Saturday 2 February 1782

HICKY's BENGAL GAZETTE; OR THE ORIGINAL Calcutta General Advertiser. [ VOL III ] A Weekly Political and Commercial Paper, Open to all Parties, but influenced by None. 106 From Saturday January the 26th to Saturday February the 2d. 1782. [ No. II ] 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 Christian and Bengal Calendars, with the Mahometan Æra of the Hegira.—The conjunctions, Squares, and oppositions of the Luminaries:—The Moons Southing Calculated agreeable to apparent Astronomical 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 Southing may also have it's use by taking Her Meridian Altitude, For determining the Lattitude, proper Allowance being made for Her Parallex in Altitude.—The Equation of time necessary in regulating Clocks, Also a Table of the Suns Rising and Setting, independant of Refraction, with directions how to find the Moons full and Change at any other Meridian on the Globe where Longitude is ascertained. —————————————————— An Extract from a group of select Characters in a late American Pamphlet. —"Success colours all in Life " Makes Fools admired, and Vilains honest. FRANKLIN. MR. Peregrine Plunder was included in the new commission. This man with fortnne for his guide, has floated obscurely on the stream of time, from a transcribing Clerk in an Office to a seat in the senate of the West. His Mother was a fertile Slave of Peru, of Ovidion creation, engendered between Apollo and the mud of the Sangora. By the Male side, laborious genealogists can trace his pedigree in a direct line as far back as his Father; who happily emerged from obscurity to contempt, from a barber of eminence, to a pedlar of infamous distinction. But when the poor Man oppressed by the toys of Life, laid his accumulating burthen down, and Slept with his Fathers; the aspiring Perigrine; scorning the humble profession of his Sire, struck into an elevated walk, strewed with riches, and terminated by a sublimity which soars into the skies, and obscures thrones in it's shadow!—A proud summit for Ambition to fish for! Where H— towered on the vigorous wing of genius! sits secure amidst contending storms! and looks down on prostrate nations, and dependent Kings! Into this grand vista steped the adventurous Perigrine, possessed of these Accommodating Principles, which like the ductile wand of Hermes; invariably reclines to the treasures of the Earth, and points to fortune with accurate direction.—In this walk our Hero has been regularly bred up; and here amidst the Crimson scenes of politics, where the disgraceful theory of Machiavel, has been practised in all its criminal extent; where base dissimulation passed for wisdom, and triumphant violence for virtue.—Here he has seen treaties calculated to betray, Princes vanish in secrecy and darkness from the thrones of their Ancestors;—Wretched Slaves selected from the croud, raised into royalty, and decked with splendid mockery for the slaughter, like animals Crowned with garlands for a sacrifice.—He has seen power made the criterion of right, station countenance oppression, opulence confer distinction; knaves caressed, and villains thrive in proportion to their crimes. This hath led the superficial Man to confound justice with convenience, to consider riches as the principal article of his creed, success the source of reputation, sincerity an antique unfashionable robe, Friendship but an amiable defect, integrity a Foible, the world his Province, and Mankind his prey.— But ushered into the senate his Character expanded; he rose from speculative crimes into active transgressions; and rioted at large through all the regions of oppression, fraud, rapine, and boundless peculation.—When intoxicated with power, grown wanton with the charms of fortune, as a relaxation from severer crimes, and influenced by fashionable vanity, more than the stimulus of the voluptuous passions; he commenced a Man of pleasure and intrigue. But his feeble form which had more the appearance of an untimely birth, the Apothecary his Romeo or the resurrection of dry bones so fearfully mentioned by St. Paul; than the provoking health, the elastic fibre, and luxurious glow of the gallant—added to these disgusting attributes, he had a complexion deeply tinctured by his sable dam, language too insipid to perswade, and manners too imperious to allure, which matually conspired in favour of Female Honour, and forbid him success in the polite circles of elegant seduction. He therefore took a humbler aim, he triumphed over indigent beauty, threatned the Fatherless and Friendless into ruin, purchased the dull embrace of mercenary arms, and revelled unconfined thro' all the haunts of pestilent prostitution. Yet mortifying as these amours were, he was celebrated for success by Pimps, and Parasites; these torpid satellites on the great, who hover round them, are cherished by their imanations, sport in their beams, and gliater in their train. This flattered him into an Opinion of his talent for address; he therefore managed business on the principles of gallantry, and prefered the profits of treachery and peculation to the legal profession of Riches. To speak of this fortunate Mans abilities, is to speak on a subject where his warmest partizans must blush for him—neglected in his education, he has never siped at the remote sources of information, nor tasted freely of the superficial stream polluted in its progress, where th

