CAL C U T T A. 



ly throe miles along the nvcr, and is c-. ly a 



modern built t.iwn, li.ivv. r r.'..-u, dun. 



tury, from an insignificant v.. 



toil U.ite of graml'-Mi. i'h-' h.-u-.rs o! 



iibli, which c>m-.iit:;u- i particular 

 city, are constructed i-iitiivly of brick, plasteri-d 

 \vith ( '/ni/i : -n, a -.]-... ; . c ! MI, i!ar made from si 

 which, when kept clean, rivals the finest marble. 

 They are, in general, detached from each other, to 

 give a freer circulation to t!u- air in this hot climate, 

 and have a very elegant appearance. Those of Cha- 

 ring.i road in particular, resemble more the palaces of 

 monarchs than the houses of private gentlemen and 

 merchants. Their construction is also well adapted 

 to the climate. The apartments are spacious and lofty, 

 with large verandahs, where the family often sit and 

 dine during the hot season. The approach is gene- 

 rally by a flight of steps, with great projecting por- 

 ticos, or surrounded by colonnades or arcades, which 

 give them the appearance of Grecian temples. Very 

 little furniture is used, as any thing that obstructs 

 the circulation of the air is a great inconvenience ; 

 and there is scarcely a ceiling in all Calcutta. The 

 Black town, however, which is inhabited by the na- 

 tives, presents a striking contrast to the beauty of the 

 other. It is like most towns in India, which, ac- 

 cording to Mr Rennel, are " all built upon one plan, 

 with exceeding narrow, confined, and crocked streets, 

 with an incredible number of reservoirs and ponds, and 

 a great many gardens interspersed. A few of the 

 streets are paved with brick. The houses are vari- 

 ously built: some of brick, others with mud, and a 

 still greater proportion with bamboos and mats ; and 

 these different kinds of fabrics, standing intermixed 

 with each other, form a motley appearance. Those 

 of the latter kind are invariably of one story, and co- 

 vered with thatch. Those of brick seldom exceed 

 two floors, and have flat terraced roofs. The former 

 classes far outnumber the last, which are often so 

 thinly scattered, that fires, which often happen, do not 

 sometimes meet with the obstruction of a brick house 

 through a whole street." The citadel of Fort Wil- 

 liam, which stands about a quarter of a mile from the 

 city, upon the same side of the river, is a magnificent 

 work, but much too extensive for defence. It is 

 built in the form of a pentagon, with several out- 

 works, and is laid out in squares and regular build- 

 ings, interspersed with groves of trees, which afford 

 a comfortable shelter from the noontide heat. It con- 

 tains bomb-proof barracks for 10,000 men, and would 

 require 600 pieces of cannon to mount all the-works, 

 which, however, are guarded by mines aiul counter- 

 mines. The whole is surrounded with a ditch, into 

 which water can be introduced from the river, by 

 means of flood-gates, to the height of 8 feet. This 

 fortress was commenced by Lord Clive in 1757, im- 

 mediately after the victory of Plassey, and was in- 

 tended as a tenable post incase of extremity ; and to 

 prevent a repetition of such insults and cruelties to- 

 wards the British, as were experienced by Mr Hwl- 

 well and his unfortunate companions, upon the taking 

 of. Calcutta in 1756 by the Soubah of Bengal. It 

 commands a most extensive prospect on every side ; 

 and all ships that pass up or down the Hoogly are 

 exposed to its fire. 



Fort William and the city j a level plain 

 called the esplanade, when- the inhabitant* of all 

 rank* and descriptions daily retort for air and exer- 

 cise. From day bn-ak, until the sun hat gut to some 

 i above the horizon, it is crowded with Euro- 

 peans and natives* who come to enjoy the cool air of 

 the ii .md, in the evenings, it presents a grand 



y of rquipage and beauty, with every variety 

 of vehicle and complexion ; from the coach and four 

 to tin-one hre chaise, with the palankeens and hack* 

 cries of the natives ; and the dark Hindoo and 

 tawny Moor contrasting with the fair and florid coun- 

 tenaiio s of the English. On the west side of the 

 esplanade stands the new government house, erected 

 by the Marquis of \VYlU-blcy. It is a noble and beau* 

 tiful structure, worthy to be the residence of the bead 

 of a great empire. Over the four colossal arches or 

 gates that lead to it, are placed sphinxes, with vari- 

 ous figures and emblems ; and over the eastern and 

 western gates a -c emblazoned tin.- king's and compa- 

 ny's arm . " With respect to the interior of the 

 building," says a modern author, " any adequate 

 idea of it cannot be conveyed by words : the eye, not 

 the ear, must be the medium of communication. 

 The marble hall, in particular, brought to my mind 

 many of the glowing descriptions in the Arabian 

 Tales, of enchanted castles, &c. and indeed I could 

 scarcely persuade myself, that I was i;ot tr.-iitlhg <,n 

 magic ground, all the time I was wandering through 

 it." The old fort, which is situated near the centre 

 of the town, has been converted into a custom-house; 

 and the " black hole" is now part of a go-down, or 

 warehouse. In front of the gate, is a handsome stone 

 obelisk about 50 feet high, which was erected by Mr 

 Holwell to the memory of his fellow prisoners, with 

 whose names it is inscribed. It records also the in- 

 famy of those, who, by removing their ships front 

 the vicinity of the fort, left so many brave men at the 

 mercy of a tyrant. The other public buildings of 

 Calcutta are the court-house, over which are two 

 handsome assembly rooms ; the Armenian church, 

 and one English church ! In the middle of the city- 

 is a large reservoir, or tank, dug by order of govern- 

 ment, in order to supply the inhabitants with water 

 during the dry season, as the waUr of the Hoogly 

 is then rendered brackish by the influx of the tide. 

 It covers upwards of 25 acres of ground ; and the 

 number of springs which it contains preserves the 

 water always sweet and fresh, and nearly at the same 

 level. A rail is placed round it ; and though no per- 

 son is allowed to waah in it, yet all are at liberty to. 

 take as much water as they please. 



Calcutta is the residence of the governor-general 

 of India, and the stat of the supreme court of judi- 

 cature, which consists of four Judges, who dispense 

 justice according to the laws of England. The juris- 

 diction of this court embraces all the company's ur- 

 ritories in this part of India, at. j also extends to 

 every case, civil or criminal, that ir.ay occur upon the 

 sea between the Coromandel and Malacca c< a: ts. It 

 does not, however, reach to the higher stations ; but 

 in these the European settlers have come under an 

 engagement to be amenable to its authority. The 

 upright proceedings and the decorum with which 

 the business of the court is conducted, have gainrd 



