188d 
[ 649, J 
MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE, DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN. 
DOMESTIC. 
The Political History of India, from 
1784 to 1823, by Major-General Sir John 
Maicoim ; 2 vols. 8vo. 1826.—This is a very 
irregular performance. The title-page an- 
nounces the “ Political History of India, 
from 1784 to 1823,’’—from the time of Mr. 
Pitt’s Bill, that is, to the termination of 
the Marquis of Hastings’ government. 
The survey of this period, however, is pre- 
ceded by a review of the Company’s antece- 
dent acquisitions of territory, and succeeded 
by a second review of its progress to poli- 
tical power—both very imperfect, and far 
too brief to give an adequate representa- 
tion of the subject they profess to furnish. 
The principles on which Lord Clive and 
Mr. Hastings conducted the administra- 
tion are of prominent importance, and in- 
dispensable to a fair estimate of the po- 
litical history of India—at the least, as 
much so as those of any of their successors. 
The subject must have been taken up by 
the author without due consideration, onthe 
too hasty supposition thatall which preceded 
the operation of Mr. Pitt’s Bill had been 
completely eclipsed by succeeding events. 
His convictions changing as he advanced, 
the two reviews were written probably to 
supply the deficiency, and give the appear- 
ance of completeness to his, work. _ It is to 
be regretted the necessity did not occur to 
him before he commenced his labours, to 
prevent the present patch-work construc- 
tion. yt 
As it is, we have first a very meagre 
sketch of the history of the East-India 
Company up to the period of Mr. Fox’s 
abortive bills ; next an ablevexhibition, cer- 
tainly, of the successive administrations, 
from the Marquis of Cornwallis to the Mar- 
quis of Hastings ; and then we are turned 
about again to a rapid view, almost as 
meagre as the introductory sketch, of Lord 
Clive’s and Mr. Warren Hastings’ admi- 
nistrations, coupled with a recapitulation of 
the views of Mr, Warren Hastings and his 
successors, down to the Marquis of Hastings’ 
resignation. Then follow some observations 
on the India administration at home ; some 
suggestions relative to a change of the Go- 
_yernor-general’s duties—the appointment 
of lieutenant-governors in, different and 
distant parts of India—improvements in 
the judi _oyemepe the police, the reve- 
nue, the civil and military establishments ; 
—concluding finally with remarks, cer- 
‘tainly “of some pith, on the many topics 
which concern our dominion over India,— 
more or less interesting to all whose atten- 
tion, by family connexion, public duty, or 
philosophical study, is turned to the compre- 
hensive and magnificent concerns of the 
East, the British community in India, the 
half-castes, the propagation of Christianity, 
free press, &c. 
M.M. New Scries—Vot,1I. No,12. 
With our narrow limits, to enter upon 
these subjects, or any of them, would be 
impracticable. We have read the book at- 
tentively ; and thinking it, as we do, a 
valuable communication, and written by a 
man who knows what he is talking about— 
who has seen the country, and been ac- 
tively employed—who has distinct views of 
the subject, and expresses them distinctly — 
we recommend it warmly to ourreaders, and 
point out to them what they will find in it. 
The work is strictly a political history ; 
all military details, soldier as the writer is, 
are carefully avoided, If our readers feel 
as we do, they will welcome the intelli- 
gence. The statements are eminently dis- 
tinct, and stript of all matters of inferior 
interest. The writer has sedulously la- 
boured to clear them of all superfluous in- 
cumbrances ;—we are not sure but they are 
occasionally too much denuded, and that 
matters are omitted essential to a correct 
and competent view of the whole. In so 
involved and complicated a subject, how- 
ever, the error, if it be one, is on the right 
side. It is easy to fill,up, when the outline 
is once definitively drawn. 
General Malcolm abstains from all cen- 
sure on the apparently ambitious career of 
the Company’s servants. . His object, in- 
deed, may be described to be—to prove that 
career ineyitable—the only safe one; and that 
those whoadopted what is usually termed the 
neutral policy, only brought mischiefs upon 
- their heads, and precipitated the Company 
into more wars than the more active system 
would ever haye inyolved them in. The 
moment any relaxation appeared in the mi- 
litary energies of the government, that mo- 
ment were the native chiefs, contented and 
discontented, tempted to combine, for the 
purpose of crushing the power of the Com- 
pany, and expelling them and their forces 
from the counjry. Nothing but the com- 
plete subjugation of the whole country was 
likely to ensure peace to the British power, 
and a prompt direction of the military force 
against any point that shewed the slightest 
disposition to revolt. The activity of the 
Marquis of Hastings completed the sum of 
India conquests ; he proclaimed the British 
supremacy over the whole country ; and we 
are under an avowed obligation to protect 
—where we do not personally rule—every 
kingdom of that extensive empire. 
The Marquis Cornwallis pursued the 
system of active policy from his accession 
in 1786 to his departure in 1793, and re- 
duced Tippoo to submission—at least he 
clipt close the wings of his power, and took 
his sons as hostages. Lord Teignmouth 
reigned from 1793 to 1798, and adopted, 
unwisely, the neutral policy. When Lord 
Cornwallis quitted India, the three great 
powers of the Deccan were the Peishwah, 
the Nizam, and Tippoo. With the Peish- 
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