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spots, and possessed by men who were merchants, without any share of power or authority.

This extraordinary and unprecedented state of things gave rise to the Hanseatic League, which rose at last to such importance that those who had been so long seeking after glory, without finding it, began to see the importance which was derived from wealth. They began to see that, even in the pursuit of their favourite object, wealth was an excellent assistant, and the friendship of merchants began to be solicited by princes, as in the days of Tyre and Sidon.

This progress was greatly facilitated and accelerated by the crusades, which, at the same time that they beggared half the nobility of Europe, gave them a taste for the refinements of the East, and taught them to set some value on the means by which such refinements could be procured.

In this manner were things proceeding, when three great discoveries changed the situation of mankind.

The mariner's compass, gunpowder, and the art of printing, were all discovered nearly about the same time; and, independent of their great and permanent effects, they were wonderfully calculated to alter the situation of nations at that period.

The navigation of the ocean, which led to the discovery of a passage to the East Indies, and of America, gave a mortal blow to the nations situated on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, who thus found themselves deprived of the commerce of the East.

The discovery of gunpowder, a means so powerful of annoying an enemy, without the aid of human force, which places a giant and a dwarf in some sort upon an equality, was wonderfully adapted for doing away the illusions of knight-errantry, that had such a powerful effect in making war be preferred to commerce: while printing facilitated the communication of every species of knowledge.

It was then that northern nations began to cultivate arts and sciences, as those of the south under a mild heaven, and on a fertile soil, had done three thousand years before. But ingenuity and invention took a different direction in the north from what they had done in the southern climates; instead of sovereigns and slaves, men were more in mutual want of each other, and therefore a more equal division of the fruits of industry was required.

The manufactures of the former times had been confined chiefly to luxuries for the great, and simple necessaries for slaves: and commerce, though productive of great wealth to a few, was in its limits equally confined.

It was natural that the two nations which had first discovered the passage to the East, and the continent of the West, which abounded with the precious metals, should become rich and powerful, as those cities had formerly done that possessed exclusively the channels of commerce. Those two countries were Spain and Portugal: but here again we find the same fatality attend the acquisition of wealth that had formerly been remarked. It was, indeed, not to be expected, that the steadiness and virtue of the Spaniards and Portuguese could resist the operation of a cause, that neither the wisdom of the Egyptians, the arts and industry of Greece, nor the stubborn and martial patriotism of the Romans could withstand.

Those

Those two nations soon sunk, and the Dutch, the French, and the English, became participators of the commerce." pp. 70-74.

Our readers will perceive that this is an able sketch of the grand outline of human affairs, within the periods surveyed. Some of them will, perhaps, be inclined to ask-did it never occur to the author, while he was inquiring into the causes which produced the changes here recorded, to consider what could be the end for which these nations rose and fell? As it cannot admit of doubt, that all things are under the administration of an All-wise Being, these events must have stood connected with some ultimate end, worthy of his wisdom and goodness; and we should have been glad to see such talents and research engaged in the investigation, under the light and dictates of the sacred scriptures.

(To be concluded in our next Number.)

Art. III. Historical Fragments of the Mogul Empire, of the Morattoes, and of the English Concerns in Indostan, from the year 1659-Origin of the English Establishment, and of the Company's Trade at Broach and Surat: and a general Idea of the Government and People of Indostan; by Robert Orme, Esq. F. A. S. To which is prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. Quarto. pp. nearly 600. price 11. 8s. 6d. boards. Wingrave, 1805.

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WHEN our old friends, who laboured in the field of litera

ture with assiduity and success, have passed that bourne whence no traveller returns, we reflect on their career with veneration and regret. Recollecting the pleasure and improvement we derived from a perusal of their works, we cherish an affectionate remembrance of their talents, and of the important services which they rendered to the cause of science, and the interests of human kind. Such a man was Robert Orme, the author of the volume now before us, whose ample title page gives particular information of its contents. His history of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Hindostan, which first introduced him to the public, has been long and justly celebrated. Few works have conveyed a more abundant portion of knowledge, concerning Eastern transactions and events, And though greater accuracy and precision may be found in some of our later writers, it must be remembered, that they stand on an eminence which his labours had raised. Guided by him through the intricate passages of the Gauts, it was easy for them afterwards to pursue their journey in the champaign country. A thousand times greater praise is due to the hardihood of the stern Englishman, who first planted a colony on the shores of America, among the savage tribes of Indians,

than

than to the planter who now repairs to the back settlements, and sets himself down next to the great wilderness, and the thin remains of the Aborigines.

The Fragments in this volume, we are told, were prized by the author, above all his works. They were the fruit of deep investigation and extensive research. Their object is to trace the origin of the Mahratta government, under Sevagi its founder, a man of singular talents, who supported his authority, and extended his territories, in spite of the most strenuous efforts of the mighty Aurengzebe for his destruction.

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Sevagi was a zealous votary of Brahma, and considered himself as raised up to defend the gods of Hindostan, against the tyranny of the Mogul. The account of his adventures, and ultimate prosperity, is compiled with great labour from various authorities, and will be read with interest. His private life, we are told,

"Was simple even to parsimony; his manner void of insolence or ostentation; as a sovereign he was humane, and solicitous for the well being of his people as soon as (he was) assured of their obedience.".

