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cially in a morning. The writers at the period of my arrival at 

 Bombay, and during the whole time of my officiating in that capa- 

 city, were fully engaged from nine o'clock to twelve, when they 

 retired from their respective offices to dinner, which was then at 

 one o'clock in every class of English society. At two the writers 

 returned to their employment until five ; when, after a dish of lea, 

 a social walk on a fine sandy beach, open to the salubrious west- 

 ern breeze, gave us a keener appetite for supper than our scanty 

 pittance of thirty rupees per month could furnish. Such was our 

 constant practice six days in the week. The cadets, on the coi- 

 trary, who were then soon promoted, and whether stationed at the 

 presidency or the subordinate settlements, perhaps mounted guard 

 once or twice a week, and did no other duty, had abundance of 

 leisure time. On those idle days, the morning was generally oc- 

 cupied in calling upon each other at their different quarters, and 

 at each visit taking a draught of punch, or arrack and water; 

 which, however cool and pleasant at the moment, was succeeded 

 by the most deleterious effects ; indeed from iis fatal consequences 

 it might be called a slow poison ; and from this cause alone, it 

 may be confidently asserted, that a number proportionate to the 

 Berhampore estimate, were annually committed to an untimely 

 grave. 



There were many amiable exceptions of youth in the military 

 department, who devoted their morning hours to professional stu- 

 dies, music, drawing, literary improvement, and other rational 

 pursuits, who became eminent in their profession, and are now 

 enjoying the fruits of their wise conduct, independent and happy 

 in their native country. 1 do not mean to infer that physical 



