive. It neither agrees with the spirit of the action it is designed to commemorate, nor with the diguity of the national character. The monuments to Generals Crauford, Mackennon, Mackworth, &c. convey but feebly the idea which their gallant atchievments are calculated to inspire. The designs are cold and without vigour-weeping figures over tombs, like the subjects of romance, require striking novelty to be effective; but striking novelty they cannot have; for reasons already assigned. A CONCISE VIEW OF THE COUNTRY AND NATIVES OF The following description of a country and people little known to Europeans was composed for the information of the late Marquis Cornwallis, when GovernorGeneral of India. The Author resided in that country upwards of thirty-two years; during which period he scarcely saw a European, except a medical man, who passed a great part of that time with him. He is said to have left behind him a posterity of thirty children. His purpose in composing this Account was to draw the attention of the British Government towards this country, which, in his opinion, offered considerable commercial advantages. That attention has since been drawn to it, by events consequent on the extension of the British power in its neighbour The monument to the memory of Sir John Moore, represents Valour and Victory in the act of entombing that officer. The figure of Victory is the most chaste of any from the hands of the master; the figure of Valour is too heavy in its proportions for modern Valour. It wants the activity and alertness which now characterize a hero: it may pass for an English type of Hercules; for the Grecian Hercules would not have felt the weight of the body of Sir Johu, as this thick-set figure feels it. The Genius of Spain, who supports the Standard of Freedom, and prepares to unfurl its folds, is designated by a not inapt allego-hood, and affecting Travancore itself. The rical representation of a sort of infant Her- visit of Dr. Buchanan to Cochiu and other cules; whose awkward air and action well parts, with opportunities taken by British enough denote the embarrassed proceed-officers, have partly explored the counings of the Spanish Cortes, &c. &c. try; but, so far as we know, nobody has An extensive collection of busts adorns resided in it during a time that bears any Mr. Bacon's exhibition. Of the new ones, that of the Duke of Kent, and Dr. Mark-proportion to that of the author of this ham, are worthy of particular attention. document. Those who have seen these distinguished personages,, need not be informed of the fidelity of the likenesses, while the workmanship demands the warmest approbation. Under the same roof we find the models of the elder Bacon. Lord Chatham, in his robes, appears in the act of animating the Senate; and Johnson, in his attitude of profound thought. Those capital figures, the melancholy-and raving-Madness, of Gabriel Cibber, from the frout gate of Bedlam, are added to the gallery; and certainly justify the claim of their author to rank among the highest of our English sculptors; they are truly masterly. The interest of this Exhibition was manifest from the presence of a fashionable circle of ladies and gentlemen of the first distinction, by which both apartments were completely crowded. Travancore is situated on the Western shore of the Indian Peninsula: Cape Comorin is its boundary to the South; the sea to the West; and the Ghauts or Ance Mallay (Elephant Hills) to the East. It comprises about one hundrer and sixty miles in length, and from twenty-five to forty in breadth. It is generally rugged and mountainous; but from Quilon to Cochin the flats are most considerable, and furnish the principal supplies of rice, of which it has two crops in the year. It has many rivers and springs. It partakes of both Monsoons, and is constantly verdant. General dearths are very uncommon. On the declivities of the hills many necessary vegetables are cultivated to advantage, such as yams, sweet potatoes, gingerie, nachanie, gram, &c. Around each village is some ground cleared for these purposes, but the cultivated parts bear'no kind of proportion to the uncultivated. and restricting their power, which had increased to too great heighth. Their sucThe view of the country, from an elevated cessors retain a painful sense of this; and spot, is truly romantic: hill upon hill in the Tambys, the descendants of the Rajahs, beautiful confusion, thick set with ever- pant after a share in the administration. greens to their very summits. Here and What effect this may produce at a favourthere the eye catches part of a valley, then | able juncture, time will discover. The again, a stream meandering through the Nairs in general disapprove the monopoly lofty groves or verdant meadows, the whole of commerce; they consider it an opbounded by the stupendous Ghauts, awfu pressive measure, unbecoming the dignity and sublime. Yet I never contemplate this of their prince, and incompatible with their charming scene without some degree of customs. melancholy; for the mind has nothing to solace it; no public edifices; no towns or villages, or even a neat farm house. All lies hidden in the dark recesses of the woods, or lost in the deep valleys. The productions of the country are much the same as those of the Carnatic. The indigo plant appears to be indigenous. I have seen musters of excellent indigo, the produce of Travancore; but the monopoly of commerce being in the Sovereign, the price put by the minister was exorbitaut. There are mines of iron to the South; and pyrites are also found. A kind of asphaltum resembling amber, which yields an agreeable smell when thrown on the fire, is used for fumigations, &c. The staple commodities are pepper, coir, teak timber, coarse cloths, &c. Betel nut is prohibited by the Dutch; and pepper is not suffered to be exported but by licence. The wants of the natives are few; the balance of trade is in their favour among their neighbours. It is a curious fact, that the Dutch have agreed to pay the Rajah a certain sum annually, for rooting up the cassia, so fearful are they of its effects injuring the sale of cinnamon. The Nairs are a race of people with whose manners few have had opportunities of being acquainted. They possess certain peculiarities of character truy novel and striking. The Government is monarchical: the Prince is of the cast of Nairs, but invested with the Braminical string. The sister's son inherits. She must be betrothed to a man of the Chettaree cast, chosen out of a certain family residing at Killeuanure. Such children as the Rajah may have by his women, are considered illegitimate are called Tambys; supported with suitable allowances, but seidóm or never entrusted with any post of consequence. About the year 1720, &c. the Government received a convulsive shock by a daring attempt of the Nairs to wrest the power from their prince; they were not subdued until after a violent struggle, which lasted four or five years the consequence was, the divesting these people of their lands, The Nairs are of the cast of