Saturday 26 January 1782

HICKY 's BENGAL GAZETTE; OR THE ORIGINAL Calcutta General Advertiser. ———— [ VOL. III ] A Weekly Political and Commercial Paper, Open in all Parties, but influenced by None. ———— 104 From Saturday January, the 19th to Saturday January 26th 1782. [ No. I ] ———— Just Published price 4 Rupees, and sold at the following places. Messrs. Huggins and O'Donnell, Mr. Cantwell, Mr. Andrews' at the Library, at Mr. Duncan's Europe shop, and at the Printing Office. AN Almanac for the present Year, containing the Christi- an and Bengal Calendars, with the Mahometan Æra of the Hegira.— The conjunctions, Squares, and op- positions of the Luminaries.—The Moons Southing Calculated agreeable to apparent Astronmical time to the Meridian of Calcutta, and may be reduced to any other Meridian by a Note inserted for that purpose.—The Moons culminating the Meridian, being very useful for determining the time of High-Water at any Port or Harbour provided the time be ascertained at which it is high Water at the full and Change.—The Sout- hing may also have it's use by taking Her Meridian Altitude, For deter- mining the Lattitude, proper Allow- ance being made for Her Parallex in Altitude.—The Equation of time necessary in regulating Clocks, Also a Table of the Suns Rising and Setting, independent of Resraction, with directions how to find the Moons full and Change at any other Meridian on the Globe where Long- tude is ascertained. ———— SOME REMARKS on the GREAT UTILITY and AMUSEMENT derived from a NEWS-PAPER. " Providing it is not conducted by " a Slave, and a Hireling". IT has been often ob- served that there is not so inconsistent, so incoher- ent, so Heterogenious, although so useful and agreeable a thing, as a Public News-Paper.— The opposite opinions and observa- tions of contending Essayists, with premature Deaths, spurious Marri- ages, Births, Bankruptcies, &c. &c. from a fund of entertainment for a World, of which it is in it's self no bad Epitome. A NEWS-PAPER of this kind is [ILL] a Type of that caprice and levity for which our Country-men are remarked by Foreigners, that it may be justly styled an English mans Coat of Arms; and our modern He- ralds would do well to adopt so striking an Emblem of our Air, Soil, and Consitution; and yet the Turk- ish Alcoran is not half so sacred to a rigid Mahometan, a Parish feast to an Overseer, a strength dispencing haunch to an Alderman, a general Election to a free holder, or a Lu- crative Contract to a Bengal depend- ant as a LONDON GAZETTE is to an English Politician. He enters upon it with all the Pomp and vehera- tion of the first, swallows and gorges it with all the voluptuous avidity of the second and third, and concludes with the intoxication of the latter. If the delectable Paper is an account of a Naval achievement he Toasts the Admirals, and Captains, in half pints a piece, gets drunk with Loy- alty, and goes to Bed with his Head full of seventy-fours, sixty-fours, Frigates, Transports, and fire Ships. A News-Paper whose magnitude is so much superior, and where the chief of its contents are not sanctified by Government or official Authority, is obliged to become the receptacle of invention, Genius and embellish- ment: hence it is made a Museum, of—we hears—they write—it is said a Correspondent remarks—with a long Lift of ifs and supposes that it at once serves to please, amuse, divert, and inform, and yet the evils of Pan- dore's box do not operate more pow- erfully, or diffuse themselves more extensively, than these paragraphs do over the face of the whole Earth. I have known a we hear alter a Mans Face, as weather would a Baromiter, and an it is said distort his features with the force of an electrical shock. I have seen an if make a Man cry while on the contrary, a suppose has provocked his ratability. And thus do they operate, like Physick, ac- cording to the Constitutions, Tem- pers, and Principles of the Patients. Abstracted from Politic 's, the ge- neral tenour of our dome stick infor- mation is not a little curious: whe- ther is arises from accident or design I know not, but I have frequently seen, after a Paragraph reciting the Elegance of an Entertainment, a Commission of Bankruptcy has im- mediately followed: after a City- feast, I have often seen a Mtlancbel- ly account of the sudden Death of an Alderman by an Apoplectic fit a af- ter an Advertisement of the Art of Fencing taught by Monsour Long- sword, the circumstance relative to a Du I have followed, whereon one of the combatante had been ron through the Body, after a Marriage, a Devorce, and thus have I seen in the name Uniform order, in a News-Paper, as their consequences do in real Life. Our Coriosity may be extended by observing the various effects the different Articles of Intel- ligence has on different persons.