59 



" Here it may be proper, as well to prevent illiberal suspicions 

 from attaching to Europeans at that period as on other occasions, 

 to state, that throughout the country the most zealous and unani- 

 mous means were adopted to check the evil. So far from blemish- 

 ing the national character, the philanthropy displayed by the 

 gentlemen of all professions in India justly entitles them to the 

 foremost rank. Their sensibility and energy did them immortal 

 honour. Of this, however, it would not be very easy to satisfy a 

 famished multitude. We cannot expect discrimination from the 

 poor wretch whose cravings guide his thoughts to one object only, 

 and which, moreover, he views according to his own disconsolate 

 situation. 



" When it became obvious that the famine could not be 

 averted, government sent supplies, which indeed could be ill 

 afforded, from Bengal, where the scarcity was least felt, to the 

 troops through the upper country. This measure, however salutary, 

 could have but a partial effect, but more could not be done. To 

 lessen the evil as much as possible, the European gentlemen en- 

 tered into large contributions for the purposes of procuring grain 

 from other parts. The liberal scale on which these subscriptions 

 were conducted will be sufficiently understood when it is stated 

 that, at Cawnpore alone, where about eight thousand men were 

 cantoned, no less a sum than a lac of rupees, equal to twelve thou- 

 sand five hundred pounds, was collected, and being vested with a 

 committee, whose economy and assiduity merit the warmest enco- 

 miums, was applied to the relief of as many persons as it was sup- 

 posed could be maintained until the next harvest. 



" All could not be relieved; consequently the station occasion- 