herd of mankind imbib'd their adul- terated miscellaneous Knowledge.--- Nor hath frugal Nature, who in- tended him to move in a humbler sphere of Life, where genius is inju- rious, and great Abilities superflou- ous, been liberal of her intellectual property to him.---His parts are neither bright or solid; his passions are impetuous and his Judgement feeble: but superior to reputation, and a Mandaville in morals, he is daring without firmness, ambitious without dignity, capacious without the love of wealth, profuse thro' va- nity, and only honest in not pretend- ing to principle.---He is the Cati- line of the age! and Sallust who was an inimitable moral painter, has drawn a feature of his character with a masters hand "Alieni appetens, sui profusus". In private life, his protean man- ners are idle, capricious, insulting, and ostentatious.---He is expensive without taste, splendid without Ele- gance---master of a plundered Mil- lion which excites no attention, and possessed of princely power which commands no respect.---This hour struting ridiculous in all the pageant of official grandeur, the next steping from the pedestal of state and retiring into native meaness---always con- temptible when great, and disgust- ing when familiar. The patron of every knave from sympathy offend- ed with publick spirit from princi- ple, and detesting honest men as a reproach to his feelings. This is the genuine character of the Man.--- But skilled in the arts of simulation, and dissimulation; he masks his re- sentments with a smile, forgives the enemy he cannot injure, visits dis- tress in a frolick, relieves the wretched with a promise, and con- decends to know the man of merit by his name. Thus sporting with the passions of mankind, he gains upon their confidence; but just at the Moment when fools begin to ad- mire him, and men of understanding to dispise him more, he drops the vail, reclaims his novel virtues, and laughs at their credulity. LARTIUS CALCUTTA. Patna 10th January 1782. Mr. HICKY. THE Bon-mot on the subject of the active part taken by the Frothy Ornamental Lawyer last year to effect the dirty Job of a Coalition, contains more genuine wit than any thing that has yet appeared in your excellent paper---The whole of that singular and marvellous transaction was conducted by the selfishness and des- picable cunning of a Cheesemonger, chosen arbitrator between his two Customers, Tom Thimble the Taylor, and Ebenezer slip thumb the Woolen draper.---Matthew Maggot, because a modification is the constant resource of weak, avaricious and undeciding minds, resolved to refine and preserve his intrest with both parties---By this policy he doubted not only to con- tinue in the emoluments arising from the sale of his Cheshire and double Gloucester---but also to obtain a large increase of income. With vast circum- spection and self-applause he there- fore determined that Tom had a right to what he demanded---but that Ebenezer should be excused from complying with it. Tom was displeas- ed, because he thought a right which was not to be exerted was of no value ---Ebenezer, because the right was against him, and altho' it were not now to be exerted it might be on future occasions---and thus by this refinement, on clear and sagacious sense, Mathew lost both his Custom- ers, occasioned a bloody quarrel bet- ween them, fell into disgrace among his---neighbours respecting his prin- ciples, intellects and selfishness; was deserted by his former friends, be- came a sufferer of a considerable sum in his former profits and a bankrupt in reputation. It may be fairly said of Mathew as Falstaff says of pains.--- "Hang him baboon, His wit is as "thick as Tewksbury mustard.--- "there is no more conceit in him than in a Mallet" But Mr. HICKY- the meanest have their day. Mathew is vile,---here, HICKY fix your mark, His soul is black as his complex ion's dark.