— Thus, a Marriage will mortify the Breast of an Old Maid and hurt the Pride of a young one, whilst it give consolation to many a poor Husband, who reads that another has fallen in- to his situation. A Death if it is a Wise will make Husbands envy the Widower, Wives and Widows pity the deceased, and hurt at the Hus- bands good fortune, exclaim against the Monster for not shewing a pro- per degree of sorrow on the occasion, while one of them perhaps, Marries him in a Month after. If it is the Death of a young Virgin, She is in- deed generally [ILL] (except by a Rival)n and her fate is attributed by females, to some cruel hard hearted Brute, whom she was too good for, and whose ill usage broke her heart. A Paragraph of an accident gives, if the object is rich, pleasure, to the Suageon, caution to the World, and anxiety to his Relation. A Com- mission of Bankruptcy deals out hope and fear in equal successions indeed all the passions incident to the human frame, are elated and put in Motion by a News-Paper, the cele- brated Beauty who went to bed dis- pleased, is the next Morning put into a pleasant humour, by some lively and witty strokes, at which the laughs so heartily, that the quite entirely forgets the cause of what displeased her the Night before, and

whilst she is in this heavenly mood in stalks her dying lover, over welmed with perturbation of mind, from his being so clumsey the night before as to tread on the Toe of his charmer as he was handing her down stairs from the Harmonic, and for so doing expected a frown the moment he approached her, but the sudden transition from grief to joy the mo- ment he beholds her lovely face mark'd with smiles and dimples the instant he enters the room.—In short a News paper is a bill of fire, con- taining all the Luxerries, as well as the necessaries of life. Politicks are now the roast beef of the times, and a dish equally sumptuous to the King and the Cobler, but hateful to Law- yerrs Contracters, & hirelings. Poetry is Plum-pudding, and palatable only to the lovers of the Muse. There are others that act as vegetables, to com- plete the Course, while our mails, from france and spain serve up nothing but kickshaws and fricasees. The four winds (the initials of which make the NEWS) are not so capricious, or liable to change, as our Public intelligencers: we have on Monday morning a whisper—on Tuesday a rumour—on Wednesday, a conjecture—on Thursday, a pro- bable—on Friday, a positive—and on Saturday a premature. And thus are our hopes and expectations for five days regularly; and almost mecha- nically increased, till the sixth com- pliments us with a disapointment. It's defects, however, bear no comparison to its beauties, which are equally celebrated in the Court, as on the Taylors Shop board. It is a caricature, happily calculated to please the good and Virtuous, by holding up to Public View the hypocritical Villian, and traitor to his King and Country. One persons affections we in a sinecure [ILL], another 's in a job Contract, one in a salt Agency, another in a paymaster ship these kind of gentlemen are troubled with a palpitation of heart, and a strong nervous disorder the moment they take a News paper in hand an armed to the highest degree of conscious horror arising from an apprehension that their private dark and baleful deeds may possibly he held forth to Public view. Another delights in curious anec- dotes, a fourth in a tale of Scandal; a fifth, in horse Races a sixth in theatrical intelligence; a seventh in Poets corner; and I really know a person of a humane disposition whose inward feelings are gratified in a degree proportioned to the bloody circum- stance and relation of a murder. Thus it's a News-paper, a Magazine or Toy shop, where every one has his hobby-horse; and thus all capa- cities and descriptions are periodically furnished with instruction, amuse- ment and information. Without it, Coffee houses, Ale houses, and bar- bers shops, would undergo a change next to depopulation; and our country Villagers, the Curate, the excise man, and the blacksmith, would lose the self satisfaction of being as wise as our first Minister of State. I am Sir yours &c. &c. HONESTIES. ———— Mr. HICKY, THE Public are obliged to your Correspondent, Condour, for his account of the Distribution of the Beejah Ghur Prize Money, and till they see some other account of it Published, have a Right to believe it.