The Letters from which the following extracts are taken were written by Sir J. Shore on his route to Falmouth; where he embarked on the 26th of October. He was accompanied by his brother-inlaw, Mr. Hubert Cornish, as his Private Secretary -a relative endeared to him, as also to a large circle of friends, by an amiable and affectionate disposition, lively spirits, a rich fund of humour, and various agreeable accomplishments.

"My ease will depend upon the picture I frame to myself of your situation. As to the voyage to India, the risk of the climate, dangers of the sea, and other possibilities, they are nothing to me abstracted from the consideration of you and your dear babes. All my pangs are comprised in the word 'Separation';- and I wonder how I could consent to submit to it.

"May the blessing of God be upon you and your babes! and may His grace enable me to persist in the resolution which I have formed, of soliciting His mercy, morning and evening, to impress me with submissive resignation to His dispensations!

Let me beg of you, my dear wife, not to neglect formal and regular applications to Him. In this I see a consolation which nothing else can afford.

May the Father of Mercies preserve you, and my Charlotte and Caroline, and your obliged and affectionate husband!"

Falmouth, Oct. 21.-A few minutes after brought me your affectionate Letter, without date: and with it came, though not from you, a very unaffectionate Letter from Mr. Burke to the Chairman of the Court of Directors, accusing me of being concerned in Mr. Hastings's misdemeanours. It hurt me excessively;-not on my own account; for I defy Mr. Burke, and all his gang of malignant informers, to prove me dishonest; but from the effect which I feared it might have upon you. Laugh at it, my dear Charlotte; and mind not what a madman says. He appeals to the records of the Indian Company, and to the evidence on Mr. Hastings's trial, for the proofs that I was a principal actor in the misdemeanours proved against Mr. Hastings; as if the Court, and still less the Ministry, were so blind and so ignorant as not to see the proofs, if they existed.

"His attacks shall never discompose me, if I

can only satisfy myself that you do not mind what he says; for I should not be surprised if he were to push the matter before Parliament. So much the better. I must, I find, be a great man, in spite of my teeth.

say

"Remember me to your mother. You do not how she takes our absence. I fear she will be as bad to you as the croakings of a Burke. The business was communicated to me by Mr. Baring; to whom Burke wrote an Official Letter, advising them to consider how they appointed me. Mr. Baring's answer told him, that the Court selected me because they thought me one of their honestest and ablest Servants; and the Court of Directors unanimously approved the answer. Between ourselves, it has been approved by Higher Authorities. Kisses to my dear babes.

"I am, Dear Charlotte,

"Your ever affectionate husband."

Sir J. Shore reached Calcutta on the 10th March 1793, after being detained on the voyage by a prolonged calm; to which he thus alludes in his Correspondence :

"Nov. 17, 1793.

"The wisdom of Providence conducts us better than we could guide ourselves. Who can tell that a more expeditious voyage might not have led us into storms or dangers, that we have avoided by the delay? Besides, the winds blow not for us alone; and the blasts that opposed us may have wafted many a sea-worn famished mariner into port. But selfishness is the character of human nature; and we look to our own gratification, without considering how far the happiness of others may be promoted or retarded by it. There is, however, an irreligion in selfishness, which it is our duty to check. We are ever to remember, that the sun shines not for us alone; and that all are equally under the care of one Just, Eternal, All-surveying, and All-directing Providence."

CHAPTER IX.

ARRIVAL IN BENGAL-UNCERTAINTY RESPECTING SUCCESSION TO THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVES INTELLIGENCE OF THE DEATH OF HIS CHILDREN -FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA CAPTURED LORD CORNWALLIS RETURNS TO ENGLAND SIR J. SHORE GOVERNOR

GENERALSUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION AGAINST FRENCH CRUISERS.

On his arrival in Bengal, Sir John Shore once more received the warm welcome of his numerous friends, and found himself surrounded by his old domestics.

66 SIR WILLIAM JONES TO SIR JOHN SHORE, BART. 'MY DEAR SIR"March 11, 1793.

"I hasten to congratulate you, and to express my own joy on your honourable appointment and safe arrival; but you must have so many congratulations to receive, that I will write only a short Note; and beg you to answer me, by a verbal message, that you are well. You have a claim to my hearty thanks for your friendly Letter of the 24th of May 1792, which I received by the 'Tartar;' which brought intelligence so auspicious to this country.