--- Veritas. Intelligence Extraordinary. THE Stiffnecked Jackall daily extolls the conduct of Mr. Give Contr. ct, because, says the sagacious solemn creature, he has by his Trip up the Country Killed two Birds with one Stone---alluding to ou hum- ane treatment of Rajah Cheyt Sing and the advantageous Treaty with Madajie Scindia---Blessings on the hard-pated Jackall! It must be a stone harder than that which killed Goliah that could make any impression on his pericranium. Balamus, happy in a skull, Of proof impenetrably dull. An old Correspondent congratulates the publ.c on hearing that the Jackal's influence is in the wane, and that Bencoolen Chinless has eclipsed that Star which darted poisin with it's rays.--- For pimps are treated like com- mon w---s First, theyr'e enjoy'd and then kick'd out of doors. We are credibly informed that squib will certainly succeed No clackichead ---With how nice a hand Mr. Give- place rewards merit.---Obsequiousness and baseness have for some years been surer aids to preferment than ability, and honesty.---Quin's blunt Compliment to Maclin may be applied to the versatile and pliant. "If God writes a legible hand, that fellow is a villain"---with that short eulogium. "This is the Jew "That shakespear drew."--- It is currently reported that Mr. Moore will succeed Mr. Hosta at Murshecabad and that Mr. Emnis to be appointed Chief of midnapore ---Surely the country will yet be saved, if our Rulers continue to make choice of such honest and able Servants. BON TON INTELLIGENCE. Turban conquest has declared that the several ludicrous descriptions giv- en of her dear Jack Hydrocele pro- duced an opposite effect on her to what the Malicious and envious Au- thor intended---for that thereby her penchant for him was encreased, and, to cite a familiar example, cries the spirited fair one, did ever any one reproach a Father and Mother with partiality for their Son Jack at the expence of Tom that it did not make them more so. On Thursday last, was united in the sacred and indissoluble tie, the elegant Jack Hydrocel to the Chin- surah Belle. The reasons assigned for this extraordinary Match are, that she gave the preference to him because he was the wealthiest of her suitors and nearly allied to some of the English Nobility; and that he married her because she had soft manners and was much admired by the Gentlemen of the beau monde.--- A married Lady, who is as remarka- ble for her Beauty as for the propric- ty of her conduct, having a few days previous to the Nu ti l, asked La Belle, whether there was any truth in the report regarding her marriage, was answered in the atirmative.--- Upon which the other observed she was very sorry for it.---Why so, cries the blooming fair one, very gravely,---Really, my dear, to be ingenuous with you, I think it an unnatural connection---for, to tell you the truth, you might as well be Married to your maid as to Mr.--- Oh! my good friend, replied the dauntless Belle, looking the other full in the face, I understand you, and desire you will make yourself very easy on that head. There have, I confess, been strange things whis- pered into my ears about my Lover, and, from what I can learn, he is

it so perfect as I could wish;—But then he is very Rich, and if a Man chooses to pay for his Whims, he ought to be indulged.—All I desire of a husband is a handsome Settlement and a magnificent Establishment.—In every other respect, I shall take the liberty to follow the example of the sensible and fashionable part of my Sex particularly in catering for myself, and in laughing at those squeamish and vulgar creatures who may have the impertinence to blame me for doing myself Natural justice. When Missilena heard of the unnatural Matrimonial Alliance which took place on Thursday last, she cried out, it was profanation, and that a Divorce would inevitably be the consequence.—Ida George, Marplot, and Dutgee immediately on the receipt of the News, retired to IMPROMPTU HALL, in order, if possible, to procure a sort of half oblivion of that imaginary happiness which they think JACK HYDROCELE is in possession of.—It is said the settlements he has made are very considerable—not less than two Lacks of Rupees.—Quere.—Will she not turn out a dear purchase? We hear that a treaty of Marriage is on foot, and will speedily be consummated between Thos: Dashwood Esq; and the Beautiful and accomplished Miss Auriol. To THE PUBLIC. MR. HICKY feels himself happy to have it in his power from the authority of the following Minutes of Council to contradict the Letters published in his Gazett the 5th of January 1782 Dated from Berhampore, Signed A. F. G.