—I am myself particularly ob- liged, because it has cleared the Characters of Men, some of whom I have long respected and esteemed, from Accusations, which, had they been just, would have been not only unfavorable but dishonorable and disgraceful. From all the inquiries I have made, (and I have been at some pains to inform myself) the Compa- nys right to all the property found in Fortresses in India, reduced by their Troops, is indubitable; and without Authority those Troops would ever be criminal in appropri- ating such plunder to themselves. The Company, no doubt, have a power to relinquish their right in fa- vor of the Captors, and when they are in a state of wealth and affluence, it is becoming and proper in Go- vernment to reward the Troops ac- cording to their Merit.—No body, I believe, will venture to assert, that the Troops who reduced Beejah Ghur were without Merit, but there are some presumptuous enough to say it was not equal to the reward, nor conformable to the present cir- cumstances of the Company.—I for my part, Mr. HICKY, totally dis- agree with them, and upon this principle, which you, I believe, will think just, that Government, which is always composed of Men not less distinguished for their ho- nesty and probity than their Judge- ment and penetration, would never consent to such a manificent distri- bution (for Mr. HICKY it has made even Boys who are scarcely fit to bear the weight of their Arms Men of Fortune, excuse the inconsisten- cy) without much merit on the one side, and much wealth and resource on the other. In all states, the histories of which I have Read; and in every political tract I have ever perused, Public Economy and private Virtue appear two ingredients essential to its wel- fare, and where they have not been practiced, its prosperity, even exist- ence, has been but of short durati- on.—Sorry should I be to think such were the circumstances of the Coun- try in which I have now the happi- ness to reside, but were I so ridicu- lous as to say so, the falsity and ab- surdity would be to obvious to escape the immediate detection of the most unobserving.—I shall not therefore enter upon such vain and ridiculous subjects however serious some Men may consider them, but content my- self with a few more remarks on the business which first occasioned my becoming your Corresponden, and with which it will most likely for eve end, as I do not feel myself much inclined or calculated to be a Write for a Public Paper. I am now Mr. HICKY not a young man, and from a very early age I have had the honor of being an Officer in the Hon'ble Companies Military Establishment in Bengal.— I am therefore, as you may believe, not a little attached to the Army, and not altogether without prejudices which, to the indifferent part of mankind, may appear improper.— with all my prejudices, however, I have over thought that the Interest of our Employers ought to have some consideration, but particularly in times of public danger and alarm.—The day on which the Rohillas lost their independence. I had the honor of serving in the army under Colonel Champion, and am one of the Officers entitled to the late Nabob Vizier Sujah Doula's donation.—Why the money was not paid at the time has often been to me a matter of wonder and surprise, because the Nabob and the Company were then certainly in Circumstances Sufficient to justify it. Some time ago, from common report (which is not always to be depended on) I was led to believe that the Company's affairs in the east, were much changed for the worse, and that the Government was extre- mely distressed for the necessary supplies.—From, what I thought a proper consideration of such circum- stances, I had Relinquished in my own mind all hope of ever getting any part of the late Nabobs donation, and I believe most of my Brother Officers entertained Sentiments not very dis- similar but now that Affairs have taken a more favourable turn, in so much as to be able to give away five times the Amount of the donation to about one half the number of Officers

