in the day, not in the night; yet there is one gentleman who is angry that I live."

"What, Baboo! have you too made yourself enemies amongst us ?—Oh, you mean Beavoir, who spoke against you before the Board."

“No, no,—I am unhappy under Mr. Beavoir's displeasure; but he is an honourable gentleman. The other, who hates me,-I beg pardon for speaking so before your lordship,-he would tell untruths to ruin me.-He has evil designs against me.-I think, indeed, of demanding security before the Supreme Court."

"This is a droll story. - I suppose you fear this letter is from this enemy of Name him, and I shall see what weight there is in your story." yours. "Your lordship hears no calumny from my tongue. Unhappy me, that I should find persecution with any English gentleman.-But I speak boldly to your lordship; Captain Forester is my enemy."

"By Jove! he is right,—and how the devil did you happen to quarrel with him ?"

"Oh, my lord, I only tell in confidence,-I never breathe my misfortune to another person; I must not say more: I bear in secret.-But your lordship must know those who hate me, or I may fall into distrust, which would be hot ashes on my head, and on the head of my son."

"But I must have a reason for all this."

"My lord, this gentleman came some weeks ago to Calcutta. He lived in my house. This all very well.-My house is his, if he wish. But he asked me to do what my honest clean hands never could do.—I ask pardon,—I must be silent."

"Indeed, my old fellow, you must not; you have explained some very strange circumstances concerning this Forester; you must tell me all; it will go no further."

"Your lordship's word, it will go no further."

"Pooh! pooh! you know my taciturnity very well."

"Oh, yes, I trust it.—My lord, as I am Brijmohun, son of Bhopal, Captain Forester wanted me to assist in stealing-in eloping a young lady.”

"What the deuce! this is a good story indeed," said the baronet, laughing heartily. "What you, Baboo! you assist, with that round body of yours?" "With my servants, my lord."

"And in the name of wonder, who may have been the intended victim ?” "I am your lordship's slave! when I heard, I fell upon my face with shame. I would rather die a leper than rob my master's house. I shook with rage,— I called names,-I refused.-He went away angry, and swore he would ruin me." "But this may be a serious matter.-Do you mean to insinuate that Miss Eldridge was the girl?"

"My lord, he did not name the Missy Baba.-But I can understand hints, and so may your lordship."

"Is it possible? I remember Lady Wroughton's asking about this Forester the day she arrived.-There is some intrigue or mystery which they won't let me into. But I'll find it out.-Baboo, this may turn out useful intelligence of yours."

"And your lordship restores me to favour ?"

"Never lost, my good friend,—never in danger yet."

"Then your slave is happy.-But one word more,—the paishkary is vacant. -I can recommend a very spiritual man, Bishen Chund.-If your lordship would condescend."

"I don't know what to say to that, the Board have written to recommend a man."

"But your lordship nominates."

"Aye! but they must be attended to."

"As your lordship pleases," said the Baboo, making his salam.

"Your

lordship's last month's account wants your signature,-shall I bring it ?" “Oh, d-n the account-let it stand, can't you ?”

"Oh, yes, assured'y.- But this Bishen Chund, my lord, is a very clever man, of good character; shall I present him ?”

"D-n Bishen Chund too," said the baronet.-" What more, Baboo ?" "Nothing more, my lord; I will bring the papers.”

The treasurer retired, and Sir Charles was composing himself to write an official letter, when he re-entered, bringing a large ledger.

"Your lordship had better sign this. It is a small account.- November, total creditor-four thousand two hundred sicca rupees; debtor, six thousand four hundred.'-Here is the new phaeton included in the charges."

Sir Charles eyed his persecutor with a look, in which anger, shame, and vexation were mingled.

"Take this away," said he, " and bring your Omedwar whenever you will." The treasurer bowed as low as his own knees, repeating the set compliment, and retired with the ledger closed, and a little more dignity than usual in his steps. After for a short time inspecting the calculations and payments to be made for the day by the officers of his own department, he took the book of daily entries, and sat himself down in a small closet adjoining, apparently to study its contents. But if this was his intention, he was frequently interrupt-' ed.-Scarcely had he been five minutes in private, when his own personal follower, Sreekishun, approached him with more than ordinary deference.

Hey! Sreekishun, what dost thou want?"

"Khudavund, the pottah you promised me."

"Ah, serpent, thou art ever pestering me for that pottah. How can I give it thee? the suzawul (the manager of an estate under attachment) is in the Mofussil."

"A perwaneh from my master will be sufficient; I have been your slave four months, my wife and children are starving."

