Manchester Telegraph, from the Bull and Mouth, performs her journey, with the greatest regularity, in eighteen hours!"

Nimrod proceeds to suppose that an elderly gentleman, in the year 1742, had fallen into a dose at that tardy period of stage-coaching, and that the time intervening between that and the present has passed over his unbroken unconsciousness. He awakes in Piccadilly however, not above a week ago, and prepares to return to Exeter. The Comet is about to start, which he takes to be a private carriage-while he looks upon the coachman as being a sprightly sprig of the aristocracy, no doubt, who drives four-in-hand. Let us see how the worthy over-slept old one is amazed and alarmed, in consequence of having been for a moment unobservant. The scene of marvel is that of changing horses.

"In five minutes under the hour the Comet arrives at Hounslow, to the great delight of our friend, who by this time waxed hungry, not having broken his fast before starting. Just fifty-five minutes and thirty-seven seconds,' says he, from the time we left London!-wonderful travelling, gentlemen, to be sure, but much too fast to be safe. However, thank Heaven, we are arrived at a good-looking house; and now, waiter! I hope you have got breakf Before the last sylla

ble, however, of the word could be pronounced, the worthy old gentleman's head struck the back of the coach by a jerk, which he could not account for, (the fact was, three of the four fresh horses were bolters,) and the waiter, the inn, and indeed Hounslow itself (terræque urbesque recedunt'), disappeared in the twinkling of an eye. Never did such a succession of doors, windows, and window shutters pass so quickly in his review before, and he hoped they might never do so again. Recovering, however, a little from this surprise-My dear sir,' said he, 'you told me we were to change horses at Hounslow? Surely, they are not so inhuman as to drive these poor animals another stage at this unmerciful rate!' Change horses, sir!' says the proprietor; why we changed them whilst you were putting on your spectacles, and looking at your watch. Only one minute allowed for it at Hounslow, and it is often done in fifty seconds by those nimble-fingered horse-keepers.' You astonish me, but really I do not like to go so fast.' Oh, sir! we always spring them over these six miles. It is what we call the hospital ground.''

This latter sickly phrase makes matters worse and more miraculous still, so that the explanation has to be given, which is as follows:

"It intimates that horses whose backs are getting down instead of up in their work'-—some 'that won't hold an ounce down hill, or draw an ounce up'-others that kick over the pole one day and over the bars the next'-in short, all the reprobates, styled in the road slang bo-kickers, are sent to work these six miles, because here they have nothing to do but to gallop, not a pebble as big as a nutmeg on the road; and so even, that it would not disturb the equilibrium of a spirit-level."

This admirable hit cannot be surpassed, yet it is matched by an anecdote concerning other flaws in horse-character.

66

Thirty years back blind horses were numerous in stage coaches; in fact, it would now and then happen that the whole team were in darkness. Well over that, sir,' said one of the old school of coachmen to a passenger that sate beside him on the box, having just passed a dangerous bridge on a foggy night. Only one eye among us.' That one' was his own!"

But to return to the ancestral traveller, who is so alarmed and put out of sorts in consequence of the rapidity with which he has been whirled along, that he stops at Bagshot, and betakes himself to the outside of the "Regulator," which must needs be a slow and safe coach. This vehicle is unmercifully loaded with luggage, and crowded with passengers. Nevertheless, it springs over all the Hartford-bridge Flat, a space of five miles, at a rapid rate; and the driver of the Comet, which outstrips its competitor, takes an opportunity to scan the condition of the traveller of the old school.

