as much as possible the risk of discovery, I discharged all my servants, except one, on whom I could place a reasonable confidence.

LUCKNOW is a large and populous city, but wholly inelegant and irregular. The streets are narrow, uneven, and almost choaked up with every species of filth. The Goomty, running on the north side of the town, is navigable for boats of a common size at all seasons of the year, and falls into the Ganges between Benares and Ghazepour. A line of boats, extended across the river, forms a convenient communication with a large suburb. Shujah-ul-Dowlah made Fyzebad, or Oude, the capital of his dominion; but his son, setting aside that, with many other of his father's arrangements, has fixed his residence at Lucknow.

PERCEIVING that some of my neighbours began to make inquisitive remarks, I went across the water, and procured a retired and commodious apartment in the Hussen Gunge serauce. Having some business to transact at Lucknow, previously to my journey to Europe, I left my servants at the serauce, on pretence of visiting the English camp, the general rendezvous of idle strangers; and went to the city. Being desirous of seeing a gentleman, who I understood was stationed there, I approached the door of an officer's quarter, and desired the

servants to acquaint their master, that a Moghul merchant (of whom there are many at Lucknow) requested permission to see him. Though the entreaty was urged in the softest and most persuasive tone within the compass of my speech, they flatly and roughly rejected it, saying that their master was eating his breakfast. Anxious to obtain the wanted information, I tried another door which seemed less closely guarded, but there also my prayer was preferred in vain ; and having nothing in my pocket to strengthen the argument, I was obliged to retire; though the day was extremely hot, and the distance to my lodging was at least four miles. This occurrence, however productive of temporary inconvenience, gave me a satisfactory proof of the efficacy of my disguise, and the fluency of my Mahometan language. Many, I dare say, are the unfortunate plaintiffs in our Indian world, who, unable to purchase a passage through the gates of the great, are thrust away by their rude and rapacious domestics.-In returning, I saw another European house, into which, by a fortunate change in the mode of application, I procured admittance: for on informing the door-keeper that my attendance had been required, I was immediately conducted to his master, who received me, in the kindest manner, and on many future occasions shewed

me marks of his friendship.-During my stay at Lucknow I lodged at the serauce, and though I remained there twenty days, in which time I made many visits to the English gentlemen, no one seemed to regard me with suspicion. My landlady at first expressed a strong desire of knowing the cause of my frequent excursions! but not receiving a satisfactory account, she concluded that I had formed some female intimacy. As this conjecture was favourable to my plan, I encouraged it in the mind of the good woman, who gave herself infinite credit for the discovery.

I am, Dear Sir,

VOL. I

H

Yours, &c. &c.

LETTER VI.

Lucknow, January 16th, 1783.

MY DEAR SIR,

BEFORE I leave the terri

tories of Assoff-ud-Dowlah, or, as he is often intitled from the rank he holds, the Vizier of the Empire, I will throw together for your perusal some brief remarks on the Oude government.

THIS Country is bounded on the north, by parts of Napaul and Siranagur; on the east, by the English possessions; on the south, by the Jumna; and on the west, generally by the Doab, and the Ganges. The Oude territories, generally flat and fertile, are watered by the Ganges, Jumna, Gograh, Goomty, and Gunduck, exclusive of many rivulets. These rivers flow

through most of the principal towns, and intersect a large space of the country; most of them being navigable for boats, in all seasons of the year. The English armies may be plentifully supplied with provisions and ammunition, in the event of executing any military operation in

that quarter. These rivers also present strong barriers against the Marhattah, Seick, or Moghul cavalry. The Vizier's provinces, which yield, it is said, at this period, a revenue of about two millions sterling, have greatly decreased in produce since the death of Shujahud-Dowlah. It would be presumptuous in me to attempt an explanation of such decrease. It was sufficiently mortifying, to observe the common effects of a destructive administration. The inhabitants say, that the population of the country is diminished, and that the commerce, which in former periods was important and extensive, has fallen to decay. These evils, which have contributed to the ruin of the most power. ful states, and are now precipitating the ruin of Oude, can only be eradicated by the strenuous exertions of a just and wise governor: a character devoutly to be wished for in Oude. It appears, that a large portion of the amount now paid by Assoff-ud-Dowlah into the Company's treasury at Lucknow, is transported from thence in specie to relieve the necessities of Bengal, now urgent in the extreme. Much of the wealth also, which has been accumulated by the servants of the Company residing in this country, has been conveyed in a similar mode; and the mischief gathers strength from the tenor of our present connection with Assoff-ud-Dowlah. The