MADRAS. 
387 
That he might reach the pagodas at Conjeveram early in the 
morning, these were to be sent on, and he was to have others 
the first stage. He took with him wine and biscuit ; rice, fruit, 
and fowls, he could procure at every village. I sent one of my 
peons to attend him to Seringapatam, who could speak a little 
English. 
February 22,. — From the sixteenth to this day inclusive, I 
dined at Lord William Bentinck's, as I found that his Lordship 
expected me, whenever I had no other engagement. Colonel 
Dowdeswell, who acts as private Secretary to the Governor, con- 
tributed much to my passing my time pleasantly, and the party at 
the Government garden-house was varied by the arrival of the 
Honourable John Rodney, ci-devant Captain in the navy, in his 
way to Ceylon, where he was to supersede Mr. Saumarez. He had 
with him Lady Louisa, and ten children. The society of Ceylon 
will be much improved by their arrival. 
My servant, under the kind care of Dr. Goldie having slowly 
recovered, I determined to set off on the twenty-third. My 
ignorance of the Indian system of housekeeping made me liable 
to many impositions in settling my accounts for the time I had 
been at Madras ; and by living in my own house I found, for the 
first time, what was the rent of a handsome one in India. Mine 
was unfurnished, Lord William Bentinck having obligingly sent 
in the furniture, yet they charged ninety pagodas for one month. 
At night Lord William informed me that the Nawaub had 
expressed his wish to pay me a visit at the Government-house 
before my departure. As I had made all the arrangements for 
my journey, nothing could have been more inconvenient, and 
VOL. I. 3 D 