"Well, fellow thou shalt have a letter.-But if thou gettest thy pottah, thou wilt go and work at thy plough. Is it not better to stay near the good things of the Sudur station, and the city ?"

"My jôt will fall into arrear: what will my children do ?"

"Thou art an active lad.-How shouldst thou like to become jeyt ryot of Chikra under the Company? in a few months, perhaps, thy destiny may be happy."

"I would not abandon my master, who is my father and mother; but the perwaneh "

"That thou shalt have;" and so saying, the Baboo wrote a short Persian note and gave it to his servant.

In order to understand the character of the Baboo's establishment and consequence, it is necessary to explain, that the greater portion of the numerous followers, by whom he was always attended in his motions, were persons who, claiming some place or some right from the collector, hung about the kucherree until their case should be decided.-The influence which the Baboo possessed in the district, induced all such applicants to make their petitions through him, Asiat.Journ.N.S.VOL.13.No.50.

and among the number there were often many who had claims on other departments than the collector's. Of these persons, Brijmohun Bonurjee, by arts exceedingly common with his tribe, had the address to make a large proportion subservient to himself during their attendance, the duration of which he had the means of regulating. There were few of whom he could make no use in his extensive affairs, and he had sufficient discernment to select such as might be safest for his most private commissions. The advantage of this practice was two-fold; for he maintained a considerable suite at no expense to himself, and he had the best security for the fidelity of his agents; hope made them trusty as long as they remained, and they retired to a distance as soon as their time of service had expired.

As Sreekishun left the closet, with a thousand expressions of gratitude, another, less bold than himself, appeared in the doorway, and with joined hands and the most piteous tone of voice, cried out two or three times before he could attract the Baboo's attention: "Protector of the poor! your slave is destitute your favour only can save him."

Silence, fellow!" said the Baboo, at length deigning to look at him. Who is it? what, Jeet Sing! thou who wert turned out of your jumadaree! -Thou must wait a long time before thou canst expect it again. Stand back, fellow, and let the nazir come in."

The nazir, a Moosulman, but not the less a friend of the Baboo's, entered the closet with a bundle of papers, and seating himself on the corner of the treasurer's carpet, commenced a conversation in a low whisper.

"Here is the great case come from the Sudur Dewany Adawlut," said he. "How came Gopal Doss to get the decree ?"

The Baboo shrugged his shoulders, and said it was his destiny.

"There is no appeal," said the nazir, " and here is the order come to put

him in possession."

"There is no hurry for that," said the Baboo.

"None at all; it can stay one month in the dufter."

"And it will take two months to make up the Pydawaree papers."

"Oh yes, and the boundaries are very difficult to ascertain-Your own villages adjoining must not be given up."

By no means; besides, the malik of Mouza Bishunpoor claims two villages, he will not yield."

"Not he; he will collect his ryots and resist encroachment; then the case will go over to the magistrate for investigation, and he cannot decide it within a year."

"And if he decides against us, we can appeal.-Besides, there is a river running through the lands, which the ferry-men claim as their property; this will be a long time settling."

"True: and they will resist my peons in carrying orders; this will make a long trial."

Aye, and in our own kucherree too. The rascally witnesses always conceal themselves, nazir, eh?"

"Yes, Baboo, and we have no power to search their houses: this must go again to the magistrate."

Aye, aye,-and, my friend, we have forgotten one great thing." "What mean you ?—the buildings and tanks?”

"No: do you not remember that I made over the village of Perkry to your cousin Niamut Ulee; who need not give his right, of course, without a suit." "Ah! that did not strike me: no, no, he need not give that up,-it is

clear. It is clear you will not lose possession for these eight-ten years.-1 will put the papers back into the dufter.- Salam, Baboo Saheb."

Several other officers of the kucherree had interviews in turn; so that the treasurer, whose proper sphere was the charge of the cash, soon knew every estate that was declared in balance, every tenure that was endangered, and every perwaneh that was issued under the orders of that day. About three o'clock in the day, while one of the mohurrirs was still with him, the Mookhtar Bishen Chund entered suddenly, with a countenance betraying his wish to speak to the Baboo without delay. But his principal was not the quicker in finishing the papers before him; on the contrary, he seemed designedly to delay by the numerous questions he asked the clerk.-When he at last disappeared, the Mookhtar approached the very ear of his patron, and whispered, "we have lost the nuwab's sunud; it is not to be found any where."

