PATNA DURING THE MUTINY. 191 



presence. But he was no bigger than Warren Hastings, and both, 

 Hke Virgil's bees, 



" Ingentes animos angusto in pectore versant." * 



Sir Walter Scott says that it is less dangerous to impugn the 

 honour of some men than their horsemanship. But how much 

 more dangerous is it to charge a high-spirited little chap, who, even 

 with the aid of high-heeled boots is little more than five feet high, 

 with want of courage. 



Those who explore the Indian jungles will probably meet with a 

 graceful bird, well known to naturalists as "Galliis bellicosus,'' whose 

 shrill notes of challenge may be heard for miles around. Perched 

 on some mound or hillock to make up for deficient size, woe to any 

 of its species wandering near which dares to impugn its courage. 

 Without a single thought of what the consequence may be, it ruffles 

 its feathers, sets its spurs, and then the hunter, if he keeps con- 

 cealed, may witness a sanguinary battle, in which, after the first few 

 feints and passes, such fearful wounds are given that the weaker 

 bird is soon lying gasping on its back, whilst the victor, flying to 

 the very summit of a neighbouring hill, sounds its shrill clarion of 

 triumph. 



I am sure that if Mr. Tayler were living now, he would not object 

 to such a simile as this, for often with his facile pencil he depicted 

 such a fight. Only, so sanguine was he of ultimate success, that the 

 head of the winning bird bore a marked resemblance to his own ; 

 whilst his rival, with wounded wing or bleeding breast, was lying 

 hors-de-combat on the ground. 



Those however, who, like the hunter, viewed the combat from afar, 

 required no prophetic eye to see how it all must end, as each 

 succeeding thrust which Mr. Tayler gave, placed the members of 

 the Government deeper in this dilemma : — That even supposing they 

 wished to do him justice, they could not do so without accepting 

 his theory, that his opponents, some of them eminent statesmen, 



* "With mighty souls in little bodies prest." — Dryderis Translation. 



