I N D I A . - i$
the inhabitants, and particularly.from thofe to whom he is
recommended, correfponds exadly with the-freedom-.of his
admiffion into the city; and the kindnefs' which I dxperien*'
ced on thisioeeafion from my muchdamented friend-, Henry
Davies, Ef£[., late AdVpcate General of Bengal, can never be
forgotten.
T he’ city'bf Calcutta- extends from the weftem point of
'Fort William, along the! banks ‘ of: the river, alfohflc’ to the
village of Coffipoot: that is, about'four and a half Englifh
miles. The breadth in many parts is ineonfiderable. The
fheets are broad: the line of buildings furrounding two fides
efi the efplanade of the fort, is magnificent; and it.adds
greatly to the fuperb appearance, that the; houfes are detached
from each other,1 and infulated in a great fpace.' 1 The
buildings are all on a large fcale, from the neceffity of having
a free circulation of air, in a climate the heat of which is
extreme. The general approach to the houfes is by a flight
ofi fteps, 'with great projecting porticoes; or furrounded by
colonades or arcades, which give them the appearance of
Grecian. temples; and indeed every houfe may be confidered
as a temple dedicated td hbfpitality.
’ C a l c u t t a , from a fmall and ineonfiderable fort;1 which
yet remains (and in which is the famous black-hole, -fo-fatal
to many of our countrymen in 1756) and a few' warehoufes,
was foon raifed to a-great and opulent City, when the guveffi-
1