Stimulated by such surpassing ambition, this warrior attempted by conquest to extend his dominion, and confirm his authority: Having overcome the Persian power, he carried his arms eastward, to India. The difficulties he had to encounter dispirited his army; and after having made an entrance into Hindoostan he was obliged to relinquish his design. Yet, Alexander, who had levied 30,000 troops in the neighbouring countries, who accompanied his army in person, and who at the fur-ed as to reduce the provinces west of the thest could obtain supplies of all kinds, from his established dominions in Persia, had many advantages which have been thought very material in such underta kings. Alexander died more than 300 years before A. D. ble loss of lives, penetrated still further into India, and the hallowed city of Benares was stormed and pillaged, about A. D. 1204. The seat of government was removed from Benares to Delhi; and Bengal was subdued by the Mahometan arms in 1225. The mountains, however, continued to resist. What the military ardour of the Grecian hero could not accomplish, was effected by that torrent-like vigour, which not seldom accompanies the burst of a novel superstition. The disciples of Mahomet, 'ere the close of the fourth century, from the rise of their religion, had spread themselves over the East, and after overrunning Persia, had settled their power in the kingdom of Ghizni, in the provinces of Chorasan and Cabul, adjoining to the north of India. The locality of this establishment gave them infinite advantages for invading this tempting region. They could select the most proper time, or embrace the most promising opportunity they were sure of a retreat if defeated, and could renew those armies which might be cut off. : The Mahometan spirit of propagating religion by the sword, animated Mahomed the first, who, on his accession to the throne of Ghizni, vowed the subjugation and conversion of the Hindoos. At the commencement of the eleventh century of the Christian era, he began to execute this vow; and in the course of twenty years he invaded India twelve times; delighting in desolation and carnage, and calling on heaven to reward his zeal and piety! His last irruption ended A. D. 1020. Succeeding Mahometan leaders after innumerable combats, and incalcula unlike the beatification and canonization of saints, in the Roman church, been promoted from simple honours to absolute worship: especially in the temples erected to their memory. The worship of Alexander the Great continued to the days of Alexander Severus, In 1231, an invader, from another quarter, the famous Zengis Khan, directed his efforts to India, and so far succeed Indus. But, in 1306, Alla, the nephew of Feroz II. who had made his way to the throne by the murder of his uncle, extended is power over the northern provinces of the Deccan; and added to the Mussulman empire, more than half of the great Southern Peninsula. Tamerlane, the lineal descendant of Zengis Khan, after having desolated the north of Asia, turned his arms to the south, and marched from Samarcand to the Jallali, one of the most westerly branches of the Indus, where he arrived about the end of 1398. He proceeded down the river to the confluence of the Jimboo and Chinab: here he passed the river on a bridge of boats. On one occasion Tamerlane commanded his prisoners to be slain, and in less than an hour, one hundred thousand Hindoos were massacred-under pretence of glory to God,. and the propagation of religion! From this instance our readers may infer the pain we spare them, in describing the expedition of Tamerlane in a single word as a scene of blood. At length, he quitted Hindoostan, without retaining his conquest. But the invasion of India most entitled to attention under the present circumstances, is that of Nadir Shah, of Persia, in 1737. He first secured Candahar; and quieted the Afghans; being then invited by rebels at Delhi; he crossed the Indus, and moved on to Lahore, and to Sirhind, Jan. 8, 1738. He attacked and defeated the Indian army before Delhi: which capital he gave up to plunder. He quitted Delhi, May 4, 1739. The country through which he had advanced being totally desolated by his troops, he was obliged to take another route in his return to Persia. We shall adduce a few particulars of this re turn, as they may explain somewhat of the nature of the country that lies between Persia and India. In the month of May the sun's rays were so exceedingly hot and powerful, and the wind so scorching, that the Persians, being unaccustomed to such weather, were unable to support the fatigue, and great numbers of men and cattle expired. When arrived at the Chinab, so soon as the bridge was formed, the inhabitants, who on the approach of the Persian army had fled to the mountains, came in the middle of the night, and throwing large trees into the river, the rapidity of the stream carried them with such violence against the boats, that the chains which held them together were broken, and a great number of people perished. Nadir was, therefore, forced to pass his army over this river in boats, which detained him several days.-During his march the rains set in and, had he been detained a month longer, the mountains of Cabul would have been impassable, on account of the snow. Did not arrive at Cabul till Nov. 20, 1739.