6Z CALCUTTA. 
appearance of officers, nabobs, Persians, and natives, resembled a 
masquerade. It excelled it in one respect : the characters were 
well supported, and the costume violated by no one. About 800 
people were present, who found sufficient room at supper, in the 
marble hall below, thence they were summoned about one o'clock 
to the different verandahs to see the fire -works and illuminations. 
The side of the citadel facing the palace was covered with a blaze 
of light, and all the approaches were lined with lamps suspended 
from bamboos. The populace stole much of the oil ; and as it was 
impossible to light so great a range at one time, the effect was in- 
ferior to what it ought to have been. The fire-works were indif- 
ferent, except the rockets, which were superior to any lever beheld. 
They were discharged from mortars on the ramparts of the citadel. 
The colours, also, of several of the pieces were excellent ; and the 
merit of singularity, at least, might be attributed to a battle between 
two elephants of fire, which by rollers were driven against each 
other. The night was very damp, and gave very severe colds to 
many. We returned to our home, much pleased with our evening's 
entertainment. I could not but feel gratified by the very polite 
reception which I had received from his Excellency, who seemed 
in every thing even to anticipate my wishes. 
January 57. — I had this morning a private audience of Lord 
Wellesley, in which I consulted him respecting my future plans. 
He advised me, as the season was so far advanced, either to proceed 
immediately by dawk * for the upper provinces, or to take the re- 
mainder of the monsoon to visit Penang, and Madras, and after- 
wards return to Calcutta, in time to proceed up the river with the 
* Post, having bearers stationed at short distances to relieve each other. 