"When coming out of rival yards, coachmen never fail to cast an eye to the loading of their opponents on the road, and now that of the natty artist of the Comet experienced a high treat. He had a full view of his quondam passenger, and thus described his situation. He was seated with his back to the horses-his arms extended to each extremity of the guard-irons-his teeth set grim as death-his eyes cast down towards the ground, thinking the less he saw of his danger the better. There was what is called a top-heavy load-perhaps a ton of luggage on the roof, and, it may be, not quite in obedience to the act of parliament standard. There were also two horses at wheel, whose strides were of rather unequal length, and this operated powerfully on the coach. In short, the lurches of the Regulator were awful at the moment of the Comet meeting her. A tyro in mechanics would have exclaimed, The centre of gravity must be lost, the centrifugal force will have the better of it-over she must

"The centre of gravity having been preserved, the coach arrived safe at Hartford Bridge; but the old gentleman has again had enough of it. I will walk into Devonshire,' said he, as he descended from his perilous exaltation. What did that rascally waiter mean by telling me this was a slow coach? and, moreover, look at the luggage on the roof!' 'Only regulation height, sir,' says the coachman."

"The Regulator" is deserted in its turn by our hero, and now it is one without any top-luggage that he looks out for.

"The waiter is again applied to. What do you charge per mile posting?' One and sixpence, Sir.' 'Bless me! just double! Let me see- -two hundred miles, at two shillings per mile, postboys, turnpikes, &c. 201. This will never do. Have you no coach that does not carry luggage on the top?' Oh yes, sir,' replies the waiter, we shall have one to-night that is not allowed to carry a band-box on the roof.'

• That's the coach for me; pray what do you call it?' The Quicksilver mail, sir; one of the best out of London-Jack White and Tom Brown, picked coachmen, over this ground-Jack White down to-night.' Guarded and lighted?' Both, sir; blunderbuss and pistols in the sword case; a lamp each side the coach, and one under the footboardsee to pick up a pin the darkest night of the year.' Very fast?' 'Oh no, sir, just keeps time, and that's all.' 'That's the coach for me, then,' repeats our hero; and I am sure I shall feel at my ease in it. I suppose it is what used to be called the Old Mercury.'

.

In short, the "Quicksilver" is the fastest mail out of London; and, according to the old gentleman, who might have, in former times, been acquainted with provincials that made their wills, ere venturing to set out for town, and encountering the dreary and perilous journey, it performs upon system a perfect runaway After this reflection, we need not inquire farther about his adventures, nor cite additional passages from the pages of Nimrod, but conclude with the question-what would the elderly traveller of 1742 think, were he to awake and mount a steamer upon a railway, which without rhyme or reason would seem to start and stop, and to speed like the wind?

race.

ART. X.-Rise and Progress of the British Power in India. By PETER AUBER, M. R. A. S., Late Secretary to the Honourable Court of Directors of the East-India Company. 2 Vols. Vol. I. London: Allen and Co. 1837.

THE author states in his Preliminary Observations, that "while preparing in the year 1825, the Analysis of the Constitution of the East India Company,' I experienced the want of a work, treating progressively of the political events that had occurred in India, with a statement of the laws passed by parliament for the government of the Company's affairs; together with the views and opinions of the home authorities on the proceedings of their servants abroad." The field certainly is both large and open enough to admit of a new historian, and so far as the first volume of the present work goes, the writer has shown that he is competent to fill the office. Mill's History of British India, though an elaborate and able work, reaches only to 1805. Besides, that author seems not to have enjoyed the opportunity of consulting many documents among the voluminous records at the India House, previous to the publication of his labours, which have enabled the present writer to throw much additional light on not a few of the more important changes and measures that have marked the progress of British power in the East. Accordingly Mr. Auber's peformance will be found a valuable contribution to our historical literature, not only as regards accuracy, but information of a popular and plain character; for his

work is divested of all commercial detail, and consists of a condensed narrative of the leading political events connected with his subject. Indeed, it partakes more of the character of a straightforward and candid narrative of facts than of a deeply-digested historical review; the numerous authentic documents, which in the course of his researches, appeared best calculated to elucidate the various topics and periods embraced, being rather strung together by the writer's otherwise acquired knowledge, than used as a foundation for philosophical disquisition or speculative suggestion.