and Troops, it would be such a want of attention to their Intrests as the word Condemn, if every Officer, comprehended in that donation, did not Openly, but Respectfully ac- quaint Government, how much it behoved them ad how much they expected the immediate payment of a Sum, which, in place Cosonveying independence to the Claimants, would do little more than raise many of them above penury and distress.—Justice Mr. HICKY is a principle that ought to Actuate every Government, and where the injustice is not very Stircking people are seldom heard to complain. —I have been told that the Rohilla donation money would never be paid, and I have been not a little Astonished at it, —To account for such a Resolution of Government upon any just or rational principles has always puzzled me not a little, and I have tried it in every view and with much attention, but all to no purpose—It has ever presented itself as a piece of as great injustice, as I ever Remember to have met with in the Course of my reading or observation. — I therefore Mr. HICKY have not a doubt but that the error of such rea- soning will be very soon evinced by a Complete payment of every Rupee of that donation, to which in my opinion, the Officers and troops are as much intitled as a—to his Salary, or even you Mr. HICKY to a twelve months Impresonment. A. B. ———— SIR. You will I hope have no objection to insert the above Lines, in your next Paper, in answer to those in- serted by 2 in the corner, in the last India Gaxette. Your Obed. Serv. A Subscriber. To the ne plus ultra Bard—alias 2 in the corner. WHERE is the Poet who your Bard invites To Solemnize in Rhyme the Wrang- ham's Rights. — Let him come forth, and due Obe- dience pay, To 2's grim summons in some dole- ful Lay; — Relate what well too well She knows, He ne'er could colebrare in Verse or Prose, (Ah cruel Truth!) That he should only dream, Without the Towers to elevate his Theme. 2. (out of the corner.) ———— A CAUTION AGAINST JUDG- ING BY APPEARANCES. AN ANECDOTE. ABOUT thirty years ago an En- glish packet boat that had se- veral passengers on board was cast away upon a rock, and in so great danger of sinking, that all who were in it endeavoured to save themselves as well as they could though only those who could swim well, had a bare possibility of doing it. Among the Passangers there were two women of fashion, who seeing themselves in such a disconsolate condition, begged of their husbands not to leave them. One of them chose rather to die with his wise than to forsake her; the other, though he was moved with the utmost compassion for his wife, told her, That for the good of their children, it was better one of them should live than both perish. By a great piece of good luck, next to a miracle, when one of our men had taken the last and long farewell in order to save himself, and the other held in his arms the person that was dearer to him than life, the ship was preserved. It is with a secret sorrow and vexation of mind, that I must tell the sequel of the story, and let my reader know, that this faithful pair, who were ready to have died in each other's arms, about three years after their escape, upon some trifling disgust, grew to a coldness at first, and at length fell out to such a degree, that they left one another, and parted for ever. The other couple lived together in an uninterrupted friend- ship and felicity; and what was remarkable, the husband whom the shipwreck had like to have separated from his wise, died a few months after her death, not being able to survive the loss of her. ———— A DIALOGUE BETWEEN DE- SIRE AND PLEASURE. BY A YOUNG OXONIAN. DESIRE. DEAR Pleasure, how disappoint- ing is they short stay? PLEASURE. Wild Desire, how fatiguing is thy vast extent! I exhaust my stock, yet thou thinkest me too spairing. Like most lovers, thou art tired in a mo- ment with embraces, purchased at the price of an age of pain, so I must leave thee, if I would regain that es- teem which enjoyment makes me for- feit; absence, and a new dress, are the only restorers of palled appetites. — It is strange that what is pleasing in itself should seldom seem so but when distant. " The worth of friends by absence best is known, And youth and health most priz 'd when both are gone." Thou art so sickle, that fortune, compared to thee, is