CONTENTS. 



The harp of prophecy — present awful and eventful period — reflections 

 — purport of this concluding chapter — auxiliaries on the important 

 subject — Britain highly favoured — blessings of peace — -sensible and 

 pious dedication by Hakluyt to Sir Francis Walsingham — commence- 

 ment of the India Company's settlements in India — causes of their 

 •becoming generally interesting — no longer simply a trading Com- 

 pany, but sovereigns of an extensive empire — French and Dutch 

 no longer in possession of a factory there — epitome of the adminis- 

 tration of Hastings, Cornwallis, Wellesley, and other governors in 

 India — institution of the college at Calcutta — Its essential advan- 

 tages — these great characters opposed to the infamous successors 

 of the Portugueze conquerors of India — geographical outline of 

 Hindostan — divisions — revenue — amelioration of the natives wider 

 the wise and benevolent administration of Great Britain — dreadful 

 effects of famine — humanity of the Bombay government — compara- 

 tive ignorance of Europeans respecting the Hindoos in 1774 — 

 -luminous researches of Mr. Hastings — and grand acquisitions of 

 knowledge since that period — reflections on the conversion of the 

 Hindoos — sentiments of the author — Dr. Johnson — and many emi- 

 nent writers — the author assigns reasons for altering his opinion of 

 the Hindoo character — anecdote of an amiable pundit — pleasing 

 portraits of other natives — depravity of the zemindars and higher 



VOL. IV. % N 