—The following is the Order published in General Orders by the Hon'ble Gov. General and Council in Fort William 31st January 1782. MINUTES OF COUNCIL 24th January 1782. "The Letter published by Mr. Hicky in his Gazette of the 5th inst. dated at Calcutta the 25th Dec. 1781 bearing the Signature A. G. W. together with the Letter inclosed in it which appears to have been received from Berrampore under date the 19th December 1781. and the Bill annexed to it for 43000 Sicca Rupees signed William Lt. Col. Commanding at Chunar said to have been presented to the Governor General before his departure from Chunargur having been seen by the Gov. General he has thought it necessary to write to the Board in refutation of the Charge which he declares to be totally devoid of every shadow of foundation and an infamous Libel, and the Board heartily join with the Governor General in making this fact known to the World and in expressing their united wish to discover the malicious Author of such a Calumny, they do therefore intreat the Gentlemen of the Army both publicly and individually to use their endeavours to bring him to light at the same time the Board think it proper in justice to the Officers at Barrampore to declare their conviction that the date of the Letter is falsely ascribed to that place in order to conceal the quarter from which it really proceeded, as they have good reason to believe that it was fabricated beyond the Caramnassa. Last Thursday in a Violent Lattitat Gale, The HICKY a fine stout well built Ship, Laden with true ENGLISH integrity and honesty, was driven ashore near Pootbundy Gaut, the Lattitats informed their Officers that they were going to join the Black Legs on the main Course, and gave the said Officers strict Orders to attend the wreck closely, with a sufficient Number of Coolies to carry off her Offensive Cargo, the moment she parted, but being built of true heart of Oak, and well put together she withstood the violent surges of the surf against the Rocks in a most amazing manner.—At Length the scorff and Demy scorff appeared with all the importance of Judicial Authority, saying they were very sorry to see so fine a ship, and with so valuable a Cargo sink irrecoverably into the Sheriffs Gulph. Her commander smiled at them with the greatest composure as they stood on Terra firma, got her off in a Masterly and judicious manner by heaving over board to the Hungry Lattitats a very large and heavy bal of Sicca Tacca's which much lightned the Vessel and loaded the rapacious Lattitats with those inseperable horrors attendant on disappointment. Intelligence Extraordinary. The Dictator having met with the greatest success on his late canvas, is said he intends to open an Exhibition of Pictures at Sookfagur on monday next—after which will be presented "a peep Behind the Curtain" and "The Devil to pay"—A number of Dogs, of the parish Spanial Breed with downcast leering Eyes, and Long Ears, are we hear, already assembled there, and appear in the Collors of their respective orders. Advertisment Extraordinary. ALL Gentlemen Volunteers who are able and willing to serve the present A—Let them repair for with to the sign of the Bullocks head at Sookfaugur where they shall be graciously received and enter into immediate disgrace and everlasting infamy. N. B. They must fawn and cringe and not scruple to turn their hands to any thing. A Civilian, who was present on the Militia parade on Thursday last during the warm altercation between Captain M—and the regulating Officer, returns his hearty thanks to the former for the manly manner in which he supported the dignity of the Corps and expresses his indignation at the presumption of the Latter in attempting to assume a Command over the Company's civil servants. ARRIVALS. Jan. 26th Ship crespigny Capt. Bowden from Madras Ballast. 27th Snow Cange John Leyfield from do. do. Snow Greenwich, John Smith from do. do. 29th Ship Resolution from do. Capt. Mercer sloop Lama Hoskins from do. do. Portugeze ship St. Antonia Capt. JamBoo from Maccoa. DEPARTURES. Jan. 19th Snow argylesshire Capt. Scott for Madras With Rice. 21st Ship Nonsuch Wm. Richardson for china. Feb. 1st Snow Rampursaud charles Brown for Madras with Rice. ALL PERSONS. WHO have any claim against the Estate of the late Lieutenant James Harris of Artillery deceased, will please to lodge them properly Authenticated with Capt. George Deare of Artillery Fort William, one of the Executors on or before the 1st of May next, and those Gentlemen indebted to the Estate, will be pleased to pay the same before the above period. IF the Attorney of Mr. Playtell who formerly resided at Cossimbuzar, will apply to Capt. George Deare of Artillery Fort William, they may receive a small Box which was brought from Europe directed for that Gentleman. WANTED. ONE Dozen bottles of the very best real Oil of Camphor, perfectly clear and free from adulteration.—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, mentioning the price, at the same time to send one bottle as a Muster. Calcutta 14th January 1782.