— A great proportion of the Shah's plunder of Delhi, was lost in the rivers he passed. -His artillery was conveyed with great difficulty. Of the elephants that he took away, the greater part died, on the march. We shall endeavour to direct the information afforded by these instances, to the examination of those plans against India; which we have every reason to expect will be carried into execution by the combined power of France and Russia. From all these instances of invasion, it appears that the scene of decisive conflict was in the advance to Delhi, and that India was saved or lost, by events that took place in the district of the" Five Rivers," (or the Panjab) which rising in the east, and running westward, fall into the Indus. Nadir Shah made Candahar the place of general assembly for his army, when advancing against India; and it is understood, that if the troops of Russia proceed by a route different from that adopted by the troops of France, yet that both armies will unite at Candahar. We consider the Russians as desirous of pursuing a more northerly course, than the French and assembling their army at Astracan. So far is easy: but, can transport-shipping to convey 40,000 men, with artillery and ammunition be procured at Astracan?-Does the commerce of the Caspian Sea, furnish five or six hundred stout vessels, to-convey the whole army at once? If yes, it is much more considerable than we have suspected :—if no, but if there must be several divisions, what management can prevent a fatal loss of time, while the avant corps of the army halts for the rear? We grant, however, that the heavy baggage and stores are sent by water, from Astrakan to Astrabad, from north to south of the Caspian Sea. Another army may march by Derbend, cross the Kur and Arras, among other rivers, pass safely through Resched, which no army yet ever did, and arrive at Astrabad by land:-this route is mountainous, fatiguing, and unhealthy. Resched is proverbially said by the Persians, to be too bad for even the Angel of Death to delight in. Which way soever conducted, this passage will consume a long time, and if the whole which quits Astrakan unites at Astrabad, better fortune will attend this expedition than is common to armies. The Russian force with its stores being arrived at Astrabad, every stage which it advances, it is completely in the power of the Persians. It can hardly in its march to Candahar, carry sufficient provisions for the whole of its consumption, even supposing they were procurable at Astrabad: and the country into which it proceeds, cannot supply the sudden demand. It ap pears from Olivier's Travels, the last that are published descriptive of Persia; that that country is ill cultivated; and that the deserts of its provinces increase in extent, For food, then, this army must depend on stores previously collected; which will be both costly, and troublesome to the commissariat. If left to Persian promptitude, India is safe. In the mean time, a French army may be prosecuting its march, by a more southerly route. The most convenient, if Messieurs les diables Anglois did not prevent it, would be to go by sea to Alexandretta, and taking the road from Aleppo to Mosul*, to make for Ispahan. But this sea-route being exposed to a visit from some of the Collingwoods, or the Thornboroughs of the British fleet, * When Buonaparté invaded Egypt, there were not 5,000 troops capable of any kind of dretta to Mosul: nor could that number have resistance in the whole country, from Alexanbeen assembled in time to oppose his passage. We have this fact from the journal of a British officer on the spot. the French must either march from Po- | them across the Indus, with some loss only. land, to the Black Sea, and cross it in They bear down on Attock. This is shipping, or from Dalmatia by way of a place just below where the rivers which Constantinople, where they would have a rise in the east, fall into the Indus. The route principally by land. That Constan- river is here of considerable width, dantinople is to be taken, we have no doubt; gerous; and here they will meet with a but it is not yet taken: and by some lucky corps of British troops, posted to receive chance the craggy mountains between them. If they avoid this passage by taDalmatia and the Bosphorus, may present king an easterly course, they will have five unthought of ruggedness to French consti- rivers to cross instead of one; if they tutions. If the route by the Black Sea be move west, not only does the river inpreferred, the same question as to the pos- crease in magnitude, depth, and rapidity, sibility of procuring shipping, occurs with but they approach a country where the respect to this sea, as to the Caspian. fever of the climate is no respecter of persons and, after all, they will have to encounter a British army stationed at Moultan, or another at Lahore: on one of which the advanced corps at Attock would fall back, supposing it to be under the necessity of retreating. And these armies will be composed of troops accustomed to the climate, abundantly supplied with every thing, and in full vigour for battle. Admitting, then, in order to combine all chances, that the French army should be divided into two, or more, corps, of 15 or 20,000 men each, and that these traverse the province of Diarbekr, proceeding towards Persia; they will certainly find some parts of their route plentiful; but others are nearly barren. They must reckon on carrying provisions of all kinds (even water cccasionally) with them; and when they are arrived at Ispahan, they will be sure to lose time, and much time too, in necessary attendance on the Shah and his ministers. Directly as they are in Persia the followers of the army will be a perpetual plague: they will consume the produce of the