constant, and so unbounded, that thou outdoest those three things that cry—It is not enough. DESIRE. What is more noble, what more exalted, than to be unconfined I has not this something divine in it? to be Continued ———— CALCUTTA, ON Wednesday last was tried in the Supreme Court of Judica- ture in Calcutta, before the Hon 'ble Sir Elijah Impey, an action brought by Warren Hastings Esq; against Mr. James Augustus Hicky Printer of the Original Bengal Gazette, on the same Indictment on which he the said Warren Hastings had the said James Augustus Hicky tried and fined guilty, at the Assises last June and for which he the said Ja's Aug. Hicky was sentenced to remain one Year in Prison, and to pay a fine of 2000 R's to the said Warren Hastings who has on Wednesday last had da- mages given him by Sir ELIJAH IMPEY against the said Mr. HICKY to the very heavy sum of 5000 Sicca Rupees, which with the fine laid on by sentence last June amount to 7,000 Sicca Rupees with a long Confinement of one year in Jail in this dangerous, and Scorching, Climet. (Marriag's) on Saturday Mr. Boure to Miss Sadleir, —And on Thursday Mr. Hay to Miss Wagstasse DEPARTURES. 19th Jan. Snow Argylshire, Scot Madras with Rice. —24th Ship Nunsuch William Richardson, Chi- na, Ophium. ———— ADDRESS. MR. HICKY having been in- formed that some Gentlemen did for their own private satisfaction, take down the Notes relative to, and, during the Trail or Trials of the said Mr. HICKY last June, in the Prosecutions brought against him the said Mr. HICKY by Warren Hastings Esq; Governor General of Bengal. — And that the said Warren Hastings Esq; Gov. Cen. of Bengal as afore- said, having brought two Civil Act- ions no won the said former Prosecu- tious of last June for which the said James Augustus Hicky was then found Guilty sentenced to pay a fine of 2000 Sicca Rupees and remain one year in prison, had on Wednesday last the 23d. of January one of the said Civil Causes tried in Court, and the other on the said plan of operati- on is to be tried in a few days. As the notes take non the trails last June will be of infinite service to Mr. HICKY in his defence he will steem it a particular favour if any gentleman will oblige him with such a Copy or copies of them.

FREND SHIP. An ODE. LIKE the soft gladd'ning dawn of light, Successive to the gloom of night, Is Friendship's ray serene; When on the sickly couch I lie, No more my bosom heaves the sigh, Should Friendship cheer the scene. 'The Friendship gives the joy sincere Delights to wipe the falling tear, To soothe the catching breast, Our griess a social solace find, 'Tio Friendship heals the wounded mind, It blesses, and is blest. On life's deceitful streams we sail, Whene'er we meet a prosperous gate The flattering tribe attend; On whom, should adverse blefts arise, Or threat'ning storms portend the skies, 'Tis folly to depend. Let us, Lysander, ever be Inviolate in smity, Still let its transports glow; How few, like you, posses a mind, Where the soft virtues are combin 'd, That feel another's woe. ———— ANEC [ILL]OTES. FRENCH FLATTERY AND DECEIT. KING William III, had a French- man who took care of his ma- jesty 's pointers, and whose business it was likewise to load and deliver his following pieces to the King. It hap- pened however one day, that mon- sicur forgot to bring out any shot with him to the field. Not daring to confess his negligence to so passionate a man, and so eager a sport man as the king, he gave his majesty the gun charged only with powder. The King firing without effect, the cunning Frenchman shrugged up his shoulders, turned up his eyes, folded his hands, and extolling the king's skill in shooting, vowed he had never seen sa Majeste miss his aim be- fore in his life. ———— A BURLESQUE ON GENEALOGY. FROM THE FRENCH. TWO men disputing one day upon their Genealogy, each of them pretended to be better then the other. "You cannot (fays one) compare yourself to me, who am of a thousand times better house than you."—"You! (said the other) Had your father, like mine, the first post of the City?— "The first post of the City (replied the first) was he governor?"—"No," answered he, "Was he judge?"—" No; not that yet."—" What was he then?" continued the first. "Gate- keeper (replied the second) is not that the first post of the City?"—"Yes (said the other) but mine preceded the first men of the province, he went before the dukes and peers, and before the marshals of France."