POET's CORNER. Addressed to the Editor of the Bengal Gazette. THE fault good HICKY! From speaking truth arose Not Satan himself can charge it on thy foes. Libertas. To Q in the corner, alias the puerile prating Minikin D—d—ge, who would fain be a poet. Go poor oaf, thy toil, nor rack thy empty pate For genuine sense, when folly is thy fate; Why still aspire, still pant for wrongham's praise? Why still rehearse thy loose unheard of lays? If laurels may be won by telling lies, Renounce thy toil—long since thou'st won the prize. Detector. Humbly inscribed to Jack Hydrocele. A Sapless thing like thee to change his life! What fury would possess thee with a wife? Art thou of every other death bereft: No Knife, no Rats-bane, no kind Halter left. Amoroso. The JUDGES OATH and OFFICE. THE King has, and always had, by his prerogative, a power of appointing the Judges. The courts of Justice are his courts, and the judges are his Officers but they are not to determine according to the will of the King, in his coronation Oath, binds himself, not to sell, deny, or defer justice to any. As by his Judges alone, he can dispense law and Justice among his subjects the keeping or breaking of this oath depends on the uprightness and integrity of the Judges he appoints. Hence King Edward III. obliged his Judges to take an Oath, to do equal and impartial Justice; which Oath, as it has ever since been in use, may be worthy to be inserted at large, 'Ye shall swear, that well and law'fully ye shall serve our lord the king, 'his People, in the Office of Justice; and 'that lawfully ye shall counsel the King 'in his business; and that ye shall not 'counsel, nor assent to any thing, which 'may turn him in damage or disherison by 'any manner, Way or Colour; and 'that ye shall not know the damage or 'disherison of him, whereof ye shall not 'cause him to be forewarned, by your'self or by others, and that ye, shall 'equal law, and execution of right to 'all his Subjects rich and poor without 'having regard to any person; and that 'ye take by yourself, or by others, pri'vily nor apertly; gift, nor reward, of 'gold, nor Silver, nor of any other 'thing, which may turn to your profit '(unless it be meat or drink, and that 'of small value) of any man, that shall 'have any plea, or process, hanging be'fore you, as long as the same process 'shall be so before you, as long as the 'same cause, and that ye take no fee, 'as long as you shall be Justices, nor 'Robes of any man, great or small, but 'of the king himself; and that ye give ad'vice or Council to no man, great nor 'small, in no case where the king is party. 'And in case that any, of what estate or 'condition they be, come before you in 'your sessions, with force and Arms, or 'otherwise against the peace or against the 'form of the Statute law thereof made, to 'disturb the execution of the common 'law, or to meance the people, that may 'not pursue the law that ye shall cause 'their bodies to be arrested and put in 'prison, and in case they be such, that ye 'cannot arrest them, that ye certify the 'King of their names, and of their Mis'prision hastily, so that he may thereon 'ordain a convenable remedy; and that 'ye, by yourself, nor by other, privly 'nor apertly, maintain any plea, or 'quarrel, hanging in the King's Court, 'or elsewhere in the Country; and that 'ye deny to no man common right 'by the King's letters, nor none other 'means, nor for none other cause; and 'in case any letters come to you con'trary to the law, that ye do nothing 'by such letters, but certify the King 'thereof, and proceed to execute the 'law, notwithstanding the same letters, 'and that ye shall do and procure the 'profit of the king, and of his crown 'with all things, where ye