POOKNEAH. 251 



of the year, is, I am told, a man of pre-eminent 

 ability. He was fortunate in finding a field 

 for the display of his talents, or he might never 

 have risen beyond the situation of a common 

 office clerk. 



The Indian despatches of the Duke of Wel- 

 lington bear testimony to the capacity, intelli- 

 gence, and trustworthiness of numerous natives, 

 who had acted with and assisted him in his In- 

 dian campaign. The great Duke speaks with 

 admiration of the diplomatic talents of Govind 

 Rao, and of the unimpeachable integrity of 

 Bisnapunt, but above all of Poorneah, a name 

 known to history as the Regent of Mysore, dur- 

 ing the minority of the Rajah, and who had 

 been previously Prime Minister to Hyder Ali 

 and Tippoo Sultaim. To Poorneah the illustri- 

 ous Duke presented his picture, in testimony of 

 the high sense which he entertained of his ad- 

 mirable administration of the affairs of Mysore. 

 I have met with many natives of first-rate na- 

 tural ability, though generally of defective edu- 

 cation; but with the educational advantages that 

 are now open to the natives of India, I feel as- 

 sured that if they once get admitted to a fair par- 

 ticipation with Europeans in the Government of 



