LUCKNOW. 
139 
Lucknow is about six hundred and fifty miles from 
Calcutta, and is consequently visited by many resi- 
dents at the Presidency, especially by ladies as anxi- 
ous to see the elephant fights and other novelties for 
which this city is celebrated, as they of the nobler 
gender, who deem the enjoyment of such stern amuse- 
ments their especial privilege. 
A very interesting circumstance connected with 
Lucknow occurred about three years ago, to the 
recital of which I shall devote the remainder of this 
short chapter. 
Some thirty years since, the captain of an Xndia- 
man residing in this city, obtained an introduction 
to a Persian lady of great personal attractions, of 
whom he shortly after became enamoured. She re- 
turned his affections and they married. The lady 
being in possession of great wealth, the husband re- 
linquished his profession and took up his permanent 
abode at Lucknow- Here he resided with his wife 
for upwards of three years in great domestic comfort, 
during which period she bore him three children. 
From this time he was absent until the eldest boy 
was about seven years of age, when the father brought 
him to England in order to obtain for him the ad- 
vantages of a European education. It happened that 
the quondam captain, for some reason now only to 
be surmised, led his child to suppose that he was not 
related to him but merely a friend to whose care 
he had been committed during the voyage. Almost 
immediately upon their arrival in this country, the 
father suddenly died without revealing to his charge 