may reason'ably do the same. And in case ye be 'from henceforth found in default in a'ny of the points aforesaid, ye shall be 'at the King's will, of body lands and 'goods, thereof to be done, as shall 'please him. As God you help and all 'Saints. One might imagine the lives, liberties, and properties of the Subject, were safe, when the King and his Judges were thus bound to do equal and impartial Justice: but the Judges were to continue no longer in their office than durante bene placito, during the King's pleasure. This dependence of the Judges upon the King has in many instances weakened the effect of their Oath and endangered the Security, of the subject. We find the Judges, when asked by King Charles the first. 'Whether he could not annul acts of parlia'ment that were prejudicial to him? replied, that the King was above the 'laws, and in the same reign, they gave 'it as their opinion in writing that the 'King might by Law levy Ship-Money 'on his subjects bys his writs: and in 1686, 'two Years before the Revolution they 'were not ashamed to declare, that the 'King had a power to dispence with the 'Laws.' At the Revolution, the Nation saw the necessity of making the Judges independent, for the honour of the Crown, as the security of the People. It was not in view to abridge the prerogative of its power to appoint, but to restrain it from displacing the judge at will. By the act of the 12th of King William the third, it is enacted, "That the Judges Commissions be made during good behaviour, quam diu se bene gesserint." Towards the close of the reign of that excellent Prince, the "Good King", whose Memory is embalmed with the tears of Englishmen, was added the Judge's salary, which they now enjoy, in order to render them as independent of the Crown as possible. It is a glorious reflection, to us who see a P—ct King on the Throne, and such upright Judges on the Bench; to think the gally Jefferies cannot be screened Justice, and that a M—tt need not fear to give a just interpretation of the Laws. W A N T E D. IMMEDIATELY, a book called the HIND, and PANTER, writen by Dryden whoever has got such a book, and are willing to dispose of it are requested to send it with a Line directed to G. A. at the printing Office mentioning the price. To be S O L D. A BUDGEROW the Dimensions of an Indiamans Long Boat with a Large Hall and Venetians enquire of Mr. wyls in Calcutta—also a small Convenient Oar'd Budgerow of 2 Rooms, both in good repair, and fit for immediate Use. 24th Nov. 1781. W A N T E D. ONE or two Tanyons rising 6 Years Old Wanted also a Bay Toorkey or a 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 5th 1782. W A N T E D. A VERY small Horse, very tame and very handsome, broke to the Draft, and fit to be trusted to draw a Childs chaise, and any person having such to dispose of may meet with a purchaser by applying to the Clerk of the printing Office. JUST PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY. AND is Sold at the Library, the Bye Law either bound or in Sheets. W A N T E D. A Very excellent Horizontal Gold stop Watch, Capp'd and Jewell'd made by any of the following Persons Graham, Mudge, Tonkin, or Hughes, whoever has got such to dispose of they may apply to Mr. Hicky at the Printing Office. W A N T E D. AN Apprentice to a very genteel Business, the Son of a European, must be well acquainted with the English Language, and Write a good hand, understand something of accounts and of good connections. the Parents, by Guardian of such a Person, by applying to Mr. HICKY, at the Printing Office may meet with an Opportunity of providing for their Son or Pupil. Calcutta 26th Dec. 1781. CALCUTTA Printed by J. A. HICKY, First and late Printer to the Hon. COMPANY.