—"In virture of what office?"—"In virtue of his post," replied the other. "What, was, then, that post?" says be "He was a postillion (said the other). If my father had taken care, we should have been rich, but he was a fool."—" I grant that to be true (said the other) and I see clearly that his office is hereditary." "My father prevented that (added the son of the postillion) for before he was postillion, he was a man of letters." "What call you a man of letters? (replied the son of the gate-keeper) was he judge, advocate, or coun- sellor?"—"None of all those (said the postill on) he was runner to the post-office, call you not that a man of letters?'—"True (said the gate- keeper) but that does not prove the antiquity of your family; whereas I can trace mine father back than five hundred years."—"And mine (replied the other) more than eight hundred."—"That's nothing (an- swered the gate-keeper) I can prove my famaly to have existed before the Delgue."—" And I mine from Adam," said the postillion." And mine before Adam," said the gate- keeper."—"You are in the right (replied the other) the proof is very easy; for before Adam there were no animals but brutes, and it is very certain that you are decended from them." ———— WANTED A VERY Elegant Diamond Brest Buckle the stones Europe cut, and Europe Sett—Any person having such to dispose of are requested to send it by their Sercar to the printing Office with a letter mentioning the lowest Price, and it approved of thy will be treated with. ———— WANTED. IMMEDIATELY, a book called the HINE, and PANTER, wrote by Dryden whoever has got such a book, and are willing to dispose of it are requested to send with a Line directed to G. A. at the printing Office mentioning the price. ———— Mr. P. MAC INTYRE. BEGS leave to inform the Publick that he is removed to Chaunpaul Gaut where he continues to sell China Goods whole sale and Retail. Calcutta January 11th 1782. ———— WANTED. A VERY small Horse, very same and very handsome, broke to the Draft, and ft to be trusted to draw a childe chaise, and any person having such to dispose of may meet with a purchacer by applying to the Clerk of the printing Office. ———— JUST PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY. AND is Sold at the Library, the late Bye Law either bound or in Sheets. ———— WANTED. A Very excellent Horizontal Gold stop Watch, Capp'd and Jewelled made by any of the following Persons Gra- ham, Mudge, Tomkin, or Hughes, whoever has got such to dispose of they may apply to Mr. Hicky at the Printing Office. ———— WANTED. AN Apprentice to a very genteel Bu- siness, the Son of a European, he must be well acquaihted with the En- glish Language, and Write a good hand, understand something of accounts, and of good connections, the Parents, or Guardian of such a Person, by applying to Mr. HICKY, at the Printing Office, may meet with an Opportunity of pro- viding for their Son or Pupil. Calcutta 26th Dec. 1781. ———— WANTED. ONE Dozen bottles of the very best real Oil of Camphor, per- fectly clear and free from adulter- ation.—whoever has got such a quantity, (and of such qualities) to dispose of, are requested to direct a Line for L.—P at the printing Office, mergioning the price, at the same time to send one bhottle as a Muster. To be SOLD. A BUDGEROW the Dimensions &c. of an indiamans Long Boat with a Large Hall and Venetians enquire of Mr. Nyss in Calctta—also small Convenient 8 Oar 'd Budgerow of 2 Rooms both is good repair, and fit for immediate Use. 24th Nov. 1781. ———— FOR SALE by Mr. J. PRESCOT No. 114, in the Cossitollah Baazar.— ABOUT, 550 Dozen, of very old Maderi'a wine in Bottles, and in Chests, of about 5, Dozen each—also about, 200, Dozen of the best Brandy in Bottles and in chests, of about 5 Dozen.—also, Constantia wine in bottles and old Maderi'a wine in pipes and other Liquere. &c. &c. &c. Calcutta 14th January 1782. ———— WANTED. ONE or two Tanyane rising 6 Year old Wanted also a Bay Toorkey or Bay Tazzy Horse for, a Buggy,—Any Person having Such to Dispose of by Applying to Mr. Andrews at the Library may Hear, of a Purchaser. January 8th 1780. ———— HARMONIC ASSEMBLY. THE Setwards of the Subscrip- tion, Assembly Give Notice, the Ball will be held on Tuesday next and Continued, as usual. ———— CALCUTTA Printed by J. A. H ICKY, First and late Printer to the HON. COMPANYS