CALCUTTA. 



to European constitutions. Many fail a sacrifice to 

 its first attacks, and more receive the seeds of a slow 

 but certain destruction. " A sallow and livid com- 

 plexion," says Dr Tennant. " is so universal, that 

 when you behold a face of the roseate hue, you can 

 pronounce that its owner is newly arrived, nearly with 

 as much certainty as if you heard that part of his 

 .history from his own mouth." Of the numerous fe- 

 male adventurers who resort to this settlement, with 

 .the hope of a speedy matrimonial connection, few 

 retain beyond a season the bloom of health. Con- 

 sumptions are very common among them ; and many, 

 after remaining for years in a single state, are forced 

 to abandon the forlorn hope, and return to Europe 

 with an impaired constitution and the loss of beauty, 

 often their only recommendation. Diseases, however, 

 are not so prevalent in this city as formerly, which is 

 owing more to the greater temperance in the use of 

 spirituous liquors, and the superior construction of 

 the houses, than to any material improvement in the 

 atmosphere. The inhabitants are now also better 

 acquainted with the means of counteracting the ef- 

 fects of a bad climate; and from the increased know- 

 ledge of medicine, the nature and treatment of the 

 peculiar disorders of the country, have been more 

 precisely ascertained. But notwithstanding these 

 improvements, much still remains to be done with re- 

 spect to their manner of living. No fashionable 

 .parties sit down to dinner before seven or eight at 

 night, which, in this hot climate cannot fail to be 

 prejudicial to the health, particularly when we con- 

 eider that, even independent of a loaded stomach, it 

 is at all times difficult to procure any thing like a 

 refreshing sleep. In the numerous and gay society 

 of this capital, too many opportunities occur of ex- 

 ceeding the bounds of strict sobriety ; and though 

 few people indulge less in this respect than the inha- 

 bitants of Calcutta, yet the frequency of the applica- 

 tion, often proves a most destructive enemy to the 

 constitution. In no country ought the advice of the 

 poet to be more strictly adhered to : 



" Beyond the sense 

 Of light refection, at the genial board, 

 Indulge not often ; nor protract the feast 

 To dull satiety.- 



For know, whate'er 



Beyond its natural fervour hurries on 

 The sanguine tide; whether the pregnant bowl, 

 High season'd fare, or exercise to toil 

 Protracted; spurs to its last stage tir'd life." 



ART OF PRESERVING HEALTH. 



Calcutta was first erected into an European settle- 

 ment in 1690, when Mr Job Charnock, the Company's 

 agent in Bengal, obtained leave from the Mogul to 

 remove the English factory from Hoogly ; and he 

 fixed upon this spot as the most proper for its new 

 situation, without any regard either to the conveni- 

 ence of its approach, or the salubrity of the climate, 

 but merely, it is said, on account of a large shady 

 gr-.ve which stands in the vicinity. Notwithstanding 

 its disadvantages, however, it gradually increased 

 both in population and opulence ; and about the 

 middle of the following century, fifty or sixty Euro- 

 pean vessels were annually loaded with rich cargoes 



at its port, besides other small craft trading to the Calcutta, 

 adjacent countries. The colony had hitherto enjoyed -* v - 

 .the countenance and protection of the native powers, 

 but on the death of the old Soubah, or viceroy of Ben- 

 gal, in -17.56, his adopted son, Suraja Dovvlah, by 

 whom he was succeeded, formed the design of driv- 

 ing the English from the country. Led on by the 

 hope of a rich plunder, which he supposed to be con- 

 cealed in the fort of Calcutta, he commenced hostili- 

 ties upon the most frivolous pretences, and invested 

 the English factory of Cossimb.izar. Fraud an<l 

 force were both employed tor its reduction, which 

 was soon accomplished, and the Soubah then marched 

 to Calcutta with an army of 70,000 horse and toot, and 

 400 elephants. He was repulsed in repeated attacks 

 upon the redoubts with great slaughter ; but the gover- 

 nor, Mr Drake, intimidated by the superiority of his 

 force, withdrew his troops from the outpost., .aid 

 abandoning the city to the enemy, retired within the 

 fort. In a council of war, it was declarea, that their 

 ammunition was almost expended, and that what re- 

 mained was scarcely sufficient for three days. In 

 consequence of this information, Mr Drake, who de,- 

 clared himself a Quaker, with some principal persons 

 residing in the settlement, and part of the garrison, 

 took refuge on board the ships in the river. The 

 command of the fort then devolved upon Mr Holwell, 

 who, with a few brave officers and a feeble garrison, 

 consisting only of 250 effective men, maintained it 

 with uncommon bravery and resolution, against all 

 the force of the Soubah. Their ammunition, how ; - 

 ever, being at last almost exhausted, and many of 

 their numbers having fallen in the unequal conflict, 

 Mr Holwell hung out a flag of truce ; and intend- 

 ed to avail himself of the opportunity to escape to 

 the ships, but they had fallen several miles down from 

 the fort, without leaving a single boat to facilitate 

 the escape of its brave defenders. In this emergency 

 also, before an answer could be received from the 

 Soubah, the Dutch guard had betrayed their post, and 

 had delivered up the back gate to the enemy, vvko 

 rushing in, soon overpowered the garrison by their 

 superior numbers. At an interview which Mr Hol- 

 well had with the Soubah, that prince promised, ou 

 the word of a soldier, that no injury should be done 

 to any of the prisoners. But, notwithstanding this 

 solemn assurance, they were all driven, to the number 

 of 146 persons, of both sexes, into a dungeon called 

 the black hole, a cubical space of about 18 feei ; where, 

 fatigued with hard duty, and many of them wounded^ 

 they were left to the torments of thirst and suffoca- 

 tion. Humanity shudders at the very idea of their 

 miserable situation, cooped up in a narrow cell, in 

 a close sultry night, under such a climate as that of 

 Bengal, without the least current of refreshing air. 

 Two windows towards the west, which were strong- 

 ly barred with iron, were the only openings at which 

 the air could be admitted, and here there was uo 

 perceptible circulation. Enraged at finding them- 

 selves thus cruelly betrayed, they endeavoured to 

 break open the door, determined rather to rush upon 

 the swords of the barbarians, than remain exposed 

 to an excruciating death ; but the door being made 

 to open inwards, all their efforts were unavailing: 

 Mr Holwell, who stood at one of the windows, etc- 