Such a performance as this cannot fail to awaken a deeper and more general interest regarding the British possessions in the East than has ever yet existed in this country. The late great change in the law relative to the commercial operations connected with that empire, has not as yet produced anything like the amount of speculation and curiosity that was naturally to be anticipated concerning such vast and valuable dominions. Hitherto the East Indies have been considered far more in the light of a colony,which contains exhaustless sources of wealth for the advantage of Great Britain, than in relation to the moral advancement of its millions of inhabitants, although it must be admitted that the commerce of a civilized nation uniformly carries with it many of the most operative elements for ameliorating the condition of less favoured nations, and for enlightening the savage or the superstitious minds of men. One circumstance ought strongly to recommend Mr. Auber's performance, which seldom attaches to national historical works-viz., a freedom which we may designate as perfect from party or political feeling-a circumstance, indeed, that holds true also of the government of the East India Company, and which necessarily imposed upon the author a like abstinence.

The dominions under the government of the Leadenhall emperors, whether their extent or vicissitudes or products be considered, assuredly form a theme deserving of an extraordinary degree of curiosity and study. The rise and progress of the Company's power is unexampled in the annals of nations, whether the political constitution of that power, or its influence upon the people that live under it, or the engines that wield it, be contemplated. Here, to use the author's language, the representatives of a mercantile company, who at one time hesitated to address a nabob of one of the provinces, now hold the Great Mogul himself a pensioner. The country this Company governs yields an increasing revenue of twenty-two millions, is almost unlimited in extent, rich, fertile, and suited to every kind of produce, while the people that inhabit the same are capable of great improvement, and are both frugal and industrious.

The present volume brings down the Company's history from its rise to the year 1785, when the Board of Commissioners was esta

blished, which has been found to give permanence to its constitution, and has enabled it to call forth the services of some of the most illustrious men that the world has ever observed. From the very commencement of this power in the East, the author clearly proves that an uncommon degree of caution and prudence has marked its growth; we also feel that he has brought forward irrefragible testimonies to show that many of the unfavourable impressions cherished regarding the Company have been without a just foundation, and the result of parliamentary documents and speeches prepared for party purposes at home.

Our author stands up in behalf of the general leniency, wisdom, and beneficence which have characterized the conduct of the Directors of the East India Company, in the discharge of their immense and multifarious management. When it is considered that twentyfour gentlemen in England perform duties, comprising political, military, judicial, financial, legislative, ecclesiastical, and commercial subjects, not confined within narrow limits, where one decision will apply to the country at large, but calling for separate measures in distinct provinces, and different laws for a varying population in habits, manners, and feelings; and that the performance of these duties has been such as not only to preserve the Company for a long period of time, but to extend and also to consolidate its empire, there is every presumption that can lead to a favourable conviction as to the mode in which such power has been excercised. Indeed, it was admitted by parliament during the discussions on the charter, that the individual as well as united patronage of these rulers has been wisely and generously employed. The author quotes one quaint example that is too good to be passed over with only a distant reference. "In the year 1774, the following curious petition was presented to the Directors :

To the Honourable Court of Directors, "Gentlemen :-I am a clergyman of Ely, in the county of Cambridge. I have a parcel of fine boys, but not cash to provide for them. My eldest son I intended for a pillar of the church, and with this view I gave him a suitable education at school, and afterwards entered him at Cambridge, where he has resided the usual time, and last Christmas took his degrees with some reputation to himself. But I must at the same time add that he is more likely to kick a church down than to support one: he is of a very eccentric genius. He has no notion of restraint to Chapel-gates, Lectures, &c. &c., and when rebuked by his master, tutors, &c., for want of obedience to their rules, &c., he treated them in the most contemptible light, as if not being gentlemen, and seemed to intimate that he should call them to account as an affair of honour, &c. This soon disconcerted all my plans for him, and on talking with him the other day, asking him what road his honour would choose to pursue in future life, he told me his plan was to go into the India service. Upon being interrogated whether he had any reasonable expectation of a provision from that quarter, he looked small and