MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 307 



being left unprovided for before them, until they shall be rescued from this 

 distressing situation by an offer of marriage." 



The information contained in the following extract is too important to be 

 omitted : 



" The fate of the kingdom of Oude seems now verging to a crisis, and, in 

 all probability, a short period will decide whether it is to continue under 

 the mismanagement of its present rulers, or be placed entirely under the 

 control of the British government. At the present period, Lucknow af- 

 fords an almost perfect realisation of the beau ideal of the court of an 

 Asiatic despot, though the power over life and limb has been somewhat 

 abridged by the presence of the British resident. 



" In natural advantages, the kingdom of Oude does not yield to any part of 

 India. The whole surface of the province is level, and watered by nume- 

 rous streams ; and the land, when properly cultivated, is exceedingly pro- 

 ductive, affording rich crops of every sort of grain, cotton, sugar, indigo, 

 opium, and all the most valuable products of Hindostan. The gifts of 

 heaven have, however, been neutralized by the ruinous policy of an oppres- 

 .sive government. ' The impression, which generally remained uppermost,' 

 observes the writer of a private letter, dated in December last, ' as the ge- 

 neral result of our visit to Lucknow, was that of disgust. In a state in 

 which the people have no voice, in respect of the amount or kind of taxation, 

 or as to the disposal of the revenue raised, every sort of improvement must 

 depend upon the ruling power. Every where we saw proofs of the frivolity 

 of the amusements of the sovereign, and of the lavish expense at which they 

 are gratified ; no where could we perceive any public work in progress for 

 the benefit of the community. Along one entire side of this extensive and 

 populous capital runs the river Goomtee, over which there is not a single 

 bridge ; that which was commenced being left unfinished. What might not 

 be done in this kingdom ! It has no national debt, and if there be truth in 

 reports generally believed, it has stores of wealth, though secretly hoarded. 

 But, even if these rumours be groundless, it is known that the present annual 

 revenue, without reviving an old, or imposing a new tax, is fully adequate 

 to meet all proper demands for the state and splendour of the sovereign, the 

 maintenance of efficient judicial and fiscal establishments, and for carrying 

 forward works of improvement and of utility. It is sad to say, that what- 

 ever the public servants do not peculate, and put by in secret, against times 

 of need and difficulty, to themselves, is squandered by the dominant au- 

 thority in vain and frivolous amusements, in the pursuits of a weak mind 

 and a vitiated taste, and the indulgence of depraved habits. Although his 

 servants bow down their necks to the royal person, he has little or no voice 

 in the management of the affairs of the country, and the sin of misrule must 

 rest upon the head of his chosen minister. 



" ' Jn the short space between Cawnpore and Lucknow, as well as from 

 appearances immediately around the capital, I was disposed to think the 

 tales of mal-administration exaggerated. The reverse, however, became but 

 too obvious each stage we proceeded, by the way of Seetapore, to Shahje- 

 hanpore. We passed over miles and miles of waste in succession, not of 

 barren land, incapable of cultivation, for the fertility of the soil was mani- 

 fest in many places, and traces of former tillage plainly discernible ; such as 

 ridges dividing fields ; wells for irrigation, now dilapidated and useless, and 

 groves of mango-trees, far remote from present habitations ; but evincing 

 that these parts of the country had once been populous. Where the soil is 

 naturally so rich, where so much facility for irrigation exists, as well in the 

 nearness of water to the surface, as in the numerous small streams running 

 from the mountains to unite themselves with the Ganges, it seems impos- 

 sible to trace the mournful waste and depopulation to any other source than 

 that of impolitic and unjust administration. This cause alone was assigned 

 by all those with whom I conversed on the subject, and they were of all 