Not a feature changed in the Baboo's countenance; or it would seem as if he received this intelligence with the most profound indifference. He continued silent for a few minutes, while his agent stood trembling by his side.—At last, catching a glimpse of this terror, "fool!” said he, in a whisper; "a white face caunot serve me:—meet me in an hour at my house.-Ho! Steekishun, does any one else wish to see me?"

"Ramnarayun Sircar is here."

"Very well,-let him come in."

Ramnarayun, one of his agents in the business of private sircaree, now brought him several papers and English orders, which he took, and hastily

ran over.

"Order to get Mr. Merton's salary:-very good.-These chits of 90, 50, and 200 rupees to box-walas from Mrs. Title.-Take batta and dustooree, Ramnarayun, take batta-Order twenty-four dozen of Hodgson's ale for Mr. Spruce:-very good!-Ten thousand rupees wanted by Colonel Dandle to build a new kitchen.-Wah, wah!-he is going to be invalidated, and still builds new kitchens! No,no; say I shall not have money till next year.A musical snuff-box and souvenir for Mrs. Derozio ;-buy them in the China bazaar, and charge Tulloh's prices.-One hundred gold mohurs to pass to Mr. Rivers's account, and to pay Dykes and Co. for buggy-Ah! keep that order, but don't pay.-No, no-no hurry."

"But, my master, I was told to bring back the receipt from Dykes and Co." "Ojee, Rivers Saheb never asks for receipts.' "Mosely Saheb desired me to take receipts."

"Who is Mosely Saheb? he is not my master, I tell thee! never mind the receipts; no hurry to pay. Any more, Ramnarayun,-any more ?"

"No more, Khudavund; but Mosely Saheb spoke very peremptorily: he will be angry

"Let him be angry.-Whose servant art thou, his or mine? Go, take the papers; I have given the orders."

Not daring to encounter any more of his master's displeasure, the obsequious sircar retired; and soon after the Baboo himself, rising from his closet, entered the collector's office, and stating that he had private business at home, asked permission to lock up his treasury: it was readily granted, and Sir Charles himself thought it needless to remain on duty when his treasurer had departed.

To console the lovers of "poetical justice," it is right to mention, that the Baboo was tried in the Supreme Court for forgery, convicted, and

sentenced to transportation for life. It is admitted that some of the details of the trial are identical with those which, a short time back, actually occurred in the Supreme Court. Sir Charles Wroughton, too, found that he had to discharge a long unadjusted public account, and had not the means; in consequence of which he was compelled to relinquish his public emoluments for a time, to forego his whist-parties, and to reduce his stakes. The other chief agents are extricated from the toils of the Baboo's villany: the nawab is righted; Dilafroz, "the Pearl of the Afghans," is brought to England, though the newspapers never mentioned her arrival; and Forester, though he espouses another lady, becomes "a happy married man," and actually attains the rank of major.

MISREPRESENTATION OF THE "HURKARU."

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR: As you lately gave insertion to a defence of the editor of the Bengal Hurkaru, I think you will deem it only fair to notice his gratuitous and unjust attacks on the character of any one who is not in India to defend himself. In the Hurkaru of the 24th of June last, I find the following passage, in reference to the controversy as to whether the origin of the Indian debt was commercial or territorial:

"The whole force of the India-House appears to have been mustered in this deadly strife-a war, in truth, pro aris et focis. Mr. Melvill, of course, headed the household troops, who crowded to the rescue, and manned this truly frightful yawning breach in the very stronghold of the Company. He was succeeded by the sacred squadrons of Blacks and Parry and the Asiatic Journal, besides the Cossacks and mercenaries-the anonymous pamphleteers-the Arnots and Martins and other Pindaries."

I beg to state, that I never took any part in the controversy, in the Asiatic Journal or any where else, and never published any anonymous pamphlet, on this or any other subject, since I left Bengal in 1824. It is true, that I there printed some correspondence with the government, and remarks regarding my removal from that country; but as the printer, though an East Indian, and therefore under the protection of the laws, was afraid to put his name to it, I may be excused for withholding mine, while a sentence of deportation hung over my head.

With regard to the term mercenary," it is true that, from eight to twelve years ago, I received payment for editing and contributing to several daily journals in Bengal, and to one monthly periodical in this country long since discontinued. But, for the last seven years and upwards, I have had no pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in publishing any political writings whatsoever. I am, therefore, not a little surprised at such a charge from the editor of the Bengal Hurkaru, who is himself, at the very moment of making it, and has been for probably the last fifteen years, an anonymous mercenary," in the only sense in which he ever could apply these terms to me.

I remain, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

SANDFORD ARNOT.