390 
MADRAS. 
the edge of the esplanade, and has the advantage of not being quite 
shut up, having a very pleasing view of the sea, and of Fort Saint 
George. Chepauk-gardens, belonging to the Nawaub, unfortunately 
come rather too far forward, and intercept the sea-breeze. The 
house itself is large and handsome ; the floors, the walls and pillars 
are of the most beautiful chunam, of different colours, almost equal 
in splendour to marble itself Lord Clive built a very large room 
of handsome appearance at a small distance in front, which has a 
bad effect from the house, and, when used on public occasions, is 
inconvenient, as being separated from it. The roads are a great 
ornament to the place, being broad, and shaded on each side by a 
noble avenue of trees. The fort itself is handsome, strong, and not 
too large ; it is of more use than Fort William, which, from the 
difficulty of the navigation of the Hoogly, can never be attacked 
from the sea, whilst Madras would, without it, be liable to the 
insults of any small squadron that might escape the vigilance of 
our cruizers. 
It would probably have been difficult to find a worse place for a 
capital, than that chosen for Madras, on the extreme point of a 
coast, where the current is most rapid, and where a tremendous 
surf breaks, even in the finest weather. Yet, however inconvenient 
it may be, particularly now that the whole peninsula belongs to 
us, the expense of removal would be so great, that no alteration 
will probably take place. It has been asserted, that a pier might 
be carried out sufficiently strong to resist the force of the north-east 
monsoon ; and a person was sent by the India Company to examine 
into the state of the beach, and make a report. He considered it as 
practicable ; but that the expense would probably be very great. 