Sooders; in general of dark complexions, nearly ap proaching to black, of the middle size, and spare habit of body, with nothing striking in their countenance. The women are mostly short, but some of them of so elegant a form, such a happy assemblage of features, that Apelles himself would contemplate them as models of perfection worthy his masterly pencil. Some of the women are much fairer than the men, their complexion being of a bright olive. Their walk is bold and graceful; their manners free, easy and engaging, without being licentious: and you discover the woman of high birth in them at one glance. Pity it is that such lovely creatures should be faithless and mercenary! The dress of the men in good circumstances, is a piece of cloth wrapped round the middle, which descends to the ancles, over which is one of muslin upwards they are naked, but the head covered with a kind of slovenly turban. The dress of the women from the waist downwards, resembles that of the men, but they are covered above with a muslin with gold or painted borders, bringing one end across the breast and body, and throwing the other over the opposite shoulder, sashwise, leaving an arm, shoulder, and part of the neck bare. Nothing can be simpler than this, yet being white, it has a clean, airy and becoming appearance. The breasts are covered, but not hidden; and the shape stands confest through a thin disguise. Their marriages are performed when the parties are very young; sometimes they are betrothed when at the breast, but it does not follow that they always cohabit together at the age of puberty. Frequently the parents choice is not approved; disagreements between the families may have arisen; a reverse of fortune, or other adventitious circumstances may prevent the union. The ceremony is very simple; it consists only in the bridegroom's tying a cotton string, with a little piece of gold pendant from the centre, round the bride's neck, in the presence of a Canuican or Soothsayer, whe consults the omens, and fixes the hour. Matrimony they consider highly necessary-an essential form, but not binding in its effects. Their religion inculcates it, and the honour of the woman requires it. Were she to make a false step, and prove pregnant without an ostensible husband, both she and her relations would incur disgrace and contempt. luntary, or rather unconscious tribute paid to humanity and to social sentiment, speaks louder among this people, whose customs are so contrary, than among any other, less removed from the ordinary manners of maukind. Their amusements are few and trivial; song in a bad and discordant strain, accom→ panied by the Tom-tom, forms one principal source: mythology, the history of their Thus at liberty, every man selects his favourite girl of the village. Nothing more is required than the formality of present-wars and princes, chaunted in a kind of ing her with a few remnants of cloth, without any renovation of the marriage ceremony. Both are at liberty to part again at pleasure, and to renew their connection with other individuals, as choice or convenience may dictate. This free scope given to the range of the lady's fancy and inclinations, is a peculiar characteristic of this people; and diametrically opposite to the customs of the East, may, to those of the whole universe. Another peculiarity in favour of the sex, is, that when they commit a capital offence, the laws inflict neither death nor mutilation-they are banished the country. Moreover, the sister's children, as already remarked, succeed to the inheritance, and this is the most striking custom, perhaps, of all that is known in the world. It is acknowledged, there are some inconveniencies attending this mode of life; quarrels ensue, families interfere; difficulties arise in respect to the division of children, &c.; but these are considered trifling when put in competition with the feelings of the parties. They assign a curious reason for this strauge inversion of natural right. No reliance, they affirm, can be had on the fidelity of their wives, and therefore they transfer the patrimony from their own to their sister's children; being certain of the mother, though dubious of the father. One would conclude,that where matrimonial constraint is unknown, few connexious would be durable; yet there are many thousands who faithfully adhere to the objects of their first choice. Children have a fast hold on the affections: they recall the wandering attention to the mother, and the softer emotions of the soul succeed to the ebullition of the passions. Love, similarity of manners and disposition, and many other things may tend to make them con stant. And thus it appears that amidst this deviation from the law of nature, that nature, nevertheless, maintains her right. Man is not only a herding, but a pairing animal; and the interwoven interests of parties so nearly connected as parents,-if not as consorts, are felt as ties "close twisted with the fibres of the heart," This invo recitative, another:-and rope dancing, feats with swords, a dance performed by boys, a species of burlesque comedy, named Ramanad, and fireworks exhibited at the pagodas on certain festivals, make up the dull catalogue of principal amusements. Dancing women there are none, but such as are restricted to the pagodas, where Europeans are never admitted. Their disposition is selfish and mercenary. They have a sense of honour, are courageous, abstemious, and not revengeful: fare rather shy of Europeans, until they become a little acquainted with them, when they are civil and obliging; but continually pestering you for some trifle or other. Are very tenacious of their women, and generally secrete them on your entering their compounds, or you can see them only at a distance; but the women, with that curiosity natural to the sex, will peep at you from behind the doors and walls. Several are the obstacles to a free intercourse with Europeans. Their religion lays them under great restrictions. Europeans eat the cow, are served by people of low caste, and are not very scrupulous in respect to frequent ablutions; moreover, the Nairs are Aborigines; were never conquered by the Moors, consequently their manners, customs and prejudices have undergone little or no variation. Foud of pomp and shew, some might be made prosentes to the Catholic faith, were it not for that grand objection, the mixture of castes. From their infancy they are reared with this strong prejudice, and nothing seems capable of removing it. This it is that makes them look upon us as defiled and unclean: this it is that makes them prohibit our entering even the compounds of their pagodas, our washing is their tanks, drawing water from their wells, or touching even the part of the house where they inhabit. The rich have a separate Bungala for the reception of strangers, and the poor a cow-house, or miserable shed. If you entertain a Bramin or Nair, in your service, he must, after his attendance on you, wash his body previous to sitting down to his meals. Their houses are small, mostly built with |