country, and in vain may the strangers wish their absence. But granting that all difficulties are overcome, we would ask, what probable number of men fit to encounter the hardships of a campaign will start from Candahar for In dia? No uncommon mortality or disabili ty in a European army, without seeing the enemy, is one man in four, at the end of twelve months; but, on a march of such continuance, such perplexities, such sudden, repeated and extreme changes of climate, from heat to cold, &c. such variations in food, water, and accommodations we may reckon the disability at one half of the whole. And in what condition will the remainder be? Worn down by fatigue: jaded, disheartened and feeble. How often will they have cursed the Emperor, whose iron crowned head and stony heart, had sent them so long a journey from their native homes,-to do what? It is by no means credible that 40,000 Europeans in one army will quit Candahar, to pass the Indus. But, the moment they pass the Indus, their military labours begin. To these they have hitherto been strangers: we shall, nevertheless, waft We may now examine the British power that is to oppose these invaders. The utmost that the Company can spare is 60,000 troops: a body that will be made up of three divisions. First, the Bengal, or rather, the Ganges division: including. the provinces along that river. Secondly, the Bombay division, which advancing by Surat towards Moultan, approaches a junction with the former: and, thirdly, whatever can be spared from Madras and its adjacencies; which probably will be the least effective of the three. But, we strongly insist on placing FIRST OF ALL, a naval force moving on the Indus, and the rivers, consisting of eight or ten floating batteries, manned by British sailors, for the most part. In our opinion this species of force has hitherto been too much overlooked: yet, from its moveable nature, combined with a knowledge of the passages, and the customary intrepidity of those engaged in it, we are convinced it would occasion great perplexity among the French generals. It would take all their operations in flank; and would effectually prevent their retreat, in case of disaster. It would also be terrible to their partizans among the natives, whose towns it could destroy with ease, As the knowledge that these rivers are navigable, sufficiently for this purpose, is not general, we shall adduce some testimony to the fact, from Mr.. Arrowsmith's large Map of the Course of the Indus. " "these shameless tribes, with the edge " of the sword; so that the inhabitants "of those regions may be restored to "comfort and repose: be therefore per "The river Indus admitted of an uninterrupted navigation from the [sea up the] Gulph of Cutch, to Lahore; for " vessels of near 200 tons: a distance of "about 760 geographical miles."" Scy-"fectly satisfied in this respect." This on sovereign may furnish 50,000 plunderers. From his situation, his coalition is an accession of strength. Nevertheless, the power most to be dreaded, in case of imminent danger, is that of the Seiks. This people occupy the district of the "lax built vessels and sailed down the Indus," on the Cow, or Cowmull Ri"ver, which joins the Indus about lat. 32 "45, almost three degrees higher than "the branch which communicates with "Lahore. "Alexander built vessels on "the Hydaspes, pow Jhylum or Bebut Five Rivers" (the Panjab), and were "River," in about the same latitude, but they heartily in combination with Ze a branch of the Indus, which is but maun Shah, they might greatly facilitate "small in comparison with the main ri-the passage of troops through their coun*ver. From lat. 33 to 34, the river In- try, as well as impede any advanced posts "dus was three quarters of a mile, to a of British at Attock. But the Seiks are "mile across, in July, 1783." to be purchased; and will sell their strength to the first party that bids for it. It is true, moreover, that the Afghan powers which occupy many passes in the mountainous regions, are opponents to Persia; and it is enough for Persia to take one side, to determine them to take the other. They are formidable troops to the Asiatics. If we may take the army which vanquished Tippoo Saib, as an instance, the proportion of Europeans in the British army would be about one-fourth part of the whole. That army was composed of Cavalry.. 2,635 Artillery 008 4,381 European Infantry ...... Lascars and pioneers.. -18,319 20,802 Detachment under Col. Roberts.. 6,536 To this must be added the Bombay army, under Gen. Stuart, composed of 6,420 men. Making in all about 34,000 troops. These troops we rank generally as fit to oppose the European strength of the enemy: the auxiliaries on each side, may perhaps be considered as balancing each other in military merit. The French, no doubt, intend to derive assistance from Persia: but Persia is too weak to afford much assistance; yet, beside adventurers, it may furnish 20,000 horse, but destitute of European discipline. Zemaun Shah sovereign of Cabul, must be reckoned French, also; as appears evidently from his correspondence with -Tippoo Saib, to whom he writes, "As the object of your well-di"rected mind is the destruction of the "infidels [the British,] and the extension "of the faith of the Prophet, please "God we shall soon march with our conquering army to wage war with the "infidels and polytheists, and to free those regions from the contamination of 66 The French will find the Mahrattas very difficult to be moved in force: but if their intrigues could accomplish this, it would