OR, THE ENGLISH AT CALCUTTA. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. LIFE IN INDIA. CHAPTER I. All hands unmoor! proclaims a boisterous cry, The ponderous anchor rises o'er the wave. "COME, ladies," said Colonel Howard, as he entered the dining-room of the Star Hotel at Portsmouth, "Blue Peter is flying, and the wind is fair; so, instead of visiting Haslar Barracks this morning, we must repair on board the good ship Cumberland; there is not a moment to lose, the pursers are arrived with the last dispatches from the India House, and the foresails are loose, so let us beat a quick march and be gone. The pilot is ready to take us on board, and here are the men for the baggage." This intimation was addressed to his two nieces, Charlotte and Elizabeth Percy, and their companions, Miss Hume and Miss Panton, children of old friends of the Colonel, who were returning (in company of his nieces, and under his care) to their relatives in Bengal. The young ladies looked surprised at receiving the intelligence they had expected every day during the last fortnight; and now seemed, almost for the first time, to feel that they were really leaving England; but there was no time for reflection; the boatman loudly called for the luggage, and each hastily retired to put up the few things which had been kept at hand for daily use. use. Mrs. Morris, the servant who attended the ladies, had, upon the first intimation of sailing, gone to take leave of her family in the town, and returned so bewildered by sorrow, that her services were of very little use, a circumstance fortunate for those who were benefited by the exertion her inability forced them to make. In the pilot-boat they found several other passengers for the Cumberland; some silent and melancholy, brooding over the last farewell of aged parents and dear relatives; others, from whose minds those feelings had quickly faded, animated and loquacious, in the buoyancy of youthful expectation; Cadets already talking of their promotion, and young Writers of their excellent interest. Colonel Howard sighed as he listened to the multitude of expectations which could never be realized, and mentally praised the divine goodness which gilds every scene to the youthful mind, and disposes it to think lightly of the troubles and toils of the road. If it were possible that youth could possess the knowledge which experience affords, probably less would be achieved, because less would be undertaken. The day was fine, and the scene interesting to those who had spirits to enjoy it. As is usual in times of war, a frigate was appointed to convoy the fleet until they should have passed the latitudes where they might expect to fall in with cruisers of the enemy. She rode at single anchor, |