Sevagi possessed all the qualities of command: every influence, however latent, was combined in his schemes, which generally compre→ hended the option of more than one success; so that his intention could rarely be ascertained, and when accomplished did not discover the extent of his advantages, until developed by subsequent acquisitions. In personal activity he exceeded all generals of whom there is recordalthough equal to the encounter of any danger, he always preferred to surmount it by circumvention."

He well knew that gold was often an effectual weapon, where steel would be unavailing; and, though, in general, mild and magnanimous, he appears to have been, like other antient and modern heroes, more concerned for the success of his enterprizes, than for their justice and humanity.

Excessive fatigue in seizing a convoy of money from Aurengzebe, occasioned the illness, which on the 9th of April 1680, terminated his life at the age of 52.

There are numerous grammatical faults and inaccuracies in this Memoir; we know not whether to impute them to a defect in the copy, or to negligence at the press.

In the Account of the establishment of the English at Surat, we discover the unwearied industry, and the bold determined conduct, which mark the national character, and which struggled through formidable opposition from different quarters, till their perseverance was crowned with permanent success.

The General idea of the government and people of Hindostan' is extremely interesting, and conveys that accurate delineation of character and conduct, which could only be given by a skilful observer on the spot,

But

But as these pieces have been published before, to notice them by a particular review would be a departure from our established rules. We therefore call the attention of our readers to the life of Mr. Orme, which introduces the volume. We are sorry that it is more barren of incidents, than might have been expected: but whatever makes us acquainted, though imperfectly, with a man who extended the bounds of useful knowledge, acquires a value in our estimation, and is entitled to regard.

Dr. Alexander Orme, the father of our author, went out to India, in the company's service, as a physician and surgeon, in the year 1706. He conducted himself with great respectability, and rose to eminence and preferment. Robert, the subject of this memoir, was his second son, and was born on Christmas-day, 1726. When but two years of age, he was sent home to England: and after residing some time with an aunt in London, he was placed in his sixth year at Harrow school, where, between seven and eight years, he studied the classics with delight and success, equally distinguished by quickness of parts, and assiduity of application. After adding a commercial to a classical education, he returned to India, and arrived at Calcutta in 1742. At first he was employed in the house of a private merchant; but was afterwards appointed a writer in the company's civil service, and in this station he continued between nine and ten years. his entrance on this office, in his eighteenth year, we find the following prayer composed by him, which it will do young gentlemen going to India no harm to hear and to appropriate. It is dated November 1744.

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"O GOD, whose infinite power is not more shewn in the works of thy creation, than thine eternal beneficence in the preservation of thy creatures, vouchsafe to hear the supplications of one of the meanest 'among them; who in all due sense of the lowliness of his condition, presumes on the authority of his Redeemer's command alone, to throw himself in all his sins, at the throne of thy mercy. Forgive him, O Lord, his manifold breaches of thy ordinances, and endue him with grace, to amend his ways before thee. Cast from his heart the rancour of pride, the malignity of envy and malice, and all those tumultuous passions and urgent emotions of which our frail beings are, without thy prevention, so susceptible; endue him with humility; grant him charity with all men."

In Mr. Orme, at this early period, it is easy to discern an active mind, ever in pursuit of knowledge, by the acquisition of which he made himself eminently useful to the East India Company. In the year 1753, he visited England, and there rendered important services to his country, by communicating to the ministry information of the true state of affairs in India, and by urging them to those exertions which annihilated the French power in that part of the world. He went back to

India,

India, in 1754, and took his seat as a member of the council, at Fort St. George, to which he had been appointed while in England. Here his talents were of singular utility. When intelligence was brought to Madras of the capture of the English settlement at Calcutta, and the sufferings of the miserable prisoners in the black hole, he warmly urged in the council, that measures of the utmost vigour should be pursued. His opinion prevailed, and he was the man by whose recommendation and influence Colonel Clive was raised to the command of the army, as possessing that intrepid and adventurous genius, which could alone have conducted the enterprize with success, and brought it to an issue, so important and astonishing. We are informed that, after the return of these gentlemen to England, a disagreement took place, which dissolved that friendship for ever. So sensible was the court of Directors of the value of Mr. Orme's services, that he was appointed eventual successor to the governor of Madras; but he did not continue long enough in the country to succeed to that honourable station. The delicate state of his health obliged him to return to England, and he bade a final adieu to India, in the latter part of the year 1758. His voyage proved unfortunate: the ship in which he sailed, was taken by the French; and he was carried first to the Mauritius and afterwards to France, whence in the year 1760, he passed over to his native country. Wherever he was, he sought improvement, and was busily employed in augmenting his stores of useful and ornamental knowledge.

No sooner was Mr. Orme comfortably settled in London, than he engaged himself with vigour in preparing for the press a history of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Hindostan. Materials for this work he had been many years collecting and the first volume was published in 1763. It was received with the warmest approbation, and was highly celebrated for the fidelity, impartiality, and accuracy of its details. The second volume, which appeared in 1778, renewed and heightened the lustre of his reputation. Mr. O. bestowed immense labour upon it: he examined documents with the greatest accuracy, and improved his work wherever additional information afforded him an opportunity. Of this the second edition of his first volume furnishes ample proof.

Living in the metropolis for a considerable time after his return, he spent his days in the pursuits of literature, and in the society of the learned. Several letters from Dr. Robertsou the historian, which strongly mark their mutual intimacy and esteem, are inserted in the memoir. Mr. Orme was remarkably. attached to the great Dr. Johnson, and found the highest delight. in his conversation.

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