quality is produced, together with extenfive falt-petre works, have rendered Patna opulent, and the center of an extenfive commerce. The different manufactures of filver, iron, and wood, are little inferior in this city, to thofe of Europe; and when the rudenefs of the tools, with the fimplicity of the process, is examined, the degree of delicacy which the artifans have acquired in their several professions, must challenge a high admiration.

The numerous ruins of public and private edifices, scattered through the town of Patna, and its environs, indicate a former grandeur and extent, which now no longer exist. An ancient name of this place, still known to fome of the more intelligent inhabitants, and bearing an affinity to that given, by Strabo and Pliny, to the supposed capital of India, has suggested an opinion, that Patna occupies the fituation of the celebrated Palibertha; which is farther substantiated by the geographical obfervations of Major Rennel.-Curiofity, and the defire of the moment to indulge a melancholy idea, led me to the spot, where the English were massacred by the order of Caffum Ali. The former buildings are removed, and a well proportioned monument has been erected in commemoration of that dreadful event, though without any infcription. Perhaps it had been confiftent with founder policy, that no fuch memorial had been fixed; but as it was judged expedient to record, thus publicly, an act of treacherous cruelty, the cause, I think, should have been explained.

On the 13th of July, I left Patna, and on the fame day arrived VOL. I.

D

at

at Muzufferpour, the refidence of the Collector of Tirhoot, an extensive district, about forty miles to the northward of Patna, and producing a revenue of about fix and a half lacks of rupees.

In the neighbourhood of Muzufferpour, an action was fought in 1760, between Mherim, the eldest son of Meer Jaffier, affisted by the English troops, and Kadim Huffein Khan, the chief of Purnea, in which the latter was defeated. A few days after the engagement, Mherim died, ftruck, it was faid, by lightening. The father believed that his fon had been cut off by an assassin, and he loudly accufed Caffum Ali of the murder. The event having removed a strong bar to Caffum's ambition, and there also appearing fome fufpicious circumstances, attending the alledged caufe of his death, Meer Jaffier may be justified in believing, that his fon had been taken off, by an avowed rival, who was feen at a subsequent period, indulging an implacable and fanguinary temper.

On the 30th of July, croffed the country, and went to Choprah, a long ftraggling town, lying on the northern fide of the Ganges, about twenty miles above Patna. Choprah is the residence of the Collector of Sarun and Champoran; districts yielding an annual revenue of fourteen and an half lacks of rupees. The French and Dutch had factories at this place, chiefly for the purpofe of manufacturing falt-petre, in which commodity this part of

This letter was written during the war with France and Holland, when thefe places had been captured by the English.

the

the country profufely abounds. It is not unworthy of notice to remark, that the Dutch, though obliged to purchase the greater portion of their crude falt-petre from the English, were enabled to fell it in its purified state, at a lower rate than that manufactured by the. English Company, and of a fuperior quality. This commercial advantage, may be ascribed to the rigid system of œconomy obferved by the Dutch in all their operations, and to a perfevering attention to bufinefs, with which that people feem conftitutionally endowed.

On the 12th of August, left Choprah, and on the 17th arrived by water at Buxar. It was in the vicinity of this place that Caffum Ali, joined by Shujah-ud-Dowlah, with the whole of that Prince's army, made his last effort against the arms of the English. The fuperior numbers of the enemy who crowded the plains of Buxar, availed them little, when opposed to the small, but well arranged, and determined body of the English; who after a smart action of two hours, completely routed the combined forces, and captured the whole of their artillery. This action, heretofore fo amply described, had not perhaps now been adverted to, but for the impulse of an earneft defire of imprinting anew on your memory, the fervices performed on that day by the British troops; to whom their country ftands indebted for a fingular exaltation of its fame, and the acquifition of folid benefits.

THE fort of Buxar, which, though fmall, is yet fufficiently tenable to refift the common attacks of a native power, ftands

on the exterior limits of the Bahar province. The present Commandant has added to the strength of the fort by some late improvements; and for a more extenfive protection of the inhabitants of the adjacent town, he has encompassed a wide space to the eastward of the fortifications, with a rampart and ditch.

THE curiofities to be seen at Buxar are few, and, excepting one, not worthy of enumeration. But this one, the Hindoos hold in a degree of estimation not inferior to that of the Neapolitans for the blood of Saint Januarius, or those of their faith in general for the holy houfe at Loretto. The monument in question, which is erected on a fmall mount to the weftward of the fort, is facred to the memory of the Gold Ram, who is seen occafionally officiating as the Mars of the Hindoos; and is faid to have the direction of war and victory. It would appear, that Ram, whilft a youth, made a vifit to this eminence, and tarried on it for the space of seven days, where he was taught from fome learned master of the science, the art of managing the bow, and wonderful were his feats with this weapon in after times: indeed, were the most moderate of them to be recorded, it would be readily admitted without torturing the phrase, that Ram" drew a long "bow,"

AT the distance of two miles to the weftward of Buxar, the Torin Nullah, a rivulet which falls into the Ganges, terminates the province of Bahar, and divides it from Benares, Though the Caramnaffa river, from being of greater note than the Nullah,

and

and running contiguous to it, is generally denominated the boundary. In croffing this river on fervice, the officers on the Bengal establishment become intitled to a double portion of their usual pay, for the better enabling them to defray the extraordinary expences incurred in countries far diftant from the fea coafts, and where European articles, from the charges of conveyance, fell at an advanced price.

THE view from Buxar into the Benares province, presents a scene of infinite gratification to the fenfe. You see an extended plain skirted by a broad winding river, and chequered with exuberant fields of corn, groves of lofty spreading trees, and large villages; the whole combines in it fome of the grandest objects in nature, and impreffes the mind with cheerfulness and content.

LEFT Buxar on the 23d, and arrived on the 26th at Benares, to which city from Mongheer, the distance by water is about 280 miles.

In the relation of this failing excurfion through the provinces, you will doubtless fee many inaccuracies. You will likewise fee that I have too narrowly circumfcribed the description of a country, which with a fertility that conveys the idea of plenty, and national fecurity, holds out to the eye, a grand and various scope of the most beautiful imagery.

I am, Dear Sir,

Yours, &c, &c.

LET