CHARACTER OF THE ENGLISH IN INDIA. 31 I 



hospitality, and apparent love of display, — all reminded me 

 of Petersburg and Moscow." In general the English have 

 a taste for country-seats in the vicinity of the towns. Bar- 

 rackpore, in Bengal, the country-residence of the governor- 

 general, is described as a delightful spot. English Madras 

 is spread over a great extent of ground, the families having 

 what are -termed their garden-houses usually several miles 

 distant from the native town and government offices. 



The social character of the English in India resembles 

 that of their countrymen at home, modified by their peculiar 

 situation. They are animated by an extremely hospitable 

 and generous temper. Their easy circumstances enable 

 them to indulge this disposition, which finds scope in the 

 great number of British subjects who go out to seek a home 

 in that distant land. Any gentleman provided with an intro- 

 duction to a family is invited to take up his abode with them, 

 and continues a welcome guest till he can at full leisure 

 make his own arrangements. Lord A r alentia assures us, 

 that families left destitute by the death of their head have 

 often, by the generosity of their acquaintances, been placed 

 in a situation of comfort, and even of affluence, which 

 their relation, had he lived, could not have secured to them. 

 Since Ms time, however, funds established at the different 

 presidencies provide liberally for widows and children, in a 

 mannerless painful to their feelings. The peculiar circum- 

 stances of Indian society give it a less varied character than 

 that of Europe. Most of the residents go out very young, 

 and they return before reaching an advanced age ; so that 

 old persons of either sex scarcely ever make part of an In- 

 dian company. On the other hand, young ladies, whose 

 presence contributes so much to the animation and polish 

 of European society, appear only in very small numbers. 

 These peculiarities, however, have diminished of late years, 

 many families having sprung up who send their children to 

 England for education ; on completing which, the young 

 men go out with civil or military appointments, and the 

 young ladies to reside with their parents. The pride of 

 country is said to prevail here still more decidedly than 

 among Englishmen at home. It is true that the British 

 can justly boast a great superiority of information, and still 

 more of military talent, over all the oriental races ; and this 

 sentiment* though sometimes carried too far, has the effect 



