HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



235 



Accordingly, we have found, 

 that Oil all occasions where the 

 co-operation of the Bombay go- 

 vernment with the views of lort 

 William has been required, its 

 exertions have been fully propor- 

 tioned to the exigencies of the 

 service. Its troops assisted gene- 

 ral Harris in the extinction of the 

 Mahommedan power in Mysore, 

 under Sir David Baird. They co- 

 operated with lord Hutchinson in 

 expelling the French from Egypt ; 

 they had an active share in general 

 Wellesley's eventful struggle in 

 the Deccan ; they reduced several 

 of Scindiu's fortresses in the 

 Guzzarat ; and afterwards, led by 

 general Jones, penetrated, from 

 thence to the seat of war in the 

 north of Hindostan ; whilst the 

 wealth of the presidency of Bombay 

 enriched its treasury, and enabled 

 its government to contribute, in 

 money as well as in men and every 

 other species of supply, far ex- 

 ceeding its contingent. 



The topographical advantages of 

 Bombay cannot be easily over- 

 rated, and under the present go- 

 vernment have been conspicuously 

 subservient to the interests of the 

 company and the nation.* The 

 Bomba}' built shipping are indis- 

 putably the best in the world. 

 Superior to all in durability, they 

 are inferior to none in symmetry 

 of architecture. They are of di!- 

 lerent dimensions ; and while some 



of them have furnished to the 

 India company, the best ships of 

 the largest size in their service, 

 others, originally employed in com- 

 merce, have added to the numbers 

 and strength of the royal navy. 



Its capacious harbour affords 

 safe anchorage to a forest of ship- 

 ping ; where they are also shel- 

 tered from an enemy by the guns 

 of the castle and the town ram- 

 parts: most of which in that partare 

 of the largest caliber. It is acces- 

 sible at all seasons to his majesty's 

 squadrons in those seas, and its 

 arsenals supply every description 

 of stores. Ships of all classes, up 

 to and including third rates, had 

 been for many years accommo- 

 dated and repaired in its old docks; 

 and two others of increased dimen- 

 sions lately constructed on a scale 

 of magnificence, not surpassed by 

 any thing of the kind in the British 

 dominions. Early in 1810, was 

 launched at Bombay, a fine 74- gun 

 ship, the Minden. 



The dreadful ascendancy which 

 France has acquired in Europe, 

 will be imperfect and unsatisfac- 

 tory to its ambitious and malignant 

 chief vi'hile the power of Great 

 Britain remains undiminished. 

 Having exhausted all other means 

 of assault, and relinquished all 

 hopes of success by any other 

 stratagem, Buonaparte is com- 

 pelled to resume the consideration 

 of a project of the old court of 



France, 



" It daily imports from different parts of its coast teak timber for shipbuilding; 

 and the culture of hemj) in an island called Salcctte, forming one of its dependen- 

 cies, has lately been encouraged by the governor. It is 3'et in its infancy ; but 

 the (juaUty proves to be the best produced in India. The adjoining ]\Iahi-atta 

 province of Concan furnishes Bombay with considerable quantities of hemp of the 

 same quality. Near 1,000 tons have been lately imported into this country ; and 

 the result of various scientific experiments has, we believe, not yet finally deter- 

 juined its inferiority to the Baltic [iroducl. 