throw great weight into their scale. An extensive insurrection in any other part of India would materially assist their proceedings. The political disposition of British power, therefore, should be, to keep the Mahrattas quiet, as they are at present; to secure the Seiks, and by their means, to advance a corps of observation to Attock: were it pos sible to push forward a body to Cabul to dispute the mountains between Cabul and Balk, the enemy would have seven or eight hundred miles of fighting, among most rugged mountains, rapid rivers, and dangerous vallies, before they ar rived at the grand stationary armies of the British; which would not fail to oppose them effectually, either at Lahore or Moultan. The French, no doubt, bring artillery with them; for if not, how should they oppose the British artillery? And if they do, the delay this draught will occasion, will prove very serious. In fact, their greatest enemy of all, is Time, and the seasons, which he governs with absolute sway. If they attempt to accomplish this undertaking in one season, they will be so straitened for time, that, the mere stoppage of their advance for a month, by whatever impediments, will confound their attempt. We have seen that the conquerors of India resided in countries adjacent; they could assemble all their preparations in a complete state, before they actually made any demonstrations. They could command supplies, and enforce their requisitions on the countries around those through which they passed: These advantages will not be enjoyed by the French; they must pay, in some shape or other, for what they consume; a scanty supply would be fatal to them, and pretences to justify a scanty supply would never be wanting not for one moment in the whole passage. They must pay for the cattle necessary for their draught: and these will be Jiable to an irremediable mortality. They will be subject to pillage, from those whom they cannot avoid entrusting with their stores; and the opportunities for pillage and disaster combined will be innumerable, among the mountains especially.The Russian troops, the Cossacks, and Calmucks, with other hordes, are better adapted to this journey, and were there no rivers to cross, nor any regular force, increasing as they advanced, stationed behind those rivers, they might, unquestionably, penetrate into Hindoostan: but, to suppose that these irregulars, however apt for predatory warfare, could support the intense heats, and the perpetual rains of India, yet afterwards meet British troops in the - pitched field, is ridiculous. We know the French so well, that we incline to think they will let the first talk of this scheme subside before they appear to execute it: they will in the mean while be preparing the way, and - removing obstacles; then, suddenly, when they suppose British vigilance to be Julled, they will attempt to accomplish the undertaking by the rapidity of their movements. We repeat, "Supposing "British vigilance to be lulled"Let this sentence be strongly retained in the memory. In fact, we have seen the French avow their plans a considerable time before they executed them: of which their late conduct towards Portugal is an instance. France disclosed her in tention of invading Portugal in the Summer of 1800, but did not fulfil this intention till the close of 1807. On the same principle, assuming that the French ambassador at the Persian court is charged with the commission for this purpose and loaded with money, he may be occupied in retaining Persian adventurers, in causing the route to be strictly surveyed, in preparing passages, and constructing bridges, in sending emissaries (the greatest charge of all) among the native powers, and in smoothening the difficulties of this undertaking. In the mean while, Russia may collect stores at Astrakan, and forward them by every conveyance to Astrabad, and from thence to Candahar, before the troops advance into Persia. Hereby, there may be formed a grand depot of military necessaries, and the troops will be relieved from their charge. This is fully enough for one season: and if neither the Persians nor the British should be tempted to seize this depot, then the rapid advance of the army in several divisions, Russian, and French, would become a subject of close reflection to our governors in India. We, therefore, give it as our decided opinion, that the northern entrance of India may be rendered a scene of conflict, of which India is the object. The banks of the Indus may become witnesses of Europeans from the north engaging Europeans from the south; both parties having quitted their native countries, distant some thousands of miles, to wage war in those inhospitable regions. The most extraordinary instance, surely! of the extent, the folly, and even the guilt of human ambition! What a spectacle to the continent of Asia and to the whole globe! What a reproach on the madman of the west ! : The advantages of a communication by sea, and of the reception of reinforcements will always be on the side of the British and we may hint that an expedition, if in force, from Bombay for Bassora, or the head of the Persian Gulf, would afford a very sufficient plea to the Persian Emperor for keeping his troops at home, to defend their own country. In fact, there are points on this coast of which advantage might be taken to support some of his opponents; which would speedily convince the Shah that sound policy dictated the utter refusal of permission to any strangers whatever to pass through his country, with views inimical to Britain. Perhaps, |